Published: Wednesday, 25th June, 2008 12:00
Nightmare turned into dream wedding
By Nicola Findlay
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Bride Mandy McMillan and her bridesmaids in the dresses redesigned by Tullibody dressmaker Donna Sneddon.
Pic by: David Robertson
A NIGHTMARE turned into a fairytale for a Clackmannan bride who enjoyed her dream wedding on Saturday thanks to the generosity of a whole host of individuals.
As reported in last week’s Advertiser, Mandy McMillan’s careful planning for her marriage to Ian Smith looked to be in tatters when the dresses, ordered from Inspirations in Leven, turned up with just five days to spare – and were all the wrong sizes and colour.
However, Tullibody dressmaker Donna Sneddon stepped in and worked a miracle, carrying out major alterations to Mandy’s wedding dress and all the bridesmaids’ outfits.
Wedding co-ordinator Alana Bramley, staff at Gean House in Alloa, The Bridal Studio in Dollar and photographer Graham McMasters also rallied round to make sure the day was perfect for the happy couple.
Mandy told the Advertiser, “Despite everything that happened beforehand, the day was everything I have always imagined and I wouldn’t change a thing – it was just superb.
“The day went as planned – although I was 45 minutes late – and the weather was absolutely perfect.
“We were married in the gardens of Gean House and the whole time we were outside the sun was shining.”
Mandy was delighted with her dress after Donna made the alterations.
She added, “All the dresses looked lovely after they were altered. Donna worked day and night to make sure the dresses were finished – I don’t know what I would have done without her.
“Alana was also a rock and even made posies for the bridesmaids at the last minute because the ones that arrived were not what we ordered.
“The staff at Gean House read in the Advertiser what had happened and couldn’t have done any more for us, offering to change the table decorations to match the colour of the dresses.”
Mandy was even offered a veil for the day from The Bridal Studio in Dollar because she was sent a white one instead of ivory, and her photographer decided to come back to Gean House at night to take extra photographs.
Mandy said, “Everyone stepped in to help us at the last minute. They were brilliant and the day wouldn’t have been such a success without them. We would like to say a huge thank you to all of them.”
Donna told the Advertiser she was only too happy to help after hearing about Mandy’s plight from her sister Alana.
“Once I heard what happened I decided I would definitely do what I could to help,” she said. “Mandy and her family were absolutely devastated and when I got the dresses on the Monday night Mandy could barely speak for holding back the tears.
“It was a lot of work as all six dresses needed altered in just five days but I wasn’t going to let her down after what happened and I am just so glad that she had such a lovely day.”
Alana was also devastated when she heard what had happened and tried to alleviate the stress as much as possible for Mandy.
“My heart really went out to her and her family as they were getting more and more upset the nearer it got to the wedding,” said Alana.
“Mandy was totally stressed and that isn’t right, so I said I would help in anyway I could to make the day go as smoothly as possible for her.”
Owner of Inspirations, Marjory Thomson, told the Advertiser that the order for the dresses wasn’t placed until 26 March and a payment wasn’t made until 29 March, and that at no point was Mandy given a specific date for delivery.
Mrs Thomson also said that the delays were caused by Mandy not getting back to her with measurements for the dressmaker in time, and that the dresses were made to fit the measurements and designs they provided.
She also insisted that Mandy was sent an ivory veil not a white one, and she stated and that the issue of alterations wasn’t raised by Mandy until three weeks before the wedding.
Mrs Thomson added, “Apologies were made and offers of assistance were given.
“The offers made were to replace bouquets, table decor and balloon decor so that they would co-ordinate with the colour of the dresses but these offers of assistance were refused.
“A face to face meeting was also offered but refused.
“I should also like to point out that at no time did I state to Mrs McMillan that my own wedding had been a nightmare or a bad experience.”
On Monday, the Advertiser was contacted by the mother of another bride who ordered her dresses from Inspirations.
Helen Muirhead’s daughter Kirsty Ann is getting married four weeks on Saturday in Carronshore in Falkirk, but she has been unable to contact Mrs Thomson to get confirmation of when the dresses will be delivered.
Helen said, “I have been through to the shop in Leven about half a dozen times. The dresses were beautiful and everything seemed fine.
“Mrs Thomson was lovely and we had every confidence in her but I have tried to contact her repeatedly to find out when the dresses will be delivered to the shop but she hasn’t got back to me.
“I never expected anything like this and myself and my daughter are now getting worried that the dresses won’t be delivered in time because the wedding isn’t that far away.”
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