Boulevard Bride — Local services in Lake Saint Louis

I am a plus-sized bride, in “normal” sizing, I am between 16 and 18, so when I say plus sized, I mean it.

I hate shopping for myself, and honestly I had no idea what kind of dress I could even pull off. I made an appointment at Boulevard Bride because someone I know used to work there and she swore by their ability to find the perfect dress for everybody, and every body. I can't speak to their old collection, but their new ones are fire!!

To start, I received a courtesy call the day before my appointment to remind me, and it turns out I had the wrong time saved in my phone. Immediately they said it wasn't a problem, and they accommodated by pushing my appointment back two whole hours. They were very understanding and, even though I felt dumb, they reassured me that it wasn't a big deal.

I went in with no idea what to expect. I've been a bridesmaid more times than I can count, but I've never been the bride. Maddy greeted us right away, and didn't make us wait before leading us to our little viewing section. She was so warm and friendly, and I think she knew I was anxious. They had a sign put up for me (see picture) and Maddy didn't even flinch when I told her I had no idea what I wanted. The only things I knew for sure was no mermaid dress, and had to have straps.

After reviewing my pinterest board, Maddy went to work pulling dresses while a kind gentleman brought me a much needed mimosa! I cannot speak enough on Maddy’s intuition and ability to really tell what a bride needs, even if the bride doesn't know it herself. All of the dresses she pulled for me were similar to ones I had on my inspo-board, and she was an expert at helping me work through what I did or did not like about what I tried on. I had two dresses that we called our “contenders,” and then Maddy pulled some more dresses based on the things I liked or didn't like on the contenders.

I am an anxious person by nature, and when I feel that way I make a lot of jokes and I tend to laugh. A lot. This didn't phase Maddy, in fact she was just as bubbly and outgoing, and she didn't make me feel self-conscious at all. She let me get dressed each time in private and then came in to do all the hard work of zipping, buttoning, and/or lacing.

The last dress she pulled out I was very skeptical of because: 1) it is not a traditional dress, and 2) while it was a dress I drooled over, I didn't have the confidence to pull it off. I tried it on anyway, and I couldn't stop staring at myself! I loved everything about it, but there was something missing. Maddy let me talk through my thoughts, and then told me, “this one has detachable sleeves!” She pulled those bad boys out, attached them, and then the water works hit.

It was a very surreal experience seeing the dress I'd really loved online actually fitting me and looking perfect. Due to it being a non-traditional dress, I started worrying about my wedding color palette: would the flowers work with it? What about the bridesmaids dresses? What about the suits? Maddy and some of the other consultants all came to my rescue (aided by my two lovely bridesmaids and mother who were also in attendance).

These people made the vision come to life! They pulled different colored bridesmaids dresses and bouquets so I could see them all up against the dress. They were all so excited for me and they were not going to let me talk myself out of my dream dress. I've never experienced that kind of dedication to one bride in all the times I've been out shopping. In the end, it was a no-brainer, and I said yes to my dress!

While everyone might experience something different, I can most certainly say that I will never have regrets about going to Boulevard Bride. They were so sweet to my mom and my bridesmaids, and everyone really came together like family to help me! I'm so grateful to Maddy and the rest of the team (I'm so sorry I can't remember all your names 😫) for making my experience so memorable! Now, if only I could get them to be my day of coordinators cause this team has...

The wedding dress delivered was 4 inches too small. While the staff was very polite, when I complained my dress was too small and they implied I gained weight (stated the dress fabric was unforgiving and that the sample I had tried on was stretched out) prior to measuring me or the dress. I had no increase in my measurements, while the dress measured 4 inches too small for the size ordered. The staff did not initiate any communication with me at all regarding the replacement dress. I called them on many occasions and they would give me a specific time they would call back and never call back. They stated a replacement dress would be delivered in 2 weeks. Again, they did not communicate. It was six weeks before the correct size dress was delivered and I had to call them to confirm the dress was in. The dress has barely arrived in time to have it altered for my wedding. They did not refund any shipping or offer any compensation for the stress they and the manufacturer caused me. They told me to outreach the manufacturer but did not provide any contact information. The manufacturer did not respond to my email via their website.

