With just days until she was set to say "I do," Lauren Petroske had one unsettling question hanging over her wedding day - would she have a dress?
She decided not to leave it up to chance.
Petroske and her fiance have been looking forward to their wedding early next month, but with her dress from House of Brides still not shipped and only weeks until the big day, she said she took matters into her own hands.
"Up until yesterday I was extremely nervous," she said.
Petroske, who had ordered her original dress in February, decided to buy a new wedding gown, but she's not the only bride to be left waiting by the suburban bridal chain.
She was told earlier this month that her dress would be delivered by July 21, but that date and others passed and no dress ever arrived.
"I was hopeful on Saturday the 21, I was hopeful on the 24 and now I have no expectations whatsoever," she said.
Local
Since NBC 5 first reported on the issue earlier this week, many women have called and emailed with similar complaints.
At least three different bridal parties told NBC 5 earlier this week they were having similar issues at two House of Brides shops—one in Orland Park and the other in the Schaumburg location.
NBC 5 tried calling the number listed on the House of Brides’ official site and even emailed customer service after the desk at Orland Park said they were unable to redirect anyone to a spokesperson—still, no explanations.
The company's Schaumburg location does have an A-plus rating with the Better Business Bureau, but its Orland Park location has been stripped of its rating.
"Specifically in the Orland Park location we have 13 complaints that were filed, give of the complaints were filed in the last week," said Steve Bernas with the BBB.
Petroske said she plans to fight for a refund from House of Brides.
"I have no idea how they can really get away with running this type of business," she said.
