The Wedding Planner's Tragedy
by Samantha Perkins
Business Weekly
Jan 27, 2005

"It has been an excruciating couple of months," Sabrina Carlyle said over a cup of tea in her palatial home. "We have been trying to move forward, but it has been so very hard."

Nothing about Ms. Carlyle seems to indicate that tragedy has befallen her family. Her hand is steady as she directs a maid to pour our tea. She is composed and solemn, her black Chanel suit the only visible sign of grief. But Ms. Carlyle has had to endure a long list of trials in the last few years, more than this calm and determined woman seems to reveal.

First came the tragic death of Ms. Carlyle's second husband. While the tabloids circulated rumors that Ms. Carlyle benefited from her husband's death, the truth is the opposite. "It was all I could do to keep the business afloat. Carlyle Weddings was just beginning at that point and while the money from my husband's estate was what enabled the company to grow, it was only because I wanted it to be a legacy to my husband's memory."

At this moment, you can see Sabrina reminded of her current tragedy. Four months ago, her son Boone Carlyle(COO) and step-daughter Shannon Rutherford disappeared aboard Flight 815 which mysteriously vanished somewhere between Australia and California. "The loss has been devastating. Boone was such an important part of this organization. Without him, we all feel lost. He was- is- such a vital man. He really is an inspiration to us all." Ms. Carlyle pauses for a moment. "And Shannon was such a lovely girl." Another pause as she seems to collect herself. "We have elected an interim COO, but without Boone..." Ms. Carlyle dabs at her eyes with a lace handkerchief. "We still have hope that one day he will return to us."

It is still unknown what happened to Flight 815, but Ms. Carlyle is sparing no expense in the search for her children. "The official search was called off after only three months. After that, I moved forward on my own. Many of the other families of people on board have gathered together and the more affluent ones have created a fund to keep the search going."

It is obvious that Ms. Carlyle is a formidable woman, but even her outstanding business sense may not be enough to find a plane that seemed to vanish into thin air. But this reporter wouldn't dare counter the will of the owner of Carlyle Weddings. "I will not stop until we have found him- them."