I purchased an exquisite mother of the bride dress later than I truly would have normally done, but an original dress I had made with a private seamstress turned out to be disastrous experience! Chela (owner) and her seamstress were instrumental in helping me order a gorgeous gown & assured me arrival & alterations for my daughters wedding. I was worried, but they made it happen and were true professionals and SO kind and reassuring through the entire experience. I would highly recommend this shop. It was an elevated shopping experience right in town, which is rare. Thank You Chela and team! read more

Couture quality dresses and gowns. Everything is special ordered and alterations are performed on site. Fabulous experience in every way. So happy to not need to travel to NYC for a high end gown. Fabulous that fittings are close to home. Look forward to visiting again for wedding or black tie event. Service is superior and alterations were perfection. read more

Short story: RUN AWAY NOW. If I could give zero stars, I would! You will not be treated with respect. Horrible service. They talk down on you. We were rushed out of there. And they do not care what you are looking for, only what THEY think will look good on your body. Long story: We booked an appointment at Susan Deborah to look for a wedding dress. We entered the store and were met with the older woman (presumably the owner) and did not even get a 'hello'. No small talk, no 'how are you', not even the question of what type of dress are you looking for or talks of budget. Off to a great start. She immediately brings the bride over to some dresses and starts looking at them. The woman starts pulling dresses, still not really saying much or asking the bride her preferences. The bride starts talking about the style of dresses she likes. The woman responds saying how she will pick dresses that she thinks will look good on her. Ok, judgy. Next, the bride mentions her budget. The woman turns and says "All our dresses are made in the US and are high quality. For your budget you can get a dress from China". She turns and continues to pick out dresses for the bride without considering her thoughts or opinions. So, after learning her dresses are all $3,000 + we (bridesmaids and family) start pulling dresses ourselves. This is one of the brides' first appointments, so we are still trying to figure out what fit and style she likes. We explained this to the woman. The bride asks if we can just leisurely look around and pick some dresses. She snapped back and said "NO do not touch the dresses. I am trying to find something you can afford." Looking back, I'm not sure how we didn't walk out right there and there. Onto the dress fitting, where the bride tries on a couple of dresses that do not even fit over her head. She is very average sized, maybe a size 6, but I think all the dresses in the shop were a size 0 or 2. At one point I go to grab a dress that looks like something the bride would like. The woman comes over and says "No, she can only try on 5 dresses". She did not tell the bride this. And what shop has a 5-dress rule? So, what next, if we didn't find The One, we're SOL? It was obvious she just wanted us to leave. I have never heard of booking an appointment for a time frame yet only being allowed to try on a certain number of dresses. We were out of there within 15 minutes. We all left angry and frustrated. What a waste of time. To the shop owner: Do not treat your clients like they are lesser than you. If you were welcoming and listened to the bride's preferences, you never know, you could have sold the bride on a dress over her budget. I do not know how this woman keeps business. Please save yourself the stress and DO NOT GO HERE. You will not be treated with respect. read more

My mom came in here and was judged by the owner. The owner looked her up and down and made the judgement that my mother could not afford the dresses she had. This was untrue and thankfully my mom left the store. We ended up going to another dress shop with amazing service. I have talked to other people and they have all had similar experiences with the owner being judge mental. read more

Went to look at bridal gowns for my daughter. The owner was very kind and professional. She allowed us to point out what we liked and then she carried the gowns to the dressing room and helped my daughter get into them. That seems to be the standard method in the industry. Lots of beautiful gowns to choose from. read more

My daughter found an amazing dress there.Chela was so wonderful and super knowledgeable.A veil was created for her that was so incredible it brought tears to my eyes .This high end salon carries only the most elegant bridal gowns.If you are looking for elegance and quality this is the place to go. read more

My grandmother used to to say, "Honey, It doesn't cost you anything to be nice." That's all I have to say to Chela. read more

Don't always listen to the bad reviews! I had a very positive experience from buying my dress to having it altered. The women are willing to go above and beyond to help make it everything you want it to be. When altering my dress, they offered suggestions I was initially hesitant too, but so glad I listened because my dress ended up turning out great. Give them a chance! You will be pleasantly surprised. read more

Unfortunately, I had to order my bridesmaid dress over the phone because the wedding is in New York and I live in Virginia. I was told that based on my measurements I needed a size 20. I was very skeptical but went along with it. I just received it last week from the bride. I went in to have it altered today, this dress that cost me $253 is now costing $145 to alter. It is being basically taken to a size 14 from 20. The front of the dress cannot be altered because of the design. The designer is Amsale, obviously the measurement they have are totally off base. If I lived closer I would have tried on this dress and gotten a more accurate size. read more

I was fairly offended both times I entered this shop. The first visit was for my sister's dress, when I felt as though the salesperson was looking down her nose at us the whole time. Then when I was looking for my own dress, I walked in and told the salesperson my budget. She told me that there was nothing in my price range, then almost strong-armed me into trying something above my budget by several hundred dollars. When I insisted that my budget was firm, she said with a sneer, "You should look at David's Bridal." Now there is absolutely nothing wrong with David's Bridal, but I completely resented her tone. Couldn't she have just said, "No, I'm so sorry, but we don't have anything to fit your budget." Incidentally, I found many GORGEOUS dresses in my price range, both in Rochester and all over Manhattan (including Kleinfeld's, where I was treated beautifully). I certainly will not be returning to this store. read more

After purchasing my wedding dress from NYC I decided I was not happy with my choice and wanted something else. I happened to be in Rochester and stopped in at Susan Deborah Bridal. I was absolutely shocked by the service I received. When we walked in the store the older (and shabby dressed) woman barely acknowledged us. I was looking around the store (loved the dresses) and she continued to ignore us. Maybe we threw her off by our casual dress, maybe it was because I am not a size 2, 4, 6 or 8. Maybe she thought I couldn't afford the dresses in the shop. I am not sure. But as a seasoned sales professional I know never, ever judge a book by the cover. This is a store in Rochester, NY not Beverly Hills or even NYC. There wasn't a sole in there and I can't believe her business is so busy (and lucrative) she could afford to not take the time to assist me. Well Susan Deborah Bridal - let me tell you - I purchased a dress from another boutique. Along with two other dresses) But I also am having a black tie wedding - lots of ladies looking for formal wear - and no I will not be passing your website or name along to my guests. I also used social media (Facebook, Twitter, Yelp, etc.) to let my family, friends and anyone else who has access know how HORRIBLE your service was. Remember this is Rochester, NY and you can't afford a lost sale and a bad review! read more

I would highly recommend Susan Deborah Bridal. The shop is beautiful with a large selection of dresses for all. We went there looking for a quality elegant wedding dress and we found exactly what my daughter was looking for. It is a very intimate setting and it makes the bride feel special. We did not have to wait for a consultant or try on dresses with a crowd of people around. They were attentive to our needs. The dresses came in when promised. There were changes that we made during the alteration process and they were very accommodating. At Susan Deborah Bridal you are able to deal with the owner directly who has many years experience in the bridal business. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience. read more

I can't say enough about Susan Deborah Bridal. I was a curvacious bride to be and scared to death to try on wedding dresses. Sample sizes are small and I was panicked I wouldn't be able to find one that would give me a good idea of fit/style. We made an appt for dress shopping. Chela the owner, petite older woman with a heavy accent - so adorable! At Susan Deborah they have couture dresses, and they do not allow you to shop in their store. They pick for you. I came in with an idea - of a dress that had since been discontinued by Priscilla of Boston.I described it to her and she immediately walked to the dresses and pulled a Jim Hjelm gown. It was exactly as I had described. I tried it on and I knew immediately. The girls that work in the shop were so attentive. At Susan Deborah, you are the only one in the shop - it's not like David's bridal where you are surrounded by 50 other people trying on dresses. You are alone and they are completely attentive to your needs. I did end up trying on two more dresses, Eli Saab being one. Just for fun though - I knew that first one was my dress. I threw it back on one more time... Chela found an Eli Saab Long Veil and then dimmed the lights in the showroom. My dress sparkled like a disco ball... and I knew. I wanted to thank Chela and team for making me feel beautiful. Throughout the trying on process and also fittings. They never made me feel insecure. I felt beautiful and was a princess on my wedding day. The dresses are pricey - its couture! You will not find David's Bridal prices - but you will find impeccable service, tailoring and you will be treated like a princess, when it counts the most. read more

Susan Deborah Bridal - Sparkled down that aisle! Thanks, Chela - it was perfect! - Bridal Near Me - Rochester, New York

Went in look for a mother of bride dress. Older woman met me at door and asked when wedding was. I told her 6 mos. away. She responded that I had better find a dress quick. She asked what my budget was, I told her I was hoping for around $500. She said we don't have anything that cheap here. "All of our dresses are made in America. If you want cheap you have to buy dresses made in China." I thanked her and drove three blocks down street to Joeval Formals where I was treated with much more respect, a very large selection and was able to try on and find a beautiful dress within my budget and was helped by an obviously experienced saleswoman. I would not recommend Susan Deborah but would be very happy to recommend Joeval. read more

My daughter went in for a head piece to wear to a wedding. She did not take the time to thoroughly read what she signed when she put the piece on the credit card. That was her mistake. BUT - she thought she was purchasing an inexpensive headpiece. Once she got home, she realized it was $400. The store was closed by then. She immediately went back Monday morning (today) and the woman refused to take the piece back. When I called the store myself and asked her to respectfully reconsider as my daughter cannot afford a $400 purchase, she said too bad, she signed a contract. I believe that this is an unacceptable way to do business. They must not have many sales if they need to take advantage of people like this. I told the woman I would leave this kind of review and she said go ahead and do whatever you want. Nice... read more

I went to look for my wedding dress at Susan Deborah because I was impressed by the website. I left nearly in tears- not happy ones. When a bride wants to feel like the best she has ever looked, the owner of Susan Deborah made me feel like quite the opposite. She does limit you to 5 dresses, She told me that if I haven't found anything yet then I will not find my dream dress, I will have to settle. She was focused on sophistication and saying that I cannot be comfortable and beautiful at the same time. I made a last minute appointment at Silk after leaving there where the saleswoman told me "If you feel confident and comfortable in your dress, it will be the best you've ever looked." I bought my dress from Silk. I do not like to bash businesses but I do not think any bride should feel how I felt on what was supposed be a very happy day. read more

I love love love the ladies at Susan Deborah Bridal. I showed them a picture and the woman knew right away. I had been to 4 other dress shops in Rochester and was starting to feel so discouraged. I kept thinking, "please don't tell me I have to go to NYC for my dress!" They took such great care of me and were so kind to my family. I have such good memories in preparation leading up to my wedding day. They made my dress experience beautiful. I am so thankful and sad that it's over!! I bought all of my jewelry at Susan Deborah Bridal and it matched the antique style of my dress perfectly. These ladies are experts! I highly recommend! read more

I went to Susan Deborah after trying a few other bridal shops and not finding a dress that really had that wow factor for me. I had read the reviews and so it wasn't my first choice but ended up making an appointment and so happy I did. Chela and Chelsea were so helpful, they really listened and understood what I was looking for. I ended up buying a gorgeous Lazaro dress and could not be happier with my experience. Chela is very direct when something doesn't look right but I'll take her bluntness over a salesperson that just tells you what you want to hear to make a sale. I highly recommend Susan Deborah Bridal. read more

The older lady is very rude. If you don't plan on spending over 6000+ don't even think of coming. Not a nice experience. There were plenty of dresses in the 3-5k price range but the old lady will judge you right away. They didn't have a huge selection either! I recommend going to spy babies in Syracuse! read more

I was very disappointed by our experience at Susan Deborah. I had called the week prior, to set up an appt to look at bridal gowns with my daughter for her upcoming wedding. On the phone I was clear about our budget and asked the owner if she could accommodate us. She stated she could. Once we got there and she started pulling all types of gowns, I reiterated our budget, at which time she pointed to her young assistant and said "you can help them" the gowns that were pulled were quite ugly and we were made to feel uncomfortable as if our budget was unworkable. I gave one star because the little girl who was helping us, was trying her best. We bought a beautiful gown, after trying on at least 7, at another bridal boutique in the city. I would never recommend this place to anyone. read more

Snobby shop! The dresses they carry are undoubtedly some of the most gorgeous and couture designs in Rochester, but they'd probably do better if they lost the attitude. An important detail to note, you should not be shy if you want to try a dress on, they INSIST on accompanying you in the fitting room. read more

"Why you gotta be so rude." If your not planning to spend 5 grand on a dress, don't bother coming. Service was horrible. Your treated like crap. What kind of business is this? She really needs to be nicer to her customers. Dresses are nice but beware of stuck up owner. Plus no bathrooms. read more

Unfriendly snob shop.we were shown two dogs and 1 decent dress before we were told that was all they had in our price range. I probably could have gone higher but my daughter didn't even like t he dress or how she was treated. Ps the store was EMPTY.cant imagine who would pay a staff to do so little. read more

Employee/owner was rude. I went in for a mother of the bride gown. I was judged based on what I was wearing at the time. If u don't look like a million bucks you won't be treated well. If you don't have $3000 to spend on a mother of the bride gown, they won't give you the time of day. read more

In desperation, I went here with my mom and sister to find a "backup" wedding dress because the one I'd ordered 6 months prior (at a shop that has since closed) was at risk of not making it in time. I don't know why we did not go there during our original search for "the dress" - I think we just didn't know about it, but they are wonderful here!!!! The shop is immaculate and they have a wide selection of beautiful gowns. The woman assisting us knew what gowns to choose based on what I requested and what would be appropriate for my body type. Since I was pressed for time in terms of ordering a new dress, I bought the first one I tried on, and it was off the rack. I was very lucky that it was close to my size! What's more, I loved it more than the "original" dress from the other shop that was not necessarily making it in time. From then on, I knew that my actual wedding dress would be the one we bought at Susan Deborah. They are very particular about how many times you come in for fittings- this is a good thing! The seamstress was a sweet woman who did an amazing job on my gown. They also dyed my white shoes to match the ivory dress perfectly!!! All in all a wonderful experience. You feel special here. Make sure this place is on your list when you look for your dress! Thank you Susan Deborah Bridal! read more

This is not a snobby shop. And the older lady isn't rude. She has been in the business for 25 years and knows her stuff! I called the day of and spoke to the older lady over the phone and asked for an appointment for 3:00. Mind you, I called at 2:00 the same day. She said she had a cancellation and that I should come in at 3:00. When I came, the shop had some beautiful gowns. I was not fond of the wedding assistant too much because she was lazy and did not want to fit me in some of the gowns. I am curvy and the sample dresses were small, but some of them I knew I could fit in because I was trying on the same size sample dresses on at Peggys. When the older lady was finished with her other appointment she came over, looked at me and picked this absolutely beautiful Lazaro dress. It was gorgeous. She gave me so much time and attention and I was extremely pleased with the service. This shop is wonderful. You can't get any better than this. The dresses are beautiful and one of a kind. There is no other shop like this in Rochester. I just think she needs to train her assistants a little better. read more

I worked with the store owner and she was very knowledgeable about the dresses and what dresses would work on my body type. She pulled a few for me to try and then let me look around for others. When I pulled some of them she told me that they wouldn't work for me, which may come off as rude to other reviewers, but I actually appreciated the direction. I didn't end up buying a dress here, but I thought it was a very nice store. read more

08/13/2008 When I left here, I cried. Honestly. The women were unbelievably rude to me, and just plain mean. They told my bridesmaid over and over that she could not try on dresses because she was too big, which was an absolutely horrible thing to do to somebody. (She is super cute and polite, so I was very hurt by this.) They looked me up and down (I have tattoos, but they are very nice and not scary) and told me they "have nothing for me here," even though I said, "I liked a dress from your website" and was looking for a strapless A-line, which I saw plenty of there (I even liked a dress on a bride currently being helped). It was a very Pretty Woman experience. For my Mellisa Sweet attire, we are going to Boston where I had a very pleasant experience. I have instructed my bridesmaids to order from Priscilla of Boston where a family member will be able to pick them up and bring them here. Because the ladies were about 65 and I was taught to respect my elders, I felt bad fully expressing how insanely nasty they were to us. I just hope somebody will avoid them because of this review, and not because I want the business to lose money, but because I don't want another bride to cry during what is suppose to be an exciting time. To save you any other research time, most other sites rate them 1.5 out of 5 stars due to horrible customer service and sales people. read more

