Please forgive the rant but I'm losing my mind and don't know what to do. Last monday my H2B started a new job, he'd been in a really bad one for the last six months but stuck it out as we needed the money for the wedding. Anyway, it had got to the point where we decided the mental stress wasn't worth the money and we could take the paycut it would be for the new job and still be able to get married. The new job knew this as he'd already turned it down once due to pay then called them back to see if it was still open as things were that bad. So he started the new job on Monday and on Wednesday they sacked him! He is in the Army reserves and had a weeklong course booked through them in 2 weeks, which he told the new job about in the interview and said he would take unpaid as wouldn't have any holiday then they used this as the reason to sack him. So now we've been left completely screwed by them and are scrambling trying to find a way to pay bills and still be able to get married.

To top this off also on Wednesday my bridesmaids dresses arrived. I'd ordered them from China so had been worried about them since the order so was glad to get them in plenty of time. The colour was wrong but actually it worked out better, we'd ordered burgundy and they came through red which went with H2B's uniform really nicely so we decided to keep them. They're really well made and good quality but fit is wrong on 3 out of the 4 dresses. So now I'm stuck as to whether to send them back and order new sizes and hope they fit, or send them back and get refund then try to find something over here. Problem is we know have absolutely no money to spare and I don't want to waste what little we have to then have everything be wrong again anyway. Our total budget is only £7k so we were on a shoestring before H2B lost his job and now just trying to find a way to make it work.

I'm so upset by this all, have barely slept all week and just don't even know what we are going to do. Luckily we've been very organised and have everything all booked and most of it paid for or would really be in trouble its just the bridesmaids dresses that are really stressing me out. I can only afford £50 per dress so not a whole lot of wriggle room and found it impossible to find what I was looking for within my budget anyway hence ordering from China in the first place.

In regard to the dresses. I had a similar problem and when i enquired about returning them they said it wouldnt be worth it for us because of the postage cost. In the end we have had them altered although it has been a difficult task. Is this an option for you?

Sorry to hear about your problems.

In relation to the bridesmaid dresses, you said that the fit is wrong, are they too small or big? Could they be altered?

I found this about your hubby's situation:

Employees in the reserve forces

Employees in the Army Reserves or other reserve forces have certain protections under employment law if they’re called up for service.Employers of reservists also have particular rights and obligations in this situation - eg they may be able to claim financial assistance or apply for an exemption.

Training commitments

By law, you don’t have to give a Reservist additional leave for training, either paid or unpaid. Many employers choose to do so, because they realise that such training gives them valuable skills that can be transferred directly to the workplace.

Your legal responsibilities

Protection of employment

If your Reservist employee is mobilised, when they return you have an obligation to reinstate them in the same role and on equally favourable terms and conditions as before (or as near as practicable). They’re entitled to be re-employed for a minimum of 13, 26, or 52 weeks, depending on their length of employment prior to mobilisation. Find out what happens when a Reservist returns to work after mobilisation.You can’t make a Reservist redundant on the grounds of their Reserve Service duties or their liability to be mobilised. Reservists can be included in the redundancy pool if this is necessary due to a downturn in business or closure of a department or branch. However, all employees should be treated consistently, and redundancy criteria should not discriminate against Reservists on the grounds of their Reserve service or call-up liability. See redundancy advice for more details.You should be informed through the Ministry of Defence’s “Employer Notification” system if you employ a Reservist or if an existing employee joins the Reserve Forces (except in Northern Ireland where this does not apply). You are not allowed to dismiss an employee because he or she is, or has a liability to be, mobilised for full time service because they are a Reservist. See finding out you employ a Reservist.

It seems very unreasonable of the company to do that, especially as they had been told. I can see how your hands are tied though. Has he tried an agency just to get something coming in to cover you? Is there much work going where you are?

Can he get onto JSA in the meantime? I know it's not a lot but it's better than nothing.

what ar4eholes! I hope at the very least they were given a stern telling off, d1cks.