Bridal & Formal Inc.

meganmarie122

Has anyone been to this store in Cincinnati? I've been on their website and they carry a lot of the designers whose gowns I really like and want to try on. I have never tried a wedding dress before and am wondering if this would be a good place to go? I'm wanting to stay under $1500 for my dress-do they have a wide enough selection here for something within that budget?

ungraceful13

I looked there and had a decent selection in the price range I wanted under $1000. I didnt like how pushy the staff was or the fact that I couldnt take a picture in the dress to compare with. But the selection was nice.

TMarieInOH

I bought my Maggie there- and it was much less than other girls have posted for the exact same style! I got 20% off, which they offered freely.

The lady I worked with was very easy to get along with- her name was Ruth. I didn't feel pressured to buy at all. I went in pretty frustrated after visiting Cincinnati Bride and told them right away that I WASN"T going to buy a dress that day. I told her I wanted to look at the Sotterro gowns, and that my price range was under $1000. I knew I wanted a more fitted gown, and was not interested in A-line. Ruth showed me to the Sotterro gowns, and also showed me gowns made by another designer who used to work for Sotterro. My mom and I went through the racks on our own, and every 5 or 10 minutes Ruth came back to check on us, and carry our dresses to the rack. When I said I was ready, we took all my dresses back to a fitting room and began trying on. I will warn, their fitting rooms are community types- not private, but I actually didn't mind it- it worked to my advantage- it's how I found THE dress! Another girl was trying it on, and I was like OMG- that's the one from the magazine! And, after waiting for TWO other girls to try it on, I tried it on, and it fit like a glove!

I didn't care for my experience at Cincinnati Bride- neither did my mom, or my mother-in-law on seperate trips. We all had a run in with the same consultant!

Good luck looking for your dress!

TMarieInOH

Oh yea- most bridal stores won't let you take photos of their dresses- the only one who I've not had any issues with is David's Bridal, b/c their dresses are designed for them, and they are exclusive to them.

I took photos of my dress at Bridal and Formal, and at Fabulous Bridal- they just don't want ladies taking photos of all the dresses and price hunting online or worse- having the dress knocked off by a seamstress. Sucks- but I can understand where they are coming from- I work in sales and it sucks to work with a client for an hour or more, they love everything, but decide to buy from another store, or find a cheaper product somewhere else...when you work on commission, it sucks when someone else profits from your hard work!

BB1584

I went there, it was okay. When you try on the dresses it's just a big room with tons of other girls trying on their dresses too. 

I was more impressed with Fabulous Bridal in Covington, KY (about 10 minutes south of Bridal and Formal's location). I purchased my dress from there, you can take as many pictures of the gowns as you like, they serve you champagne, and they have comfortable seating areas for your guests as you try on gowns in a private dressing room and then show them off to your mom/friends. If you wait until August, The Madison hosts an event called "Veils and Cocktails" (at least it was in August last year) the day after I received an email for $250 off of a dress and a free veil. I purchased a dress that was $1250 and a veil that was $295 for a total of $1000. Then when it comes time for your bridesmaids to get their dresses they host a "maids party" for you where they serve drinks and snacks to your girls as they get fitted (and a 10% discount for them too). Anyway, I hope that this helps and best of luck. 

jennearston

I second fabulous bridal; Bridal and Formal were SUPER rude towards me.  I got the impression that I didn't want to spend all our money on a dress I wasn't good enough.  I hate to "bash" other places, they could of had just a bad day, but I felt like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman...how they treated her lol.

HyperChicaPR

Bridal and formal does have a big room with everyone together but they also have private rooms. I was never pressured to buy. In fact, the first time I went in I already had a dress and told Corey (my consultant). I told her kind of what I was looking for and she immediately pulled the most amazing Emerald Bridal dress. It was my dress but she let me try on more to be sure. Then, I left! I had to show my mom. She was not pushy or rude at all when I left. I came back a few days later and bought the dress with my mom. Then when I decided to get a reception dress I went back to Cory again and she helped me. I didn't end up buying one with her and she was fine with that. She was never ever mean about anything. She is the sweetest girl ever.
So my suggestions: Go on a weekday/weeknight...weekends are really busy and crazy
Ask for Cory. She's adorable and soooo sweet.
Don't worry about your price point. My dress was $1000 and they immediately took off $200 for no reason!

Michele45419

From what I've heard, it appears that it depends on the consultant you have at Bridal and Formal.  Bobbi was my consultant and she was AWESOME!  I knew to expect the open dressing rooms and weekend crowds.  I also didn't exoect nor did I care about the champagne and luxe treatment - I simply wanted a large selection of gowns at a reasonable price.

I also had a budget of under $1000 for my gown and was originally worried that I would not find a gown in my price range ---- but I was wrong.  There are a TON of gowns and as previous posters have mentioned, they do discount.

As a last note, I never felt pressured to buy.  I told them upfront I was in for a day of dress shopping and they were my first appointment.  I went to another place (I forgot now) in Covington and stayed at that place for about 30 minutes because there really wasn't any dresses in my price range.  I went back to Bridal and Formal without an appointment.  Bobbi, my consultant, was then helping another customer....but we waited about 10 minutes or so when she started to multitask and help us again.  The store also closed for about 30-45 minutes while I was still trying on dresses and deciding what I liked.  I did not buy that first day (and I think they were just happy to give me that personalized experience) and went back about 3 weeks later.  At the 3 week later appointment, I also went in the evening and stayed about 30-45 minutes later.....but this time, I knew I found the dress when I didn't want to take it off and just wanted to take the sample home.  They were helpful in speaking with my about how the 2 dresses I was choosing between were different in quality and also letting me try on about 20-25 more dresses just so I could be sure. 

