Hi Ladies
Went to my first bridal shop on Saturday - first try on of dresses ever. Went to Nancy Jane bridal on Stretford on the Saturday and she was FANTASTIC. Super-warm welcome and really knowledgable about styles with a big range of dresses – style and budget wise. We had the shop to ourselves and despite it only being open 2 weeks (moved to bigger premises) she had a lovely changing room and big mirror with a cute little velvet box to stand on. She helped me in and out the dresses and lace them up, even if they didnt fit she helped me get a good idea of what the seamstress could do - was so helpful – cannot recommend highly enough! The experience was really nice and enjoyable, very relaxed and informal.
I tried on about 6 and hadn’t found anything but she picked out this Romantica dress with sweetheart neckline and it looked a dream and not too bad price wise at £630. Wouldn’t have given it a second look on the hanger – just goes to show u have to try them on. Also I was sure I didn’t want a veil but after putting one on – I loved it! Still not liking strapless to much as have big arms but hoping they can make me a little jacket or something.
On Sunday my experience couldn’t be different at Stellas Wedding Dresses in Didsbury. Arrived to find the other bride still there, fair enough, so offered to come back in a bit (it’s a small shop) but she said its ok so had to sit there awkwardly in this tiny shop while the bride gave us evils – I wouldn’t want other people eyeing my up trying on dresses! After she’s finished and her family had eaten their sandwiches – nice – I was ignored and had to ask – ‘shall I pick out some dresses or…?’ To a bit of a grunt and a ‘we might not have much in your size’. Seriously a woman with a more sensitive nature might have cried! I’m curvy yea but only a size 16 for christs’ sake!! I even asked if there was any point me trying any on if none would fit to a ‘you might as well’. So not to waste our day I picked out 3 – could hardly see them in their cellophane wrappers and went into a changing room where she just left me to try them on. These are big dresses and its hard to get them on yourself so I had to ask for help and she even grazed my arm once with her watch as she was chatting on the phone while putting my dress on! Literally could not get out there fast enough! Apparently she had been doing it 40 years – the lady needs to go on a customer service course! And these dresses aren’t cheap its not like ur getting what u pay for. She also had some scruffy sullen teen assistant who seemed to do nothing and just sit and stare!
Awful experience all round, left feeling like I wanted to cry and needed to majorly diet! AVOID THIS SHOP LIKE A PLAGUE. If this had been my first dress shopping experience I might have actually have cancelled the wedding. Awful, awful, awful! My mum was so angry too.
Anyhoo onward and upward! Next shopping weekend is in June – only want to shop with my mum and she lives in Hertfordshire and we are busy bees. Lucky we have until September 2011!
S xx
