Wedding Forum

[Elodiah]

Hi all,

At this stage I'm planning on ordering my dress online from Catch The Bouquet. However, this is the only chance I'll get to go and try on some bridal gowns, and my BMs and Mum want to come along too. I'm looking for bridal stores that don't put crazy pressure on for a sale, and are happy for you to just be trying on gowns to get an idea of what you like. We'll be going on a weekday too, do most places not mind too much whether you make an appointment on a weekday?

Hope you can help. I have very little experience with bridal stores and have heard so many horror stories of rude staff who would probably either pies me off or make me cry (or both!). The one lady my cousin dealt with turned horribly abrupt when she realised there wasn't going to be a sale then and there.

[Clai_mis]

Ooh, no idea!
I've never stepped foot in a bridal store!
I took a punt an ordered a dress online without trying any on first, so kinda missed out on that whole experience..
I suppose one of the reasons i didn't was that i didn't want to be faced with a psycho sales lady

[mooki]

I went to about 5 bridal stores.. I made it clear to all of them I didnt know what I wanted, but would be looking at all my options before buying and although they did try to sell me a dress, they werent too pushy.

[lauralou]

I agree with mooki, make it super clear you are not looking to buy, that it's your first time looking etc

This was my experience:

Good: Brides by Design (got my dress from here), A Bridal Affair, Dion for Brides

Okay: Bride's Selection (not good or bad, the lady was a little busy so didn't get the best attention, but she was polite and lovely, and not pushy)

Terrible: Hob Nob (the very first place I went, and the woman tryed to pressure me into getting a dress, saying that if I didn't order it that day, I would miss out as it was being discontinued.....), Tuscany (woman said I would have trouble getting the style I was after, as it wasn't "in fashion" and that strapless was more bridal...what evs).

This is obviously my personal opinion/experience and so others may disagree.....

[mooki]

I actually found the same with hob nob.. not only did she tell me i should order is asap because its the end of the season (which was a lie, id already discussed the same dress with another shop) she also bad mouthed the style of dress I had my heart set on (which they did not stock)

i bought mine from tuscany and found the lady very helpful.. the second time i went back i walked around in the dress for an hour in the store chatting and making up my mind and she wasnt bothered at all

[christie]

I ended up buying my dress from Tuscany. The lady I had (Lucy I think) was lovely, didn't put any pressure on me to buy. I actually ended up trying on my dress three times and was lovely each time. The other staff there also seemed nice. She also made the whole process really simple. After I tried on 2 dresses she asked me which of those 2 i preferred and got rid of my least liked so it reduced confusion. I did go back their to try on bridesmaid dresses and we had to wait around a while before we got seen to because previous appointments were running late.

I thought Dions was quite good, just a small concern over me trying on the wrong dress when i went to try it on for the second time. One of my BM's has bought her dress there and had a great experience. Brides Selection was pretty good, except the day I was there I had the first appointment of the day and was being looked after by the Manager. They had staff call in sick and were short staffed so she had to keep running in and out. I didn't really have a problem with Hob Nob, although when i went in to try the dress on the second time I could kind of feel them really scrutinising my reaction. I also went to a place up in Joondalup, which I can't remember the name of. They were pretty good, but weren't busy while we were there which helps because they don't take appointments. I also went to Anastasia's. It was alright but it was a hot day and they don't have airconditioning so I just about died trying on dresses. It was so hot!!

I'd definately go on a weekday. It is so much more relaxing. Saturdays are just choas!! I don't think it is as important to make appointments of week day, although i probably would just in case. It guarantees that you will be seen fairly quickly and won't have to wait if staff are busy.

Good luck and have fun!!!

[Elodiah]

Thanks for the replies so far guys!

Funnily enough the "bad experience" I referred to was with Hob Nob as well. My cousin tried on one dress there, and the lady insisted she put a veil on with it, even though my cousin didn't want a veil and didn't suit it at all. Of course the woman gushed about how gorgeous she looked even though anyone could see it didn't suit. She too put pressure on my cousin to buy it that day, even though it was only the first place we'd been to, saying (same spiel) that it was discontinued. Are they taught that in training or something?? *sigh*

I was chatting on fb to my BMs today and we've decided to try Legends Bridal in Joondalup as it looks like a place that's not as pretentious and pricey as other stores. Is that the place you were talking about christie? That's pretty cool that they don't take appointments, so I needn't worry about that. I'm looking at their website right now and I've already found one dress I like.

Yay, so exciting!

[Clai_mis]

I had a family friend with a bad experience with a hobnob dress a few years back, she took it to a trusted dressmaker for alterations, who asked her if it was second hand!!!
She was devasted!

[christie]

I was chatting on fb to my BMs today and we've decided to try Legends Bridal in Joondalup as it looks like a place that's not as pretentious and pricey as other stores. Is that the place you were talking about christie? That's pretty cool that they don't take appointments, so I needn't worry about that.

Yep, that is the one. A friend bought her dress for $950 from there so I thought I would give it a shot. Most of their stuff seemed pretty well priced. The only problem I had is that their dresses are on fairly crowded racks in plastic covering, so it is sometime a bit hard to see the dress until you get it out. Having said that if I remember their website correctly you should be able to get the dress number and they can probably find it for you. I found their staff were really good about taking the dresses off you to put in the change room, without hovering over you the whole time. They also carry all size dresses from a 4 or 6 through to the mid 20's, so you actually get to try on something that fits. If your going on a week day you shouldn't have to wait long to try things on, if at all.

[Elodiah]

Awesome, thanks. And it's so great that they stock all sizes.

There's another store in Joondalup called Bridal Obsessions, we might try that one too. They have an awesome range of BM dresses!