David's Bad Bridal

Hello everyone!  Lots of stuff going on with me since the wedding is 13 days away!  Things are pretty much down to the wire now.  I picked up my wedding gown from David's Bridal this past Friday and I have a lovely story to share with everyone regarding that experience.  But first, on a positive note, my face has returned back to its normal state.  That Prednisone works wonders! 

To completely disclose, the main reason I'm posting this David's Bridal b!tch session is to hopefully save some future bride-to-be from a negative wedding-related experience.  I wish someone would have told me a tale like this one before I stepped foot into that damn store. 

Here is my entire story, which I wrote to the store's regional manager earlier today:

I found my dress at the David's Bridal in Robinson Township, PA back in January this year. My first experience at the store was very positive. The assistants and manager were very helpful and accommodating, making the entire experience fun. I told the sales associates from the very beginning my wedding dress budget was $500. I found a beautiful dress there for $480.

Fast forward to July for my first fitting with alterations. This experience was AWFUL. The seamstress mentioned the dress I chose was a very popular gown and she worked on at least more than a dozen that week already (gee, thanks for making me feel like my dress has been worn by the entire female population in Western, PA). Once the alteration consultation was finished I waited around for the final bill of the alterations. The total cost of alterations that was given? $440. I almost passed out. It was practically the same price as the dress!!!!  I was not prepared for that total. 

I understand David's "guarantees" their alterations, but come on. My mother and I were misled and taken advantage of by the store and their employees. I had NO CLUE how much alterations were going to cost, and NO ONE bothered to disclose the potential costs to me or my mother.

My wedding is in 2 weeks and I've since picked up my dress for my final fitting. Funny enough, even though we paid through the nose for alterations, the dress was still not perfect. I'm normally not an overly picky person, but because my mother paid an additional $400 on my wedding gown I was scrutinizing the heck out of it. There was a stitch in the side that needed to be let out and the dress still needed to be steamed. We did speak to the manager of the store after everything was finished up and explained our experience to her. There was no resolution offered; just a bunch of "I'm sorrys."

I'm happy I have a dress that looks beautiful and fits like a glove, but if I had to do it all over again I would not go to David's Bridal.  There are plenty of other bridal boutiques out there that charge reasonable alteration fees and their associates don't make you feel like your dress has been worn by countless others.  I promise to share this story with as many young women as I possibly can.  I don't want another bride-to-be to fall into the same costly trap my mom and I did.

I guess every element in a person's wedding isn't going to be perfect.  I've definitely embraced that fact! :)  And I've decided I'm not going to complain anymore.  I've said my piece and I hope this information can help another future bride-to-be who one day. 

Thanks for letting me get that out!
Peacing out,
Nikki