Ref. 72724-43NEWLYWEDS Mel and David King thought they had had the dream wedding until they returned from their glitzy honeymoon.

They discovered that the online catalogue, through which their guests had placed orders for wedding gifts, had gone bust.

Now the couple, from Salisbury Street, face the embarrassment of telling friends and family that they may never see their presents or money again.

Mrs King, 26, an analyst for Intel, had hoped The Gift Registry recommended by a friend would help relieve the stress of their big day.

Instead, they face weeks of wrangling with the firm's liquidators.

Those guests who did not pay by credit card some of which are covered by payment protection schemes stand to lose their cash.

"This has ruined our wedding," said Mrs King.

"The day itself, which was held at the Goddard House Hotel, Old Town, in July was fine.

"We then spent a week in New York followed by a week in Minorca, which was brilliant. The problem began when we got home."

Mrs King and her 30-year-old husband, who works at Honda, had even sent thank you letters to guests although the gifts had failed to arrive by the beginning of September.

"Just after that we had six candles and a food mixer, totalling around £50, come through the door," said the mother-of-one.

"We expected the others to follow, but they never did."

The couple only learnt of the liquidation after watching a recent Watchdog programme on BBC1.

"We are more upset for our friends and family than us," said Mrs King.

"We have to tell them that their carefully chosen presents never arrived."

Last night, Mrs King's mother-in-law, Maria, who contributed to a Dyson vacuum cleaner, said: "I feel so disappointed for them both. It was a lovely day yet it's been ruined.

The Evening Advertiser was unable to obtain comment from the firm.

But a message on their website states: "Regrettably we will not be able to make any more deliveries. If any of your guests have paid for goods we have been unable to deliver, they will need to make a claim against their credit/debit card company."

List of the missing gifts

The full list of the missing gifts: Steamer £40; wine rack £15; wine glass set £10; barbecue £20; framed pictures £22; serving platter £15; saucepan set £50; placemats £30; toaster £28.50; pillow set £19.98; glass set £20; coaster set £16; dining set x 2 £100; cutlery set £30; spice rack £17; garlic press £7; Dyson vacuum cleaner £269; wall decoration £30; gift vouchers £40.