Wedding dress = ruined & update.

Oh nooooo! I'm so sorry for you thats awful! I think you're taking it really well (what else can you do, really). and really hope it turns our ok considering the circumstances at your reception tomorrow (is it today?)

regarding the complaint - I would certainly write a complains letter and its very important that you specify what you are expecting from them - you have more chance of a response if you outline your expectations for how much money they should give you back. I'm a little worried they may try to just apologize and think that is the end of it. also its probably best to contact your insurance company and see what they can do - have a look at their website as well, sometimes they have a FAQ section and someone may have gone through this before. Also I would put it to them that the wedding was a 2 part wedding, firs part in vagas and the second in the uk (which it was) so they don't have the impression it was just a reception party in the uk.

I don't really know what else to suggest - best of luck today xx

Maria I just had a little google - it seems to be a very common issue (more then I thought). some sources online say the dry cleaners should have insurance - so claim for the whole amount of the dress from them - and make sure you keep a copy of your letter as well. - hopefully there's a hitcher that can help more than this...

? oh Mogwai sorry to hear about your dress. Can't help with advice on the dry cleaners really, I am guessing it might be a bit tricky to get anything from them as you are now in a different country. Always worth checking out the insurance though.

I am keeping everything crossed for you and I'm sure the dress will be fine tomorrow and you will look as stunning as you did on your wedding day. Enjoy your second reception!!

Just another thought - maybe take a picture of the dress before you wear it as evidence of what condidtion it is in. I know you've had some stuff done to it but may be worth it.

Oh thats really rubbish news but hopefully its been 'fixed' enough so that your guests wont know there's anything wrong with it.

I'd speak to your insurance company before trying to contact the dry cleaners. If the insurance company agree to pay out, they will deal with the dry cleaners themselves to claw the money back saving you lots more hassle.

Also ask for a letter from the lady at the bridal shop stating how ruined the dress was as this may help your case with the insurance company.

Good luck

When I went to collect my wedding dress, the girl said she had been steaming it to get the creases out and my mum was horrified. Steaming shrinks silk. Wedding shops should know this..............

im sorry to read of your tale...thats rubbish. But I do hope that your reception is fantastic, regardless..

I think the first people to contact are the dry cleaners you used. Some wedding insurance won't provide funds for anything that can be recovered elsewhere. You also need to check how long you're covered for - I know for mine the dress is only covered 24hours post the ceremony, but it might be different because it was technically ruined between the ceremony and reception.

I really hope it feels ok - if you're really not happy there are some beautiful dresses in coast for under £200 - it might be that you can claim that as re-arrangement cost.

Oh thats awful!!!! Hope when you try it on its ok.

The guests that are coming along probably won't know what it looked like before - you will, but they won't notice all the details that are different so try not to worry too much about it (if you can).

Hope it all goes well anyway and hope you get some kind of compensation for the mistake.

Thanks for all your advice!

I wore the dress for the reception yesterday. It was a bit of a faff getting into it and we had to use safety pins to pin the underskirt up from the inside so that the hem wasn't showing. Although this made the dress about an inch shorter than a full length dress would be, I don't think anyone noticed.

Everyone kept telling me I looked great and admired the dress. It was probably only me and my mother who could see all the differences in the dress from when I first wore it. The lighting was quite subdued which helped a bit I think.

I'm definitely going to look into claiming on one of our insurance policys if I can and will be contacting the dry cleaners next week.

If Adile at the Bridal Chest hadn't put so much work into making the dress wearable again for me, there would have been no way that I could have worn it yesterday.

We had a great time at the reception yesterday. We had a sit down buffet meal with starters and dessert were served on platters/family style at the tables for 95 people at Brown's Courtrooms in Covent Garder. About another 30 friends came for the evening as well and we had cheese, meat and veggie platters, sandwiches and some hot bites for them. We did the whole wedding thing with the wedding party dressed in our wedding clothes, speeches, toasts, a DJ, flowers and cake. My mum and I spend 2 days baking 140 cupcakes and a 6 inch topper cake this week. We even made all the sugarpaste decorations that went on top (hot pink gerbera daisies and hearts). I had loads of fun making them and it was so nice to have my Mum all to myself for 2 days as it's usually a bit manic when I'm home in Ireland to visit.

The only downside of the reception was that I don't think I relaxed at all until about an hour before the end! With so many people there, I spent so much time wanting to check that everything was going as it should be! It's in my nature to always want to be the one doing the organising and serving and checking the small details. I definitely think I made the right choice in having a small wedding a few weeks ago and having the big reception later.

Mogwai I'm really pleased for you it all went well in the end despite everything (!) would looove to see some pics as well.....

I'm curious about the cupcakes as I'm looking to make my own as well - so looking for recipes you could make in advance - perhaps 2 days before hand.

I'm sp pleased that your British reception worked out well in the end, despite all the stress and upset re: the dress. You seemed to handle it really well.

Really glad all went well.

Paris x

Aw Mogwai - glad your second reception was a success. Good old Adile! I met her a couple of months ago and she's utterly fabulous.

Do let us Hitchers know if you need any help with the claim etc.

Oh Mogwai, Im sorry to hear about your dress, but glad it was ok for your reception and that no one noticed. I hope you get something sorted out with your claim!

And congratulations on the wedding, did I miss your report? x

I'm not sure its the same as its abroad but if you were in the UK then the dry cleaner would have to give you the full value of the item if they didn't follow the cleaning instructions. If they followed the instructions then its the manufactures responsability to cover the value or replace the item. Its the dry cleaners responsability to prove that they followed the instructions, You might have a issue with the 'value' as it will prob be the 2nd hand value of the dress rather than the cost.

it sounds like it all went well in the end, i'm glad that it didn't ruin your reception

Hiya!

sorry to come into this thread quite late, I'm glad you had a good time in the end.

I'm not sure about the details, but OH's cousin got married last year and her dress was ruined by the dry cleaners that they used and she had to complain. They tried to tell her it was done elsewhere - so you need to let them know asap! After they admitted fault she asked for compensation (naturally higher than what she expected,) and agreed on a "lower sum" She didnt give up and had to be very firm with them, but it is your most important dress - regardless if it was being worn again or being cut up to little bits. Its not about the money - although it certainly helps, its about you trusting them and them fcuking it up.

HTH xx

All your advice about the dress is great! I'm normally not one to push a complaint, but definitely will this time. I've had a look online for the contact details of the drycleaners, but can't find them. I'll get in touch with the lady who looks after the apartment in Barbados as she was great to get information for us. As we didn't have enough time to get it cleaned anywhere else due to flying and stuff, I'm pretty sure the drycleaners won't be able to push the blame onto anyone else.

Just had a meal out with my parents, aunts and uncles who came over from Ireland for the reception. Listening to their stories about the night was great. Seems like everyone had a fun night. There was singing in the hotel bar for hours after everyone else was long in bed!

22Tango - It was a lot of fun making the cupcakes. It took the most of 2 days to get ready, bake, decorate, box and deliver them. The lady in the sugarcraft shop where I bought some supplies thought I was mad to be doing them for my own reception. If you do make your own, I'd advise you to have as much ready in advance as possible - sugarpaste decorations and the white chocolate icing that we used could have all been made weeks in advance, but I wasn't organised enough!

Here's a link to the recipe I used.

Mogwai thanks soooo much for the cupcakes tips and links - ver very helpfull!!

you look gorgeous in the pic !! and the cupcakes look very professional, well done!

So glad it turned out OK! You looked amazing and so did the cakes! Can't remember if I commented on your Vegas report but that looked amazing too!