Something White Bridal Boutique — Local services in Kansas City

Something White, THANK YOU! You turned one of the most awful experiences of planning my wedding into the most amazing experience. Prior to walking into your boutique, I was convinced that the dress I envisioned didn’t exist, no stylist would understand my wants/needs, and a bridal shop in the KC area couldn’t deliver an all-around great experience. I was wrong. I got all the feels coming back today to pickup my gown because you made me feel so special! I cannot say enough great things about you ladies!

Carly was my stylist for my first appointment. She was understanding of my other experiences with other bridal shops (this was my 4th stop), and was extremely in-tune with how I was feeling—overwhelmed/stressed. She respected that I was a bride on a mission because I knew exactly what I was looking for in a dress. Not only that, but she leaned on my guests for their feedback as well. Carly did everything in her power to create a positive, upbeat atmosphere despite me feeling defeated by my other experiences. Thanks for being so gracious, Carly!

Kelsey assisted me at my pick-up appointment. She allowed me to soak up every minute of it. When we were trying different hair pieces, she fixed my hair so that I could imagine my wedding day look. Because time flew by so fast, she offered an accessory appointment to come back and texted me later to schedule. She even had a great idea to come in after my trial hair & makeup appointments. Thanks for being so helpful, Kelsey!

Some things that set SWBB apart from other stores in my opinion: Their entire inventory is available to scroll through online. You don’t have to wonder if the dress you saw online will be in-store because it will be. They write your name on a welcome board and the mirror of your “dressing room.” It’s a very intimate setting for you and your guests. Plus, it has fantastic natural lighting. Carly gave me the option of her choosing dresses for me or looking through the racks myself, and that option was not always presented at other stores. I loved that the dresses were out on the floor and in the open because I got to point out dresses that caught my eye, while also leaning into Carly’s expertise for the style of dress I was looking for. I didn’t feel rushed to get in and out of dresses. There are multiple different pieces they have on-hand to customize your dress to visualize what you want—sleeves, panels for mesh bodices, etc. Because of this, I made customizations to the dress I ordered, and I’m absolutely IN LOVE with the finished product. It’s all thanks to Carly for listening to what was preventing me from saying yes to the dress and showing me what was possible. I could invite 6 people, not including myself, to my appointment which was a huge must for me due to having my mom, stepmom, and MIL attend, plus a few others. They allowed me to bring in my younger sisters who are 8 and 11 years old during my pickup appointment even though they don’t typically allow children in the boutique. I cannot tell you how thankful I was for this because my sisters were heartbroken when they didn’t get to come with me the first go-around. Once you find your dress, they give you ample time to celebrate, enjoy your champagne, and take all the pictures. They truly want this experience to be all that and more for you.

A heads up to any future bride that purchases their dress from SWBB, there is a prompt to tip when you make your down payment and your final payment. This was my first, and hopefully last, time buying a wedding dress, so I was not expecting it; however, Carly & Kelsey both deserved it for the wonderful job they did. While I value these ladies and want to show my appreciation, I do wish there was an option to do a custom tip instead of preset percentages. (No tip is an option, so don’t let this detour you from an amazing experience.) So, if you have a certain budget in mind, and you’d like to tip your stylist because she was fabulous, you may consider carrying some...

When SWBB emailed to say my dress had arrived (15 days earlier than officially planned, and 2 1/2 months earlier than they told me it might be, which I thought was great at first), I scheduled my appointment to pick up my dress (for which I had already paid the entire balance) within the 30-day window specified by their contract. That was difficult enough for me because of the demands placed on my schedule by my mom's cancer treatment. But I know it was in the contract, and I was able to book one of the three appointments per week that are available outside of traditional M-F 9-5 business hours [I still think it’s three although I should add that in her shockingly rude reply to this review on Yelp, the manager insisted it was seven.] I promise, I am a rule follower and a people-pleaser (I also tipped my bridal consultant $300 because their card machine prompted me to do so and I didn’t know if it was standard - I don't want conflict)!

