Jumped through hoops for me
First off some transparency, I’m writing this review for the $25,000 Casablanca bridal giveaway. Also I used to work here back in high school, 2006.
Quick overview. 10/10 recommend
Since I worked here back when I was a teen, I was already comfortable with this establishment. It gives a really cool vintage vibe. The store itself is set up as it was back in the 60s. It’s a traditional show room and not a modern shop or department store. They even kept the show room fitting rooms. Which is cool cause you can kinda see into the dress vault because the backs of the fitting rooms are open so the laddies and easily move dresses in and out.
One of the reasons I came back here to get my bridal gown was because I know the owner is also a wholesaler for many of the bridal shops along the east coast and the mid west. They showed me dresses from Australia, Ukraine, Spain, China and various USA brands. Since their dresses come from all over the world you really got to adhere to all the bridal sites that say get you dress no less than 9 months out. I didn’t, but Sue jumped through so many hoops to make sure my dress was here in time.
2nd I went with them cause I know that they specialize in custom work. Which can be done with one of their master seamstress or through the Casablanca bridal company. I looked into both these options. With either option, expect to pay. It’s custom work and labor is not included in the price of the dress. The Casablanca options were really cool cause for extra $$ you can mix and match your dress. You can even buy a sketch of your custom dress which is super cool for the scrapbook. But I ended up going the root of having my custom work done by one of their seamstress. I know a few of the seamstresses that contract through them and they each have over 30+ years of experience. Which was great cause they are no BS when it comes to what can and cannot be done to a dress. I ended up paying a little under $500 in total for alterations including tip, which is not bad. A very good price since they had to redo some work to accommodate my pregnancy, thanks Covid lockdown.
3rd, they carry plus size bridal gowns to try on. As a bigger girl it felt so good to try on more than one dress that fit.
They have a couple free services that are pretty convenient. They store the dresses for you in a Vault up until your wedding. Which was super nice since Covid screwed with everything. They also don’t charge to put in a bustle in your gown. It comes free if you pay for a hem. They also will press and put your dress in a bust form when you pick it up. Which was SUPER nice cause it meant I didn’t have to spend so much time the day of the wedding steaming it myself. Some reviews on here really B17(4 about this having to resteam the dress. Seriously, your transporting it in a car…. It’s going to wrinkle. I had a huge ball gown with alot of layers and feathers. So I was already expecting to repress it, but was pleasantly surprised that I only needed to touch up the train since the top didn’t wrinkle from it being in a bust form. You can request to have your dress spot cleaned before the wedding, which was nice cause I got makeup all over the inside of mine from trying it in so many times.
Everything there is by appointment only, it was that way even before Covid. Even so, they get super busy. Saturdays are a mad house the place is packed. Expect to wait on a Saturday. So I recommend making a weekday appointment. And request a big room if you are bringing more than 2 people with you. They only have 4 large rooms with a curtain and those book up fast. The rest of the rooms are seamstress rooms so they are smaller and no curtain.
For my bridesmaids I did a Bash. This is something they do Exclusively for people who purchased their bridals gowns through them. They put us in a private large show room that had 2 fitting room in it. It was BYOB and I don’t think I tipped our consultant near enough. They got some special talent with keeping all the girls on task while they are drinking, socializing and playing dress up.
Some people here complain out tipping, but I ended up tipping the seamstress a little more than I would a hairdresser or nail salon artist. Cause it’s like similar principle, they don’t take home what you are billed so if the work is good it’s nice to show some appreciation. And I think I tipped the consultant 10%. This wasn’t a thing when I was in high school, wish it was though.
