‘It’s a disaster’: Bride without dress, refund after bridal shop suddenly closes

FRANKENMUTH, Mich. (WNEM) - A mid-Michigan bridal shop suddenly closed, and some brides say they have been left without their dresses or their money back.

Love Story Bridal in Frankenmuth closed on July 31.

TV5 has learned that there are 13 formal complaints with the Better Business Bureau, and at least 30 people that have posted publicly about this on social media.

On Monday, Sept. 30, TV5's Jams Felton spoke with a bride to be who said she's at her wits end.

"It's a disaster. It's a day that I'm supposed to be excited about, and now I'm just a ball of stress," said Kristin Traster.

She said she paid almost $1,500 for a wedding dress she doesn't have. This comes after Love Story Bridal in Frankenmuth closed its doors July 31

"I purchased a dress from Destinations which sold it to Love Story, and my wedding dress was sold, and I'm not getting a refund or a dress," Traster said.

She showed TV5 a Facebook message thread she has with the owner.

"I asked her about my dress, she informed me that since she couldn't contact me by my phone number, that she sold my dress. I asked her if there would be a refund, since I wasn't getting my dress back, and she told me that was not her responsibility," Traster said.

She said she's tried taking legal action.

"I've actually filed motions in court, but the owner of the dress shop keeps leaving the state, and I can't get her served without an address, and she refuses to talk to me anymore," Traster said.

She said her story is like dozens of others on social media who say they've had similar experiences with the owner who has had, or is currently operating, businesses in other states.

"This is supposed to be such a happy, exciting time for us, and now that's all we can think about. Like, we're so stressed out because your dress is a huge thing for your wedding day; that's the number one thing, you need a wedding dress to get married, and now none of us have it," Traster said.

TV5 was the owner of Love Story Bridal has stores in Ohio, Texas, and Iowa under different names.

We left a message on the number listed for the Iowa location, but we're waiting on a response.