Monday, December 01, 2008

By TIM MORAN
tmoran@modbee.com

last updated: June 14, 2008 09:39:30 AM

Bridal shops in the area are being inundated with panicky brides trying to salvage weddings in the wake of the closure of Special Days Bridal and Tuxedo Store in Modesto.

"It's devastating, being a first-time bride," said Valerie Lopez of Ceres, who was at Mira Bridal Couture in downtown Modesto on Friday, hoping to get dresses for her bridesmaids in time for her Sept. 13 wedding. "I cried all night," she said, after learning Thursday that Special Days had closed without delivering the dresses that had been paid for.

Shop owner Mira Jantz was trying Friday to turn tears into smiles, with some success.

"We are in the process of tracking down all the orders, to get the merchandise shipped directly from the designers to the brides," Jantz said.

The downside is that in many cases the vendor didn't get paid, so the wedding party will have to pay for the dresses again.

Jantz said she was offering substantial discounts and would be open Sunday to try to help Special Days customers. Bridal parties should bring copies of their receipts and any pictures they may have of the dresses they ordered, she said.

Laurie Stortz said she was paying a second time for all the bridesmaids dresses for her daughter Stephanie's wedding in October -- eight dresses at $160 each. "Luckily it will all work out. But it is a lot of money out-of-pocket," she said.

Melissa Bylow of Manteca spent the day visiting bridal shops before finding a substitute wedding dress at Mira Bridal. She said she lost $1,200 on her wedding dress at Special Days.

"I'm very lucky. My mother-in-law is very supportive. She will pay for the second dress," Bylow said. She is hoping to get the credit charge for the first dress reversed, although she has paid the bill.

"There are options," said Judy Stark of Wedding Center USA on Scenic Drive in Modesto.

"Manufacturers are real sensitive to this situation; it's not uncommon," Stark said. The manufacturers are interested in helping the brides, and Stark said the brides should contact the dress manufacturers.

The bride should determine whether the dress order was placed, and if so, if the manufacturer can still deliver it, Stark said.

If the dress wasn't ordered, a bridal party can contact manufacturers that have a "super rush" service or dresses in inventory that can be sent within weeks, or in some cases within days, according to Stark.

The key is finding a reputable bridal shop that will work with the manufacturers to get a rush order through, she said.

If customers paid with a credit card, they should contact the credit card company as soon as possible to try to get the charges reversed, she said.

Tammy Drobnick of Oakdale, who is getting married Aug. 30, said her wedding party lost about $2,000 in the Special Days closing. The bridesmaids dresses, paid for several months ago, had never been ordered, she said.

Je T'Aime Bridal and Tuxedo Wear in Modesto helped her pick up the pieces, Drobnick said. "They've been awesome. I'll get my dress next Friday or Monday, and they put a rush order on my girls' dresses. They've given me discounts," she said.

Wedding Center USA also has been trying to help brides recover, Stark said.

"It's awful. I've had people call me in tears. A lot of these brides are under so much stress. They just want to get their dresses and get married and get it over with."

Stark advised brides to pay with a credit card and keep the receipts. They should ask the store for the terms and conditions of the sale, including the store's liability if there is a problem.

The Modesto Police Department has gotten several calls from Special Days customers, according to Sgt. Craig Gundlach.

"We have decided to go ahead and take reports, and a detective will determine if it warrants an investigation," Gundlach said.

Stanislaus County Assistant District Attorney Carol Shipley said her office would have to look at each case individually to determine whether a crime took place. Otherwise, the situation appears more civil than criminal, she said.

One issue, Gundlach said, might be whether the shop owner knew the shop was going to close and still took money from customers.

Special Days owner Keith Farish said Thursday that all the orders were placed, although several brides disputed that.

Farish said he knew customers were calling the Police Department, and added, "There were no malicious acts, nothing intentional." Without his attorney's approval, Farish said, "I can't tell you a lot."

Bee staff writer Tim Moran can be reached at tmoran@modbee.com or 578-2349.

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