Nearly 200 brides-to-be have been left in the lurch after a Cork wedding dress shop was liquidated overnight.
The Wedding Dress Shop in Penrose Wharf shut down overnight, despite having 183 dresses on the order book.
Five brides-to-be managed to get their wedding dresses from the store before it closed last night, but the others were left with nothing to wear.
Gardaí were called to the store yesterday after a crowd of panic stricken women gathered outside demanding an explanation from staff and begging for their outfits be handed over.
But the shop moved quickly to dispel fears that the women would be left high and dry.
In a statement, the firm said: "Due to financial difficulties the Wedding Dress Limited of Penrose Wharf, Cork has ceased to trade.
"However, arrangements are being made to ensure that all persons who have placed deposits on wedding dresses will receive their dresses."
The company also said the process of appointing a liquidator had begun. Dresses from the exclusive store start at around €2,000 with designer bridal outfits costing as much as €7,000.
It is understood customers who paid on credit cards will be able to get their money back, but those who paid with cheques or cash will not be so lucky.
Labour Party TD for Cork North Central Kathleen Lynch called for an urgent meeting between the owners of the shop and the customers, who she said were in a state of panic.
"Many of them have already forked-out huge sums to pay for their dress, yet they are totally in the dark as to whether the dress will be finished, if they should start looking for a new dress-maker, or if they should seek their money back," she said.