Local Dress Shops

asummerly

I went shopping for the first time today and I actually might have found my dress but I didn't have a great experience where I went.  I went to Ana's in EP and I found her to be very pushy.  She knew this was my first time trying on dresses and my wedding isn't until October 2011, so I thought the pressure was a little ridiculous.  My problem is that not many local stores carry the line of the dress so it's not like I can get the dress from many other places.  I was just wondering if peple had similar experiences there?  Maybe I should just shrug it off and give her the business if I go with the dress.

 Thanks 

DeliteSmith

That was not my favorite shop, when I got there I showed the girl a pic of a dress I liked and she said "oh, I can't help you with that, just go ahead and look around" and she did not interact with us at all, and she never smiled once, and didn't offer any help or ask about the wedding or what style, etc. (which ALL the other places did, with enthusiasm). I actually felt drepressed when I left.  I think maybe she was just having a bad day, because I have read positive reviews of Ana's on here. But compared to the other places I went so far (Erina's, The Bridal Garden, Wishing Well) it my least favorite experience, though she did not pressure me at all. 

 I'd say if another store has the line within driving distnace, give it a shot, but if they have your dream dress, then just get the dress there and maybe take it to your own seamstress? GL!

hollygb22

I went to Ana's, wishing well, and HOB

I didn't want someone breathing down my throat and kind of wanted to do my own thing, so Ana's was my favorite shop to work with.

I knew from these message boards that if you buy on your first appt they offer an additional discount, so I didn't make it my first stop, I went to maybe 4 or 5 different shops beforehand

i ended up buying there because the same dress was 300$ cheaper at ana's vs. HOB. They had free alterations and Ana does them herself.

chrispygal

I bought my dress at House of Brides in Woonsocket.  They were great to work with, and I've been very happy so far.  There was zero pressure, although I did buy my dress on my first visit (and I'm a Sept 2011 bride).  The salesperson I worked with was great, spent a lot of time with me, and brought out dresses she thought would work for me.  The last one I put on I didn't want to take off, and that's how I knew it was the one.  I'm kind of sad the experience is over, but I love, love, love my dress!  I've gone through Ana's as a bridesmaid, and there were ok to work with.  I get what you mean by their "attitude" but I think that's just how they are.  They did good work and we were pleased with them overall. 

JessiTess

Ana's was the second shop I went to, and I was very turned off by how pushy she was.  I refused to purchase my gown from her on principle.

I'm not sure which dress you're interested in, but most shops will order a gown for you even if they don't carry it in the store.  Since you have time, I would check out a couple more shops and see if anyone is willing to order it. 

asummerly

She offered 15% off or free alterations if I bought the dress that day.  It didn't seem like that great of a "one day sale" as she put it, considering when I called, I was told they don't usually do appointments on Tuesdays because they usually only do alterations.  She said that price was only available until 9pm that night.  I just found the whole experience sketchy and it didn't even seem like I was getting a bargain out of it. 

angiem33

I used Helene's bridal in EP I worked with Ashley and really liked her.  No comission there so as Ashley put it she "couldn't care less which dress you bought or if you got one there at all"  She just helped pick one that looked best.  I would try to have someone else order the dress or keep shopping,  you have ton's of time left to find a dress!

ceci11

 I got my dress at Wishing Well and am very happy with everything . My alterations are free which helps.also. My friend got a bridesmaid at Anas and you are right about the "attitude". It was not Ana, but one of the sales consultants. If you know who makes the dress, that might help. GL

haliesb11

I brought my dress from Ana's Bridal in May. I went in looking for a specific dress and they were  accommodating to a point. The one down fall is the small space and the "help yourself" attitude. I ended up buying a dress they had in their window and am just waiting for it to come in. But as others have wrote I did get the, I will discount the dress for today only, but at that point I loved the dress and just could not walk away without it.

tropicanha

I was happy getting mine at Wishing Well, was not impressed with Ana's. I didn't like how they refused to let me take pictures of the dress (I went by myself and wanted to show my mom), so they lost my business. I don't like shops that have that kind of attitude. Wishing Well didn't have the dress I fell in love with elsewhere, but they were able to order it for me, and it was almost 50% the cost of where I originally found the dress. Got the bridesmaids dresses there too. Pam is the best person to work at there. Don't know about alterations because I didn't get them done there.

Cailtin

I WOUOLD NOT  reccommend ANNA'S. I ordered my dress in Feb. in a pearl white color that was beautiful. When it arrived in march (So fast i was impressed) it was ivory! It does not come in pearl white apparently. I was mis lead. Anna herself told me she would rush order the bright white color and I agreed. It is now 45 days til my wedding (and a full 6 months since my original order) AND THE DRESS IS STILL NOT HERE! I was told last week it had been shipped. When I called today her sales girl said they do not have order tracking (um really?!?!) then said she could call the designer and get the trackinng from them and she'd call me back. Still no call back. I have my fingers crossed it will arrive and all will be beautiful on Sept 18th fo rme, but I would strongly warn any other brides.  WHew, I think i had to vent a little there, sorry.

contessagems

my daughter found just what she wanted, with extremely helpful professional friendly people, at "bridal and gift" in south attleboro.  bought the dress in oct, wedding in july.  2 fittings, and ready!
also, the seamstress was fantastic, and quite clever, and quick!
my m.o.b. skirt was ordered, shipped, fitted and ready in 6 weeks! 
also, they've shipped the gown out for preservation, as well.
please give them a try!

Kimberly96

I cannot stress enough how WONDERFUL Alexandra's Bridal (Fall River) is.  I had gone to Gilda's (also in FR) earlier that day and not only had they forgotten to write my appointment down (causing me to wait 30 minutes), they didn't so much as apologize, I had to pull, get into and clip my own dresses.  Then, when someone FINALLY came over, she brought me  a dress that was everything I said I didn't want and gave me attitude when I didn't want to try it on. 

Then I went to Alexandra's.  Carol was fantastic.  She steered me away from dresses I couldn't afford and really listened to what I wanted.  She was laid back and not at ALL pushy.  She let me try on as many gowns as I wanted even after I thought I had found the one, which she pulled, BTW.  A few weeks later she called about a sale they were having on Bridesmaid gowns.  My girls must have tried on two dozen gowns.  I couldn't have picked more varied body shapes on my bridesmaids if I tried.  Finally, Carol pulled a dress that looked perfect on everyone.  They are true professionals there and have a wide range of price points.  Oh, and when I went in for the bridesmaid dresses, she let me put my gown on again even though we had already been there for hours.  At the end of the day, Carol dressed my whole wedding party (aside from the guys..though I'm sure she would have if they had tux's) and we're all gfoing to look fabulous.  Oh, AND they let me take pictures of my dress because my mom wasn't there.  Though, I was set on buyuing it and told her I would hand her my credit card before the flash went off.