Anyone else think this is rather rude?

I sort of get where they are coming from but still think it's a bit rude and don't think you're being a bridezilla la. If you want to go then go and enjoy it, if you really think they wont take you seriously then maybe look at somewhere else.

Theres plenty of dress shops in the North east and they can't all be bad right?

When I started looking I always lied about my wedding date... Just say summer 2015!

Genius! I will certainly do this from now on! The trouble is I am limited as to where I can go as my mum is wheelchair bound (separate post about this!) and the rude email lady's shop is one of the only ones I have found without steps/in a Victorian building. I obviously don't want to exclude my mum from the dress shopping so I am taking her and my CBM and maybe my CBM's mum too. I think I will just go and see what happens, I just hope it isn't a bad experience, I'll take it on the chin but if they are rude my mum is easily upset.

Went through a similar thing with a shop who told me it was too early, I was in and out the shop within 20minutes and had no help getting in or out the dresses. You could just go, I'm sure they wouldnt be rude to you in person?

After that experience i started telling the shops it was 2014 instead of 2015. Havent found anything yet but its the fun part trying them all on

There's no point lying about the date either as someone suggested. Why should you? I would take my business elsewhere, there are plenty of places that won't judge you like this place has.

I was originally a 2015 bride and I looked to book my venue early 2013. One venue I visited looked in horror when I suggested my wedding would be 2 years away and said that the prices would be at least 10% more unless I book for 2014. I said no and didn't look back at that place being pushy like that. I did go for 2014 in the end (at a different venue) due to a family member being of ill health (and because we couldn't wait!) but seriously don't let anyone make you feel bad.... Wedding planning should be an enjoyable experience and I am so fed up of hearing about bridal shops being nasty to people who aren't getting married next month or brides who are a size 16 or whatever! If I was fortunate to own my own bridal shop I would treat every potential customer like royalty. Rant over haha!

Everyone has a different time scale, budget, ideas. It's up to you when you want to start looking. I ordered my dress with nearly 2 yrs to go and the shop didn't make it a negative experience for me so I didn't think it was a crazy idea. You shouldn't let anyone put you off. Go to a shop that's friendly, you're more likely to buy from them anyway. Enjoy the whole experience it's fun :-)

I got this from a lot of suppliers when I first started planning. Not just bridal boutiques but photographers, bakers etc..as soon as I told them the wedding was 18 months away it was like I was ridiculous for considering their service so early. Bloody early!?!

anyway I spoke with one dress shop owner at a wedding fayre who poopoo'ed my suggestion of 'just trying some on to get an idea of what suits' and moved on to the next person who's wedding was sooner than mine. It really put me off!! Then the next bridal stall were lovely and suggested that I come along purely just to get a feel for the dresses. Which I did. She spent lots of time with me and my BM's and mum, even suggesting I could go back as many times as I like to try some on...and I subsequently bought my dress there.

customer service !!!

I get why shops like that don't want people coming in just to try, because they aren't going to get a sale at the end of the day. The key thing they need to remember is will they get the sale another day? If they had made a good impression with you now then you'd have been loyal and keen to go back next year wouldn't you.

If you are looking for a north east bridal shop try YAP they are amazing !!! X

I think it's a perfectly reasonable response.

If you still want to deal with them, just acknowledge it's early and make the appointment. But I think they'll see you as a time-waster now (rightly or wrongly). I would highlight the fact that you are actually looking to buy, even now.

You're not being bridezilla, just a little oversensitive. They're a wedding dress hop. I'd wager they've seen tons of brides dicker about, change their minds, impulse buy then regret. They are actually looking out for you!

As someone who is looking to buy for my wedding this year I guess I can see from their other customer's points of view - as in I have struggled to get a Saturday appointment and I am actually looking at buying right now (I need to get a move on if my dress is to be ready in time!). Most bridal shops give each bride an hour and a half and they only allow one bride in at a time - so on a Saturday that could be just 5 brides they can fit in (assuming 9-5pm opening on a Saturday). So, one Bridal Shop who couldn't fit me in for another 7 weeks on a Saturday has lost my potential trade as I am going to a different shop who can fit me in earlier. Incidentally, the bridal shop who did fit me in asked upfront when my wedding date was and the other didn't so maybe they used that to work out what appointments to offer?

I'm guessing this is what flagged you up as a browser rather than a serious buyer. I can understand how a shop who can only see five brides a day may see this as a waste of their time.

Whether they treat you like a time waster will depend on whether the member of staff who sent the reply is the same as the person you deal with in the shop. It sometimes isn't as they sometimes have a receptionist/admin staff dealing with appointments.

Maybe if this is more about cheering up your CBM you could go round some of the stores offering off the peg dresses that don't need appointments such as Monsoon bridal, John Lewis, Phase Eight etc. You can try on to your heart's content without being seen as timewasters.

I had exactly the same thing when I wanted to try some dresses on. My wedding isn't till 2016 either and all the shops said it was pretty early etc. just as you had. When I actually went and tried some on they were fine in the shop if a bit pushy reminding me it might not be there in 6months time. I think they just say it to avoid you finding ;the one' then trying to order it a year later and being disappointed when it's not there. I say just ignore them if all you doing it going for ideas or to spend a day with you MOH.

I also had a friend who had the same thing and when she went back 9months later all the dresses she tried on where still there!