Post content has been hidden

To unblock this content, please click here

Super September 2021

Alterations nightmare

Sharon, on September 16, 2021 at 9:40 AM Posted in Wedding Attire 0 24

Saved

Flag
Hide content

I'm freaking out and need to share with people that can relate.
I brought my wedding gown to David's Bridal in early Aug for my first fitting, more than 6 weeks before my wedding. I was supposed to go last Friday for my second fitting but they called the night before saying it won't be ready and could I push it out another week or two. Seeing as my wedding was two weeks away I said I couldn't do that. After a lot of back and forth we rescheduled it to a few days later in the evening and they assured me it would be done. I had to wait over an hour for my dress because they were still working on it though they told me it was just being steamed.
Here's the nightmare, the dress that was originally loose on me was now so tight it wouldn't zip or button all the way. I couldn't move my arms. Again a lot of back and forth about the timeline to fix it and what needed to be done. We agreed that while I was there they would let it out, let me try it on again and if that fit they would alter it and I'd come back on Friday. Well, after they let it out it didn't feel any looser and now there was gaping in the front. They made adjustments and 'will make everything right' but honestly I'm not at all confident than when I go back on Friday it will be ok. It's nine days before my wedding and I might not have a dress to wear! 😡😩

Flag
Hide content

24 Comments

Latest activity by Gabby, on September 24, 2021 at 6:38 PM

Master October 2020
Yasmine · on September 16, 2021 at 10:01 AM
Flag

Hide content
OMGGGGGG Which one did you go to? Just curious.
I dropped my dress off on 8/1 for my 10/2 big wedding and they gave me a pickup date of 9/3. A few days before, they called me and said they needed more time because they were low staffed. The gave me 9/17 but I remembered I would be out of town so I said I couldn't do that date. They then tried for 9/25 and I said no I would be out of town that day also and it was too close to the wedding date. We decided on 9/14 because I was off work that day.
I get there 9/14 and go back to the alterations department. A lady comes to me and asks to see my receipt then proceeds to tell me that my dress isn't finished. I asked her what was done she said they haven't even started working on my dress and that the day was given to me by mistake because they don't do dress pickups on Tuesdays. I showed her my email where it specifically said bridal pickup appointment. Mind you, I don't live in that state so it was a complete inconvenience. I ended up having to talk to a manager who then had to call the store manager and told her that I needed to leave with my dress THAT DAY and I wanted some type of reimbursement.
They ended up taking my dress back and altering it immediately (it took 2 hours) and gave me $100 back on my card for the inconvenience. I WAS LIVIDDDDDDD.
The seamstress who did my dress did an amazing job and it fit PERFECTLY. But that was a horrible experience
- Reply
Super October 2021
Clarissa · on September 16, 2021 at 10:09 AM
Flag

Hide content
Omg. I am sorry that you both had nightmare experiences. That was my biggest fear with getting my dress altered there. The only issue I had wasn’t a really big issue. My bustle wasn’t done properly so they had to fix that and some of my beading slipped so they had to sew that back on but it was really quick. I was told company wide they are having a shortage of seamstress and the turnover is crazy because of the demand. Hopefully your dress comes out well.
- Reply
Super September 2021
Sharon · on September 16, 2021 at 10:10 AM
Flag

Hide content
View Quoted Comment
OMG!! I went to the one in Manhattan. Same thing. They said they were under staffed because Broadway is back and a lot of the seamstresses left to work on the Broadway shows. And b.s. they don't do pick ups on Tuesday because that's when I went for mine. You have to push back with them. They wanted me to come back another day to let it out, then come back again another day to try it on again. There was no way I was doing that. I live in another borough so while it's not hard to get to its an inconvenience. I'm do glad yours turned out fine. And glad you got a little money back but sheesh could they spare it? lol
- Reply
Super September 2021
Sharon · on September 16, 2021 at 10:15 AM
Flag

Hide content
View Quoted Comment
Thanks, Clarissa. My dress buying experience with them was fabulous. Even my first fitting was great. The seamstress was very nice and knowledgeable so I really wasn't expecting any problems let alone such a big one. I'm so happy to hear you had such a great experience with their alterations. I know they're under staffed and I saw how busy they were. I feel for the people working there, I really do, but I want my dress and I want it to be perfect! 😁
- Reply
Master October 2020
Yasmine · on September 16, 2021 at 10:17 AM
Flag

Hide content
View Quoted Comment

Oh okay, I drove to the one in Delaware but I live in Maryland. I told them "now I know why you have such bad reviews and people complain so much about your establishment" of course they just looked silly. Prior to, I had no bad experience with them at all - only great experiences. I was so annoyed, I had an interview scheduled at 3pm that day (THANK GOD IT WAS VIRTUAL) but My dress was finished at 2:35, so I literally got to throw it on (without my shoes) and hurry back to my car to do my virtual interview. It really messed my whole day up because it threw my timing for things off and I didn't get to try it on with my shoes & accessories.
- Reply
Super October 2021
Clarissa · on September 16, 2021 at 10:22 AM
Flag

Hide content
View Quoted Comment
I definitely understand. Shoot it took months for me just to get an appointment for alterations. I understand that you have last year and this years brides and bridesmaids but don’t give me a timeframe and not be ready. That’s extremely unprofessional. Especially when you know what it’s for because they ask for the date of your event smh. I hope everything works out fine for you.
- Reply
Beginner September 2021
Jayne · on September 16, 2021 at 10:38 AM
Flag

