Okay, I went searching for a dress about 3 weeks ago and fell completely in love with a gown I found at Bridal Couture in Manhasset. The service there was unbelievable as well. I was told my gown is 'custom made' from Italy. They would not give me a style # or designer name. I had also heard MANY MANY horror stories from friends about this store. But, since the consultant I dealt with was so helpful, I didn't care if they gave me more info on the dress or not. HOWEVER, since the gown was expensive, I did take the comments of friends in consideration and DID NOT make a purchase yet. Last week, I found a dress that looked EXACTLY like the one in Bridal Couture in Brides magazine. So yesterday when I was on another search for a similar gown, I decided to go to Bridal Couture just to see if I still loved the original dress and I do! This time I studied the label (which Bridal Couture said is specially coded) and noticed the EXACT same number as the gown I found in the magazine. Of course the designers initials were missing to throw the purchaser off. Bridal Couture lied to me the VERY FIRST day I arrived. I found the dress at another bridal salon and am going for a fitting next week! Good luck to you all and be careful of where you go!
wedbabe
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Re: WARNING ON BRIDAL COUTURE!! (long)
I've actually been told by friends of mine similar stories about them not revealing dress info. One actually noticed the designers names mising from the inside of the dress, like they were removed on purpose. Strange, eh?
Sassy
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I must admit, I had a bad experience there to when a g-friend of mine was searching for a dress. They flat out lied to us about the designer, and we ended up seeing the same exact dress at RK bridal for a lot cheaper. Also, they were pressuring her, telling her she better get this dress now, she doesn't know what a good deal she was passing up. How rude !!!!
That's why when I started my search, I stayed far away from them
Niecey
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What I find most surprising about your story was that the service was unbelievable. LOL
I bought my dress there for the simple reason I feel in love with it and had been to many, many shops and tried on many, many dresses and didn't feel that way about any other dress.
It is a couture gown from Australia and of course until I paid for I didn't get any details. They did put the order in immediately (I verified with the vendor) and it came in earlier than predicted.
I must say the customer service has been horrible and they are over-priced. But I love my dress and the seamstress was very, very nice and I have my 2nd fitting on Tuesday and can't wait!
OctBride03
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Bridetobe,
Well it's obvious that any place can have their horror stories. I just didn't feel comfortable with buying from them. Although they were helpful, I was just not sure if they were honest. If you are having no problems, that is great for you!! Good luck with the rest of your wedding planning!
Niecey
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oh- I hope you didn't get me wrong - I wasn't defending Bridal Couture at all. I totally believe that your story is probably commonplace from them. They are very suspect. I was just saying that if I didn't love my dress I wouldn't have bought it there.. I have been wishy-washy with them since the beginning. My sales person and the seamstress have been great. Other than that..I haven't had a great relationship with this vendor.
Like you said I do believe that many vendors practice the tag ripping and not telling you the name of the designer....and I totally hate that. I actually reported a shop for it once (that shop also went out of business).
Jenny5150
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I fell in love with a gown there as well and like you, I thought their service was great. What sales associate helped you? I had Theresa and she was very nice. They were all very friendly.
And again, like you, they wouldn't tell me who made the gown. I had heard many horror stories as well and I didn't agree with the 50% deposit, cash only policy. That bothered me, along with all the complaints with the BBB, so I decided to try and find the gown elsewhere. After a 2 week hunt, I finally found the gown at Bridal Reflections.
I paid more for the gown at BR, but I don't have the worries I would have had with BC.
So, do you have any pics of your gown? Let's see it!!!!
barbara
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Bridal shops pull their tags and won't tell you the designer and style number because they don't want their customers to bargain shop for a better deal at other bridal salons. It's illegal and I think very deceitful. I refused to buy anything from these salons.
