Dozens of brides who ordered their desire marriage gown from a glamorous boutique set up by a former product have been remaining furious immediately after their gowns under no circumstances arrived – and they are continue to awaiting refunds.
It is claimed Abigail’s Bridal Boutique in Leeds, started by Lauren Stanley, 26, has remaining as a lot of as 50 brides in the lurch from time to time just days prior to their marriage ceremony.
Lauren, who has appeared on the cover of Playboy and also featured in other magazings together with FHM, has remaining brides in tears and in some circumstances hundreds of pounds out of pocket, they claim.
Bride-to-be Bianca Esterine, 28, requested a £1,300 gown by Stella York from the retail store to dress in when she marries her husband or wife Jessica Richards future year.
But just after calling the gown designer instantly, she was told they had not received an purchase from the outlet, inspite of her placing down £586 deposit with Abigail’s, which she promises she has now dropped.
Dozens of brides who ordered their desire wedding ceremony dress from Abigail’s Bridal Boutique in Leeds, established by Lauren Stanley, 26, have been still left furious just after their gowns hardly ever arrived – and they are still awaiting refunds
Bianca mentioned: ‘I cherished the costume as shortly as I attempted it on in Abigail’s Boutique, it was accurately what I was seeking for and I was asked for a £200 deposit to reserve it.
‘It was agreed I would then pay back the rest in instalments of £77.26 till our wedding ceremony in September up coming 12 months.
‘I was thrilled that I might observed the costume I actually required and had a uncomplicated payment strategy.
‘But in October I was sent a text telling me that the business had altered its lender account, which appeared odd and suspicious but I did not want to lose the costume so I paid out it as questioned.
Lauren, who has appeared on the address of Playboy and also showcased in other magazings including FHM, has remaining brides in tears and in some situations hundreds of lbs out of pocket, they assert
‘While I was undertaking that I kept attempting to get in touch with the store and noticed some definitely adverse remarks on the Facebook web site, which was then taken down.
‘Through comments from other brides on social media I became aware of the team – but by then I experienced paid £586 by lender transfer which I are unable to get back.
‘When I contacted the costume designer right they said they experienced not been given the buy for me from Abigail’s bridal.’
Stella York wrote to Bianca to convey to her that Abigail’s Bridal was no more time an authorised retailer and they would mail her to a further branch to satisfy her order.
Bride-to-be Bianca Esterine, 28, ordered a £1,300 robe by Stella York from the retail store to don when she marries her lover Jessica Richards future year
Bianca claimed: ‘It was a shock to find the costume I believed I was obtaining had never even been ordered. I have observed a different just one I like, but I am £586 out of pocket and you should not know how I am going to shell out for it,’
For solicitor Carrie Pearson, 37, the difficulty wasn’t her own gown, but the seven bridesmaids’ dresses she identified had never ever been purchased.
Carrie explained 3 attire were requested in 2019 for her marriage ceremony, which was because of to transpire in April 2020, but was cancelled because of to Covid.
By August this calendar year she and her partner ended up capable to reorganise their cancelled marriage ceremony, by which time her bridal bash experienced increased to 7.
Having said that, Carrie mentioned that the first a few attire had been not in the shop as expected when she returned and she contacted Dessy – who confirmed they experienced not obtained the purchase.
Bianca claimed she was ‘shocked’ to discover the gown she experienced considered she was acquiring from the wedding ceremony shop had under no circumstances been purchased (pictured suitable, with her companion Jessica)
Bianca explained she has now observed a different dress which she likes but right after shedding £586, she would not know how to shell out for it
Carrie finished up buying all 7 dresses direct from the designer.
She reported: ‘The wedding day was coming up and I just had to fork out for all the attire, with Abigail’s agreeing to give me a £1,500 refund for the initial types.
‘That was agreed in August and it however hasn’t arrived, I am wanting to know now regardless of whether it ever will, provided other people’s ordeals.
‘Even just after I’d ordered them direct from the designer I was nevertheless currently being told by Abigail’s that the attire would be arriving at their shop soon, which I understood to be untrue.’
