Horrible experience from the moment I walked in…read more
My mom and I walked in smiling, excited for my bridal appointment. Instead of being welcomed, the front desk staff laughed, and one of them asked, "What are you doing here?" I replied, "I have an appointment," and they all laughed again. Looking back, I should have walked out then, but I decided to give them a chance.
I was told I had to wait because no one was available to help me, even though there were four staff members standing at the front. I was told to look through the racks for dresses while I waited. Since it was my first time shopping for a wedding dress, I didn't know the process. Later, I noticed signs everywhere saying not to walk through the aisles, so my mom and I stood to the side and waited.
After about 20 minutes, someone finally came to help us. She immediately asked which dresses I wanted to try on. I explained that I had no idea because this was my first bridal appointment and I was hoping for some guidance. She seemed visibly annoyed. She pulled a few dresses, and one of them was absolutely beautiful--I genuinely loved it.
However, the overall attitude made me uncomfortable. At one point, she told me the dress was around $5,000 and then asked, "Can you afford it?" I replied, "Yes, I can." After that, I noticed other staff members gathering around and suddenly walking by to compliment how beautiful the dress looked on me. It felt very insincere.
Even though I loved the dress, I decided not to purchase it. Buying a wedding dress is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I didn't feel confident moving forward with a boutique where I felt unwelcome and judged. I politely ended my appointment and left.
As I was walking out, I heard one of the employees say, "I told you they weren't going to buy it."
That confirmed I had made the right decision.
Thankfully, I found my dream dress at a wonderful bridal boutique in Costa Mesa, where I was treated with kindness, respect, and genuine excitement. The difference in customer service was night and day.
Every bride deserves to feel welcomed, supported, and celebrated. Unfortunately, that was not my experience here.