Brides’ fury over wedding dress fears

GARDAÍ were called to a bridal shop in Dublin yesterday, when angry customers claimed they were not being given the wedding dresses they had ordered and paid for.

Two gardaí arrived at Ivana bridal shop on the Crumlin Road, after being telephoned by an angry bride-to-be, who said she could not collect the dress she had paid for because the shop was about to close.

The owner eventually arrived and was told that she should give the customer her dress, or an immediate refund, which she did.

Less than two hours later, gardaí were called to the shop again, when more worried brides arrived and angry scenes broke out.

The shop owner denied that the shop was closing. She said that bridal dress orders were on their way and anyone who was supposed to get their dress before Friday would do so.

She said she could not comment on claims made on RTÉ’s Gerry Ryan Show, that women were not getting the dresses they had paid for, and said it was “a storm in a tea cup”.

Despite this, many brides cancelled their orders and asked for their deposits back.

Linda Guilfoyle from Templeogue in Dublin, due to get married in November, was to have her second dress fitting in two weeks’ time.

She cancelled her order yesterday, and demanded a refund of the money she paid for a wedding dress and a bridesmaid’s dress.

“From what she has told us, it’s all rumours. She says she is going absolutely nowhere. However, we have requested that we get a refund for the dress,” Ms Guilfoyle said, adding that the shop owner had agreed in writing to give her a refund of €1,500.

“I just feel, with the situation, that I don’t have much of a choice in the matter. If she is not in trouble now, she may be because so many people are requesting their money back,” she said.

Rachel Dunne was due to collect her dress in two weeks’ time.

“She doesn’t have my dress yet, but said she will have it in two weeks when I’m supposed to collect it.”

Ms Dunne also asked for her deposit back. Yesterday, she got €750 of her €900 deposit.

She said she had her dress organised since last year, adding “I’m after getting the bridesmaid dresses to match and they’re no use to me now”.

Jennifer Barkley from Tallaght in Dublin was luckier: “We got our dresses no problem, we were meant to collect them today and everything is fine,” she said, as she came out of the shop.

Dave Galloway from Crumlin, who is getting married on August 18, saw the lighter side. “I was up there and I don’t know what’s happening. I don’t know what’s happening with the dress, I suppose we’ll just have to call the whole thing off!”