Wedding Dress Shopping HELP!

xjulie2188x · March 2011

Overall my wedding planning experience has been a breeze. I feel like I have been really lucky because everything for the most part has just fallen into place... everything except for the dress! I'm starting to get a little panicky because I haven't found "the one" yet and I really feel as though I'm quickly running out of time. And let's face it, what bride doesn't want to just wow everyone when she walks in?

I'm on a rather tight budget and I've had 2 failed attempts at dress shopping (very frustrating experiences) so far. So since my instincts seem to be off about this, can you ladies please give me some advice? Best shops? Worst shops? Smaller shops that I may not have heard about? Price ranges? I'll take any advice you can give me! Thanks!!!

jdcwedding1 · March 2011

Have you tried David's Bridal by Easton? I purchased my dress from there and had a wonderful experience. (the girl helping me was awesome and even picked out my dress) I went on a Sunday when it's not as busy, that may help too.

TerraandSteve · March 2011

I second David's Bridal I got my dress from the one on Sawmill and my Bridesmaids got theirs from the David's at Easton and St. Clairsville, OH. Over all I had an excellent experience at all three locations. And if you choose to go to the one on Sawmill ask for Christine. She only works weekends but she is supper at selecting a dress to fit your vision....It's like she's Psychic LOL.

nnoble4 · March 2011

Alfred Angelo just opened up in Dublin. I bought my dress at an AA store in Maryland. But, I went with my girls to pick out bridesmaids dresses there. They have a good price range, from $500 - $2000. And...they always have sales. If you sign up for their emails you'll be informed of when they are. I got $100 off my dress that way!

I went to Trumpington in Westerville (I think that's where it was). It was awesome, but it was more expensive. I think all the dresses I tried on were over $1000. They did have a sale rack, also if you purchased the sample, they'd give you a discount. They were soooooo sweet! I would have definitely considered making a purchase from them.

I went to Wendys, and my experience was HORRIBLE!!! My "consultant" was running late. I picked a bunch of dresses, most of them corset style. As she's putting me in one she said, "If I'm tying you up and you don't like something, let me know, we are already late into your appointment and we don't have a lot of time." After that, I was playing dress up because I KNEW I would not be buying from them. I also was trying on a bunch of similar style dresses, so I knew they were from the same designer, I asked who, and she said she would tell me when I purchased it. Ummm....WTF?!? Seriously?! Most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of.

KristineEL · March 2011

I actually looked at dresses without a budget in mind and then found the style I really liked. Then I took a HUGE chance, and ordered a knockoff from China on one of those websites and entered my custom measurements I had my mom take. I got the dress back within 20-ish days for under $400. Everyone that has seen it thinks it costs $4000. It is stunning. I realize a lot of brides may get nervous about ordering a dress they haven't actually seen, but you do enter your custom measurements and I can vouch that it works! I think there were over 1,000 styles to choose from (and I liked that I didn't have to drive all over town).

Kristine

csh96 · March 2011

In Columbus I went to Allan Ray and Trumpington. I had a good experience at both stores and tried on dresses at both in the range from 650-1200. I also went to the new Alfred Angelo store to shop for BM dresses. I did not look at bridal dress prices but the BM dress prices, with their sale were better than Davids.

Cassandra999 · March 2011

I am also on a budget, I haven't been anywhere yet. I plan on going to Universe Bridal in West Lafeyette. I have heard they have a good selection of samples at good prices. And I plan on going to Bridal & Formal in Cin. I have also heard they have a good selection at all price ranges. I'll post reviews after I go

Hi KristineEL,
Could you PM me the website you ordered from? I've seen some on Ebay but of course I'm a little nervous to order. Glad to see your dress turned out so great.

BMDunlap01 · March 2011

I went to Wendys and David's Bridal last weekend. I've heard horrible things about Wendy's but my consultant Willy was nice. I wanted a lace dress though and they didn't have anything in my size (14) that was in my budget (around $500). The dresses were beautifully made but just not me.
I then went to David's Bridal. It was a much different experience (not as much one on one attention) but my consultant knew the look I was going for and found something for me I loved. They seemed to have the best selection for my size and price range.
I met the owner of Trumpington Bridal in Westerville and she was wonderful to talk to. She said all her dresses are $1800 and under. I had an appointment with her this weekend but canceled because I already found my dress.
Good luck!!!

HollyK5320 · March 2011

Wendy's is hit or miss... You either have a wonderful experience, or it sucks. A friend of mine went there and was really angry when she left. However, I went there ia few weeks ago just to try on some styles to make a purchase somewhere else. My consultant, Lil, was great to work with. I think her and I clicked on what I was looking for. I ended up finding my dream dress that I thought would cost around $2500. Lil worked some magic somehow and grouped my dress, undergarments, hairpiece, and veil for under $2500.

