Wedding dress being held hostage

That’s illegal. You don’t have to do alterations at the same salon your purchased a gown. You need to be firm and direct. Kindly inform her that you purchased a product from her and you intend to pick up said product. She can either give your property or she can hear from your lawyer. And that you will also file a formal complaint against her place of business.

Honestly, unless you have a contract that states you have to get alterations done with her, she has no rights to keeping your dress.


Since it’s already been paid for (and you have the receipt), tell her that you are not getting it altered with her, you are ABSOLUTELY not flying back and forth for alterations unless she’s planning on paying for your flights and accommodations, and I would threaten to take legal action if she doesn’t turn over the dress to you.
She sounds horrible. Also, getting alterations done 4 months before the wedding sounds risky. I lost a ton of weight 6 weeks leading up to my wedding (I was determined) so I did all my alterations 2 weeks beforehand. She has no idea how your body might fluctuate within that 4 months.

Okay so I’m going to give you a bit of advise for the future and I hope I don’t come off as rude. You should never ever have to explain to anyone what you are doing and why you are doing it. Explaining why you need your dress is irrelevant, absurd and none of her freaking business.


But since that is all in the past, I would get in contact with her as soon as you can and say “I’m coming to pick up my merchandise with my receipt that says paid in full.” Anything after that she is stealing from you and you call the police. Because that’s what you do when people steal from you. If you were stealing from them, she would call the police on you.
Before you leave with the dress, inspect every centimeter from front to back, top to bottom and left to right.
With that I am so sorry that this happened to you. Sadly you are not the first bride who has experienced this. I have heard that shops do this all the time. I hope you get this resolved quickly so you can move on from them (literally) and focus on your wedding!

View Quoted Comment Renee this is great advice! And actually something I’ve been working on in the last few years, never feel like you need to explain your business to people. Agreed!

View Quoted Comment Thanks! It took me a while to learn this too. I used to think that if I explained my entire story then it would help the situation. Sometimes it’s needed but I soon learned that less is more. It helps not having to feel vulnerable or mistreated.
It is also useful at work too. People know not to ask me question 🤣 LOL

I'm so sorry this is happening to you and right now. I agree with everyone else; it's your dress and you have a receipt. Be fully prepared to contact the police. I'd also go with 1 or 2 friends/family who can video record the whole thing so that she doesn't say you did something you didn't do. Be firm and professional. Also, give her an honest review on Google, letting her know that's you plan to do in advance!


I bought my dress about 3 weeks ago from Poshmark from a wedding dress retailer who'se going out of business. I'm having 2nd thoughts b/c the dress is ripped, which I knew so I think I'll spend more in alterations in the end. It was a sample dress. It's a Casablanca dress and is beautiful but I think I purchased prematurely.