House of Brides Couture

Reviews 3

KR

Kristin Valdes

After several thousand dollars of purchases we provided to the store, the customer service became awful! First, I was sized by the staff for a bridesmaid dress that was chosen right there in the store. Nevertheless 3 out of eight bridesmaids have dresses that are too tight on the hips, and not enough material in the dresses to take the dresses out. That is a very expensive mistake. We are left scrambling to figure out what to do! When I got he dress, I was also 4 pounds thinner than I was at the time of the fitting, but I still cannot fit my hips into my bridesmaid dress, which I have taken elsewhere to be tailored. I did not want to provide additional payment to a company for an incorrectly sized dress. Furthermore, although they had promised to phone when the dresses arrived, each girl was calling the office to find out when they could expect the dress. The dresses were not in when promised to be- they came in later than promised, and no phone calls were ever made to bridesmaids when they did arrive. I even left a message requesting that the staff call to let me know when my dress would arrive. However, weeks later, I received no call. So, I left a follow up email and voice message (although it was during work hours this time, no one picked up the line that I was specifically directed to call regarding dress pickup). No one responded to these either. So I instead called the "request a fitting appointment" line and the phone was immediately picked up. When I did get a hold of the staff, rather than an apology, they stated that they informed the bride weeks ago that the dresses were in. The bride did not pay for the dress I ordered. I did. Each one of the bridesmaids paid for their own dress. They, therefore, deserve to be informed in a timely manner when the dresses arrive. Instead, my sister, the bride, who is planning a wedding several states away from me was blamed by the staff for not contacting her bridesmaids about the dresses that we paid over $200 to the company for. Additionally, they did not ship her wedding dress when initially promised, so that no one was sure if it would make it in time when she returned to Bloomington for a weekend from Ohio to have it tailored. It arrived the day she came in to town, thankfully... Over a week after promised arrival time. I cannot tell you how much I regret that I suggested we buy dresses from the company. While we initially had good service at the time of the dress fitting, it evidently ends when you walk out of the store. No follow up calls to let bridesmaids know dresses are in, incorrectly sized dresses (of 8 bridesmaids, 4 dresses are ill fitting- three that they are far to tight in the hips, one that it is several sizes too large), and a wedding dress that was not shipped when promised... I feel very unhappy and disappointed with the service and wanted them to correct this situation. However, after sending this exact information to the store, all they did was point then finger of blame at the bride, the dress makers, and the dress sizing chart that they used as reference and even us! I am very disappointed and let down by House of Brides.

CA

Carmella Cain

BY FAR THE WORST EXPERIENCE OF MY ENTIRE LIFE! I have never felt more disrespected EVER! This place will lie through their teeth to get your sale. DO NOT Let the appointment fool you, their consultants and dress selection are great but after they get you it is all down hill from there. I did not receive my dress till 3 weeks before my wedding because of my families schedule we had the bridal shower 1 month before the wedding. I knew this when I ordered my dress in March. They assured me my dress would be in the first week of September, plently of time for alterations. So the SECOND week of September comes around and I call to confirm when my dress is coming in...AN EMPLOYEES CHILD ANSWERS THE PHONE not once, or twice but THREE times and "pranks" me and HANGS UP! So unprofessional...AND rather than the employee (Who was the mgr) take ownership of the matter she pretends like she has no idea it happened. I asked to be in contact with her mgr and she said she doesnt have that information that I have to got through their website. WELL I DID AND TIL THIS DAY 3 MONTHS from then NO contact. She tells me my dress will be in the following Friday....I show up Friday...MY DRESS AND THE MGR ARE NOT THERE. She is aparently at another store and cannot get ahold of her. I then call the store from my phone and I am on hold for 30 MINS! Meanwhile I can her the consultant behind the counter "whispering" about me to HER!!!! My Fiance goes to the other store to demand my dress and a print out of the shipment order saying when it was ordered and when it will be delivered. THEY DENY HIM! Thy claim there is too much personal info on the page, He requested to see it and they said no. I AGAIN contacted their back office (no response) I leave the store, go home at the mercy of crooks. After all that they didnt have any openings for alterations and I had to go somewhere else to have it altered, not a problem for me because I had already lost trust in their business... but come on... since then they now have a sign that says dresses will come in no earlier that 4 weeks to your wedding. Regaurdless if you come a year or 32 months before your wedding. In common business practice this is called floating, the company cannot afford their stock of inventory and use your advance payment to help their business costs...they probablt also do not compensate their employees fairly...at leasts thats what I am hoping considering the dispicable lack of customer service rendered through House of Brides. I BEG all of the women out there to not give this company your business not for my injustice but for your own peace of mind, this is the last and worst thing a bride should have to go through durring their wedding planning. There are plenty of other places to go and If I can save at least one person from this kind of experience I would be grateful someone can listen to my warnings and maybe the dark spot on my wedding planning experience wont seem as Dark. Happy Planning!

A

A Private User

Well, it started out great. Colleen H was my consultant. She is a doll and helped me find a gorgeous dress that I loved - and bought. The dress came early and was perfect. If I had walked out the door at that moment, I would have given them 4 stars - maybe 5, but unfortunately, that is when things hit the fan... I came back for my alterations and they sent me to a back room to meet with a crotchety old european woman with one red eye - seriously. It was straight out of Snow White. I am pretty sure she put a curse on me. She was so mean to me. My dress was ordered in the size THEY measured me for and she refused to zip my dress all the way, accusing me of gaining weight. Now, any bride knows perfectly well you need to use a little elbow grease to zip a wedding dress THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SNUG. Besides, ummm...arent you a seamstress? Isnt your job to make it fit? (And no, I had not gained an ounce) It turned out I just needed to take off my bra and then it was perfect. I asked for my original consultant Colleen to come help because I was upset with the seamstress at that point. Thats when she really got mad. She crossed her arms and moped around, refusing to speak to me. It gets worse. The store had guaranteed, in writing, ON MY RECIEPT that I would not pay more than $349 for my alterations. The crazy red-eyed seamstress indignantly insisted that her prices had gone up and I would have to pay $499. I complained to a manager and all she could do was tell me "we will have to get back to you." WHAT?? Im pretty sure thats illegal, but I gave them the benefit of the doubt and left. The next day they called me to say they would honor the $349, but it was too late. I decided I would not leave my dress with Cruella the wedding dress ogre. When I came to collect the dress, a woman at the desk asked why I wasnt leaving it. I told her about what happened with the alterations woman. She was not the least bit surprised. Her answer? "Well, we know how she is, but she does a good job." You know how she is?? There are plenty of people who can sew, there is no excuse for letting your customers - brides no less - who are supposed to be having a special experience and spending a significant amount of cash - be treated that way. Thats a real shame if they are aware of this. I wouldnt expect to be treated that way at Burger King, let alone shopping for my wedding dress. I took my dress to Dress Dr at the water tower for alterations - lifesavers! Ladies, this city is filled with lovely bridal stores dying for your business. Find one. Dont go here.