Where can I go? Please help!

rrmeyer

Well......I had originally planned on getting BM dresses from David's Bridal until my FI and I realized that the shade of Pistachio they have is NOT the shade we were thinking or liking.  We have thought about changing our colors, but I just can't come to terms with changing our colors because David's doesn't have the color we like.  My problem is that I have no idea where else to go look.  I've heard of a place called House of Brides, but  friend tells me that the costumer service at the one closest to where I live is crap.  This would be Aurora.  Maybe some of you have other things to say about them? Or maybe some of you can suggest other places to look. Thanks!!

Ainslie325

I would strongly advise against HOB.  I had a horrible experience at the store in Glen Ellyn in which one of my bridesmaids was very publicly shamed for being a plus size at the counter, and both of the girls I had with me were repeatedly upsold, including their having measurements inflated in order for the store to make more through alterations.  The prices on our Watters BM dresses there were not competitve AND they would have charged each of my girls to have their dresses shipped from the manufacturer to the store. 

I also find it disgusting that HOB repeatedly tries to steer customers away from their major competitors by sending libelous, anonymous letters about their financial state and impending bankruptcies.  If you sign in at HOB using their computer system, you will almost certainly receive one (I deliberately misspelled my name in their database, so there is no possibility of the letters originating anywhere else).  They rely on unscrupulous tactics and high pressure pitches to make their sales rather than true customer care. It's a shame, because we went their with every intention to buy, but we were repelled by their approach.  In short, I agree with your friend!

I found BM gowns that I liked online through Watters and Watters.  Watters is carried by online retailers Pearl's Place and Netbride, among others-- both of whom will beat brick and mortar prices by a mile and will compete with each other's quotes to win your business (consider also that you can avoid sales tax this way, and both of these retailers will ship for free).  My suggestion is to find a dress you like online.  Contact the manufacturer to find a local retailer who carries it and head over wit ha couple of your girls to try it on.  Get competitive quotes from both the salon you visit and the online retailers, and allow the salon to match their price if they're willing to do so (after all, you did try them on there-- they should at least be allowed to compete for your business).  If it were me, I'd go with whoever could give me (or rather, my maids) the best price.  By doing this, we were able to save about $100/dress, and my maids had their dresses shipped directly to them at no cost.  If you're concerned about the dye on the dresses matching each other, online retailers can hold production on the gowns until all the girls in your group have paid to ensure they'er all produces from the same lot.

In general, though they sometimes don't have the volume of stock that the larger megastores have, I lean toward smaller salons for better service.  In the Fox River Valley area, I've heard good things about The Crystal Bride in Geneva.  You'll have to see who carries the makers you like and go from there.

Good luck!

ladybug7485

I agree with PP, I'm using Pearl's Place for BM dresses because it saves so much money.
If you find BM dresses online that you like, you should be able to find out what stores in your area carry them and then go there to check out the color and style in person.
Other popular BM dress designers are: Alfred Angelo, Watters and Watters, Alfred Sung, Dessy Group
Oh and ditto PP regarding HOB, when I went there all of my BM were put in a room together and picked there own dresses off shelves with no help or input, we ended up leaving without being checked in on again by the saleswoman because she never came back

Sparkette19

I purchased my gown from HOB in Schaumburg and did not enjoy my experience...for what that's worth...

Regarding your color matching issue, I think that the best place to start is to contact the manufacturers and request a swatch in the color you want. That way you can determine which designer has the best matching colors. You could also do this by visiting the stores yourself. One thing to keep in mind though, if you do choose to visit stores to look at swatches, is that you don't know how old the swatches are. They can tend to get dirty over the course of time, or fade, etc.

There might be a small fee if you request a swatch from the manufacturer, but it's probably what you would spend in gas going from place to place.

Good luck finding your perfect color.

kellym050370

I recently had a situation with HOB and ended up refusing to give them any of my business.  I am not sure what style of dresses you are interested in but my BM dresses are from the Mori Lee line, they have a ton of different colors and are pretty reasonably priced.  The store I am using is Here Comes the Bride in Addison.  It's a small shop but so far I LOVE them.

nikikarabetsos

I'm totally against buying bridal/bm gowns online , but I won't go off into that rant again lol

VIctorian Bridal in Aurora seems to get good reviews, you should check them out too!
Nothing beats the service and care you'll get from an actual bridal store

Ainslie325

I don't know, Niki.  There are no guarantees that you'll get individual, conscientious service from a bridal salon any more than you would an online retailer. 

My BM dresses were shipped correctly and earlier than their stated deadline, allowing plenty of time for alterations with the seamstress of my BMs' choice.  The dye on each of the dresses matched perfectly. My gown, on the other hand, was extremely late, arriving just three weeks before my wedding, leaving barely enough time for alterations.  I was also repeatedly misinformed (lied to) about the date by which it was supposed to arrive, getting different information and being put off each time I called.  Ultimately, I called the manufacturer, who told me that the delivery date they'd told the retailer was different (significantly later) from what the retailer had told me.  This was at a mid-size local bridal salon with largely positive reviews to which I'd been recommended by multiple people. 

I was a pretty low-key bride, and, even though my purchase and alterations were positive experiences, actual delivery of the gown in the promised timeline just didn't happen. Really, the many, varied, and conflicting reasons given as to why it hadn't shown up were my biggest problem.  This could happen with any retailer, so all a bride can do is her homework as best she can and go with the retailer she's most comfortable with.  Having used both for my wedding, I can only attest to my own experience.  For me, buying BM dresses online was seamless, economical, and stress-free while ordering my gown from a local shop was not.  I'm sure others have had different experiences, but I'd be wary of counting a retailer out simply because they're online.  Of course, I'm all for local shops if they can be somewhat competitive on price-- it's good to support local businesses.

nikikarabetsos

Hi Ainslie,

I'm sorry you had such a ridiculous experience with your bridal gown! Stores like that give all the other good stores a bad name!

I work for a Bridal Manufacturer, which is why I strongly frown on online sales websites, b/c often consumers ( Brides like me and you ) get a hold of our number when they've been wronged by the store or website they purchased from.
I'd say 95% of those upset Brides bought online, from companies that either make counterfeit copies of gowns or arent actually authorized by the manufacturer to sell their gowns, so the bride ends up stuck without gowns or with something tha tlooks nothing like the original.

If you do buy online, please make sure that the website is authorized by the manufacturer of the gown, that will help alot, b/c if there are any problems you know the manufacturer will likely back them up .

GettingHitched2010

You could try j crew or ann taylor

Golfer09

I had my bridesmaid dresses from Priscilla of Boston in Oakbrook.  I also got my wedding dress there so there was an extra discount for the BM dresses.  My customer service was really good based on my experience. 

I don't know if they have the color you are looking for but I did not receive any complaints from my BM on the quality of dress or the price...

http://priscillaofboston.com/dress_return.jsp?gid=2&f6=GREEN&pagesize=all

morgie44

We chose our dresses at House of Brides then ordered them through NetBride

rrmeyer

Thank you again everyone!! I have looked at a few places online and I'm planning some trips to some of the reccommended stores! Hopefully I can find something!