I was super happy and excited about winning the dress, but then had to stupidly look for reviews which were really bad, saying about all of the companys she had been a director for that had closed down due to insolvency etc, about all of the bad dresses people had received and all of the court claims outstanding against her.

I conveyed my feelings to the editor but still gave the benefit of the doubt because i thought that the designer may have changed, and she's not going to mess this one up as its publicity.

I called Rebecca at the store, who seemed nice, and she asked if i could get to the store to have the fittings done, but as i live so far away she suggested that i just send my measurements to her and they will look for a dress which closely fits!! not make one up to my measurements. I asked what couture meant (i thought it meant customising it so that it was a one off design for you) but apparantly it just means that its fitted for you ... so what every other bridal shop does then when you go for your fittings!! (although her previous comment was that they choose a dress that closely matches the measurements anyway and not actually make it up with those measurments).

I explained that this was a lovely dress, but was not like my dream dress, she said that she would talk to her manager and see if i could choose a different one, she said she would call back the same thursday (this was on 11 Jan - a tuesday). She said before we ended the conversation that if i couldnt choose a different one, maybe i should just order a popular size of the dress and then put it on ebay (even though the terms and conditions on their website states that you arent allowed to re-sell on ebay).
She never called back. I have tried to call back a couple of times but no one picked up.

I contacted the editor on the same day i contacted Rebecca to update her of what was happening, and asked about option B that Hails mentioned. I then emailed today and explained how disappointed i was, and that i would like to take up option B. I dont need this stress over a dress, not when i can get one thats my dream dress for the same amount as or chaper than option B.
The editor emailed me back and said that she assumed i was happy with everything and that the cash alternative isnt available because it has now been spent on next months competition.

I just feel so frustrated because i have said from the beginning how weary i was of this designer -i wish i had gone with my gut instinct from the beginning and just gone with option B - im fed up of giving people the benefit of the doubt all the time just for it to blow up in my face :(

sorry for the rant .. and i hope i dont sound ungrateful cos im really not - its just not what i expected

Isn't there anyone at UKbride that could help sort this out for you? It seems such a shame to win a dress in a competition and not end up with your dream dress.xx

But didn't you say the cash alternative was no longer an option?

u won this dress on here/ and ure gettin all this hassle about it???? thats not rite!!

i think thats what she means by option B would have been the money but obv its been spent on next month's comp!!!

:(

You know I can't speak for any of the other girls but I would be happy to go without next months comp in order to get this sorted out for you. Maybe us girls could have a vote and if all the power users agreed we could make it happen? Its not fair. x x

yea the cash alternative has gone now :( deany says just get the dress and sell it - but i doubt i'd get much for it, i know it sounds selfish, but i was hoping to get my dream dress from it seeing as im not going get this one lol

i have contacted ukbride - the terms and conditions state that it is up to the winner to contact the third party and there is nothing they can do if the third party backs out. The cash alternative i think has gone because it was over a month ago now - but thats not my fault :(

thanks girls xx

I don't understand how the cash alternative can 'have gone' cos surely there's a cash alternative to this month's prize too??

i dont want you girls going without a prize - thats daft - i will call the store again tomorrow and see what they say .. if they pick up
thank you though, you are all super sweet xx

defo agree though that i dont no why they would even be a considration for a prize ifthey are this much of a hassle

You don't sound ungrateful at all. I think I'd be annoyed as well. I hope something gets worked out for you. No point having a dress you don't like especially if you can't sell it (although how would anyone know?) x

i never saw the terms and conditions until rachel sent them me today - i dont blame ukbride at all, i dont think they knew about the bad reviews and am certain they would never have used them if they did, the thing im annoyed at is that i just think they should have held onto the cash alternative until they knew i was definately happy and having the dress, as i let them know from the start how worried i was about Rena Zhang and her practices.

UKbride is an amazing site, and do a lot for us with the competitions, forum, planners etc, i dont mean to slate them - im just a bit frustrated

Speak to them tomorrow hun and see if there is anything else they can do. I'm sure they would want to see you giving them some good reviews after all.

i will just go with my original plan and get an ann dress - i dont see how they can source me a maggie dress when there's no money to source it with and i think most suppliers in the uk are small fashion boutiques so doubt they would give one away :(
please dont let this put a downer on the future prizes tho, as im sure the rest will be fine :)

But if they are not making the dresses themselves that means they are buying them in so they can then buy one in like the one you want? I can't see how they cannot make you a dress like you want one if that is what they are meant to do.

just threaten them about going to the papers..if dont start helping you out!! that will soon change their tunes!

awwww i see! but it wasnt just the one size rite? whoever won it cud hav it in their size?

thats a good idea Jo :) will have to find the pics for it - yea becky, they take ur measurements and then give u the dress that closely matches xx

I have been involved with the emails from tilioilo. First of all can I say that it shouldn't be a dissapointing experience to win a £2,000 dress. I am sure they're must have been some communication issues.

The terms and conditions are very clear. If we choose prizes where no one gave a bad review there would be no prizes. Everyone has different opinions, most members who use UKbride love it but some don't. Some say it's easy to navigate the site some say it's hard.

Tilo see how you get on tomorrow if you get nowhere email me directly and I will see if I can help (although I can't promise anything). I want all of our members to love UKbride but when a prize is given away by a third party it's hard for us as it is given away in good faith. We are aiming to have many many more Power Users so that we can buy the prizes for the winners or give a cash alternative. In the mean time we have to rely on third parties.

Rachel (editor) is constantly working to source good prizes, what prize would you all be happy to win?

I hope it gets sorted for you hun xx

Thanks bossman, i will do, i love UKbride, i think its pretty easy to navigate hehe. I know how difficult it must be working with third parties, you can only go on what you hear and hope it turns out well.
i think because the prize was limited to one particular dress too, its difficult - whereas the ring one was good - because that definately is customisable to your own tastes - if that makes sense!!

im so sorry to be a pain - i feel really bad :/ i hope that if by any chance my name comes out on valentines day u dont go oh not her she's a right trouble maker and rip it up and choose someone else lol

Lol Becky that is so true we are all so desperate it could be a loo roll holder and we would be cited that we won!

Hey Boss-Man :-)

I think all the prizes normally associated with weddings will be most appreciated, you know, cakes, photography, dresses, rings, invites etc etc.

I think the issue will be trying to pick suppliers who can get over the "local" part of their service. Smooch was ideal because they are a national service, and come to your home. The dress was tricky because her shop was in a particular location, with nothing to cover travel there. Photographers will always have a travel issue.

Things you can order online would work well, like accessories, shoes, vouchers to spend with national suppliers, stuff like that, or if local suppliers are willing to include something relating to covering the travel in the prize? Or make it clear that the prize does not include travel to your venue (if there were prizes like photography) and how much is charged per mile - I've seen this done in magazine competitions, where photography was the prize, the small print stated that the prize included travel up to x distance from photographer's location, and the rest would have to be paid for by the winner, for example.