$30,000 Brooklyn wedding turns into nightmare as bride, groom and guests suffer vomiting, diarrhoea, chills and abdominal cramps after pricey NYC hotel served up norovirus-tainted food

A $30,000 wedding reception at a Brooklyn hotel reportedly turned into a nightmare after the bride, groom and dozens of guests fell sick with vomiting, diarrhoea, chills and abdominal cramps. A new lawsuit alleges that food served at the celebration was contaminated with norovirus, leaving the newlyweds dealing with repeated bouts of vomiting and diarrhoea instead of enjoying the days after their wedding.

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$30,000 wedding ends with guests falling ill

Michael Ahern and his wife spent $30,000 to host their wedding reception at The Box House, a hotel and venue in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, according to the lawsuit and reports cited by The Independent.


Instead of beginning married life with family and friends, the couple allegedly became sick shortly after the November 30, 2024, reception. The lawsuit says the Aherns experienced “repeated episodes of vomiting and diarrhea” after the wedding.

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“Instead of beginning their marriage by celebrating with family and friends … [they] spent the days following their wedding suffering from the debilitating effects of the norovirus outbreak caused by food served at their reception,” the lawsuit alleges.

The couple later tested positive for norovirus after providing stool samples to health authorities, according to court documents.

30 of 112 wedding guests reportedly became sick

The alleged outbreak was not limited to the bride and groom. According to the lawsuit, 30 of the 112 people who attended the wedding reception also developed similar symptoms.

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Those who became ill had reportedly eaten at least one of three foods: prosciutto, macaroni-and-cheese croquettes or a “seasonal crumble” dessert.

Norovirus is highly contagious and can cause sudden vomiting and diarrhoea. People infected with the virus can also experience stomach pain or abdominal cramps, nausea, fever, chills and body aches.

Health report identified a norovirus-positive employee

A New York City Department of Health report also examined the outbreak. The report found that an employee at the Brooklyn Lantern, the hotel's on-site restaurant, had tested positive for norovirus around the time of the incident.

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However, investigators said the employee had not prepared the dishes that were allegedly linked to the illnesses. The health department ultimately said that “specific food vehicles as a mode of transmission remain undetermined for this outbreak.”

That means the investigation did not establish exactly which food or source caused the reported illnesses.

Hotel says it is sorry guests got sick

A spokesperson for The Box House said the hotel was sorry that guests became ill after the wedding and said staff had been retrained on cleanliness standards. “It was meant to be one of the best nights of their lives and it wasn’t, and we understand why that still stings,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson also said norovirus was spreading throughout New York City at the time and claimed that the wedding party had brought some food into the venue from outside.

A spokesperson for the Lantern said there had been no cases of norovirus at the restaurant before or after the alleged outbreak.

What is norovirus and why does it spread so easily?

Norovirus is often associated with outbreaks in places where many people are gathered in close proximity. It spreads extremely easily and can be transmitted through contaminated food, surfaces or contact with an infected person.

Symptoms can appear suddenly and may include:

• Severe vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Nausea
• Abdominal cramps
• Chills
• Stomach pain
• Fever and body aches

Most people recover within a few days, but the illness can be particularly unpleasant because vomiting and diarrhoea can lead to dehydration.

For the Aherns and their wedding guests, however, the alleged outbreak added a very different ending to a celebration that had cost the couple $30,000.