Donna Bridals — Local services in East Brunswick Township

1 hour ago

Donna is very personable but with regards to buissness that's a different story at least in my experience. I bought my dress 5 weeks before my event and she agreed to work on it. Her website has deceptive advertising. When you read it sounds as though there are many people working with her, it is only her. Also she states she has many contacts where she obtains fabric from not true. She had me running around looking for fabric. I let her know what fabric I wanted on the back but she chose a jersey fabric when I didnt like it and was upset she actually blamed me that I got it. Yes I purchsed it because she is the expert and told me. I asked her for a complete quote at the begining to see if it was comparibable to a well known bridal salon that originally quoted me 650 but then said they could not do the alterations because it was not their dress. She said she would charge me as she went along. A dress that cost me 799. The total alterations were 1055. I have asked for a complete receipt of what she did she has never provided. She told me she purchsed sleeves for 245 and I asked her for the receipt for the sleeves from the vendor where she purchsed them and all she provided me was a receipt with her name on it. This was provided after I asked for it two or three times but the receipt does not have the name of the vendor. She told me to pick up the dress on thursday and no need to try on in her shop. I trusted her but I tried it on at home that evening I could not move my arms up the sleeves were puffy like the 90's. The sleeves were orange color. My family was upset. My daughter texted her letting her know she was upset. I texted her as well. She blamed me for the fabric that was used when all I did was purchse what she suggested as the expert although I wanted a different fabric. She did ask that I could come back but she may have to charge me for more alterations. I trully did not want to go back. I was emotionally ditressed because the dress did not fit properly since my event was in two days. Next morning my husband said to see if I could rent a dress or to purchase one for less than 600. Another family member had a friend that recomended a seamestress and she worked wonders on my dress in 14 hours. The front was lovely total change. The sleeves removed and flattened and removed the orange layered fabric. I could move my arms up and she lowered the dress to fit my bust. She tried her best to fix the back which she removed the buttons and put a bustle on it. she said it was to late to change the jersey fabric to satin what I originally wanted. I know Donna will respond and try to contradict me as she has through text messages where she blames me for the fabric and sleeves. please be careful when selecting a seamstress even when your under preasure because of time constraints. Donna was kind to me during all my payments but when I confronted her with how I felt she totally changed her demeanor. I also was unable to have my dress pressed since it was finished being fixed Saturday...

Using Donna to alter my wedding dress was a huge mistake. I started with her about 6 weeks before my wedding and she made me feel confident that the dress would fit me properly in time for my big day. One week before my wedding I went back for what I thought would be my final fitting and was crying because the bustle looked hideous (there are apparently 4 different bustle options, and I was never even shown one, Donna made the decision for me and I hated it!) and the buttons in the back didn't close correctly, they were clustered together and there were gaps between the buttons and the fabric. At that point she had apparently taken two inches out of the bottom portion of my dress, though the dress was still as tight as it was when I first tried it on and she actually told me it was still tight because I gained weight. After I calmed down, she said she would take the top part of my dress out two inches, add hooks and eyes to the buttons in the back and change the bustle. I went back the next night and the bustle was better but the dress was still too tight and the buttons were still a mess. I took the dress home and didn't feel right about it, I looked into veils that might cover the buttons but ultimately called Donna and told her I still wasn't happy. When I got to the shop she told me that she already took it out two inches and only had another quarter inch of fabric to work with, she FINALLY for the first time in my whole experience with her actually used a measuring tape and said that she could let the lace out one and a half inches. But then repeated that she wouldn't be held responsible if something happened to my dress, working with lace is difficult and it could rip. I had such a bad feeling about Donna actually doing what needed to be done with my dress that I went out and bought a whole new dress with less than a week before my wedding. I went back to her shop to pick my dress up and refused to even try it on. Donna said she was eager to see how it fits now and that she let out 3 inches. Why would she take out twice as much as she said was needed the night before? Once Donna said that working with lace is difficult, I realized why I was having such a hard time, she had no issues charging me but didn't want to put in the work needed to fix my dress. Also, throughout my experience I would get random text messages from her that my appointment was rescheduled. I would question the change and it would revert to the original time, but this was another example of...

10/3/23 update: rehearsal dinner dress fits well and does not look like it has been altered

I bought my wedding dress from Azazie (custom sized, so I didn’t have a lot to fix) and there was a mistake on the lace, so I brought the dress to Donna. She also shorted the straps for me. She did an amazing job again, and even steamed my dress. The dress felt soft and stayed wrinkle free even on my wedding day. You cannot beat her pricing and care for your garments.

6/9/23 update: I picked up my dress and it fits perfect. I will upload before and after once my event is over.

Just want to reply to the recent one star review (I was here when this person was at Donna’s store): Donna works out of her basement, that’s true but it is super nice, clean and nicely decorated. Pricing: you need to ask pricing beforehand if pricing is a concern. Hemming 3 layers for $100 is EXTREMELY reasonable. If you go to a dry cleaner, a straight hem for 3 layers should be $150. Let alone your dress is a mermaid style, it should be even more. I have never heard Donna spoke any curse words to any customers.

Original review: I went to Donna to get my rehearsal dinner dress altered to be smaller on top (from the waist up). The gown has an A line silhouette, spaghetti adjustable straps, cupped scalloped triangle chest area, V neck, back exposed from mid back (not a backless dress or a full back dress), and high low hem. The dress has to be taken in from above waist to underarm (gradually from nothing to probably one inch at the underarm area). I think there are two layers or maybe one. The cost is $45 and the return date is 4 weeks. I was not in a hurry so I didn’t really care. So far I am satisfied with the consultation services provided on this dress. Donna was very friendly and provides honest advice (I asked her opinion on having the hem shortened because it was dragging on the floor and she said to leave it as it is bc the longer hem looks better. I was partial so I figure I’ll just decide later if I want the hem done too). I will update the review once I receive...