Am I being fussy? Seamstress has dogs!

A tailor I use sometimes has dogs but they are not allowed in his sewing room. I do try on and have any pinning done in the main part of the house and I have never had dog hairs on the finished clothes I have collected. I don't think you are necessarily being a bridezilla to be concerned about whether your dress will end up covered in dog hairs. What about the alternative number the bridal shop gave you.

I don't think it's unreasonable. If, like in Jayne's case the dogs weren't allowed in the sewing room it wouldn't bother me so much but I wouldn't be happy if they were allowed in at any time let alone whilst I had the dress on.

I would try the other number. Is there a seamstress who can visit you in the shop? I'm having my dress stored at the shop in controlled conditions and the seamstress comes in once a week for fittings. I remember your previous post, and I'm really shocked at how you've been treated by this bridal shop!

I agree with expensivepinkcars. Probably over 90% of dresses need alterations so to give you an expensive dress and basically tell you to go forth and sort it yourself is a bit much.

mine is also being altered by a seamstress at the shop. They make appointments for Saturdays and she comes in and sorts it there.

Thanks everyone. I have asked the bridal shop owner to find out if the other seamstress is pet free, she thinks I am being very unreasonable!

I'm finding the whole experience a bit of a nightmare. When I ordered the dress I too was promised an in-house seamstress etc. I don't really want to be trekking the dress in and out of the car in the winter months visiting a seamstresses house. They haven't even provided a proper dress carrier - it's currently still in the box it was delivered in. When I queried this she said it would be fine!

? they cannot be serious?! Maybe it's time to name and shame them! It seems that now they have your money, they are no longer interested!

I see this 2 ways...

number one (if ive read correctly) you went to this ladys HOME where her pets LIVE and no one has any right to enter your house and dictate about your pets

but

number two as a cat owner I know my two long haired cats coat EVERYTHING they come near (even if its just for a moment) in irremovable fur ? and I wouldn't have my dress anywhere near my own pets let alone a strangers pets

can you get another seemstress instead?

Sorry your being unreasonable this is this woman's home and your basically calling her unprofessional because she has dogs. I strongly doubt she allows them to jump up on gowns, sit on gowns or any of the above - she wouldn't be in business if this was the case so unless your highly allergic to dogs it's kind of bridezilla esk.

I used a home seamstress - she had dogs, my gown remained pristine, she even steamed it for me as she was worried it being in the bag would create a crease, not a hair in sight on my dress and wonderful woman.

Thank you everyone for your varied opinions. I have the number for the other recommended seamstress, so hopefully she will be pet free.

With regards to what she can do in her own home, of course she has can have pets. However, this is also her place of business. The dogs were actually in the room where she was altering the dresses. I just don't feel comfortable with it, but I don't have a dog myself. It's the most money I'll ever spend on a dress in my life, I don't want a dog anywhere near it!

I think your reaction is a little over the top, to be honest. OH has a dog, and he hardly moults at all except for in summer when it's hot. Just because the dogs were in the room doesn't mean that they are going to go anywhere near the dress, or that the house is covered in hair. If they are the type to moult, the seamstress will be well aware of it and will probably do the same as I do with my cats - hoover and clean everyday. After all, if she was returning gowns covered in dog hair, word would get round and the bridal shop wouldn't exactly want to keep her on their recommended list, would they?

My seamstress came recommended by my husband's cousin. She worked from home (and her home was beautiful). It's only that you brought it up that I remember she had a cat. I hadn't thought anything of it, tbh and didn't find any cat hairs on my dress.

If you're uncomfortable then it's your option not to use her and to find an alternative.

Also, the shop should put your dress in a dress bag and hang it up so some of the wrinkles can fall out. They won't all fall out until it's steamed/pressed, but it helps so it drapes properly when the alterations are being done. My seamstress actually gave me a larger bag because she was worried about it having enough room. She also harassed me about finding a good bridal dress steamer/presser as I had my alterations done in Perth but was getting married in Canberra - so the dress needed to be steamed/pressed to ensure it looked its best.

A good seamstress is amazing.

I don't know if I would go to the effort of complaining, but I would quietly look elsewhere. I have a dog and I know what a nightmare it is trying to get rid of pet hair. Fair enough her having dogs in the house but I wouldn't be happy about them spending time in the room where she does the alterations.

I see how this has made you a little wary of her services, but don't think you have grounds to complain properly about it- as per a previous poster, I'd probably just look quietly elsewhere.

If the woman's home was covered in dog hair and smelt like dogs, I'd agree with you, but a lot of people have dogs and their houses are fine.

It's a shame that the service you've received from this bridal shop isn't up to scratch though! If I was paying a lot of money for a dress, I would want them to provide the service in house and look after me each and every step of the way. I bought my dress from an outlet store, and although they didn't offer an in-house seamstress service, they did have a seamstress who talked you through any alterations and gave you a list of their approved suppliers.

What a shame.

Thank you everyone for your comments and advice. I spoke to the other recommended seamstress today and she too has pets but they are never in the room where she does the alterations. She has offered to come to my house for the first fitting too which is nice. So hopefully all will work out well.

I am still not happy with the service I have received from the bridal shop though....but hopefully I will only ever need one wedding dress and never have to use them again!

I wouldn't be happy with the bridal shop either. And seeing as you have nothing to lose I would make it quite clear to them that you are not happy with them. I would put in a complaint and unless you get some joy I would name and shame. You spent a LOT of money with them and had no customer service.

I will wait until after the wedding! They won't be getting a good review from me. They are still going to steam the dress after the alterations, I don't want anything going wrong there!

No wait until you are done with them! You have already said you weren't happy so it's not going to come as a big surprise to get a complaint and possibly bad reviews.