The Brides Project Ann Arbor — Local services in Ann Arbor

I feel bad leaving this review because I respect what The Brides Project is trying to achieve, and it is important to me to make large purchases conscientiously so purchasing my dress from a shop that also donates to charity felt like a win-win. However I have had two experiences there and now have a sour taste in my mouth for the establishment. My first experience there was very pleasant. The volunteer who assisted us was very kind and I was able to find an Allure Bridal dress for $800 which my parents graciously purchased for me back in February of this year. This was my dream dress. Life happens and in May 2024 I found out I was pregnant. Since the dress was a little big on me when I bought it I figured I might be able to have it taken out or a corset back installed (which I knew would be expensive but was willing to pay for.) I did try to wait to have alterations done within six weeks of the wedding so I could be as big as possible and see if the dress would fit and we could work with it. Unfortunately, this was not the case. The seamstress I was working with, Leanna, was honest about my expectations for what she could do the dress and advised on me getting a new dress due to the time constraints which I totally understood. Heartbroken, I asked if I could speak with the woman working to see if I could trade the dress in for something cheaper or equivalent to what we paid for since they obviously had my information on file. The worker advised that all sales were final and that would not be possible. While I understand business practices, the first dress was only worn by me once when I tried it on at their location and not touched by the seamstress. It felt heartless to me especially from a company that is built on compassion and supposedly for a greater cause. There was no compassion and no empathy, but the worker did seem invested in making sure she got another sale. She did not offer to reach out to any upper management to see if there was anything that could be done or offer any type of respite. We were obviously in a lurch so I ended up having to buy a new dress and re-donated the one I originally wanted. This makes me feel really gross about my dress buying experience and now I will not recommend The...

My experience here picking out my dress was great. However, it was my alterations that turned south.

The day of my final fitting I showed up to find out the seamstress called off due to being sick. The workers were surprised to find out she had not contacted me beforehand. I drove 40 minutes so a heads up would have been nice to reschedule. I wasn't upset because we all get sick sometimes but I feel like a no show on the seamstress without any heads up is not acceptable. I just would have appreaciated a text to reschedule before going there. (27 days before wedding)

I texted the seamstress at that moment to reschedule and there was no type of urgency or flexibility in her schedule to have me come back right away. The soonest she would reschedule for was 11 days later. (16 days before wedding) I showed up to my rescheduled appointment to find the seamstress did not have my dress there. She made a mistake and brought a dress that was not mine! Mistakes happen and I was extremely understanding of this. She assured me she had it at home and it was complete. We rescheduled for the following day at noon.

I showed up for my THIRD appointment for my final fitting, and she was not there. The worker called her to ask her if she had a noon appointment and she said "No, I have a 12:30" indicating she had now forgotten about my appointment. She arrived within just a couple of minutes due to being "early" for her 12:30 and had my dress and everything worked out.

Oh, and guess who showed up at 12:30? Her 12:30 appointment.

I felt like this whole scenario was extremely unprofessional. The only time we felt like they were "sorry" was at the second rescheduled appointment when the wrong dress was there. She did apologize and make it right the next day, but we still paid full price for the alterations and nothing was done for the inconvenience of us having to come there 3 times for one appointment. She definitely could have been nicer and sometimes her tone in the way she answered was just rude. Unfortunately, I would not return here or recommend based on my experience. With all of the stress that goes into a wedding, this should not...

I could not be more delighted with my experience with the Brides Project. I am a former hospice nurse and my dear friend and dress shopping partner is a former oncology nurse, so we were 100% behind the mission of the Brides Project from the start. I wanted to make The Brides Project my first stop for dress shopping, but to be totally honest I didn't expect that it would be my last.

All of the bridal consultants were lovely and helpful. I think it probably does make a difference that they are not under any financial pressure to sell you a dress. There was a much wider selection of dresses than I could have imagined. I was able to try on every type of silhouette in multiple different fabrics. I quickly realized that the simple satin gown I was planning would be too hot and heavy for my garden wedding planned for mid July.

When my consultant brought my dress out, even before I tried it on, my friend literally swooned on to a nearby chair and began tearing up. When I put the dress on I couldn't believe how light and comfortable it was, and how perfectly it fit. I never would have imagined myself in this dress, but when it was on I could see how phenomenal it was.

The consultant team put no pressure on me, as I decided to have a glass of Champagne to think it over before committing. Could dress shopping really be this easy? Sure enough, I called a few minutes later and then came back to get my dress. My consultants had actually stayed late, knowing that I would be back and wanting to share that joyful moment with me.

Oftentimes expectations for things like dress shopping are so high that the reality can't help but disappoint. Not this time. The whole experience was just a real joy. I feel enormously grateful to everyone at the brides project, for everyone that donates their own wedding dresses, and for the bridal businesses that donate dresses to the cause. Thank you. Thank...