I'm nervous now...

Well I found a dress...at Bridal Couture of Manhasset. I just did a search on them here and was reading all the horror stories!

I don't know what to do!?! I found them to be very pleasant and accommodating. They gave me a 10% discount w/o my asking as well as an alterations price cap of $150. (They put it in writing for me too.)

I had explained to the sales associate that it was between the dress I liked there and another dress from another bridal salon, so we set up an appointment for this coming Thursday to let her know my decision. (After trying on the other dress again, I came to the conclusion that there's no competition. Bridal Couture's dress wins, hands down.)

I would look elsewhere for this dress, but I have no clue who the designer is!?! I have never seen it before and there were no tags in the dress. I can't seem to find any pics on TheKnot.com either!!!

Do I just go ahead and order from Bridal Couture and keep my fingers crossed??? What the hell am I gonna do!?! This was definitely the dress for me.

Re: I'm nervous now...

I know a few people that got their dresses there and had no problems.

No place is going to be perfect and get all positive reviews. If you love the dress and liked the salespeople then I'd go for it. I'm sure everything will be fine.

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i got my gown from bridal couture and was completely pleased with the management. i found the people extrememly helpful and accommodating. as the previous person said, there will always be postive and negative opinions about these sorta things. if you love the dress, go get it!!

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I don't know what the negative reviews were, but you could always buy the dress from them & get it altered elsewhere.

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Hello. I bought my dress there. I have my first fitting on Tuesday. I can post my experience whe I get back.

Who was your salesperson? I had Lee and like her a lot. She was wonderful to me and continues to be. I just haven't found many people there but her I like.

I was in the same position as you. I totally loved a dress I found there and had no way of finding the dress anywhere else. (even after I bought the dress, I had to write the mfg to get pictures of the dress..none on the website.) I bought it on the spot.

Bridal Couture was highly recommended to me by a couple of people. (One of which was a friend who is a fashion designer!) It wasn't until after I bought the dress, did I hear any negative reviews.

Since I bought the dress, I have had about 4-5 occasions where I had to deal with them. Two which were very negative and the others were fine. I have just found them to be snotty and rude since. The customer service just isn't there. The manager (owner's daughter I believe) actually told me that if I didn't buy my veil and headpiece there it would never match my dress! I thought that was rude. I have a right to buy my accessories wherever I want. Another time I called and was asking for their advice on undergarments for my dress and the woman told me she couldn't help me because she had customers in the store. I told her she had a customer on the phone and much more. She told she would call me later and that was about 3 weeks ago! Rude.

Anyway, I have heard as many good reviews as I have heard bad.

If you want to hear more about my experience, let me know.

PS Can you describe your dress..maybe it is the same as mine hehe

Also, Klienfelds carries alot of the same designers...maybe you can try them if you are nervous.

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The sales associate that helped me was Theresa. Which one is Lee? The tall and tan blonde? A couple of the women came into the dressing room to check the dress out on me.

One of the things that annoyed me was that they were pushing the gowns of the designer who was doing a trunk show that day. I got to meet him, but I had no interest in his gowns. My sister asked the sales assoc. if she was obligated to 'push' his gowns and she admitted 'yes'. After 30 minutes of pushing the designer's stuff, we got down to business.

As for my gown, the color is called 'champagne', which looks more like a 'blush' color (faint pink). It's a strapless sheath with beading all throughout. The bottom is scalloped with beading detail. It has a scarf with matching beading detail on the ends, that covers the shoulders. I'm leaning towards a 1920s theme for my wedding and this dress definitely fits the theme!!! It's so different!

I won't be wearing a veil, but I fell in love with their tiaras!!!! They are gorgeous!!!!!! Who else sells tiaras similar to Bridal Couture???

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Yes, Lee is the tan blonde. They said they gave me her because she is tall like I am. I was glad because she was sweet to me.

It doesn't sound like we have the same dress but it does sound similar. Mine is ivory, strapless and kind of a cross between a sheath and aline with beading and embroidery throughout the whole dress. The designer is Mariana Hardwick. She has a website but not many of her dresses are on the site. (I have my dress posted on a post from last week on strapless gowns...but it is hard to tell the detail from the pictures I posted.)

I bought my headpiece in the city. It is a small, small, small shop called C&H Bridal. She has tons of glittery, sparkly headpieces. The prices are a fraction of Bridal Couture. The woman who runs the shop makes them all. I found exactly what I liked there. One of the other brides from this board said she went there this weekend just to buy her veil and now she maybe buying her headpiece there as well.

My first fitting is tomorrow. I can report back any news....I will look for your dress...maybe they will tell me the designer....hehehe

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Hey Jenny5150, Please be very careful, I too, heard horror stories about that place and also saw a news report about them and how they would only take cash and were ripping off brides.. be careful hun!!!

