Smoke and Mirrors

Some people are just strange and some are even stranger.
Case in point: the vanishing bride
Earlier this year I get a frantic call while I'm on vacation. "I need someone to photograph my upcoming wedding, just the ceremony and a part of the reception".
"So when and where is the event?" I ask, not expecting it to be until the following year. "It's on July 4th at 5:00PM and the ceremony and reception will be in Willestead Manor."
I paused for a moment, then told her this was only three weeks away and I was currently out of town. I could shoot the event, but I would like to talk to her when I got back. We discussed price, not something I normally do over the phone, but under the circumstances, agreed upon a price. I asked her to email me some details of the event, number of guests etc. I was familiar with the location, only one kilometer from my home and the place where my wife and I got married. The next day, a long email arrived, giving me details on how she met her future husband whilst on medical duties in Africa. We never did meet until 10 minutes before the ceremony, hardly the best of circumstances, but what the heck!
The ceremony went off well, but something about the whole event didn't quite seem right. However, I shot the usual groups, family, friends etc., and some of the reception set up. I was done in three hours and headed home.
She had told me that she was leaving to live in the USA late the following week, so I pulled out all the stops and had prints in an album in three days along with the complete set of photos on my website.
When I called her cell phone, she told me she had just crossed the border on her way to Savannah, Georgia and could I just mail the album to her new address (which incidentally she never did give me),she would then send me payment upon receipt. Something didn't feel right about this conversation, so I suggested she send me a money order and upon receipt, I would mail the album and email the link to the website photos, but I still needed her new address. For the next few weeks I sent several emails requesting payment. The response I got was zero. Finally I sent one last email with a deadline for payment. If this wasn't met, I would delete the photos from the website, remove the photos from the album and use it for another client.
That was two months ago and still no response.
Now for the punchline(s):
1) The venue for the reception informed me that they had a bounced check and refused to go ahead until it was paid in cash. They only received payment the day before the reception.
2) The "wedding" was not legal, since the groom was still married.
3) No legal papers were signed, only a piece of paper stating their vows to each other.
4) The bride and groom were medical "professionals" ( I use the term loosely) since professional people are usually good citizens.
5) Many of their guests were medical professionals and I assume they know the couple well.
6) My quote for the event was a mere $200, hardly enough to break the bank, especially for medical professionals.

Fortunately for me, I had that particular day open, so it was not a great loss of income. What I don't understand is why they would go to all the trouble of documenting this, along with a lavish reception.
In retrospect it was all just a lavish DECEPTION, perhaps designed to fool their friends and family.
Beware of sweet talkers and remember, a finely cut suit of clothes can hide many imperfections, giving the illusion of an honorable person.