Crown Bridal — Attraction in Vancouver

Ladies. Listen. This is the place. I got engaged a few months ago and have been searching for dress styles, designers, and boutiques to help me find The Dress. I was pleasantly surprised to find how many designs I loved by Randy Fenoli. I'm from Olympia, and quickly realized no one in the PNW has this line but Crown Bridal. So, I called before making an appointment at a shop an hour and a half from my home to see if they had the styles I liked to try on. When I called, I remember feeling like it was a bit chaotic on the phone because the call was picked up, there was cross talk in the background with someone in the showroom and I was "back burnered" a bit for a few minutes. I could quickly tell there was some sort of logistical complication and I had the owner on the phone - I overheard her quickly, clearly, and effectively reassure the bride about whatever shipping related complication had arisen (courtesy of the COVID world, not doubt).

I was starting to wonder if I should call back, and then Kynda got back on the phone with me and immediately gave me her undivided attention. She answered my questions efficiently and educationally, and I quickly understood that she knew her product, processes, and the lines she carried. I work a similar job in a different industry and I quickly recognized I had a plate spinner like me taking care of her clients, in the store and on the phone. Randy Fenoli is a new line for her, she explained, and she had dresses ordered that had not yet arrived. She told me she didn't have the dress I was hoping to try, but offered to check with vendors from a recent trunk show in Portland to see if she would get one - total above and beyond service. While she wasn't able to get that dress, she and the Crown Bridal website convinced me another designer she carries, Morilee, had similar, excellent options.

So, a few weeks later, I and my bridal entourage came into the store for a two and a half hour appointment and my first foray into wedding dress shopping as a bride. Having been in multiple bridal parties, I thought two and a half hours was a long appointment and plenty of time. When we arrived, Kynda introduced herself as the owner and that I was her only appointment for the rest of the day (at 1 PM), so she was ready to take all the time necessary to help me find what I want. Not what to buy from her, not her dress, not "The Dress." She was there to help me as a bride. And that’s what Kynda proceeded to do – giving me clear explanations, an authoritative and experienced understanding of her store and her product, and she sent me shopping her racks. After I picked way more dresses than I needed to try, she patiently helped me into dress after dress, while providing clear and supportive questions, guidance, and “ratings” to help me clarify what I wanted. As we went, she picked “unicorn picks” based on the feedback I gave and the product she clearly knows well.

After thirty dresses and a full FIVE AND A HALF hours of her undivided attention, I found and purchased “The Dress,” the veil, and the headpiece that tied everything together with my desired wedding style. It was not a Randy Fenoli. It was not a Morilee. It was a Crown Bridal Couture semi-custom design that ticked every box I and my fiancé were hoping for, boxes I didn’t know I wanted, and a price less than I thought I would spend. She used her knowledge of my venue to make recommendations on details (keep the sequins you’re on the fence about – the warm lighting in the room will make it gold and gorgeous) and took every opportunity to use her knowledge of the process to save me money and time.

This experience was nothing like I expected, in the best possible way. This is a better experience than I or my friends and family have had in Olympia, Tacoma, Seattle, Bellevue, and beyond. It is absolutely...

I am so sad to have to write this review. This owner has been in one word a disappointment. She was nice until we bought the dress. Once purchased this experience became a nightmare. First they said they would be delivered about one month after the order (we ordered March 20th). I didn’t hear back after a month and a half and called back only to be told another few weeks aka deliver is now may 29th. After calling a few weeks later the owner picked up and said I was not told another few week and that I should try back in a few weeks. At this point my maid of honor took over and called back a few weeks later. This kept happening to us -hearing some far off delivery date then us calling and being called liars and told to call back later. Finally we were told the 5th of July. We called on the 7th (as they were closed for July 4th Holliday) and are told call back tomorrow. Which I did and the worker there then says “call back on July 27th”. My wedding is august 7th and it is out of town. We needed alterations and to leave days before the wedding which meant there wouldn’t be enough time. I explained this and the worker and she said to hold for a moment while she called the boss. I then had to hear the boss complain to the worker about my maid of honor and our order and telling her that we (myself and bridesmaid) have been a pain. When in fact it’s is the other way around. Considering we ordered in March now being told delivery is July 27th. Thankfully after searching around the worker stated she found them in a box and we could pick them up.

