The Altar Bridal — Local services in Four Corners States

The store is great if you wnat to be able to try some dresses on that actually fit you, but I'd go elsewhere for alterations. I had a very similar experience to the previous bride on here who spoke about alterations. Gabriela is nice, and I could tell she wanted to try to make me happy, but we just could never get on the same page.

I wanted to add custom bolero lace style straps to the dress, so Gabriela told me to go out and look for fabric and she would do that for $120. I didn't end up finding lace but I ended up finding beading with a tulle backing that better matched the style of the dress. The beading needed a backing to give it more structure so it would lay nicely as a strap. I wanted the backing to be sewn in the shape of beading - Gabriela told me $80 for that. I tried multiple times to explain what I wanted but eventually had to give up. My wedding in less than 3 weeks away and I hope that I can find someone to help fix it. It's all hand sewing that I may be able to do myself but I really was hoping to be able to pay to have it done.

Fitting 1: (11 weeks before wedding) Dropped off the dress, pinned up all the changes that need to be made to the bodice. Told to go look for fabric for the straps.

Fitting 2: (9 weeks before wedding) Dropped off the strap fabric. Tried the dress on again with all the pins still in it - no alterations had been made yet. I figured it was still early so I figured that was no big deal.

Fitting 3: (5 weeks before wedding) I thought all the alterations were going to be complete but the straps weren't even connected to the dress. Sides were taken in.

Fitting 4: (3.5 weeks before wedding) Beaded straps were just sewn onto the dress with no lining at all. I tried to explain myself again and thought we were on the same page. I also wondered why she thought I would be ok with paying $80 for that amount of work. Dress seemed too tight this time. I am a size 2-4 so I don't have a lot of extra fat, but my skin was bulging on the sides above the bodice. I had to insist that that it probably shouldn't be like that.

Fitting 5: (3 weeks before wedding) Straps were sewn onto a ribbon of fabric that wasn't even as wide as the beading. The straps weren't sewn symmetrically onto the dress and there were some sections were it looked like she just forgot to finish stitching so it didn't lay very well against me. Again, just not at all what I asked for. I understand that what I want requires some more delicate hand sewing, but I was willing to pay for that - if she had wanted more money to do what I was asking, she just had to ask. Instead it felt like she just didn't listen or if she had listened, just didn't feel like doing what I was hoping for. I don't think she really takes any notes to help her remember.

She ended up only charging for the taking in of the bodice which I appreciated.

At the end I just figured I had better go somewhere else while there was a chance I could find another place to help fix it. I hate writing negative reviews, but hopefully it helps prevent someone else's...

Beware of the Altar Bridal! I painfully regret purchasing my wedding gown here. This was my first time purchasing a wedding dress and I really wish I had done more research or gone to other establishments before going here. My hope was that I would be able to find a dress I loved while saving some money and choosing a more 'environmentally friendly' option from a consignment shop. To start, there is a $35 fee to shop here, which is very unusual, and in my opinion a scam for them to squeeze more money out of you now that I have gone here. The biggest regret for me was that I trusted them when they told me the dress I tried on that was TOO BIG would be easily and affordably altered by their alterations partner, Gabriella. I had never had anything altered before, let alone a wedding dress, and these people definitely prey on first-time brides that do not have this knowledge beforehand. When I tried on the dress that I ended up purchasing (now regretfully) it initially looked nice and I felt comfortable with the garment clamps that they placed. They told me I could take the dress home that day and gave me the card for their alterations partner, Gabriella. I let them know I had never had anything altered before, that I wanted to keep the costs low, and inquired about the estimated cost to alter the dress, given all the garment clamps that were placed to make the dress fit. I was assured that it would be affordable and straightforward. My experience was the exact opposite. The quoted cost of the alterations from their partner Gabriella, who by the way is located across town, was almost $1000. You do not find out this information until after you purchase the dress and of course they do not accept returns! I was in absolute shock and full of regret. The alteration process extremely time consuming and stressful, requiring multiple visits and I went way over on my dress budget. I see now that the Altar Bridal shop does not have alterations onsite for a reason - they would never sell any dresses! I read through the reviews posted on google and yelp before I initially went to the Altar Bridal. There are plenty of positive experiences, which gave me a false sense of trust. I am writing this review so future brides do not make the same...

I visited The Altar Bride in Lakewood, CO on a whim. I figured I would check out what a "consignment" bridal shop did and didn't have to offer. Out of the 3 bridal shops I visited that day, I was most impressed with The Altar Bride. I was welcomed and made comfortable right away. Victoria was working and not only was she SUPER patient and understanding with me (I am extremely indecisive) she also knew her dresses, inventory and styles very well. Victoria helped me figure out my style while still encouraging me to try different things, "You never know until you try it on," she said. They allow you to go through the entire stock of dresses and look at each one. A feature that not all bridal shops allow, oddly enough.

Dresses here are about 30% "pre loved" and cleaned, and 70% samples from designers. So its not so much a consignment shop as an outlet store. That's the one thing though. What they have is what they have. You cannot "order" a dress you like in a larger or smaller size or different color. Because they only have that one dress, be prepared to either get your dress that day, or they do allow you to put it on a 24 hr hold.

All dresses can be altered with their in-house alterationist, Gabriela. I haven't had my dress altered yet but I will absolutely use Gabriela. She is not associated with The Altar Bride. She just has a work space in the back of the shop. This is a good thing though because she can work on any gown, even ones not purchased at The Altar Bride, and the staff their do not hike up the rates to make a bigger cut. She charges you what she charges everyone, regardless of where the dress was bought.

The outside of the shop looks a little run down but once you're inside you will be taken care of. There's couches in the trying on areas in the back if you wanted to bring your bridesmaids with you.

If you're not a super picky/fussy bride then this shop will save you tons of money and time and still provide you with a fun "bridal...