Border bridal shops would usually be run off their feet at this time of year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent border closure, brides to be have put dress shopping on the back-burner.
Owner of Jack and Jill Bridal Sandra Stewart shut her Albury based shop for April and May before business picked up again in June, however with weddings postponed, Ms Stewart is now looking at another closure.
"I'm expecting to have to shut down again," she said.
"June started off fantastic but as soon as the border shut down it's gone dead again.
"This would usually be one of our busiest times with all of the brides getting married at the end of the year and early next year.
"A lot of girls left their weddings for September, October and November thinking it would be right by then, but now they're putting them off."
Ms Stewart would usually see customers travel from Wangaratta, Shepparton and Echuca to visit the shop.
"Girls travel two or three hours to come to our shop," she said.
"We've got all new gowns coming in in the next couple of months for the next season, but you wonder whether it was worth ordering them."
IN OTHER NEWS:
This year's intake of border debutantes have also been left to put dress shopping on hold with deb balls postponed due to the border closure and strict social distancing rules.
Dianne Stepto has been coordinating Albury district debutante balls for 27 years and admitted it would be a shame to see young people miss out in 2020.
"I know it doesn't seem like that much but for those 16-year-old girls and boys, with everything that's been taken away from them this year, they're still holding onto hope," Mrs Stepto said.
"We cancelled balls in May and June and moved them to September thinking that would give us plenty of time, but we've just cancelled for September and have dates in October booked.
"We have a few extra dates up our sleeves for next year."
Coronavirus restrictions mean guests would not be able to get up to mingle or dance.
Albury-Wodonga Dance Centre managing directors Glen and Niki Strauss have been offering deb partners dance lessons for 10 years and agreed it's a shame.
"We still see some of them down the street after five years and they say 'I want to do that deb again," Mr Strauss said.
"It's really nice how it creates memories for these young kids and is such a big night for them."
Dancing in general has taken a hit from the pandemic.
"We've hit the footloose era of no dancing," Mrs Strauss said.