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I wonder if my dress is by Mariana Hardwick!?! According to her website she was influenced by the Victorian/Edwardian periods through to the 1920s! There isn't a pic of it on the website.

Lee was cool! She kept popping her head into the dressing room. She claimed the dress I had on was her favorite, but I'm gonna' guess that was a sales pitch.


Defintitely keep me posted on your fittings! Good luck tomorrow!

Oh, and if you can find out the manufacturer of my gown I'd really appreciate it! I'll owe you big time!! (The beaded shawl/scarf makes it pretty distinct.)


Thanks again for your help!!!

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Marcella,
I'm really torn. I looked them up on BBB and they had more complaints than the average bridal shop. My dad just called consumer affairs and they said there was 13 complaints with in the last 6 years, most of them being adjustment problems. (I'm not sure if adjustment means alterations or if it's billing related.)

I have a feeling a lot of it has to do with their cash/check and 50% deposit policy, expecially when you're dealing with gowns that range from 3Gs to 8Gs.

I may go check out a couple of other salons just to be safe. We'll see.

Where did you find your dress???

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You can try to email Mariana Hardwick and ask them...not sure if they will tell you anything.

After I purchased my dress at Bridal Couture, I emailed the mfg and asked if they could send me a picture and they did (I also wanted to confirm that my order was placed). they are in AUstralia but within a day or two I got my response. I have been in contact with somenoe at the mfg and they are very nice.

I will let you know how tom goes. Plus I am having a customization (add a foot to the train) so being it was a special order..I will have some feedback on how that goes.

Good Luck in what you decide.

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I am also very nervous. I ordered my dress from Bridal Couture of Manhasset. I sort of stumbled upon the store and knew nothing of their reputation until I started reading posts on LI Weddings. The salesperson who helped me was nice (Donna) but I've been in several times since (bridesmaid and headpiece shopping) and she hasn't been there. Whoever is at the desk always seems confused and disorganized. My dress is due in September 6th so I am hoping everything will be fine. I have since found the same dress at Bridal Reflections in Massapequa. Apparently, the Carle Place store carries different things than Massapequa and my dress by 'Marisa' is not at the Carle Place store. They were very nice in Massepequa and I ordered my headpiece there and they let me try on the dress to see it with the headpiece. Anyway, I am sure it will turn out fine but I am nervous. Oh, and they capped my alterations at $200, not $150!

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Novemberbride-My dress came in a month earlier than they promised me...if that makes you feel any better.

I ordered it in February and it was suppose to come in August. It came in the around July 4th week. I have just been swamped (my brother got married a week ago) and haven't had the time to go for my alterations and to see it yet.

We shall see tom. I will post my report.

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Thanks bridetobe!

x

x

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I am in the same boat - I found a dress at Bridal Couture that I love! I have looked for it at other stores and haven't found it anywhere (going to Bridal Reflections this weekend). I really want that dress but am so nervous about ordering from Bridal Couture. My sales person was so rude too! I told them I would have to come back, I was still undecided, and I asked what their hours were. The sales lady helping me practically jumped down my throat and said 'it doesn't matter what the store hours are, you should be concerned with what MY hours are. I am the one that will get this commision'. I could not belive it!

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Hey Jen, I found my dress believe it or not at Bridal Plaza by Flowerama.. I went to several places though..

have you tried Moonlight Couture?!? I think that's what it's called, call up information.. it's either in Massapequa or Merrick... they have those victorian/edwardian type dresses you would like.. also check out Bridal reflections.. what is the name of the designer Jen?? I will help you find it..

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what about if you search designer sites
go to yahoo and put in wedding gowns
go to like
www.ginza.com
etc....
find the dress and they will tell you what stores carry it :)
also you can try www.lestanbridal.com
they carry a lot
good luck!!

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mmm - Wow! Your sales associate was nasty!! You should have told her she just lost one! (commision that is).
The woman who assisted me was rather nice. She wanted to book another appointment for me because I was still undecided. She's having mouth surgery on Thursday, but wanted to book the appointment anyway. She was definitely very accomodating towards me.

I'm really nervous about the alterations part of it. The gown I want has a lot of hand beading, which will be difficult to work with during alterations. And I need a lot of alterations because my bust is on the large side, but the rest of my body is pretty average. I'm hoping this designer does custom dresses, which will eliminate a lot of the alterations.

We'll see!

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Marcella,
I may swing Moonlight Couture sometime this week. I would like to get a photo of the dress first, that way it will be easier to describe (show) other salons.
Bridal Reflections is also on my list, along with the Wedding Salon. Kleinfelds isn't too far down on the list either!

I'm determined! And so is my sister apparently. She went out to a salon in Patchogue to see if they carried it. No luck there.

That dress will be mine!!!! LOL!!!