FOR most girls, being a bride is something you dream of from an early age.

But 27-year-old Katie Carnegie claims her special day was ruined when she was given the wrong dress - 50 minutes before the wedding.

Shop owners of Pascali Bridal Boutique in Parkstone admit they made a mistake but say they worked through the night to try and solve it - and have had their offer of a full refund rejected.

But Mrs Carnegie - nee Bennett, from Corfe Mullen - is now taking the shop owners to the small claims court seeking compensation.

She said: "Apart from the groom not turning up, I believe the worst thing that could happen to a bride happened to me. I don't look back with fond memories at my wedding day, I just get upset."

She searched for 18 months to find a pure white dress to fit with the military red, white and blue theme of the wedding - as she was marrying a Royal Marine.

She collected her dress the day before the event on July 31 but when she tried it on in the evening it was not hers.

After she phoned the dressmaker, staff from Pascali worked all night to fit a new dress. But Mrs Carnegie said the off-white dress she finally got was ill-fitting and the colour did not go with her stockings, veil and bridesmaids.

She said: "It stood out like a sore thumb. The photos did not look right, and the video didn't look right.

"And how could I enjoy the wedding morning when I didn't have a dress hanging there to put on?"

Avril Fimester, a partner in Pascali, explained the manager had made a mistake and did not realise the right dress was in the shop.

She explained: "The manager accidentally gave her the wrong dress which she said sorry for.

"The dress she was given in the end was slightly the wrong colour but we worked all through the night to put it right."

She added: "Mrs Carnegie was thrilled with the dress when it was finished."

The shop sent the family a £799 cheque for the dress, which was returned. Mrs Carnegie is now waiting for a court date.

First published: October 1