I had gone to the wedding shoppe with my brother's fiance to pick out her wedding dress. She had seen three that she was really interested in online but they didn't have these dresses in the shop so she had to request them and put down a $50 deposit for each dress, a total of $150. She was told that it would be put towards her purchase of her wedding gown so it didn't seem to be that big of a deal to pay ahead of time.
When we got to the shop we were escorted upstairs to her fitting room where the three dresses were waiting for her to try on. Along for the ride was myself, my aunt, my mom and the brides best friend. We had to stand in the small hallway in everyone's way because we were not offered anywhere to sit. The consultant was not very helpful at all. It seemed like she knew the sale was already made so why put in any effort. I don't think she even introduced herself. My soon to be sister in law and her best friend were left to try on the different dresses on their own because the consultant went off to work with a different bride. She was not escorted on to the pedestal to get the full effect of the dress and never offered to try on jewelry or headpieces like other brides got to do.
Once she decided on the dress she wanted to purchase she was measured and then paid. The rest of us were waiting outside because it was so crowded. After the appointment she told us that she was only credited $50 for the dress she chose instead of the full $150, and as she was leaving the upstairs portion another bride was trying on the dress she brought into the store for free! I think it is ridiculous to ask one bride to pay $150 for dresses to be brought into the store and then allow other brides to try them on for free! I think this is an unfair practice and is a way to rip off brides and make them feel trapped into a decision. What would have happened if she didn't like one of the three dresses!? she would have been out of $150 which can be quite a lot for a young bride on a budget trying to plan her perfect wedding.
I suggest that other brides reading this take their business elsewhere. It may have a good name or reputation but it is because some people don't have the courage to speak up about unfair business practices. I personally went to a small privately owned shop and had the one on one attention of the consultant and walked out feeling like I chose the right dress, and not cornered into one. Don't put down money ahead of time so you have the choice to take a dress or leave it.
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