For all you soon to be brides out there, a warning goes out to anyone shopping at any House Of Brides store in Chicago, IL. They also have a website, boasting "the world's largest bridal mall". Let me tell you that this was the absolute worst shopping experience I had ever had in my entire life! The website has very, very good prices on nearly all designer wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses. I printed out a copy of the bridesmaid and flowergirl dress I intended to order and took it to the store in Schaumburg. I wanted five bridesmaid dresses and two FG. The snotty receptionist told me the dresses were ugly and gave me a quote $100 per dress higher than the website. She also could not guarantee me shipping, and told me that she had never even seen their very own website. Their wedding dresses were dirty, and the consultant offered me a slip so dirty I would not let it touch my skin. After an hour of being treated rudely, I left. The consultant never once attempted to help me with anything, even though I had made my appointment six weeks in advance. Everyone at the store was extremely rude and arrogant. Unfortunately I drove four hours to get to the store. The great thing is, I found my dress the same day at the BrideSmart across the street. When I got home, I looked on the Better Business Bureau's website and was appalled at all of the complaints all five stores had lodged against them. One store had even closed down after 111 complaints in 18 months!! So brides, beware of this store and their website! The website is merely a ploy to get you into the store where the dresses are much, much higher priced. And the way the consultants and other workers treat people while they shop for the "happiest day of their life" should not be tolerated. Good luck to all of you, and don't visit those stores!!
I ordered a dress from their website and now I don't know what to do. Everything seems to be fine, I ordered and got a confirmation a day later. I also got a order process confirmation a week later and it said my dress would arrive by the end of June 07. I can't reach anyone and I'm not sure if I should worry or not.
Maybe I am 1 out of 10 people who had a great experience with House of Brides.
I am getting married 5/24/08.
I came across a picture of my dream wedding dress in a bridal magazine and after relentess searching even went as far as calling the dress designer company in China, I came across House of Brides. Not only did HOB carry my dress, they offered it close to $200 less than the bridal stores I was referred to by the dress designer.
I placed my dress order in February and received a confirmation notice within 10 days stating that my dress designer had accepted my order and my dress was schedule to ship the 3rd week of July. I was also informed I would be notified via email when my dress would be shipping.
Not only did I receive my email informing me that my dress was shipping, I received my dress 3 weeks EARLIER than I had anticipated. Although I will say I became very worried and anxious when I realized my dress was being shipped via US Mail.
I was so worried my dress would somehow arrive in ruins, but my worries were put to rest when I picked up my wedding dress at my local post office.
Not only was it shipped wrapped very securely. When I opened the box and retrieved my dress, I was so relieved and excited to see that my dress was ABSOLUTELY AS BEAUTIFUL AS THE PICTURE.
I tried on my wedding dress immediately to show to my parents and my mother said the dress was "Just amazingly stunning."
Again I may be 1 out of 10 brides who had a great experience with House of Brides and for that I am very greatful.
Just because the stores and the website are owned by the same people doesnt mean they operate as one.
A website allows people from all over the world to order dresses at a discounted price. Folks in the Uk do not fly out to Schaumburg to use the full service salon and then order online.
An online store sells 10 times more merchandise than a store that only local folks can order from. Using the website to get people in the store? Doesn't make sense.
Why would anyone stay in a store that treated them badly for an hour? That doesnt make sense either.
You get what you pay for in life. If you want full service, pay for it. If you can do okay by reading the information available online and save a bunch of money good for you.
For all you brides to be out there, if you know you are getting married and have plenty of time to order a dress go to ebay . They have like 88,000 dresses and if you order them from say china like i did god i saved major money . Like probably 600.00 . You pay more for the shipping . I got my dress for 29.00 and paid 109.00 for shipping from china . And girls it is gorgeous, trust me . Look at the reviews before you bid and shop before you choose because there are so many to choose fromand if you bid on a dress and win you have to buy it. It is worth it though.
Buying from places like house of brides is going to run all your locally owned bridal stores out of business. House of Brides also encourages people to go to the stores and try on the gown there and then order from them. I find that to be completely rude! So basically if you plan on buying off the internet they are profiting off you yet the local store puts in all the work and effort into helping you. Also keep in mind you will need alteration and wanting your dress pressed the internet cannot help you with this. There is many reasons to purchase from a locally owned store for the overall service you will recieve.
Hi
I just received my 4 brides maid dresses and I must say I am extremely happy with these dresses. They said I would receive them at the end of May/08 as I ordered them Dec 10/07, however I got them a full month early.
I hope I am not the exception with this company..I need to order a few more items.
I own a bridal salon in West Dundee. When I see things like this I wonder why? Why does it get this far, where people are posting things about your service? At The Complete Bridal Salon & Plaza, we want you to pass other salons, to get to us... We want you to feel excited when you pull in to our parking lot. We want you to feel proud when you talk about your experience and throughout the process... We hope we've made a friend. Check out www.completebridalsalon.com.
The Bridal Salon and Plaza has 14 Wedding Related Departments and located in West Dundee, Il., coming to Orland Park and Naperville.