Lynette Procter, 50, was furious that 5 appointments built for her daughter Ashleigh Sheppard, 26, to have her last dress alterations have been cancelled at Abigail’s.
Lynette Procter, 50, was livid that 5 appointments designed for her daughter Ashleigh Sheppard, 26, to have her last dress alterations have been cancelled at Abigail’s (still left). Meanwhile for solicitor Carrie Pearson, 37, the challenge was not her possess gown, but the 7 bridesmaids’ dresses she found experienced never ever been purchased (ideal)
She spelled out they have been forced to spend yet another seamstress and have been promised a £300 refund by Lauren Stanley’s boutique, which has not been paid out.
She mentioned: ‘We obtained justification after excuse about why the appointments were being being cancelled, which include that her seamstress experienced Covid, which we realized not to be correct for the reason that we requested her.
‘The marriage ceremony day was receiving closer and nearer and Ashleigh’s gown was nonetheless no nearer to becoming completely ready.
‘It was amazingly stress filled and upsetting for Ashleigh and for me. In the system of all this anxiety she fell out of enjoy with the dress and it solid a shadow in excess of her massive day, which is heartbreaking.
‘The final message I been given from Abigail’s on October 18th stated their bank account had been ‘blocked’ so they couldn’t send or obtain payments. I have no confidence I will ever see this dollars.’
Cathy Hateley, 44, who runs her possess bridal boutique, grew to become informed of the plight of the brides when she started to do small business with Ms Stanley’s shop previous calendar year.
Model Lauren, who has over 60,000 followers on Instagram, said Covid and the lockdown was to blame for tough trading situations
She stated: ‘I started off to get really suspicious of the way she was performing organization and when I appeared into it further more I found out there have been dozens of furious females who had misplaced out.
‘These are persons getting ready for the most significant working day of their lives and they’ve been still left heartbroken due to the fact the dress they’d set their heart on and imagined them selves going for walks down the aisle in simply just has not materialised.
‘In some conditions brides have uncovered this inside times of their weddings.
‘We set up a group which is obtaining even larger by the working day. It so considerably has 52 men and women in it and all of them have a grievance towards Lauren Stanley and her company.’
Cathy discounts in ex-sample marriage dresses – people that have been previously tried on by brides-to-be – and agreed to get some from Abigail’s Boutique.
At initial enterprise commenced well but then Cathy realised attire she experienced ordered were not turning up.
She said: ‘I did not want to bite the hand that was feeding me so at first I did not say anything at all, but then additional and additional attire weren’t turning up as promised.
‘At one particular point I was owed £2,000 and 21 attire but each and every time I rang the store I’d get a distinct individual and could in no way get maintain of Lauren.
‘I’m currently owed 6 dresses and I am calling the store five to 10 occasions a working day but never get an reply.’
However Lauren has hit again – blaming Covid lockdowns that have decimated the finances of all those in the wedding sector for her cashflow challenges
The brides have organised by themselves into a stress group to drive for refunds and to alert other possible consumers to be wary of working with Abigail’s Bridal Boutique in Leeds.
Nonetheless Lauren has strike again – blaming Covid lockdowns that have decimated the funds of those in the marriage ceremony sector for her cashflow issues and insisting she is functioning flat out to fulfill orders and make absolutely sure no customer loses hard cash.
Lauren mentioned Covid and the lockdown was to blame for hard buying and selling problems.
She informed MailOnline: ‘Covid has place numerous smaller corporations on the brink including us. We have experienced no help from the federal government.
‘However we are open to address troubles for our prospects since we have a duty of treatment.
The product, who has posed for Playboy, informed MailOnline her store experienced been ‘closed for months’ mainly because of Covid
‘We have been closed for months but the costs even now have to be paid and we have had source issues considering the fact that opening.
‘However we are focused on keeping open up and servicing our buyers the best we can, that is simply because we have a responsibility of treatment.’
She stated she was unwilling to remark additional mainly because the situation experienced induced her depression and disease.
Despite this assurance the disappointed consumers in the team continue to be fiercely significant – saying the store ought to not have continued to consider orders that it experienced no hope of meeting and clamouring to get their dollars back again.
