Simply Elegant Bridal — Local services in Fort Walton Beach

I was so excited when I discovered they had my dream Maggie Sottero gown. I was measured, and chose to order a size larger because I did not want to worry about squeezing into it. I also ordered extra length because I am tall.

It went downhill from there. (See below for how they measured incorrectly, failed to return phone calls, and failed to help me resolve THEIR mistakes, even though I had paid in full. Or I'll save you time and tell you to go somewhere else that doesn't have poor customer service. DO NOT BUY FROM HERE. Clearly, all they want is to make a sale, but after they receive payment in full, the "lovely customer experience' screeches to a halt.)

Now, onto the tale of how Simply Elegant became a Simply Terrible Experience....

My first issue was the fact that I had to call and ask if my gown had arrived. It had...and had been there at least a week. (The same thing later happened with my veil-- they didn't let me know it was in, and I had to call and ask.) When I went to try it on, it would not fit over my hips-- and I had lost 7lbs since my measurements were taken and had even ordered the larger size!

Bob, the owner of Simply Elegant, told me not to worry, that "any alterations shop can fix it". What that didn't solve was the fact that it was also too short! They had not ordered the extra length per my request! Bob assured me it would be fine after alterations-- but since they do not do alterations on site, I had to take it with me back to Texas and find someone there to do it.

The first alterations lady said I may need to order extra material, as it would not stretch anymore, and to contact Simply Elegant to help with doing this. I called and spoke with Bob, who said he would get in touch with Maggie Sottero and call me back.

He didn't. I waited a full week before calling back, and was told that he had, in fact, called, but Maggie Sottero couldn't get material made in time for my wedding. I asked what they (Simply Elegant) could do to help me, since I had a dress that didn't fit and was too short. Their suggestion? That I-- their customer who had paid in full for a dress, veil, and jewelry-- go find material for my WEDDING DRESS on ETSY. (Seriously?!)

My mom and I got in touch with Maggie Sottero, and have since worked out the issue directly with them, with absolutely NO help from Simply Elegant. It's still a tad too short, but it's the best that could be done.

Another thing that bothered me was how eager Bob was for my fiance and I to transfer our Sandals booking over to him, as he (Bob) is also a Sandals agent of sorts. He did not hesitate to send me the email and follow up about that time and time again, but when I actually needed his help in fixing my dress, he couldn't even give me the respect as a paid customer to return my phone call. (In case you were worried, we DID NOT give him any credit or transfer anything to him, thank goodness!)

I can't stress this enough-- this is not how anyone, especially a paid customer ordering the most important dress she'll ever wear, wants...

UPDATE: I've changed my rating from 5 stars to 2 stars. Where my original bridal appointment with Kristen was wonderful, what followed was anything but. When my wedding dress arrived, I went to try it on at Simply Elegant and it was too small. So small, that it couldn't even be zipped up. Isn't the rule of ordering dresses that you should order it a size too big because taking something in is easier than taking it out? You would think a bridal store would know better, but Simply Elegant clearly does not. After learning that they ordered a size too small, the part-owner tried to convince me that the dress would "stretch with my body heat". (And no, I did not gain any weight since my fitting when the dress was initially ordered). After standing it in for about 20 minutes they were (painfully) able to zip it up. I could barely breath and sitting down was almost impossible and extremely uncomfortable. There was no way I could dance or even eat in that dress. And yet, they STILL tried to convince me that the dress was the right size--hah! I didn't know what to think, but I thought I could trust their opinion as they are supposed to be the experts, right? So, I thought about it for a week (more like worried about it) and finally my friend convinced me to ask them to order me another dress in the CORRECT size this time. When I called and asked the part-owner, he said there wasn't enough time to order another one and that I could take my dress to one of their seamstresses to have HER fix it. So they pawned THEIR mistake off on their poor seamstress! I was appalled. That is so much pressure to put on one person who shouldn't have to fix somebody else's mess. On top of that, I was having to dish out even MORE money to get my dress to the size it should have been when I first ordered it. I took my dress to their seamstress, Chong, and she was shocked that they would order it so small for my body size. She wasn't confident that she could take it out as much as she needed to, but did her best. I waited five LONG weeks, praying that my dress would fit me when she was done. Because if she couldn't fix it, then I was out one wedding dress and a LOT of money. Thankfully, Chong is exceptional at what she does and was able to take the dress out to make it my size. However, no bride should EVER have to experience what I did.

I had an unforgettable experience shopping for my wedding dress thanks to Kristen. She. Is. Phenomenal. She really listened and paid attention to my likes and dislikes in all of the dresses I tried on, and she was ultimately the one who found THE dress for me! And on my very first bridal appointment! Without her skill and true care for her brides, I probably would not have found my dream dress. She is very patient and has a wonderful attitude. She made the whole experience so fun and was there to help me find the perfect dress for me--she had her work cut out for her! I give all the credit to her. So when you book a wedding dress appointment, be sure to ask...

Wooo boy, where do I start? I guess with the first interaction. I made an appointment to try on dresses after I had already lost 50 pounds, I told the gal helping me that I had done so and am still losing (diet, exercise, lifestyle changes, medication changes) etc and was averaging a 2lb weight loss a week. She reassured me they would order the dress “that fit me” while in the shop. Not once was my body actually measured. I found a dress I loved but it was huge on me in the store, again, reassured they would order it in my size. Floor size was a size 20, I was a size 16 according to the designers website. I requested to order it down a size or two, as I had mentioned before I was still losing weight, to be told that they would order it in my size that I fit that day. “A seamstress can always take it in but it’s harder to let it out” Dress came in and it hung off me like a paper bag. It was supposed to be a fit to flare. They ordered the size 20. The gal helping me asked “did we know you were going to lose this much?!” I told her yes. The dress also came with a piece that was never added during the initial appointment and when I asked about it, I was told “oh yea don’t you remember putting it on?” No lady, because I have dozens of photos of me in it, the dress I fell in love with. I was again reassured a seamstress could take it in “no problem”. I took it to one I trust, not one they recommended, and she was devastated for me. Told me to demand a refund or exchange because what they sold me was 6 sizes too big. To take it in could totally change the shape of the dress. When I called them to inform them of that, they insulted my seamstress “she doesn’t know what she is talking about. When seamstresses say that, it’s because they are lazy, that’s why you take it to one we recommend.” They didn’t change their tone until I told them I have pictures of me in the dress, 20 lbs heavier, that was huge on me then so they definitely did not order it in my size like they said they would. I was told it was too close to the wedding to reorder the dress from the designer and that I could take it to their miracle worker seamstress. If she said she couldn’t fix it, they would let me exchange it for a floor model for the same price or cheaper. Dress was 2.2k. Their “miracle worker” seamstress is in retirement and never got back to me though I was informed by someone else that she charges $$$$ for large alterations like this. It was also suggested that their recommended seamstresses give them a “referral bonus” for alterations. And the extra train piece on my dress? An add on from the designer THAT I DID NOT WANT OR EVEN KNOW EXISTED and is not even pictured on the designers website but you can bet your money (or mine rather) I was charged for it. I would recommend ordering your wedding dress from Temu before going to them. Temu at least has a better...