Then another family member passed away after a stroke, and the funeral was scheduled for the day of my appointment (though it was quite far in advance by normal funeral standards). I informed SWBB two weeks in advance and rescheduled my appointment for the next Saturday appointment available, which was 9 days outside of the 30-day window. Again, I assure you that I understand the text of the policy. However, the primary reason that I bought my dress from SWBB, rather than another area store that carried the same dress, was because I liked that it was locally-owned and I thought it would be an authentic, relationship-based sale.

When I picked up my dress, I explained my situation to the manager, because I was hoping we might be able to compromise and maybe they would be willing to charge me $150 or something, not the entire $300. I also felt compelled to do this because twice, the shop had contacted me and requested if I could come in earlier in the day to accommodate their schedule better (I agreed the first time, because I could.) It just kind of rubbed me the wrong way that they were so willing to ask me to reschedule but so intolerant of my genuine need to reschedule.

After I explained my situation (calmly and rather quietly, because I was so nervous), the manager (who happened to have been the consultant whom I had tipped $300) responded "We have to enforce these policies the same for everyone so we aren't put in the situation where we have to decide whose excuse matters."

I was genuinely surprised at that statement and the way they were digging their heels in and I said so. Finally, the manager said “That was me that you tipped and if it will put an end to this whole thing and all your confusion and feelings so you leave, I can try to give the tip ‘back’ to the business for that fee, let me call the owner.” She went to the back, called the owner (to whom I think she is related, which might explain a lot) and came back and said (with the chirpiest fake voice and smile we had ever heard): “Yeah so I’m going to have to figure that out but before I do that, I’m going to go ahead and cancel your veil purchase because we cannot trust that you won’t misunderstand our policies and get your own feelings hurt again.”

I had been really nervous to say anything but my fiancé had coached me about how to bring it up and to remain calm and respectful. If it were just me, I probably would have sucked it up because I didn't want to make a fuss and also ruin the feelings of what was a really exciting day! However, now I am sharing this to hopefully prevent others from finding themselves in this position.They did everything technically right (by their own rules, but I did agree to them when I bought my dress), they simply lack any sort of heart, which I believe should be considered when selecting wedding vendors. On a purely human level, I just think future brides would be better off elsewhere.

P.S. I posted this on The Knot but I have since learned that they allow vendors to pay to have negative...

Something White is an amazing, small, local business in the heart of Kansas City. They had an appointment that allowed me to balance my schedule as a working professional, mom of 2 children who have extremely active schedules. My 7 year old (rambunctious but vital guest) daughter was a welcomed addition. I read all their policies prior to the appointment and the policies were explained to me in detail as well as at the time of booking.

Being a middle aged, second time bride, but having never worn a wedding dress ever, I had done literally decades of research on what I was looking for in a dress and found one I loved from a line they carried, but that wasn't on their floor. I notified them in advance of the dress I wanted to try, and for a $150 fee they shipped from the designer to the store. I called other shops that similarly carried that line and were not as far away, and not one offered to ship it to the store.

We drove from Bentonville Arkansas to visit. My stylist, Sarah was a consummate professional. She introduced herself and seated us. "My" sample dress was hanging in the dressing room beautifully. She listened to my vision and I truly believe "got it". While I was firm on the A-line, I also indicated that some silhouettes of trumps would appeal to me, but not many. She said she would pull one for me to try, but she stated something to the effect of, I understand it may not be for you, and I promise I've heard you, but I want to make absolutely sure that once you try it on, you still feel the same way about it, since you haven't tried any before. She immediately put me at ease.

Long story short, we've ordered the dress that was shipped from the designer (my ideal). She showed me ideas for the train, and in fact, found the perfect veil with a near matching lace pattern and in line with the overall vision.

Something White / Sarah treated my mother, and my daughter, with kindness and respect. Something I was concerned about with an active first grader. While I may be an easy going, middle aged, second time bride, who had never worn a gown, I had done my (decades) of research, came in prepared and knew what I wanted both in a dress and in an experience. I'm confident another shop and another stylist might have thought I was a bit opinionated. And walked out with the dream dress, and the dream experience thanks to Sarah.

If you're going to spend thousands of dollars on a designer or custom gown, do your research, be prepared, understand your style and body, and find an AMAZING shop like Something White, whi had professional, knowledgable and kind...