OctBride03
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Bridetobe,
I'm sorry, I came off snotty in my last post to you. I didn't mean that at all. Believe me it was tough NOT to have bought my gown from them already. I just happened to come across the style # and decided to try and check else, I got lucky. I'm glad the seamstress seems to be working out well. She is probably most important right now Just another pointer. I know someone who they would not give her gown to, 2 days before her wedding because a bridesmaid 'supposedly' had an outstanding balance. If your bridesmaids are getting their gowns there as well, make sure you keep all receipts and paper work that they are paid, so you do not run into this problem! I'm glad things are working out well for you there!
OctBride03
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Jenny5150,
Wanna hear something funny??? The gown I loved in Bridal Couture (you know custom made, can't be found anywhere else)... Well I found it in Bridal Reflections as well!!! The gown there is the same price, but I have done some research. If you call RK Bridal (212 947 1155), they can give you a quote right over the phone. They quoted my dress at $250 less. When I was at BR yesterday they said they could match prices as long as it was legit. Hey saving $250 could be my alterations! I would try to call them since you say it's more at BR. Worth a shot!
I do not have a pic of the dress to show. It ended up being a Jim Hjelm couture, style #JH0127, if you want to check it out on the website. The photo does no justice, it's much more sparkly in person! Good luck!
Lauren
Misty
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Re: WARNING ON BRIDAL COUTURE!! (long)
I also went to Bridal Couture, fell in love with a very very expensive gown...and ran screaming when the consultant tried to pressure my mother into a cash deposit. I just didn't see how they could run a wedding salon as a cash deposit business. It was obviously cash deposit so they could easily absolve themselves if something went wrong. I didn't trust it from the get-go. I also felt 5000 bucks was too much to spend on a gown, and could not in good conscience let my mother pay that for my wedding gown. Everyone cried when I put this dress on, but they cried when I put the gown I ordered on too! :)
They also withheld the style name of the gown I wanted, and to this day I do not know where it came from or who makes it. I ordered a gown very similar in style to this one, but I'm still very curious. Anyone have any idea where it's from? I got this pic from their website. I am just curious to find out who makes it so I can see if Bridal Couture truly is the ripoff they seem to be!
I know! It was by far and wide the most amazing thing I have ever put on in my life. I couldn't believe how good I felt in it, but 5g's and no guarantee I'd ever see it without major stress outweighed everything. So I got this one instead!
It's the same exact shape, organza instead of tulle, and it has a train. (The beading is not as dark as it is on this picture, they just lit the photo that way to show it off).
THey almost look like the same dress, and FYI, I actually like Organza better than tule. It has a dressier look to it. Very nice !!!!
Sassy
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Who was BC kidding anyway? 5G??? How much was this one, if you don't mind?
Misty
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1800 not including tax and alterations.....after all was said and done it was about 2400. (I got it at Kleinfeld...they have a standard 395 alteration fee).
I am just dying to know who makes this gown though...
OctBride03
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Mistyeyed,
That dress is beautiful, but I have to say I'm glad you went with the other one. That is Eve of Milady right? I love those gowns, I almost went with one myself, but went with the Jim Hjelm gown I found at Bridal Reflections. It is the same exact gown I tried on at Bridal Couture. BC really has some nerve! I was so annoyed yesterday when I found out my dress does have a designer and style #, I almost went back! I feel like they try to make jerks out of their customers. Hey, I think I still may do that!!
Sassy
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Mistyeyed, that is a huge price difference, from what I could see is almost the same exact dress. BC has a lot of nerve.
Misty
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Yep! It's Eve Of Milady. I would love to just find out who made that gown so I could go there and write it in black magic marker across the skirt for all who want to see!! LOL
Yep! HUGE difference, and from a much more reputable store. And we gave the deposit ON A CREDIT CARD.
OctBride03
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I'm am on theknot.com to see if I can find that dress for you. I know how frustrating it can be! I happened to get lucky. Here's the picture of the gown BC told me I WOULD NOT find anywhere else. The picture really makes it look dull, in person it is gorgeous, but I guess every bride will say that about their own dress! lol I tried to attach it I hope it works :o) My hair will be all up and of course the tiara and veil will help the look
