Optimistic brides-to-be who attended yesterday's creditors meeting in the hope that a fairy godmother would miraculously produce their wedding dresses left in tears after the liquidator admitted customers who paid by cash weren't going to recoup their losses.
Nathalie Lafaurie who lives in Clonakilty, west Cork, but who is originally from France, said she was devastated by the closure of the Wedding Dress shop and the loss of her €2,000 deposit.
Leaving the meeting in a flood of tears, Ms Lafaurie - due to marry guitarist Matt Churchill on Inchydoney Beach in July - said her dreams were "shattered". She had hoped for positive feedback from the meeting but is no closer to receiving her dream gown.
"When I tried on the dress I felt beautiful. But you [the store] took my money and now I have no dress. The Wedding Dress had a good reputation so that is why I went there . . . The staff were so adorable. They treated me like someone very special. It is a disgrace what has happened."
Another irate customer, Louise O'Connor from Grenagh, Co Cork, who paid more than €1,600 to the shop , described the creditors meeting as "farcical" and a "complete waste of time".
She added: "They [the owners] knew long ago that it [the business] was going downhill and they still kept taking money. There are so many people out of pocket."
Emma Hurley, from Mallow, Co Cork, who is marrying her fiance Spencer Wilkinson in November, handed over €1,900 to the Wedding Dress for her gown. She is the process of buying the same dress from a third party but admits the whole process has tarnished her wedding.
"It is not like buying a sofa. It is a very important thing for a woman. It is very emotionally draining, particularly for some of the younger brides who are finding it very hard to deal with.
"You have to think beyond it, otherwise it will eat you up inside. Having got over the initial shock, you have to see beyond it. Good things can happen. A woman at my work who got married 15 years ago offered me a dress and so on."
Mr Wilkinson, from New Zealand, said it was obvious that the Wedding Dress had been under serious financial pressure for the last few years. "We didn't really achieve any satisfaction at all. I personally think the way the company was run was unbelievable."
Sandra Sheridan, due to get married on July 29th in Killarney, said she received a text message last week from the Wedding Dress claiming that she would receive her gown. However, her dress has yet to materialise and she is considering purchasing a new gown just in case.
On a lighter note, management at the Clarion Hotel, obviously seeing the creditors meeting as a marketing opportunity, had wedding reception leaflets available at the front desk.