Memories Bridal by Reem

Reviews 3

NI

Nicole Tangas

Reem is so warm and welcoming, youll feel right at home in her privately owned Ridgefield storefront! When I visited her last January with my family in tow, she took one look at me and said, "Wait here. Ill be right back!" and came back with three dresses. Honestly, all three of them looked lovely on me, but the second was absolutely perfect. Shes like a bridal genie... you dont have to tell her what you are looking for; she just knows! When I put on the second dress and it was love at first sight, she replied, "I knew it!" I didnt understand at first, but then she went on to explain that she took one look at me and knew the dress would look be right because Im so tall and only a tall girl could pull off that shape. She had been waiting for the right person to come in and purchase that dress for a while. Little did I know, after purchasing the dress and returning home that evening, I realized that the dress was one that I had pinned on Pinterest nearly 6 months earlier, before I was even engaged. It was like we were on the same page the entire time and she knew exactly what I needed before I had an opportunity to ask. Additionally, Reems team that handled my alterations (which are included in your price unless you have additional work done on the dress) were amazing. I had some very sharp beading that could not be moved or it would alter the design of the dress, so rather than disrupt the integrity of the garment, they added soft chiffon around the arms and back to line the beading and create a protective barrier against my skin. I didnt even know they could do that on an illusion neckline! You never noticed a thing! I also had an Australia flag sewn in under my dress as my "something borrowed" and, in order to protect the sentimental value of my item, Reem chose to add a layer to my dress and hand-stitch it rather than cut and machine sew it to the tulle. This was an additional cost, as well as the bustling because I had a respectable sized train, but at $250 for both, it was well worth it. When I lifted my dress during the Maid of Honor speech, jaws dropped to see that I had a dark blue and red flag under a white dress and you couldnt see a single drop of color through it. I believe that this speaks highly of her work and not the dress because the material the flag was sewn onto was the ideal weight and positioning (facing my legs) for optimal optical illusion. I could not have been happier! Do not be jarred that she does not have a website like many other retailers who only provide links to suppliers; Reem has an entire arsenal of dresses, veils, jewelry, and headpieces, and if you want something you cant find, just ask and she will order it. This is a family-friendly environment where you receive individualized attention (1 appointment at a time what I saw the 4 times I was there, all at different times of the day) and you are free to bring your ladies to look on. If you want a shop where you call and speak directly to the owner, AND when they are there every time you visit to dress you and fit you themselves, then stay out of the big-name shops and look no further! Reem will be your last bridal salon!

NO

Norah Abdallah

Brides please beware. This store will not tell you the designer or the style number of your bridal gown until you order it. I tried on several dresses and they would not tell me the designer I was trying on. Not only would they not tell me the designer, they have gone so far as to remove the designers’ tags on the dresses and replace them with their own tags, their own identification numbers, and their own prices. What really rubbed me the wrong way is that the woman who helped me in the dressing room told me it was no problem for her to tell me designers I was trying on. She told me it was “no secret,” she just had to look it up and she would call me the next day with the information. As I was leaving the shop the owner told me something completely different - that they couldn’t tell me the designers because these were their “private” designers. I called the next day for clarification and the owner told me they have this policy to protect their business. They carry some dresses by the designers listed on their website and some are by private designers that only make dresses for them. I asked her how a bride could possibly buy a dress when she has no idea who the designer is and she told me "Does the designer really matter? If you like the dress and it’s in your budget why do you need to know the designer?” Really? A bridal salon owner is telling me the designer of my dress shouldn’t matter to me? Im supposed to pay over $2000 for a dress without a designer? Second of all, if you have a private designer that is only making dresses for your shop then you should be happy to tell me that one of the dresses I like is by that private designer because that would mean I won’t be able to find it anywhere else. I’m left feeling that this store is up to something shady. Completely removing the designers tags from a dress just isn’t right. I have been to many other bridal salons for myself and for my sisters and I have never seen the designer of a dress be kept a secret. I’ve done research online and this is not a common or accepted practice. By hiding the designer/style number from me I’m left to think one of two things: they must be ripping me off on the price or they’re selling me a knock off/no name brand. This is an absolutely terrible way to do business and to protect your business. If you’re knowledgable, friendly, and good at what you do then there is no need to play these games.

TA

tanya conoscenti

Where do I even begin?! This entire experience that I have had the pleasure of encountering at Memories Bridal Shop has been such an unforgettable, moving and positively emotional remembrance! My wedding is October 15, 2016 (12 days) and I have to say that I am actually sad that my days of visiting this shop (fittings, final pick up) are slowly coming to an end. There has not been a time where I have gone into Memories where I didn’t feel completely special, unique or exceptional. Each and every time Reem has personally greeted my mother and me with a hug and a kiss! It didn’t even feel like I was going into a Bridal store. Instead, it actually felt as though I was visiting a long time friend or family member! Reem truly cares about making her brides feel unique, special and well taken care of! She actually customized my dress so that it is unlike any other gown out there. All I did was show her a picture and she left me absolutely speechless with the final outcome! Her patience and genuine nature are unlike anything I have seen on my journey towards finding the perfect dress. Other places have rushed me or even have pressured me into believing that “This gown was the one.” Reem truly allowed me to express myself without any pressure whatsoever! I did not feel rushed nor urged to make a decision. She is truly one of a kind and was such a delight to work with. More importantly, alterations and my cathedral veil were included in my final price and Reem even sewed in a piece of my father’s shirt in the shape of a heart, which is something I could never thank her enough for!!! The amount of happy tears that have been shed in this place, from my mother, my cousin (maid of honor) and myself are countless and I am BEYOND fulfilled with gratification and appreciation for all of Reem’s hard work in making my journey towards becoming a bride one of the most treasured emotional experiences I have to look back on!!!