I have loved every one of my vendors and experiences of my wedding from my dress shopping (blue sky bridal Seattle😍😍) to my florist, venue etc. no one has been rude and everyone has delivered on what they promised. This is the one exception to my happy wedding experience. I would never recommend another bride to come here. It was beyond stressful and to have to worry about buying some “off the rack” dress at Nordstrom’s to have something to wear in time for the wedding was crazy.

I will say we did get the dresses in time but the experience was awful. Truly if you want to have the experience we have all dreamed of as kids with you and your bridesmaids do NOT come here! I’ve never been treated so unprofessional, and truthfully hurtful as I have at this shop and by the owner of all people! I never leave bad reviews because I am a big believer of everyone has a bad day however since I had to deal with her soooo many days I know this was not a one off experience but instead a daily behavior for this shop owner.

Glad I got to air my concerns out and I hope all future brides take this into consideration before stopping here.

That being said I will say the dresses are lovely and that was a big reason we didn’t just cancel the order and buy somewhere else. If you have a LOT of time before your wedding aka 6 months or more I would say your safe to buy from here. Hopefully anyways ;)

I did also want to add that when we did pick up the dresses we worked with a new worker we had not previously spoken too and she was wonderful. So shoutout to her!

Good luck...

What can I say about Crown Bridal except WOW! Crown Bridal is the BEST place for brides, hands down. From start to finish, Kynda and her beautiful team (Tiffany, Mjay & Karina) were kind, attentive, and made such a big decision so much easier! When I got engaged back in 2020, I was so excited about everything, except dress shopping. Don’t get me wrong, I love clothes, but as a plus size bride, I was so worried that there would either be a limited selection of dresses for me to try on, or whatever was there would be out of date and not very flattering. I called into the salon with my concerns, and Kynda assured me that she had LOTS of plus size options, but also told me she could fit me into almost any size (within reason) to help find the perfect dress. I ended up booking the VIP appointment, (If you can ladies, do it! The store is closed for your appointment only, there is drinks and food, it is delightful), and Kynda helped me dry on dresses after dress, narrowing them down to my favorites. I have never felt SO beautiful in anything in my life when I found the one. She is SO good about reading your expression, emotions, and really hearing what you’re saying to find that perfect dress. I LOVED my dress right away, but felt it was missing that big WOW factor – more sparkles. Right away, she suggested an underskirt that could be sewn under the first layer to give the dress more sparkle and lace. It was the little touches like that that shows how much Kynda cares for her clients. I never felt rushed, or pushed, or like I didn’t matter in the salon. The whole process was easy, the dresses come in a wide range of prices for any bride’s budget, and the whole staff makes the whole experience feel like you’ve been friends for ages. I would 1000% percent recommend every bride goes here to for their dress!

We also used their tux service for the gentleman, Jim’s Formalwear, and that process was phenomenal as well! It was easy, and anyone who’s gotten married knows how hard it is to coordinate fittings with a large (or small) group of people. My now-husband and I sat down with the look books, decided on the looks, and then had all the measurements taken right there in the salon. When the suits came 3 days before the wedding, Kynda had all the gentleman try them on, and whatever didn’t fit quite right, she had a new piece overnighted so everyone was looking sharp and ready to go the morning of!

The whole process for both myself and my groomsmen was fun, and stress-free, and I felt so comfortable leaving everything in the salons hands. These ladies are so near and dear to my heart now, and it makes me sad I can’t get married again just to stop in and see them! Honestly, my photos doesn’t even do justice for how beautiful these pieces are! Thank you again Crown Bridal, you are...