CORAL GABLES, Fla. – David's Bridal is helping out brides who are in a panic after Alfred Angelo unexpectedly closed its stores on Thursday.
"We know how much goes into planning a wedding, and we want to ensure that everyone affected by this news can still have the day of their dreams," David's Bridal posted on its website. "If you recently purchased a wedding dress or bridesmaid dress from an Alfred Angelo retail store and did not receive it, we are offering a discount on a replacement dress of your choice."
Customers can visit any David's Bridal in the U.S. to receive the discount as long as they have their receipt from Alfred Angelo.
"The wedding day is the most important day of a woman's life, and this can certainly upset the bride," Laura Arango, store manager of the David's Bridal in Coral Gables, said.
The bridal retailer is offering 30 percent off wedding dresses, 20 percent off bridesmaid dresses and is offering to waive rush fees for alterations needed to meet event dates.
The discount includes current promotions and clearance prices.
Photographer Alfredo Valentine, the owner of Couture Bridal Photography, said he was offering brides who were victims of the Alfred Angelo closure, a 30 percent discount on their services.
Meanwhile, Alfred Angelo employees left the corporate headquarters this week in Delray Beach with boxes.
A woman, who did not want to be named, told Local 10 News on Thursday that she had to rush to pick up her bridal party dress before the store she purchased it from closed.
"They called me. I'm in this wedding, and they said if you want the dress for the wedding, you have to come today, because the store is closing, and we just found out today. All the employees found out today," she said.
The Better Business Bureau said Friday in a news release that it has heard numerous concerns from consumers who are worried about the statuses of their gowns, bridesmaid dresses and other accessories.
The BBB said it has reached out to representatives from the company to "gain information to help consumers."
"Our team at BBB understands how concerning this situation is for upcoming brides and grooms, and we want to do whatever we can to assist." said Michele Mason, senior vice president of the Better Business Bureau serving Southeast Florida and the Caribbean.
Below are some tips from the BBB for those who have outstanding purchases with Angelo Alfred:
Contact your credit card company -- If your purchase was made using a credit card, contact your credit card company and file a chargeback.
Gather your receipts and documents – This will help in preparation for any opportunities
to obtain a resolution.
Contact third party retailers -- If you made your purchase from a third party retailer look into their refund policy and contact them to see if they can help.
Be careful with discounts -- Some bridal stores are offering discounts to brides who have been affected by the Alfred Angelo closings. If you decide to take advantage of these discounts, make sure you understand any applicable terms and policies, especially if you don't have time for errors and alterations.
Beware of online donations and crowdfunding pages -- When unfortunate events occur, it opens the door to potential scammers who are looking to take advantage of the situation.
Beware of any person who claims they can help you retrieve your dress from the store for a
fee, or any crowdfunding pages looking to raise money for a dress they lost -- Only
communicate with a designated bankruptcy attorney, if assigned.
Click here to view the BBB's report for Alfred Angelo and to find updates from the BBB as more information about the closure is confirmed.
Alfred Angelo Piccione and Edythe Vincent Piccione co-founded the company in 1933 and sold their dresses and merchandise at 4,000 retailers worldwide. The company was running about 60 Alfred Angelo Bridal Signature stores in the U.S.