Illinois-Chicago

House of Brides

I live in KC, but am from the suburbs of Chicago and went to HOB with my family while in town.  Had a great experience while at the shop, but a HORRIBLE time when it came to ordering and just wanted to let you Chicago girls know.  One of my BM's ordered her dress from their online site and was charged 5 times for her dress.  She had a very hard time getting in contact with anyone that would help her and had to get her credit card company involved to get a refund.  This happened over 2 weeks ago, and they have agreed to refund the money, but have yet to do so. 
While working with a consultant by phone for another BM's dress I had a difficult time communicating because you can only work with one consultant and she was only there a couple days a week.  It was obvious she was very focused on her commission, not on making me happy.

Hope this helps some of you out there.  Happy wedding planning!

Re: House of Brides

  • MrsPapsMrsPaps member
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Thanks for the heads up...HOB isn't a fan favorite around here if you know what I mean :)
  • edited December 2011
    yes, most def thank you for the heads up!  If I may ask, which one did you go to?

    In all fairness, I did have a really good experience bridesmaid and bridal dress shopping, and the prices are so good... but I've read all the nightmare stories about the ordering and thats what scares me!
  • edited December 2011
    The shopping experience may be good but when it comes down to ordering that is when the nightmare starts according to many here.

    If you find a dress and buy it off the rack and take it out of the store that day, not so much. That is what I did. I negotiated the price and walked out the door with it, then a few weeks later I recieved the anomyous letter stating Evas Bridals was filing bankruptcy, going out of business, etc. This letter has been sent to brides that visit HOB for at the very least 5 years or so. Very much a turn off.

    I wouldn't have gone there but had a very difficult time with my dress... long story.
    I was less than 2 months out, I needed a dress, this one fit and I loved it so I bought from HOB against my better judgement.
  • aimers1525aimers1525 member
    2500 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    Hi Kelly (WAVING)! I wish I knew you were coming here and I could of given you some info!
  • edited December 2011
    I actually have not had a problem at the schaumburg HOB with my gown or my bridesmaids. I didn't like the other stores or people I worked with, but my consultant at schaumburg was amazing.
  • hz80408hz80408 member
    5000 Comments 5 Love Its Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    Similar to alphabride...I went to try on a BM dress I was thinking of wearing for my RH.  Throughout the next few weeks I received emails/letters/and phonecalls from all sorts of vendors (included the anonymous letter about Eva's).  It's clear they sell information b/c since I didn't get married in Chicago area, HOB was the only wedding/bridal related shop I visited!
  • stephasuasustephasuasu member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Ohhhh HOB. I went to the one in Glen Ellyn. I got a few accessories form there, my veil and an alfred angelo clip, and I also ordered a short, Alfred Angelo reception dress that I wanted to change into late in the evening. I ordered this dress 5 months before my wedding, and it was expected to be in 6 weeks before my wedding. Before I knew it it was four weeks and no dress, three weeks, still no dress. One week before my wedding they had NO IDEA where my dress was. This was not the end of the world since I had purchased my main, long gown from Eva's. 

    After practically stalking the store trying to find out where the dress was, it came in 4 days before my wedding. It was horribly too big, and had to be altered overnight, which they did, but I was still charged for it. Apparently they cut me a deal and charged me "destination wedding dress" fee's.  
  • mscramuzzomscramuzzo member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I didn't have a good experience at the Glen Ellyn location. The people were not at all helpful. My consultant didn't help me at all. I was looking for a little more personal experience than "here are the dresses, bring me what you find". I had a specific look I was going for but I had to look through dresses to find it myself. My sister had to help me get in and out of dresses while the consultant disappeared for about 20 minutes. Not a place I would go back to.

    My sister bought her bridesmaid dress online from there. She didn't have any issues getting overcharged and we'll see when she gets the dress for my final stance on them!
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards