I struggled with how/if to write this review, but decided that other clients should hear my…read moreexperience and that Burke's behavior shouldn't be rewarded.
I hired Burke to sew my vision for a wedding dress, which she told me she could accomplish inside of my budget. She encouraged me to bring bridal party dresses to her, insisting she could be the seamstress for the whole wedding. I ended up bringing my mom's dress and my reception and rehearsal dinner dresses to her for alterations as well.
During our time working together, Burke was unreliable and scattered. She would give ideas or communicate timelines that were never met. For example, I asked her to put pockets in the dress, she agreed, but then did not do so and told me it was impossible when I mentioned it again. When I requested changes to the fit or design she seemed annoyed or like it was an imposition to her. Without discussing it with me, she billed me for twice my original budget just for the ceremony dress. I asked her multiple times for cost estimates on the other dresses and she would not provide them. She would tell me that a certain stage of the project would be complete by our appointment and then either cancel the appointment because she wasn't finished or tell me when I got to the appointment that it wasn't done. During those months I felt extremely stressed because I did not feel confident based on her unreliability that the dress would be finished or that I would like it, and I didn't have the time or money to find a backup plan.
This all came to a head when, two weeks before my wedding, she sent my mom's dress home and it fit terribly. She had taken the armholes in, which was not requested, to the point that my mom could not move her arms, the sleeves were two different lengths, and it had been hemmed too short. My mom had to buy another dress, and she texted Burke her concerns about whether my wedding dress would be done on time and done well.
When I went to my next appointment, Burke was livid about my mom "questioning her ability as a seamstress". She told me I needed to take my dresses and leave, and she would not let me do so until I paid her in full for everything. She said rude and downright mean things, saying that I was unreasonable, had ridiculous expectations, and that it was too much pressure for her, I wasn't respecting her process, she needed to be done with the project, and it "wasn't her fault I wanted to wear three dresses". She wanted me to pay and leave without trying on the dress. I paid her and left because I didn't know what else to do, and cried all the way home. When I tried it on, it was way too tight, barely zipping with my bust spilling out the top. I had to have last minute alterations done elsewhere to be able to wear it. It was clear that Burke had not actually finished the dress, as well- the lining was only halfway attached and there was boning sticking out. I asked Burke for a small partial refund to cover the alterations costs and she refused. On my wedding day I was devastated because I had spent over 2.5 times what I could afford for a dress that was never finished and only reminded me of the negative experience I had with Burke.
For these reasons, though I do believe Burke to be a talented seamstress, I cannot recommend her for bridal alterations or bespoke designs.