I am LONG overdue in writing this review -- the owner of Susan Deborah Bridal was incredibly gracious and kind-hearted to me during my wedding planning 1.5 years ago. My wedding had a 1920's theme, and I wore an ivory-colored flapper dress that I bought online (www.uniquevintage.com in case you're seeking something similar) I was searching for a fascinator for my hair, and the choices Susan Deborah Bridal offered were exquisite, but way out of my price range. The owner said she would rather have me be happy than make a profit, so she sold me my fascinator for a price that was within my budget! It was a heart-warming and generous interaction, so I wanted to share with you all. Especially during a time hat can be highly stressful, such as wedding planning. Kudos & good karma to the owner! And my deep thanks! read more

As soon as I walked into the store and told Cella my budget she told me they didn't have any dresses in that price range, but I went and looked at what they did have. Cella asked me a couple questions and found me the most stunning dress and said it would be perfect for me. After going to 5 or 6 other bridal stores in Rochester - she was right, that lace dress was the one and I am SO excited to wear it. It just came in this week and I was able to see it for the first time on me and its stunning. Exactly what I was envisioning. She is an amazing woman and knows exactly what she's talking about. All of the dresses are exponentially higher quality than others I had looked at in the other stores around the area. I don't think the bad reviews are warranted unless you went into the store with the wrong attitude to begin with. read more

If I could give negative reviews, I would. This is THE WORST experience I have had in wedding planning thus far. The owner of the shop seems to know her stuff, but she is a horrible business person and could not care less about her customers satisfaction. She is unreasonable, and RUDE. A salesperson/business owner can "know her stuff" (which, I hate to say, she does), while at the same time understand how to make customers happy. She knows her stuff, but is really horrible. There are so many other bridal shops in Rochester that will treat you nicely, and be able to advise you in a way that makes your day beautiful and special. She is definitely NOT one of those people. Go spend your money and get the dress of your dreams somewhere else - they will have it. She might have your dress, but is TERRIBLE to deal with. read more

Went looking for my mother-of-the-bride gown with my daughter yesterday and stopped into Susan Deborah's (without an appointment) as one of our many stops... Could not have been happier with the overall experience! The time and knowledge that were given to us was over and beyond... It came down to a gown there and one at another boutique - it was such a hard decision to make but I decided to go with the other because the look and fit would blend so beautifully in my daughter's wedding... Honestly do not know the reason for any of the negative reviews that are posted because they were SUPERB...can't say enough about this shoppe and definitely would recommend to anyone looking to be treated as an individual to prepare for such a wonderful upcoming event such as a wedding etc. read more

I had not made an appointment ahead of time, but went in just to see if they could fit me in. They were kind enough to fit me into an appointment that day. That was probably the best part of the visit. The older lady (the owner I'm assuming) asked me what my budget was, and fair enough we weren't going to be able to look at a lot of stuff. That was fine, however, once I mentioned it was going to be a military wedding she told me I had to wear lace. I was willing to try lace, but it definitely wasn't calling my name. So we tried on the first lace dress. I tried to tell her that it was too much lace and too romantic, not for me. Then she put me in another lace dress, and then another. I asked if I could try on something NOT lace. She then proceeded to put me in the plainest dress she had. Again, I understand my budget wasn't going to allow me to try on everything in the store, but come on! I don't want to wear lace! I didn't feel like she listened to a word I said. Other than the listening problem, the store was clean and beautiful. If you have the budget for it, by all means, make an appointment. Just don't mention military unless you've been dreaming of lace. read more

The key difference between this bridal shop and the other ones in the area is that you work directly with the owner. She is kind, knowledgeable, and takes pride in running a good business. I didn't really know what I wanted when I walked into the store, so we started out by walking around and discussing what I liked and didn't like about various dresses. She brought me a couple dresses to try on, and again we talked about the pros and cons of each dress. Based on our discussions, she was able to bring a better and better dress each time. She was blunt when a dress didn't fit well, which I really appreciated. She took the time to accessorize me, changed the lighting in the store, and advised me on putting my hair up/down, so that I'd get a real sense of what the dresses would look like. read more

Thank you Susan Deborah for making my daughter bridal gown shopping a fun time I went to many bridal shops and found your bridal shop was outstanding and gorgeous style and the sale clerk she could not have been nicer . i bought my daughter grown and the bride maids and my dress . I would highly recommend this store to all my family and my friends Million thanks to Susan Deborah . read more