Anyhow, that's really long.  HTH!

skippylouwho

We had mixed results with Bridal & Formal. My DD, the MOH and I went on a Friday morning. DD told them  her budget was $1500 to 2k but might go to $2500 if she LOVED the dress AND that she was not buying a dress that day as she was just starting to look.

I do like that they let you roam through their dresses and pick what you think you want to try on, let you pull more if those don't work and that the also look at what you liked/didn't like about those dresses and pull what they think you'll like.  Go in with an open mind, try on all sorts of dresses.

We had 2 problems.  The consultant successfully pulled additional dresses that DD really liked. The first problem was they were from twice to 3 times her budget. Becuase she'd been very clear about her budget, DD tried on the dresses the consultant brought without checking the price tags. She found a couple she loved and when she checked the prices, her favorite was $3500 and another contender was $7500 (had been 14K).  The consultant really pushed both of those dresses hard.

As I mentioned, DD had said she wasn't going over $2500 and not buying that day. DD changed in to her cothes and went to restroom. MOH and I were in the dressing room with the consultant, problem #2 occurred then.  I asked some questions about the dresses, sincere, nice, typical questions. The MOH and I were shocked at the expression, tone and responses we got from the consultant. She was really unhappy that we weren't buying right then. When DD came back in the room - the sullen consultant was gone - like someone flipped a switch.  We told DD after left the store about how she acted towards us when DD was present. It didn't sit well with DD and no matter what, she wasn't going back there to buy or look again.

Could DD have spent more? Actually she could but she believes it is ridiculous to spend thousands and thousands on a dress for a few hours, she'd rather put it in to the reception and/or towards their house and their honeymoon.  She ended up buying a dress for $1200 in Dublin, Ohio at Elegant Bride. The dress came in about 2 weeks ago. It fits perfectly except for needing the shoulders taken up about 1/2" and adding a little lace to the V in the bodice so it isn't so low. For $1200 they also put in the bra and the crinoline. They are sewn in so you won't have to wear more garments and making it more comfortable.

A couple months after we visited B&F for DD, we went back - this time DD and I went with DS's FI.  She had a fabulous experience with a different consultant The consultant was absolutely helpful, pleasant from start to finish, not pushy. Actually found the dress FDIL plans to order. She saw what FDIL was trying on, figured out what she liked/didn't like with those dresses and pulled several that FDIL loved. She was completely within FDIL's budget too.

I do think the consultant makes the difference. I do not recall the name of either cosultant so I'm no help there but I do think it makes a big difference.

I know this is long but they probably also weren't to happy with us because of something else that happened. While DD had on the $3500 dress that she really, really liked - another girl was trying on an $8K to 10K dresses. They were the only 2 brides in the store at the time.   The other bride sort of liked the stuff she was trying on but wasn't crazy about anything. She saw DD in the $3500 and asked her consultant if she could try it on too. When DD took it off, the other bride put it on - fell in love with it and ordered it so they went from a possible 8K to 10K dress to a $3500 sale.   Not our fault at all but because she'd told them 8K to 10K, she would probably never have seen the $3500 dress.

tb583

I didn't get my dress from B&F, but the lady said we could take pics as long as no one else was back in the room changing at that time.

clearheavens

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_ohio-cincinnati_bridal-formal-4?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:108Discussion:8646024c-181e-4c11-8c6b-d7d3b2be2352Post:9b3b7507-85c2-4b90-950e-548595b1cb98">Re: Bridal & Formal Inc.</a>:
[QUOTE]Go on a weekday/weeknight...weekends are really busy and crazy
Posted by HyperChicaPR[/QUOTE]

<div>I also suggest this highly.</div><div>
</div><div>Also, Bridal & Formal has their annual Sample Sale in September.  It's amazing discount!  It's great for those around size 8-12 or 2-4 sizes from it.  (I would've bought my dress at their annual Sample Sale had it not been for my tiny stature of size 0 that makes it impossible to alter a sample.)</div>

dschuck23

I definitely second using Cory if you do decide to go to B&F.  She has been unbelieveably helpful!

muamanda18

I went to Lillians in Centerville and they were great. Plenty of amazing gowns within your price range and they are really helpful.

breffitt

I went to Bridal and Formal for my dress and loved it.  If you want to price hunt is all you have to do is get the information from the tag and look when you go home.  If you print off the price from a reputable source they will match it.  I highly reccomend Cory also.  She is the BEST!

MrsIttyBittyBaer

They were incredibly rude. From the moment I walked in they made me feel "too big" for any of their gowns except for plus size. (I am a 6-8 in normal clothing). The first area I was directed toward was the plus size dresses. And once I was in the dressing room, comments like "this dress might just fit you" among others were used. I left feeling as if I'd never find the right dress because of the way my consultant spoke down to me and my mother about my body shape and size. I don't think that any bride should be made to feel that way regardless of the situation and never went back. 

Ended up finding my dress at Cincinnati Bride, and couldn't be happier! :]

parker624

I bought my dress here and I'm obsessed with it.  I came in with a budget under $2000 and ended up spending $800 for a Pronovias dress.   At European bridal across the street they wanted to sell the SAME dress to me for $1200.

I love bridal and formal.