Hide content
I am so sorry to hear that.. I bought my dress too late so tried to find an alteration place who can work fast. It took 3 days to finish it. They can finish the work if someone takes in charge of it all day. Thats what O was told. I would rather get refund from David's bridal. That is so unprofessional!
- Reply
VIP April 2022
CountryBride · on September 16, 2021 at 11:46 AM
Flag

Hide content
Do you have pics maybe we can help my Davids bridal experience has been good but I am now starting the alterations my ceremony dress needs the belt tacked on and then we are ready to go I don't know about my reception dress
- Reply
Super September 2021
Sharon · on September 16, 2021 at 1:06 PM
Flag

Hide content
View Quoted Comment
Wow that's great you were able to get it done so quickly! My fear is if I take it someplace else they might make it even worse.
- Reply
Super September 2021
Sharon · on September 16, 2021 at 1:07 PM
Flag

Hide content
View Quoted Comment
I don't have pics. I should have taken some at least as a reference point but I was too aggravated to think about that.
- Reply
Beginner September 2021
Diana · on September 16, 2021 at 1:43 PM
Flag

Hide content
David's Bridal will always get business regardless of how bad a job they do. If you take it to a small, independently-owned seamstress who has good reviews (and experience doing wedding dresses -- this is important), they will care about doing a good job and maintaining their reputation. Take your chances elsewhere. Just make sure that you get any fabric that was removed from your dress from David's -- your seamstress may need it.
- Reply
Devoted October 2021
Gabby · on September 16, 2021 at 2:05 PM
Flag

Hide content
That's awful. Pick up your dress tomorrow and take it to a local independent seamstress. I lucked out and found someone local to custom make my dress and she does any and all alterations free of charge. It's about the same price as a davids bridal dress too. Definitely take it to someone local. You could tell them the situation and they could do your dress sooner.
- Reply
Beginner September 2021
Jayne · on September 16, 2021 at 2:44 PM
Flag

Hide content
View Quoted Comment
I totally agree with this! Not sure where you live but it is not really difficult to find a nice alteration place in city areas.
- Reply
Super September 2021
Sharon · on September 16, 2021 at 6:10 PM
Flag

Hide content
View Quoted Comment
Thanks. You're right. I've been researching some local places. I'm just worried about the the timeline.
- Reply
Super September 2021
Sharon · on September 16, 2021 at 6:12 PM
Flag

Hide content
View Quoted Comment
You're so right. Thank you. I'm looking into other local places where I could take it to he altered.
- Reply
Devoted July 2023
Scandalousrandallous · on September 16, 2021 at 8:08 PM
Flag

Hide content
Leave this dress to them, they owe you to fix this.
HOWEVER, I would see if you can find/afford to expedite an off-the-rack dress from an online site like Lulus, Revolve, Poshmark, Tradesy, etc., just in case
- Reply
Savvy October 2021
Jen · on September 19, 2021 at 2:33 AM
Flag

Hide content
I am so sorry this is happening to you. Did they give you a reason why they are so behind with it? Did they offer you a back up plan in case it isn’t what you want? A new dress off the rack, etc. I hope that it gets sorted out for you ASAP and it looks the way you want it too. Alterations issues has been a huge fear of mine as well!
- Reply
Savvy December 2021
alexandra · on September 19, 2021 at 6:50 AM
Flag

Hide content
OK. One of my bridesmaids was actually the head seamstress at a DB store. She complained constantly that the store front would tell brides their dresses would be done by a certain date when she knew they couldn’t be done because of how many dresses they had to do. It was basically just her and one or two other women who could not do some of the special stitches that she could. They ended up working her so hard without a significant pay raise or promotion that she quit. She is doing all of my alterations as a wedding present so I know just how truly lucky I am to have her. I would definitely say to take it to a small local seamstress instead of a big corp like DB that is overworked and understaffed.
- Reply
Super September 2021
Sharon · on September 19, 2021 at 11:10 AM
Flag

Hide content
View Quoted Comment
Thank you for sharing this insight. I had a feeling the seamstresses are underpaid and overworked. They said they're understaffed. I'm in NYC and they said since Broadway re-opened a lot of seamstresses left to go work on Broadway. My alterations were just basic; take up the shoulders, take it in at the waist, hem and bustle. The hem and bustle came out great. The rest was a major screw-up. "Irreparable" is what they told me. They gave me new dress, $250 refund and they're doing alterations now. I pray this dress comes out ok. I didn't want to leave it in their hands again but I don't have time to look for another dress and find a seamstress that can do it in such a short time.
- Reply

Super September 2021
Sharon · on September 19, 2021 at 11:18 AM
Flag

Hide content
View Quoted Comment
They said they're understaffed but couldn't explain what went soooo wrong or why what was was done was "irreparable" (their word). Every time they supposedly let it out, it was even tighter. How?! They gave me a new dress, $250 refund (big deal) and are working on the alterations now. I pray this dress is done correctly and in time for my wedding Saturday. I didn't want to have them handle this dress too but I just don't have the time to look for another dress and find a seamstress that can do it in such a short time.
- Reply