Bride-to-be faces uncertainty over wedding gift registry after David Jones enters administration

A Sydney bride, Ebony, 24, is reviewing her wedding gift registry after the department store David Jones entered voluntary administration. Ebony, who planned to marry her fiancé Tomislav in May, had used the MyRegistry platform to compile a list that includes about half of its items from David Jones.

"This David Jones stuff is kind of a bit of a freak-out," she told Nine.com.au after the news broke.

Ebony said she visited several David Jones locations across the city to select homewares, linens and kitchenware. During a recent visit to the Westfield Parramatta store, she noticed unusually empty shelves, which she later linked to the retailer’s financial troubles.

"I went to the Parramatta one probably about a month or so ago, and I was looking for a particular product and I went in there, and it was basically half empty," she said.

With wedding invitations scheduled for December, Ebony is weighing whether to remove David Jones items from the registry or replace them with alternatives. Consumer advocates have warned that shoppers with unfulfilled orders or unused gift cards could become unsecured creditors if the retailer collapses, and have advised redeeming gift cards promptly.

David Jones operates 38 stores in Australia, many of which are located in Westfield centres that may close before the holiday season. The retailer’s gift registry service remains accessible online and through the MyRegistry platform, which allows users to filter out specific retailers.

Ebony plans to adjust the registry as needed and hopes the flagship store on Elizabeth Street will continue operating.

Both David Jones and MyRegistry were contacted for comment but did not respond at the time.