INCREDIBLY disappointed with my experience. I walked in and was paired with a stylist pretty…read morequickly. She asked if I had inspiration pictures, which I showed her, and I explained that I was open to trying different styles but that I was specifically looking for a whimsical, flowy, fairy-like wedding dress. I had seen several online that I loved, so I came in genuinely excited and hopeful.
Unfortunately, I wasn't really given the opportunity to choose many of the dresses I tried on. I did pick one myself that I absolutely LOVED, but I was told they couldn't alter it for me. After that, I was brought about five other dresses that were almost the complete opposite of what I had described. I kept explaining, respectfully, that I didn't like the glam, elegant style they were bringing me and that I was looking for something much more whimsical and fairy-like. Instead of trying something closer to what I had shown them, they kept trying to make the dresses I disliked work by adding belts and other details that I had already said I didn't want.
Eventually, I was told that they had spoken with the manager and that there was nothing within my approximately $500 budget that fit what I was looking for. At that point, I felt pretty defeated. I had seen plenty of dresses online that were within my budget and fit the style I wanted, so I was confused by that conclusion.
With about 15 minutes left in my appointment, I asked if I could look through the dresses myself. I was told to be quick. I found two dresses that were within my budget and were actually much closer to what I had been describing the entire appointment. I couldn't understand why I hadn't been shown those dresses in the first place. However, I was then told I could only try on one of them.
The entire experience started to feel less like someone was trying to help me find my wedding dress and more like my preferences were being ignored. I felt like my time was being wasted on dresses that were completely outside of what I had asked for and dresses that felt more suited to a completely different age and style than what I was looking where dresses I wanted were barely considered.
I was repeatedly told that I would never find something like what I wanted within my budget. I left feeling defeated, and almost in tears, only to go home and, within about 10 minutes, order a dress I had already had sitting in my cart from another company for $399. It is actually closer to my vision than the dresses I was told I couldn't find.
Another thing that really bothered me was that I specifically told my stylist that I wanted a flower crown instead of a veil because I was trying to help her understand the overall look I wanted. Instead of incorporating that into the vision, she repeatedly tried to convince me to wear a veil or add a veil. I had to say three times i didn't want one.
And then came the most humiliating part of the appointment: they started bringing out flower girl dresses for me to try on. I am a 27-year-old woman shopping for my wedding dress. After spending the appointment explaining the vision I had for myself, being handed flower girl dresses felt incredibly degrading. It honestly made me feel like I was being made fun of or that my vision was being treated like a joke. I didn't feel like a bride-to-be at all in that moment.
I was also repeatedly told to essentially "pretend you're walking down the aisle" and that I would understand the vision once I pictured myself walking down the aisle. I understand wanting a bride to visualize her wedding day, but that doesn't make sense when the dress itself is something I've already said I dislike. I'm not going to hate a dress, imagine an aisle, and suddenly decide the dress is beautiful. The dress needs to actually reflect what I like.
Overall, it felt like they were trying to talk me out of almost everything I came in wanting rather than helping me find a way to achieve the look. I'm not a picky person, and I was very open about trying different things. But when I specifically say I don't like something, I don't understand why the response is to repeatedly bring me that exact thing, or try to convince me that I should like it.
I'm ultimately very happy with the dress I purchased ELSEWHERE. I just hope David's Bridal can work with their stylists on listening to brides and staying within the ideas and preferences they've communicated. Trying something outside of a bride's comfort zone can be great when it's done thoughtfully. But there's a big difference between encouraging a bride to be open-minded and completely disregarding what she has told you she wants.
I came in excited to find my wedding dress and left feeling embarrassed, defeated, and like the things I was excited about were being crushed. That's unfortunately not how a bride should feel leaving a wedding dress appointment. AND looking at these other reviews, doesn't seem like I'm the only one.