I made my very first appointment to try on wedding dresses at Susan Deborah Bridal. My mother and sister flew in and we drove up on a Saturday afternoon excited to begin my search for the perfect dress. We had an appointment at Susan Deborah for 2pm. After brief introductions, Chela at the front desk could not have been more rude and inhospitable. She was disgusted by our price range and at one point scolded my sister (who is a desinger herself) for touching the bag of a particular dress I was interested in. She hurried us out of the store after trying on one dress and refused to show us anything else. We drove up the street to Juliana's and had a fantastic afternoon. The staff and Juliana's were so accommodating and friendly and we ended up spending top dollar for an Anne Barge dress -- and were pleased to do so in honor of the exemplary customer service and friendly demeanor of the staff. DO NOT go to Susan Deborah... it was such an unfortunate way to start the exciting process of finding a wedding dress. I was also sad to see the way Chela (at Susan Deborah Bridal) treated my mother and sister. It was demeaning and it really broke my heart on what should have been one of the most memorable days of my life. read more

Went in to look for dress for my Daughters wedding. when I walked in Sales clerk was rude. Told me nothing in my price range. I had asked for a certain designer she said they were cheap and made in China, won't sell in her shop. NOT TRUE. I did try on two dresses I liked one very much it was too snuge sales clerk could not zip all the way up and said oh this will look better if I bend in zipper in the back makes a V (Beacuse it was too small!!) convenced me it looked Great, fit perfect and I should get it. Even on sale it was over my budget. clerk said You will love it and If I waited it would be gone by tomorrow because she was expecting a large group of canadians to come in. Clerk said it was half off ( still over my budget) I felt pressured, I put half down. she wrote final sale on receipt. I took a picture and my daughter said it would not be right for her wedding I felt so bad so I called a few days later to see if I could use my down payment as credit in store and they could keep the dress to sell to some one else (they still had the dress). She said Flatly NO. I understand What final sale means but transaction was not complete Dress never left the store and the balance had not been made yet. Sorry for the rant but She could have been kinder and honest with me on how it fit. Its my fault and I am angry with myself because I was stupid and let her intimidate me. I felt taqken atvantage of. I should have taken the first hint when she did not make me feel welcome there... read more

I had a wonderful experience here. The consultant was wonderful and pulled several beautiful dresses for me to try on. She seems very in tune to what will look good on different body types, and does not pull things that she feels will not be a good fit for you. I bought a beautiful dress that wasn't necessarily what I thought I wanted but that I feel is perfect. I will mention that the prices here will be higher than most stores in the Rochester area. I would say if you have a budget that can accommodate a $3,000 dress you will have choices here. If you are looking below $2000 it may be better to try elsewhere first. I would say that you get what you pay for, and that if it is within your means, you will see a HUGE difference in quality between the dresses at this shop, and others in the Rochester area. read more

I initially visited Kleinfeld hoping to have a "Say Yes to the Dress" moment, but unfortunately everything came up short. I decided to visit Susan Deborah Bridal and couldn't have been happier with my experience. First, I was the ONLY bride there. Talk about personal service (especially after competing with 10+ brides at Kleinfeld). Second, Chula is seriously the "Wedding Dress Whisperer." She listened to my vision, then found the PERFECT dress that fit my vision, budget, and that would look best on my body. I can't wait to try it on again when it comes in in August! Thanks to the whole staff there! read more

I almost cried after my visit to Susan Deborah, and I hope that I never have to step foot in the place again. I had a 12:30 appt that I had made a month in advance. I was with a large group and we had a morning appt. at Peggy's, which finished around noon. We were starving and wanted to grab lunch before heading over. I called SD around 12:15 to see if I could push it out to 12:45. Apparently, they only allow 15 minute time slots for each customer, because they told me that I could not push it out. So my cousin and I skipped lunch and jumped in the car to get there at 12:30. When we arrived, they said that my appointment was at 12:15 (untrue), and that I was too late and they couldn't help me. First, if this is their policy, they should have told me this when I called 15 minutes prior. I then explained that I thought the appt. was at 12:30, and that I had come in from Boston for the weekend to try on dresses. I received a flat "You're too late" from the saleswoman (older, unpleasant, with an accent). I could not believe how incredibly rudely and unprofessionally they handled the situation. I left very upset, but thankful that I was not giving them any business. I did not have a budget for my dress, and I have 9 bridesmaids and two flower girls, so their loss! Avoid if at all possible. read more