Castle Couture — Attraction in Manalapan Township

I wasn’t going to leave a review but my negative experience picking up my dress created such a sour memory of my dress shopping experience that it feels important to share to protect other brides. I purchased my wedding dress here in November and I went in knowing the exact dress wanted so the appointment was easy. I expected more of that smoothness when I came to pick up my dress in May. I tried on my dress and that went well! The challenge was when they asked if I wanted to try on veils because I didn’t have one yet and they brought in Nancy. Like my dress, I knew exactly what I wanted for my veil so I asked Nancy to bring something very specific. She brought something entirely different. I tried it on just because it was there and, who knows, I might have liked it. However, the veil did not match the dress at all. It had flowers on it that were completely different from the flowers on my dress. That’s not a big deal! You’d think we’d just move on when I said it wasn’t what I wanted. What is a big deal is that when I said I didn’t think they were a close enough match Nancy got defensive. She told me they were a match. Even if i was wrong and they did match, I’m still not sure why she got defensive over this veil I made clear I did not want to wear to MY wedding. To try and lesson the tension I told her what I did like about the veil and she told me a veil like that didn’t exist. What Nancy didn’t know is that I was my store’s top selling bridal stylist for two years straight. That type of veil does exist and I know because I’ve sold it dozens of times. So I did know what I was talking about. However, there’s no reason I should have had to tell her what I did for work to be able to get the veil I wanted so I never told her. Still trying to give her the benefit of the doubt that maybe there was a miscommunication along the way, I told her it did exist because I’ve seen it before but it’s okay if they don’t have it, then asked Nancy to bring the same as my original request thing one more time. I asked for two veils. One long. One short. Both plain and simple with a shiny fabric instead of a matte fabric. She brought exactly what I wanted in the long version! At this point I’m getting excited because I think I’m about to see my full wedding look for the first time. I put it on and loved it and knew I wanted to buy it immediately! However, for whatever unprompted reason before I could even get a word out Nancy literally told me she didn’t like it and it looked like something she could just pull out of her aunts closet. Crushing. I told Nancy I liked it and it was exactly what I wanted and she doubled down saying it wasn’t her style. In disbelief, I asked if they had a longer version just to double check I had explored all my options. She said no, and for whatever reason seemed mad at me? It was so bizarre and I decided I did not want to buy a veil from Nancy and ended the appointment.

I understand people have bad days and maybe this was one of them for Nancy, but she needs to understand her bad day was at my expense. At the end of the day I was the customer, not her. Her opinions didn’t matter, and she should have kept them to herself, especially when I clearly did not need to be swayed to make a decision. She took what should have been a special day for me and tainted it with her opinion and negativity. If you work with brides in a luxury bridal store, you need to deliver a luxury experience. For whatever reason, Nancy just...

I’m sorry I have to actually give Castle “couture” one star. This was mine and my daughter’s first experience prom dress shopping and unfortunately she left hysterical crying saying that she didn’t even want to go to the prom anymore. This was the most disappointing shopping experience I have ever had. When we arrived for our appointment, we waited in line for 20 minutes just to check in. After check in, a “salesperson” comes through the castle like doors, introduces herself, asks if you have a style in mind, a color and what your budget is. The judgement starts immediately after you have answered the budget question. Maybe I’m crazy but I thought a budget of $450-$650 was pretty reasonable for a prom dress. We walk back through the castle doors with the so called salesperson and all out chaos begins. Music is blasting through speakers that are glitching, there is nowhere to stand because there are so many people in this room bumping into one another and every 5 minutes the room erupts into screams and clapping because someone said yes to their dress. Not only are the dresses wrapped in a very heavy plastic bag, they are packed on the racks like sardines. You cannot see what they look like, so it’s very hard to choose something you think you would like to try on, that’s where the salesperson comes in and chooses what she thinks you would like. Our salesperson must have thought my daughter would enjoy wearing the 5-6 most unattractive dresses in the room. The material, style and fit could not have been any more opposite of what we were looking for. With every horrible dress she tried on, the SP tried her hardest to convince her that this “is your dress” and that she should just say yes to the dress. With every ”no” that we gave her, the SP grew more and more frustrated, rolling her eyes and the had the audacity to tell my daughter while alone in the changing room that I was being difficult and that she should just stand up for herself and tell me that it is her decision. I couldn’t agree more! It is my daughters ultimate decision but when you are choosing dresses that make my daughter look like something out of a bad 80’s Christmas movie, I am going to put my foot down before I spend close to $600. This was by far the last experience I wanted while doing something so special with our daughter. I would not recommend Castle Couture, they care only about making the sale and nothing about the person wearing their product. They definitely need to reevaluate their...

A Royal Experience at Castle Couture – All Thanks to Caroline Renner!

If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to step into a fairytale, let me assure you—it begins the moment you meet Caroline Renner at Castle Couture. From the very first greeting, Caroline welcomed us as if we were guests of honor in her royal court. With the grace of a queen and the wisdom of a seasoned enchantress, she turned what could have been an overwhelming search for the perfect gown into an unforgettable journey—one filled with magic, joy, and just the right touch of destiny.

And then… the moment of pure magic. With an intuition that can only be described as extraordinary—almost AI-level brilliance—Caroline selected the very first gown for my daughter to try on. That gown, a breathtaking creation by Matthew Christopher, was nothing short of a masterpiece. When my daughter stepped in front of the mirror, time seemed to stand still. The room fell silent, her eyes filled with tears, and before we knew it, we were all crying—completely swept away by the beauty and emotion of that perfect moment.

It wasn’t just a dress—it was a royal statement. Regal, sophisticated, and radiantly beautiful, it captured my daughter’s essence in every delicate stitch. She didn’t just look like a bride; she looked like a queen about to make her grand entrance at the most magnificent ball of her life.

Caroline didn’t simply provide a service—she delivered a once-in-a-lifetime experience, wrapped in warmth, crowned with unparalleled professionalism, and sealed with a touch of fairy-tale magic. Thanks to her, my daughter’s walk down the aisle will be nothing short of a royal procession.

If you are searching for the ultimate bridal experience, trust me—there is no kingdom more splendid than Castle Couture and no fairy godmother more gifted than Caroline Renner. And when that perfect gown is a Matthew Christopher original, you know the story will end happily ever after.

XOXO Proud and Happy...