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A woman has launched an emotional appeal to help track down her lost wedding dress, which was chosen and paid for by her beloved late mum.
Michelle Drew married Philip at The Black Horse Inn, in Thurnham, near Maidstone, on August 31, 2018.
She wore a Justin Alexander Sweetheart Maisy dress, which her mum Patricia helped pick.
Sadly, Patricia died in January 2018, and never got to see Michelle wear the dress.
Shortly after the wedding, Michelle took her dress to a dry cleaners to be professionally cleaned.
However, the wrong frock was returned to her, and three years later, she still has not been reunited with her much-loved gown.
Michelle, 50, and of Sittingbourne, said: "My mum helped pick the dress and it meant the world to me. She died very unexpectedly in the January. It was very traumatic and such a big loss. The dress is so special to me.
"When I picked it up from the dry cleaners, it was packaged so lovely and although I did take the lid off, I didn't take it completely out of the box.
"It was in April 2019 when we went to put it in the loft, that I thought I'd try it on again before packing it away.
"I got it out the box and thought 'This doesn't look right'."
While the bodice is very similar to Michelle's dress, the skirt and sleeves are different. In fact, she'd been returned a Phoenix Gown.
What followed was an eventful two years which she says started with the dry cleaners, which Michelle has chosen not to name, denying issuing the wrong gown and eventually ended in county court.
Damages were paid to Michelle, which included cost of her dress, the dry cleaning bill and court costs.
But for all the trouble, she still hasn't seen her dress returned to her.
She said: "It has never been about the money. My dress actually cost less than the one I have.
"I would really like my dress back, and I would also like to get the one I have back to its rightful owner.
"I haven't been able to post on social media while the court case was ongoing, but have decided to now."
Michelle's Facebook appeal has been shared 66 times, and a bridal shop has also offered to help in the search.
Michelle's appeal reads: "Did you get married around three years ago (2018) in a beautiful Phoenix Gown PH7331 and get the dress dry cleaned in the Medway area?
"If so, I may have your dress and you may have mine!
"There was an unfortunate error made at the dry cleaners and I have this dress that belongs to someone else and they have my dress which was a Justin Alexander Sweetheart Maisy Dress.
"If you did get married in this dress and have it in the loft, please could you have a proper look as the bodice is the same as mine and make sure 100% that it is your dress.
"I am desperate to return this dress to its rightful owner and to get my wedding dress back as it has some very sentimental value to me."
If you have Michelle's dress, please email michelle@lucyloo.me.
