Paige Deaner knows how it feels to be a jilted bride. But in her case, it wasn’t the groom who left her at the altar — it was wedding planner Patty Burling.
Deaner hired Burling in 2007 to handle her wedding only to have Burling pull out of their contract six weeks before the ceremony. Deaner, who owns Without a Hitch Weddings and Events in Fort Collins, now is helping other soon-to-be brides pull off their weddings after Burling reneged on her promises to them as well.
Fort Collins police are investigating Burling after she abruptly closed her business, Mountain Avenue Bridal, last week. As of Tuesday, 51 brides have complained to police about never getting dresses they ordered and paid for, said police spokeswoman Rita Davis.
Police also heard from store employees, who said Burling told them to sell dresses at a trunk sale in Windsor or on eBay, Davis said. According to the Fort Collins Coloradoan, Burling also suddenly closed a bridal shop in Glenrock, Wyo., this year. Monte Whaley, The Denver Post
