Both of my daughters were married within three months of each other, and I waited until the…read morecelebrations were over to write this review. If you are beginning your wedding gown search, I strongly recommend going elsewhere -- and both brides in my family wholeheartedly agree.
My daughters purchased their gowns from Sarah Seven. The dresses themselves were lovely, but the experience, customer service, and added costs made the process painful, frustrating, and needlessly expensive. Many other shops offer equally beautiful gowns without the stress or the surprise fees.
THE RUSH FEE
My daughter ordered her dress eight months before the wedding -- a timeline every other bridal shop considered more than sufficient. Sarah Seven nonetheless required an exorbitant rush fee as a condition of purchase, claiming alterations require at least three months. Yet their exclusive alterations partner refuses to book appointments more than two months before the wedding.
The contract specified an "8 week rush fee." The dress arrived after 16 weeks. Sarah Seven blamed the delay on giving employees Christmas week off. The contract does not mention holiday closures, but even with a generous holiday leeway, the delivery was far outside the stated window.
THE STAINED DRESS
When the gown finally arrived -- four months later -- it was stained and unwearable. I was stunned when the salesperson attempted to remove the stain with a Tide to Go pen, which made it worse. They agreed to remake the dress. At the five month mark, still without a wearable gown, we requested a refund of the $600 rush fee. The first request was ignored. When we followed up, the refund was refused, and a senior staff member replied, "no one forced you to purchase a gown here." An astonishing response.
THE SIZING
The sales associate measured my daughter and ordered the corresponding size (we paid an additional $200 for split sizing). The New York team then decided -- without meaningful explanation -- to make both the top and bottom a full size larger. When the first dress arrived, it was at least a full size too big. We were told her measurements had decreased, which can happen, but the originally measured size would have fit far better. And since the dress had to be remade anyway due to the stain, Sarah Seven could have made it in the correct size as my daughter requested. They refused -- but offered to make it in the right size for an additional $500! Doing so would have cost them nothing as they were already sewing a completely new dress.
THE ALTERATIONS
Sarah Seven seriously aggressively pushes one alterations business, Tailor Made in San Francisco -- it's even written into their contract. After reviewing photos, Tailor Made estimated at least $2,000 in alterations. Two independent tailors advised us to simply get a smaller size instead of altering an oversized gown. Sarah Seven's response was that "all Sarah Seven gowns require alterations." Alterations should mean tailoring, customizing, and hemming -- not completely resizing a dress at a cost approaching half its price. We ultimately found an excellent, far more reasonable seamstress in Oakland.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Sarah Seven consistently made us feel as though we were being done a favor by being allowed to purchase a dress. A wedding gown is a major, meaningful purchase. Choose a shop that earns your business and supports your bridal journey with joy, not one that adds unnecessary stress, expense, and dismissiveness.
