Do not come here if you have anxiety or want things done timely (I would just lie about your deadline if you do choose this place). I bought my wedding dress 8 months ago, while I was newly postpartum and still nursing. I had my first fitting 4 months later (around July). I told the owner that I would be losing weight up until a certain point (1 month before the wedding-end of August/beginning of Sept) but after that, they could alter the sides. She told me over and over that there would be time. She reconstructed from halter to sweetheart. She took in the sides before I stopped losing weight (end of July/beginning of August)... and then continuously mentioned how much weight I lost and they need to bring in the dress again. Mind you, we agreed on the date that I would stop losing so she would have time to take in my dress. She chose to take it in before that date- not my fault they have to do double work.
A week before the wedding and it still wasn't done. She kept saying I lost more weight so o had her remeasure me. Guess what? Exact same measurements as my previous appt. She didn't even realize that we hadn't done the hem (I had to remind her).
I requested to see the dress ONE DAY before our scheduled pick up, and it still wasn't done. She assured me to be at peace that it would be done. Applications were added where I didn't approve (right on the bust and only on one side!)! She said the dress would be ready by the pick up date (THE DAY BEFORE I leave for the airport). I call at 4pm to see the progress and she said the dress and veil aren't done- but it would be done within 3 hrs. 7pm comes around and guess what?! Dress and veil are STILL not done.
I get some women are bridezillas but I've been very patient. She's known of this deadline for MONTHS. She even tried to figure out my flight time and when other family members were traveling to the wedding. I sat for 3 hrs waiting for my dress to be ready. I left the store with my dress but I had to leave the country without my veil.
My mom went to pick up the following day after we discussed the design at length. Pictures were shown, hand drawing by Esther. She didn't have it ready until 9pm. The veil is nothing like what she drew. To top it off, she told my mom that the reason my VEIL wasn't ready is because of my weight loss! What does weight loss - that stopped A MONTH AGO - have anything to do with creating a custom veil?!
I haven't even mentioned my mom's dress... we asked for a panel. It was made about 1cm too small. She refused to make it bigger. Buttons added by the seamstress so the panel wouldn't move on one side but still have flexibility to move on the other. Esther took off the buttons and put ONE stitch, which popped when my mom tried on the dress. Then refused to add the buttons back on as we requested.
Lily, the seamstress, is very nice and patient. Even mentioned that my dress wasn't ready because she kept being pulled in different directions by Esther to work on other dresses despite my deadline (literally the day I picked it up).
I'm extremely disappointed in the process. Esther, the owner, needs to get a bridal consultant because she can't manage this part of the store on her own. She doesn't meet deadlines, doesn't listen to the brides, gives compliments to deter you from the delays, gaslights you that everything will work out, and keeps telling you "be at peace" and "trust the process". There is no peace. There is no process. And the customer gets blamed for her incompetence. You have to manage her and make sure she's on top of it. In my opinion, she shouldn't even do anything bridal in this store and just stick to Quinceañera dresses.
Do not go to Jorka Atelier if you want a good experience. If you want mediocre, late work, then this is the place for you. 0/10 would not recommend. read more