Michigan Wedding Caterer Banned for Five Years After Last-Minute Cancellations And Refund Failures

State Consumer Protection Team Holds Accountable Caterer Who Cost Couples Thousands

LANSING — A Michigan wedding caterer has been prohibited from operating in the state for five years after coming to an agreement with Attorney General Dana Nessel following dozens of consumer complaints.

Alicia Thompson owned and operated Late to the Lake LLC out of Spring Lake on the west side of the state. The Michigan Attorney General's consumer protection team received more than 40 complaints filed against Thompson before contacting the business owner.

In a court filing on March 31, Nessel filed an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance and Discontinuance. This legal document allows the offender to avoid litigation without admitting they violated the law.

A wedding is one of the most meaningful days of a person's life, and couples should be able to trust that their chosen vendor will deliver what they promised or at the very least refund them when something goes wrong, said Attorney General Nessel. I am proud of my Consumer Protection Team for holding this caterer accountable and encourage those who believe they were impacted by Late to the Lake to file a complaint with my office by May 1 to ensure they receive a refund.

The complaints alleged violations of the Michigan Consumer Protection Act and described a pattern of last-minute wedding service cancellations followed by the company's failure to issue refunds to affected consumers.

In one instance, more than $6,000 in wedding catering services were paid out before Late to the Lake canceled on the client. No refund was given.

In another case, a customer was pressured to pay the full sale price before the vendor canceled on the day of the rehearsal dinner.

Other complaints found new charges on their account after services were canceled. There are also allegations of serious deficiencies in service quality, unauthorized fees, and incomplete food delivery.

I am proud of my Consumer Protection Team for holding this caterer accountable and encourage those who believe they were impacted by Late to the Lake to file a complaint with my office by May 1 to ensure they receive a refund, Nessel said.

Consumers who are owed a refund will have a chance to be paid back. The AG's office will determine how much someone impacted by the caterer should get.

If someone believes they are owed money, they should get in touch with the AG's office by May 1, 2026. They will need proof that the respondent charged them more than the agreed-upon amount before canceling on them and failed to provide a refund.

If Thompson does not pay back refunds in full, she will be forced to pay a 50% penalty on the total amount owed to any consumer. The deadline for returning all money is July 1, 2026.

Late to the Lake LLC says a majority of the complaints have been resolved and only a limited number remain. The company told CBS News Detroit that a coordinated escalation of communications, including repeated contact, public postings and instances of harassment, contributed to cancellations and disruptions.

The company says the timing of sending out refunds was impacted by platform-related fund access limitations.

Consumers Urged To File Complaints By May 1

Michigan residents who believe they were cheated by the wedding caterer have until May 1, 2026, to file a complaint with the attorney general's office to be considered for a refund.

The AG's office will review each claim and determine the amount owed to affected consumers. All refunds must be issued by July 1, 2026, or Thompson faces a 50% penalty on the total amount owed to any consumer.

Anyone who believes they were impacted by Late to the Lake should contact the attorney general's consumer protection team with proof that the company charged them more than the agreed-upon amount before canceling services and failed to provide a refund.

The Michigan Attorney General's Office continues to pursue consumer protection cases across the state, from fraud investigations to ensuring businesses follow consumer protection laws.