La Jeune Mariee Bridal Collection — Attraction in Grandview Heights

*Relevant particularly for black and/or Muslim women.

I chose this bridal shop for my very first time dress shopping with my mom and sister last year based on the positive reviews and immediately regretted it. It has taken me awhile to be able to speak about just how horrible that experience was without all of the hurt and frustration flooding back. I hope, based on mine and the other poor reviews I’ve seen since that the owners are retraining their staff on respectful and culturally competent interactions.

I was living out of state at the time but was planning my wedding in Columbus and a move to Grandview heights so I was super excited when I found a shop in the neighborhood. Even more excited because this meant I could do this with my mom and sister.

The consultation call was great and very detailed and we discussed the designers and dresses I was interested in as well as my budget. I told the consultant I didn’t have a hard budget but would like to stay in the (4-5K range for the dress itself) since my timeline (a little less than 6 months) was a little tight. And I knew I’d likely pay an additional amount for a rush order/alterations. I was assured dresses that matched my preferences and budget were available and they could work within my timeline. This was my very first time trying on dresses and I was so excited to be able to share this special moment with my mom and sister. However, when we arrived the reception was lukewarm (lots of staring before even being greeted) and after confirming we were indeed the next appointment, the bridal consultant asked about my timeline and budget and immediately said she didn’t have anything for us and didn’t want to get our hopes up by trying to look. She also said she was sorry we wasted our time and we really should have gone elsewhere. This was within the first 2 mins of the appointment. I asked why I had been given an appointment after the consultation call if the shop wasn’t able to meet the needs I expressed on that call just to be turned away at the door. The consultant then reiterated my budget was the real issue. Again, from the website collection and from the consultation call my budget seemed well within the normal range for the designers I had expressed interest in. She then said it might be in the range for the dresses but certainly wouldn’t be for alterations. And she would suggest we go to a budget friendly shop and would happily recommend one as to not waste our time. I reminded her that based on the consultation I was well aware that rush orders and alterations would be an additional amount. At no point did she inquire what our overall budget was for those additional costs. We were as you can imagine shocked at this ridiculous turn of events and at her cold and standoffish demeanor. I froze because I couldn’t believe what was happening. I grew up in Ohio so I’ve had experiences of clear discrimination but I hadn’t come across anything that blatant in a long time. My mom asked for a minute for us to think about it and the consultant left the room and returned a minute later with 2 dresses that did not match anything we had discussed and were way under budget but according to her likely the only things in the shop we could afford. We left within 10 mins of walking in, without trying on a single dress when the consultant refused to pull any dresses. I felt humiliated and sad that such a special day and moment was ruined for us because that consultant took one look at us and decided there was no way we could afford their dresses. And to add insult to injury, the consultant called me shortly after I left the shop to “apologize” because she “felt I wasn’t happy” and give me the referral for the budget friendly shop she had been talking about which I had been clear I did not want. Thankfully, my next appt was with a boutique in Granville (Gilded Social) with a wonderful owner who was warm and welcoming, took the time to listen, found the designer/dress I wanted and worked with me to customize it...

I had a truly wonderful time at La Jeune Mariee. This was the 4th bridal appointment I had in a month and I was getting very tired of the entire dress searching process.

The second I stepped into the shop I felt like this is where I needed to be to find my dress. The decor and overall feel of the store is very luxurious and has a fun, city vibe. It was the only bridal salon we went to that offered us mimosas. I know that's a small detail, but it made the whole experience feel like what you see in the movies. The dressing room area was secluded and comfortable. I have been to other salons where you're practically on top of another bride's train, so this was a very welcome experience.

Our consultant was Cait and she was an absolute delight. She was very transparent, knowledgeable, friendly, and made me feel like she genuinely cared about finding the right dress for me. I was worried my budget would be too restrictive for such a high end store, which is why I went to so many other salons before this one. I honestly did not need to worry and should have come here a long time ago. Cait was able to pull several dresses in my price range and only ran out when my feedback became very direct in what I wanted in my dress. Over the course of the appointment I was able to become more confident about what I wanted in my dress (while receiving constant reassurance from Cait that I was indeed direct, confident, and able to articulate my wants very clearly). Cait did have to nudge me into feeling confident about my final decision, but I am definitely the kind of person that needs a gentle nudging. I think she knew that and was able to offer me the exact kind of support my personality type needed.

I ended up selecting an amazing gown, in my budget, that I am over the moon for. I can't wait to schedule my meet the dress appointment! Even after purchasing the dress I had some buyers anxiety that I selected the wrong size to order. A quick phone call with Cait reassured me that we made the right decision together. It is so nice to still be treated as an important client even after the sale has been closed. Everyone in my bridal party has the same confidence in Cait and we have begun saying, "Cait wouldn't stear you wrong!" to quell any remaining bride anxiety.

I can't wait to update my review with...

I wish this was my first stop when it came to dress shopping. My other experiences at other stores were not the best and honestly was feeling discouraged when it came time to go to my appointment at La Jeune Mariee. Let me tell you how amazing this experience was and how glad I am that I didn’t let being discouraged ruin this day. Maddy was my bridal stylist and she was actually amazing. She listened to all of my concerns, hyped me up, and helped me find the perfect dress. I had a hefty list of “no’s” that I told her about but still told her I’d be willing to try some dresses that had the things I’d think I’d dislike just to be sure (I also knew that things look different on when they’re actually on, so went in with an open mind) we quickly agreed that we’d move on and that it didn’t give me the “bridal feeling” but very grateful she let me try those on so I’d not feel like I didn’t see all my options. I’ve worked in the bridal industry before so I know how it goes, I also know sales, I know the closing tactics- she didn’t pressure me at all and that was a breath of fresh air. I didn’t feel obligated to buy a dress that day- actually, I had another dress appointment (non refundable by the way) at a different location a week later, I was fully expecting to see that through (spoiler, I cancelled it) But we returned to my original vision and when I had gotten close to finding the one- Maddy switched it up and stayed true to my original vision but with a twist- We went from satin to matte satin with a different neckline and actually blew my mind. Her knowledge of inventory, style, vision and the ability to listen to my main concerns and still get me exactly what I was looking for was amazing. She helped me paint the picture of my wedding day and what I wanted to look like. I’ve never been more excited for my wedding or putting my dress back on. If you’re wanting to go to La Jeune Mariee, don’t hesitate or doubt it. Highly recommend this shop and Maddy. It was honestly the best decision and relit the spark of excitement after bad experiences. Cannot say enough good things about it- looking forward to coming back in a...