Honest Bridal Shops in the Bay Area

[One Frustrated Bride]

Does anyone know of reputable bridal shops in the San Francisco bay area? In particular, I am looking for stores who would not hesitate to tell me who the manufacturers are of the dresses they carry. I believe this should be part of good customer service from the store.

I've been to several places already and a few of them would NOT tell me who the manufacturer was of dresses that I tried on. They would only give that information when I BUY the dress. How ludicrous!

Thank you!!!

[pbrantner]

I just bought my dress at the Wedding Gown Superstore in Fremont, and I was quite favorably impressed with how they do things. After reading Bridal Bargains, I was absolutely dreading going to a "traditional" bridal shop. I am a larger size, and worried that I wouldn't be able to try on many off the rack dresses, in addition to all the worries about manufacturers tags, etc. At the Superstore, which just opened in Feb. of this year, they have hundreds of dresses (from many of the leading designers) on the rack, all with tags, and you can try on up to seven. No appointment is needed, and you get as much service as you need, but not way too much, if you know what I mean. I bought my dress off the rack, at a reasonable price. You can take it home or pay it off over six months. My bridesmaid also picked out what she needed and ordered it in less than 10 minutes. They will refer you to people who do alterations, but don't do it themselves, so you don't feel like you're getting ripped off there.

If this isn't in the 5th edition of Bridal Bargains...it should be!

[anne_koob]

I was VERY happy with Clarissa Bridal Salon in Walnut Creek. The salespeople were very good at picking appropriate dresses and were very forthright about prices and designers. It's mid to high end I'd say. I tried on gowns by Marisa and Priscilla of Boston.

Ultimately I got a sample Priscilla of Boston, saving $900 but that may have been dumb luck.

Many other brides have also mentioned that they happily bought a dress there.

Best of Luck

[tigereyes]

San Francisco's South of Market area has a huge number of bridal warehouses with discount gowns. Check the phone book. There's also the Jessica McClintock outlet near Union Square, which has dresses starting at $25 (not a misprint). My best friend got a $40, two-piece, ivory sample gown there a few years ago and looked sensational.

Can't vouch for quality or reliability of these places, but if you make a store list and spend a day hunting around the same general area, you might strike something.

[pbrantner]

You might want to check out the Jessica McClintock outlet situation before you go--my understanding is that the SOMA outlet closed down, and the only one they have is in South San Francisco. I had a friend who found a $50 dress there that looked great, but that was over a year ago, and the store she went to no longer exists (at least according to their web site and this site's updates).

[ndipaola]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Dec-12-00 AT 01:55AM (Mountain)[/font][p]I just read an article that cutting designer labels or tags off bridal gowns is illegal, you might want to let the salon know that. Also, my cousin recently got married and bought her gown at Grace Bridal salon, though they aren't cheap, but the staff is wonderful!!!!

[One Frustrated Bride]

Thank you everyone for your input. I've found the dress at a salon in the south bay, so my search is over. Thanks!

[Missy]

Where did you buy your dress. I am just starting to look and would be interested in your suggestion, given all your frustration.

[One Frustrated Bride]

I got my dress through Discount Bridal Service. Not only did they beat the price by about $240, the dress came in about a month earlier than what was originally quoted by the rep I went through. The dress came in perfect condition - there was nothing wrong with it. Apparently, DBS has a site back east where all the dresses are inspected prior to shipping it out to the customer. My experience with DBS is definitely a highlight throughout this whole wedding planning ordeal!

I'd also have to say that my experiences at most bridal salons in the bay area was not as bad as it could have been. But, be on the watch if they refuse to tell you the style #, the manufacturer, etc. You do not want to deal with those places!

Good Luck!

[vorona]

I think experiences must be mixed at this shop. I had the worst bridal shopping experience yet at Clarissa's last month. Not only were they initially rude, treating me as though I were inconveniencing them by being there, even though I had an appointment, they had all the tags torn out of the dresses and the sales woman lied about who made them in at least two instances. The only ones she told the truth about were those where the manufacturer was embroidered on the ribbons they use to hang the dress.

The sales woman was incredibly condescending and refused to bring me any styles I told her I'd looked good in at other shops, instead insisting she wanted to see me in a different look -- one which had always looked bad on me, that I TOLD her had always looked bad on me, and -- guess what -- still looked BAD on me.

The last straw was when she brought out the final dress. I'd told her my price range and how firm it was, how I was paying for my entire wedding all on my own, and yet she came back with a gown that was WAY more than what I'd quoted. Guess what? It was in the style I'd been asking her for all along, and, furthermore, it looked great. Then, when I asked her who made the gown, she lied. I found the dress on theknot.com listed under another designer.

All in all, I did not have a good experience here, and I will not be back.