Brides-to-be scrambling after Alfred Angelo closes

ORLANDO, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - People across the country are stepping up to help brides who are scrambling to find new wedding dresses after Alfred Angelo suddenly closed.

According to a statement on the company’s website, it filed for bankruptcy last week.

Maria Reina, who’s getting married in October says she was stunned.

“I was just freaking out – didn’t really know what to do from there,” she explained. “Started immediately looking for places in Orlando, bridal stores, places I could go to.”

She ended up at The Collection Bridal in Winter Park.

The local boutique says it’s giving discounts and waving rush fees, which can cost hundreds of dollars, for brides who are once again trying to find the perfect fit.

“We try to just comfort them the most that we can and give that experience back and tell them that you can find another dress, it’s okay,” said Shainna Bryson, a bridal stylist at the store.

There are alternatives to buying a new dress. Some women are asking brides to shop their closets.

“I just posted my dress because I was going to sell it and then I saw the news story and I said, 'You know, I should just give it away to the right bride,'” said Ana Tovar, who lives in Orlando.

Tovar, and women across the country are offering up dresses from their weddings on social media in a push called #dressmatchmaker to try and help save the big day.

“It’s a beautiful dress that I loved. I just really want it to go to the right person. Hopefully, somebody who can’t get a dress in time or who financially is now strapped because of the closing of the other store,” Tovar said.

For Reina, the whole thing may have been meant to be. She says she’s even more excited about the new dress she just bought at The Collection.

“It’s just a complete different quality and everything was different about it – so very happy with it,” she said.

Reina says she paid in full for her Alfred Angelo dress, which was around $2,000 and is trying to get her money back.

The company has released this statement about the closure:

“Alfred Angelo filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on July 14, 2017. As a result, all Alfred Angelo stores, corporate offices and Alfred Angelo wholesalers are closed. Margaret Smith is the Court appointed Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustee. If you wish to be contacted regarding your order status, please send an email to alfredangelo@mjstrustee.com. In your email, please include your order number, name as it appears on your order and the location of your purchase. We will post additional information regarding the status of pending orders on this website as it becomes available or otherwise contact you as we receive more information regarding your purchase.  We apologize for the inconvenience and hardship resulting from this event. We appreciate your patience. Thank you.”