Response to owner: I was first notified of my dress being as delivered to the store via text message on November 9 and made an appointment for trying on the dress on Nov 16 at 5:45pm CST. That is 7 days from notification to appointment, which is within your policy so there should be no interest or storage fees. Second, you were not present for the appointment, your employee Natasha was, who made the comments, which my group all heard. There are pictures of me in the dress at your store time stamped at 6:16pm, so the dress was not removed for at least 30 minutes from the start of the appointment. Natasha was the person who originally re-measured both me and the dress, who then alerted you to the issue, and then you did your re-measurements. You did not make your presence known to me or my group until I was no longer wearing the dress. The dress measurements were off by 1.3 inches per seam (2 side seams, 1 back seam), a total of 4 inches. You did show us the sizing measurements and when my mother mentioned that the sizes you were showing us meant the dress was 2 sizes too small, not one as you said, you shut the book. Third, you informed me that you were not able to reach the warehouse regarding the dress during my appointment because it was closed and, while you were speaking with the manufacturer’s rep, they were out to dinner with their family and couldn’t tell me when a new dress would be available. My mother was present for this conversation as well. You stated the warehouse was in Mountain Time Zone and would open at 10am our time. You would discuss the time frame of delivery with the warehouse when it opened and call me in the morning. I did not receive a call from you at all and I followed up with you at 5pm on 10/17. During that call, you stated it would be a couple weeks, which is 14 days. As you stated, the dress did not arrive for 43 days. You also stated I had over three months to have my dress altered. I called your shop on 12/23 and was told that per the tracking, the dress would not arrive to your store until 12/24. The store would be closed and the dress would be received on 12/28. I was told to expect a text confirming receipt of the dress during the morning of 12/28. I had no texts from your store and had to call twice to confirm the dress had arrived and was the correct size on 12/28. I picked it up on 12/29, as you said, and during this appointment your employee Natasha also stated the original dress was 4 inches too small. December 29 is 10 weeks prior to my wedding date, significantly shorter than the over 3 months that you claim much closer to the two months...

I made an appointment a week ago online via their website for Sample Sale 4/13 @10, as well as called and spoke with the General Manager Maddy twice this week in regards to their being dresses in my size as well as if they had dresses in my size left in Sophia Tolli which was last week sale. She informed me that they did as well as gave me the different style names in my size that I could look at on their site to get idea what would be at sale. Throughout the week they were posting different sale dresses on IG stories including sizes and I called and spoke with Maddy to make a note on my account of the ones I liked that I saw as well as a couple regular priced styles . She informed me that she wouldn't be in store on Saturday, but hoped I found my dress. I arrived to my appointment after driving hour and half to be told that since I was a returning bride that I couldn't shop the Sample Sale nor get dress for the price. I asked the wedding consultant why wasn't I contacted and informed of this and she responded "I was just told by my boss 30 mins ago." I asked to speak with the owner, Jenn but she hadn't arrived yet. They called her and she informed me that was the case, but since I was there I could go ahead and shop the sale. Yet all the dresses that were pulled by Consultant were regular price gowns that I tried on. When I made mention of it she informed me we were out of time and that her next appointment had arrived. I asked her if I could stay and try on sale dresses(since that was what I made appointment for). She informed me there were no appointments available for rest of day and I wouldn't be able to stay and try on dresses, but there were open appointments tomorrow. I asked to speak with Jenn again to see if she could possibly make a way for me to try on dresses while there. However, she informed me that I could come next week, yet Consultant Aubrey had just stated they had openings tomorrow. Lastly, I informed Aubrey of how stressed I was being that my father just passed away on Tuesday and would've thought this experience could go smoothly. This was the worst bridal experience I've had thus far and definitely wouldn't recommend this business nor go back. I've also attached photos of website for Sample Sale that clearly doesn't mention FIRST TIME CUSTOMERS. Yet manager Maddy never mentioned this to me either the several times I spoke with her this week. 4/17/24 In response to the owner's comment below...the pictures attached show on event page IT STATES NOWHERE FIRST TIME CUSTOMERS. And I NEVER received confirmation text or email for this appt and was also the reason I contacted the store directly to confirm. When doing so, the manager Maddy confirmed my appointment for SAMPLE SALE and not one time mentioned to me that since I was a returning bride I couldn't shop the sale. In fact she gave me several styles in my size that would be available to try on. I even called her back several times inquiring about certain styles for that weekend and styles from previous week's sale. So clearly I wasn't made aware for FIRST TIME CUSTOMERS. Lastly, yes I was upset and snappy after driving hour and half to appointment to be told I couldn't shop the sale and I'm sure anyone else...