I would try Wendy's and David's if you're dress shopping on a budget. They have the cheapest dresses that don't necessarily *look* cheap.

KellyRVT · March 2011

There is a resale shop in Grandview. I believe it is Alternative Hitch. Designer dresses, max price is $300. They have some decent dresses!

[Deleted User] · March 2011

I bought my dress at Alan Ray, they were great. But Elegant Bride in Dublin came in a close second.

shushu1208 · March 2011

I second David's Bridal on Sawmill. My consultant was fantastic and listened to what styles I was thinking of but made a few suggestions of her own... One of which was the one I picked! If you would like the name of my consultant, just let me know

. Good luck!

phunkydreamer · March 2011

Bridal & Formal does have quite a range of designers and prices, but of the ones I looked at on what I thought was the cheaper racks, I would say most still seemed to be above $1000. I think they have an upstairs with seriously cheap dresses that were samples, but no one told me about it when I was there! I think it was even roped off. I worked with Ruth and she was great!

kiyamurph · March 2011

If you don't mind doing a little driving, you should check out Perfect Weddings in Lancaster. I had my first dress shopping experience there and I received excellent service. My stylist, Cheryl, is really sweet and she wasn't pushy at all (something I was worried about). I found my Maggie there but didn't buy it since I wasn't quite ready to make a purchase back then. After going there and then to Wendy's next, Wendy's paled in comparison since I didn't feel like I had that personal experience like I had at Perfect Weddings. They have all kinds of price ranges so I think you can be successful no matter your budget.

xjulie2188x · March 2011

Thanks ladies! You are all lifesavers! I've got 2 more appointments for this weekend! So wish me luck!

darby22 · March 2011

I had a great experience with Elegant Bride and have 3 friends that have used them and enjoyed it as well!

tweber510 · March 2011

David's bridal is awesome and then there's this place called wedding plantation in groveport i think it's really awesome and pretty decently priced

ouRufus2010 · March 2011

I didn't even consider going anywhere in Columbus after all the good things I heard about Bride & Formal. My dress was one of the first five I tried on, and since it was 'last season,' it was $500. It came home with me that day (and Linda Hine altered it perfectly).

JaymeM · March 2011

I also had a great experience at Perfect Weddings in Lancaster. When I talked to them on the phone she said I have about an hour, I was there almost 3. They were never pushy, unfortunately I didnt find the one I was looking for, I went to Universe Bridal in West Lafeyette OH (really long drive) They were very nice one thing I would suggest is going DURING THE WEEK. on the weekends they are CRAZY. I thought I had found the dress but when I came in I HATED it. The lady there was so nice and she told me to hold off on taking it home. I put a little more money down on it and I am going back on Thursday. They told me I can switch my dress once. So we will see. I am very nervous. I do not live in Columbus I actually live south (By circleville ) and I was not impressed with Davids Bridal. I went there to look for BM dresses (I took my junior BM with me) The lady was very rude, didnt pull the right size dresses and was very pushy. I was angry but it was the only place we could find dresses for all my girls.

andrlynn · April 2011

I know others have touched on their experiences at Wendys, but I just wanted to throw out an additional warning. I visited there in December as one of my first places to try on dresses. I found a Maggie gown that I fell in love with there. As I'm ready to purchase the gown, they throw a curveball and tell me that in order to guarantee that the dress arrives in plenty of time, they recommend rush shipping which was and extra $100. Otherwise It might not arrive until mid May for my June 11th wedding. I decided it wasn't worth the extra and I would keep looking since I had just begun my search. Then to not lose our business, they suddenly claim to have a special $100 off during your first visit, so it balanced out the rush cost. I was dumb enough to fall for it all, so I agreed and paid the balance in full.

They told me with the rush shipping that the dress would arrive around the end of April. After calling to check up on things last week, they kindly informed us that the dress is now scheduled to arrive at the end of May! Why in the world did I pay rush shipping only to have the dress arrive even later than the regular was supposed to be. My wedding is June 11, so there's no way they can get the dress in, ship it to me (I live out of state and ordered when I was visiting my parents), and have alterations done in time. Not to mention that I'm supposed to have bridal pictures done next month. They're refusing to give a refund and claim that the consultent was not supposed to give us an arrival date, so we must be wrong in assuming it would be here. I can guarantee you I would not have ordered the dress had they not given me a date or had they told me it would be in in May. That's why I paid extra for rush shipping!!!!

WARNING to other brides: Do not do business with these people or you may find yourself having to spend the money (money I don't really have to spare) in order to buy a 2nd dress that will actually be there for your wedding!!!!!

Wedding Dress Shopping HELP!

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