I live in CT, am getting married in St.Louis and have a Maid/Matron of honor, and 3 bridesmaid who live in different states. So I can't even blame my bad (and their bad) experience on one store. All 4 David's Bridal stores have proven above and beyond that they care only for the bridal sale, have no computer competence looking up bridal info for other stores, nor do they care about keeping appt. with the bridesmaids. They overbooked one of my bridesmaids because a BRIDE decided to come in and they concurred that "yes", even though you had an appt, "a bridal visit overshadows that". And you want to know why, eager consumers? Because the big money is the DRESS. Once they get that one you, forget about the rest of your bridal party. And their alteration costs are obscene. I had my French Bustles (3), and dress taken in, and hemmed/steamed at a local shop for 125$ (and that's in CT where everything is expensive!). DB wanted 300+ for this job. I wouldn't have given them the money even if the "other" alterations place had charged me the same 300$. Not one more dime of my money will EVER go into DB.. Each one of my bridesmaids had to call me while in the store, b/c the girls helping them couldn't even find me in the system. One girl, when she did find me, didn't know how to read the comments sections under "notes". she almost got my bridesmaid into my maid of honor's dress! NOW COME ON! the whole point of going to a chain like DB is for uniformity and convenience. I go into the store, tell them what all my girls are wearing, and my girls go into their respective stores, drop the bride's name or phone number, pay for their dress, and you re done... NO. NOT EXACTLY HOW IT REALLY WORKS.
I would highly advise any new brides to really REALLY take a look at their local bridal boutiques as you will get one on one service and much better care. This day is about you feeling like the only princess and when you are standing on that little round platform at David's with about 5 other bride-to-be's all around you, and 2 salespeople fluttering around all of you like frenzied birds- well - you just don't get the same fuzzy feeling. I'd like to write a letter to someone at David's, but am not sure who or how. I think they are franchised so a lot of good it will do...
