For my first time trying on wedding dresses, I could not have made a worst decision than going to…read morethis shop.
TLDR:
1. Associate rushes you through the process, even has a timer that goes off to remind you of the 5min warning.
2. Associate pushes you to buy off the rack, almost makes it seem like it's not worth their time to order a new dress for you.
3. Associate allowed a random party to come into your private, timed, appointment.
4. Associate has very uncomfortable conversations with you in the dressing room.
I had never looked at wedding dresses before and was very curious on about the styles that are offered. I informed the associate I wanted a simple dress; she showed me a selection of about 6 so we picked 2. As I waited for my sister to arrive, I continued to look through their selections. But as I continued to browse their options, the associate kept reminding me that usually brides only try on 1-2 to "decide" what style they liked so she heavily recommended I do that before picking out anything else. I agreed with her, but since my sister hadn't arrived yet, looking was my only option. I wasn't going to try on any dresses on without my sister present. She would tell me she's not rushing me but also rush me at the same time. She told me at least 3 times, this recommendation to not select anymore out. Once again, I did not want to start trying on dresses without my sister.
In the midst of my private appointment, she let a group of 4 women in to "look really quick." She had a full conversation with them. When my sister arrived, it was so uncomfortable that she had to kick them out and ask them to leave. I was concerned I'd have to come out in a wedding dress with people I didn't even know looking at me. If I signed up for a shared space, I would not have minded. But given this place only allows private appointments, I find it very unprofessional. Regardless of waiting for my guest, it was inappropriate. The associate is very good at reminding you of the 60min appointment. Considering, she gave about 10 minutes of it to another party, I was even more offended when she had an alarm with a 5-minute warning. She thanked me for "letting them in." However, she never asked me if it was appropriate.
As my sister inquired about a dress I was interested in and the timeline to order it, the associate went on a tangent about the European designers they work with, how exclusive they are, and that celebrities come all the way to their shop to buy these wedding dresses. She wouldn't give me an exact timeline of when the specific dress would arrive if we ordered. She was more interested in pushing me to buy off the rack and emphasizing to me the $500-$600 I would save. She informed me that unless I'm "serious" about buying a dress, the bridal shop will not "bother" the designer.
From the moment stepping into the bridal shop, the associate gave me a lot of compliments. When my sister arrived, she also gave her compliments. As her and I got into the dressing room, she continued the compliment that both my sister and I look like "dolls" and continued to ask me what ethnicity I am. I am Chinese. To which she informed me "she can't ever tell." The compliments continued about my hair being so long and beautiful, but also that she lost a lot of her own hair and it was difficult to grow back. She then reminded me to "enjoy it" while I had all this hair. Though I understand the nicety of making a bride feel beautiful, the entire conversation was so bizarre. I felt so uncomfortable being in a tiny dressing room with her.
My sister was 20 minutes late to the appointment. In no way is that the associates fault. I did not expect her to accommodate for that. I did not need more than 30mins to try on the 4 dresses. It was the entire experience that was rushed. There was no breathing room to look at the options in their showroom. How she talked to me was rushed. How she presented options to me was rushed. How she informed me that certain dresses I was looking at is $3K when she never asked me about a budget.
Overall, regardless of being liking one of the dresses, I hated my time there. I am disappointed that that was my first experience trying a wedding dress and that's the service I received.
