David's Bridal Fairview Heights IL — Attraction in Fairview Heights

On Dec 13, 2024 my husband proposed after seven years together and we immediately agreed to get married 1/1/2025 in our home, privately, with only his daughter and our parents present.

I ordered a dress on Amazon and it came Dec 27 and did not fit. There weren’t many options when it came to an off the rack purchase, but David’s Bridal was my best chance. I was hesitant because I had a very bad experience with David’s Bridal in 2006 in Sunset Hills, MO but it’s since closed.

I got an appointment the morning of the 28th at 10:30a and was promptly greeted by Aliyah. I explained my situation, budget and style with photos from their site and she brought six dresses to me, a few of which she had picked for me on her own. I tried them all on and ultimately decided on one of the dresses she picked for me. I had my fiance with me, well… because no one knew we were getting married and my mother in law had plans, my mom was sick, so he was there by my side. And he was very happy with the dress as well.

I am only 4’11” so I needed a lot of the bottom cut off and Rizaya (sp?) got it done in just a few hours that day. I paid express charge fees for alterations.

My only issue was that the dress REEEEEEKED of body odor in the armpits. By the time I realized it, Rizaya had already placed all pins for the hems, so I figured just go with it. I mentioned it upon check out to Sydney who said they could take care of it for me while Rizaya was fixing the hem and I was ok with that.

Upon pick up the next morning, the dress fit perfect and I tipped Rizaya $20 cash for the quick turn around and for being so kind. However, the dress still smelled horribly.

I asked the person at the front desk if Sydney was available and she said she wasn’t in until later and I could call in. I explained I lived an hour away and that the body odor was still an issue Sydney said they’d fix. The girl suggested spraying it with febreeze. Let me tell you, 20 cans of febreeze couldn’t get that smell out.

I took it home and googled all the ways to clean it, starting with water and baking soda. Spot cleaned, let it soak - didn’t work. Mixed vinegar with water and sprayed the armpit area about 16x between Dec 29 @ 12p and Dec 31 @ 3p and the smell finally seemed like it was gone. I spot cleaned it with water and gain with oxyclean and let it air dry. Thankfully on the big day-1/1/2025- the dress seemed fine. I made my bonus daughter, officiant and my fiancé smell the dress over and over to be 10000% sure the smell was gone. Thankfully, it was.

With that said, I’m glad the body odor came out. However, if you’re going to buy a dress off the rack, be sure it isn’t soiled with nasty body odor. In the end, the dress was amazing. It was even more beautiful than the $100 dress on Amazon! It fit me like a glove and I felt sexy, classy and was so happy I found THE dress with such short notice! Our day turned out perfect and I can’t wait to wear it later for our reception with friends!

Aliyah was so sweet and attentive and I am glad she was our consultant. I give her five stars, but the...

I knew I wanted to look at David's bridal because my mother bought her dress there. I always knew I wanted to look there since I was a girl and was sad when the Saint Louis location closed. I had an absolute horrible experience. I explained I'm eloping and that the wedding is only in 3 weeks but wanted to see what they had available. She asked me my name 3 times, ran around asking me questions without asking me what I want, and asked my time frame again. She commented multiple times about me waiting until the last minute, rolled her eyes at me when I wasn't liking the dresses, and continued to throw piles of dresses at me without listening to a word I said. I explained I did not want a revealing low cut dress and continued to bring me low cut dresses. While I was changing I heard her say in an irritated voice "I'm just guessing at this point". I completely understand if they don't have what I'm looking for, but I'm not going to buy something just because they have it and it fits. When my brides maid went back to find something a little more my style she was exasperated that "I sent her back there". I was not frustrated that I didn't find anything, I was expecting that, after all we are on a time crunch and this is the first store we looked at. I shared that it's okay if I need to look else where and it seemed like they did not have my style. I then showed her pictures, which I was trying to do for 10 minutes. She continued to bring me dresses and said "this one is flowy"(because it has a sash like design at the neck line, while I was pointing to the skirt being long, chiffon or tulle fabric), continuing to not listen. I told her it's okay we'll look some where else, and I got changed. My brides maid told her the same, but she continued to push dresses I did not want. I again said, I appreciate your time but I don't really think it's what I'm looking for. She was exasperated at me and said "you're breaking my heart I really tried to help." I do not need to feel guilty when we spent all of 20 minutes in there, didn't like the dresses they had, and was treated like a burden. It really felt like she wanted the commission and could push anything on me because it is for an elopement. One of the other ladies stepped in to help, and I really appreciate her making me feel better, and saying that there would be time for alterations, I felt a lot less rushed with her. But at that point I had to go because the...

The only reason this is getting even this high of a review is because the lovely woman who helped find/sell us the dress, the manager Paige, and Raziya were all very helpful. I truly appreciate everything these three woman did during these events.

However, this experience was overall very very disappointing. First, my alteration fitting was on 8/2 at 11am..we did not get brought back until 12:30. We asked twice if we had an idea of when we would be brought back and were told they were overbooked and busy and were not sure. Then when it was time, the woman who brought us back continued calling me the wrong name and got frustrated whenever I was not answering to wrong name.

On 8/2 we booked our pickup time for 9/5 at 6pm. On 8/3 I got a text message stating the appointment was booked at 4pm. I called on 8/3 to make sure the appointment was corrected to 6pm like discussed on 8/2 and was confirmed it was by the lady over the phone. Perfect!!

Here comes today and I called to confirm my appointment and I’m told my appointment is not at that time and I will not be accommodated. The conversation with the alteration supervisor was NOT friendly at all. Very rude, very unprofessional , and very unhelpful.

After this conversation with the lady, I did not feel comfortable with my dress staying there. Then I get home and I see my original time and date was blacked out with a black marker. Yes, in lighting you can as well see it was blacked out with the 6pm. And my original appt 9/5 at 6pm was all over my QR codes for my pickup time. So they changed my time from 4pm, was told it was at 6pm when called, then I’m told today it’s at 4pm. Then I get home and the paper says 4:30. Again, they did not communicate anything.

It’s very frustrating because this was the appointment friends and family were coming too. As well as no woman during this period in your life should have to deal with this.

All I can say is if you buy a dress here, Do NOT waste your time booking alterations. They have beautiful dresses. However, It’s not worth the hassle and stress for...