The Department of Tourism is investigating claims that a Bermudian company inflated prices and tried to flout immigration laws when it was hired by an American family to plan a wedding.

Father-of-the-bride Mark Golde wrote to Premier Dr. Ewart Brown about Destination Bermuda Ltd. (DBL), claiming it attempted to bypass employment rules by using overseas photographers, "disparaged" local florists and "hugely inflated" costs by marking up service providers' fees and then adding an additional 20 percent charge.

The company yesterday denied it did anything wrong in relation to the July 20 nuptials. Managing director Joann Veney said DBL was "a reputable Bermuda company with a sterling reputation in the industry that is recognised by clients in the United States, Canada, Europe and Bermuda".

She said it was standard practice for companies to mark up prices before adding an overall fee. "That's normal for everybody," she said. Asked if that policy was made clear to clients, she replied: "I don't think anybody will say to a client: 'I got this for $10 but I'm going to charge you twenty'."

The DJ who performed at the wedding, Scott Simons (aka Double S), said he backed DBL "100 percent", adding that it was standard practice for event planners to add fees to a service provider's price. Master of ceremonies Charles Webb said he too would "fully understand" if DBL charged a client more than the fee paid to him.

Mr. Golde alleged in his letter that DBL "not only conducts its business dishonestly with clients and service providers, but also seems to promote circumventing Bermudian employment regulations".

The complainant, from Hauppauge, New York, hired DBL's Events wing to organise the wedding of his daughter Joanna to Jai Jacob. The event was to include two ceremonies, a barbecue, reception and brunch.

The father alleged that three weeks before the big day DBL had still not secured the services of photographers, musicians or a florist and would not provide him with copies of agreements from service providers.

He claimed investigations revealed that the company was inflating prices, including the cost of the service at Christ Church and Mr. Webb's and Mr. Simons' fees, before applying its 20 percent fee of the total cost.

Mr. Golde claimed DBL increased the church costs by 50 percent, upped Mr. Webb's fee from $250 to $375 and Mr. Simons' from $200 an hour to $300.

"In spite of the fact that the wedding date was just three weeks away, with 135 guests expected from around the world. we terminated the services of Events by DBL on June 28," he wrote. "We could not tolerate their dishonesty and violation of trust." His letter goes on to claim that DBL described Bermudian florists as "expensive and not very good" and recommended flying in flowers from abroad. Mr. Golde also alleges that the company proposed hiring photographers from New York "with a Bermudian photographer hired as a cover", in violation of immigration laws. The wedding eventually went ahead using local vendors and, according to Mr. Golde, "at a fraction of the outrageous costs" proposed by DBL.

Tourism Minister Dr. Brown e-mailed Mr. Golde on August 17 to say he was disappointed at the family's experience in Bermuda. "Rest assured that our office will look into this as a serious situation," he wrote.

Ms Veney told The Royal Gazette that Mr. Golde did not make a complaint to the company or copy it in to his letter to Dr. Brown. "I am sorry that Mr. Golde did not afford me the courtesy of a copy," she said, adding that DBL worked under normal industry practices and procedures.

The staff member that handled Mr. Golde's account is abroad, Ms Veney explained, before adding: "As far as I am aware there was no attempt to contravene standard immigration procedures or use overseas florists when we have an excellent working relationship with all our local service providers.

Marc Telemaque, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism, confirmed that a probe was underway at the behest of Premier Dr. Ewart Brown.