Lasting Impressions — Local services in Lexington

I have mixed feelings about my experience, however my only other outlet to make contact with someone of higher authority is to call the store. I came to this store from Raleigh because there was a particular brand I was interested in and a particular line from that brand that no store in Raleigh carried. I was in the area visiting friends, so this worked out. I worked with Loretta and she was AMAZING! So sweet and patient. I was looking for an evening gown for a formal wedding I am attending. I tried on several dresses and while she said they were wonderful for my figure and skin tone, the lace and beads were too much for me. She pulled out a bridesmaid dress from the same designer line and I immediately felt like a princess! We were able to zip up the store sample size, however breathing was another story. The pockets also gaped and accentuated my hips. Loretta said she would order the next size up for me and that would fix the pockets too. I was shocked that my measurements were not taken to verify the correct size to order. I put off my questions as I was trusting Loretta, she's the professional. The size and color I wanted was in stock and I asked Loretta to order the dress. Since I was now ordering a bridesmaid dress, I could have easily called one of the bridal shops here in Raleigh to order the dress from them. However, I chose to order from Loretta, she put in the work and deserved the order.

The dress came in and I came in as soon as I had a free weekend. Everyone had customers when I walked in and I was happy to wait. I just drove 120 miles and I needed a breather. Loretta was with a customer so her co-worker got me started in trying on my dress. It was still very tight and although I could breath, I said to the lady, "I'm not going to be able to sit down in this." Her response was, "It's brand new and hasn't stretched yet. What?!?!? I minored in fashion merchandising in college and do not remember satin being one of those stretchy fabrics. However, she's the professional here, so I trusted her. I should have spoken up on both accounts, but I will get back to that in the next paragraph. Loretta was finally free to help me and she pulled in the sleeves and said it looked very nice. I asked her about proper undergarments to wear and what kind of jewelry to wear with the dress. It is elegantly simple. I was asking because I was willing to give the store more of my money. She suggested some shape-wear since I was uncomfortable with the way the dress laid over my hips. She suggested a simple pendant like type necklace, but did not show me anything that was being carried in the store. I paid my balance and left to drive another 120 miles back to Raleigh.

I was able to find a lovely place to do the alterations. I am glad I chose to do the alterations closer to home because it is taking multiple visits. The professional seamstress was shocked and appalled that my measurements were not taken and the correct size dress was not ordered. She also confirmed that satin does not stretch. They were able to let the dress OUT 2 inches to give me some more breathing and sitting room BECAUSE SATIN DOES NOT STRETCH. Round two of alterations will include taking in the sleeves, taking up the hem at the waistline in order to give me a slimmer hip and to close the gaping pockets. (Pockets on a bridesmaid dress???) Over $100 in alterations later, I will have the dress I wanted, but should not have cost me this much had the proper care been taken to order the correct size in the first place.

My second visit did not make me feel like I was being taken care of, I felt like a nuisance. I really want to recommend this place to others, but I cannot. If you decide to shop here, speak up if you have any doubts. If you think they are missing a step like taking measurements, ask for them. Stand up for yourself, if you don't, it could cost you a lot more money than you initially...

Avoid at all costs! This is a long review but it needs to be read by any bride thinking of getting your dress here!

I did not have any problems finding my dress here but I had lots of issues once I found the one. When deciding the length of the dress, the consultant (manager) helping me used her hands as a measuring guide to figure out what length I would need. She was very confusing while explaining this and I specifically remembered saying to give me the extra length because I will have a heel for my shoes. We put down the deposit, signed the papers and the dress was ordered. When my dress arrived, I knew something was off as I was putting it on. I shrugged it off thinking the dressing room was just too small. As I was walking out I dropped the front part of my dress and immediately saw my feet. The consultant fluffed out my dress for everyone to see and we noticed the problem. The dress was several inches too short (at least) and you could clearly see my feet and ankles, with no shoes on. After the manager was called down, she repeatedly made it out to be my fault claiming that I told her I would be wearing flats. IN NO CASE DID THIS HAPPEN I ALREADY HAD MY SHOES (Even if I was wearing flats, the dress was still way too short.) Their solution to fix the problem was to stretch the dress with curtain weights. This could only be done to the outer layers of lace, but not the inner thicker layer. After a month of stretching, the outside layers were touching the ground, but there was an obvious gap that was clearly visible between the layers. When I brought the dress home, I also noticed some of the lace appliqués were fraying and 2 buttons were barely hanging by a thread. The store did fix these free of charge after we brought it to their attention, however it did not make up for the other issues we experienced.

All of this goes to say, what was supposed to be a happy and fun experience turned into a complete nightmare. I even began to hate my dress because of how awful it looked. I could no longer wear the heels I had bought months back. Mistakes happen and I understand that. But this is not just a regular store, this is a bridal store that girls dream of visiting for years and finding the one dress. Never should a store make false claims to cover up their mistakes, which will be their response to this review as it has been their response in other reviews. I expected better quality service from a bridal salon. Customer service and general caring for your customers goes a long way, but you will not find that here. I chose to shop local, even after finding the same dress at another store. The manager had the worse service of the 3 ladies I dealt with. Mrs. Loretta was by far the nicest lady I met there and I hate that my experience was ruined by the other...

Mixed Feelings | Selecting my wedding gown was a wonderful experience . . . I had so much fun and Candice was very patience and helpful as we tried on a number of dresses that day!  In addition to my wedding gown I purchased my veil, headpiece, bridesmaid dress, mother of bride dress and invitations from the shop.  Everyone was friendly and got to know me, my mother and bridal party on a first name basis.  Once my dress arrived things became difficult.  I had to call to check on the status of my invitation proof, my veil and a pair of shoes for my bridesmaid.  My veil did not arrive in time for my bridal portraits (it was ordered +15 weeks prior) but they did let me borrow one of the veils from the shop to use for my portraits.  My bridesmaid’s shoes were ordered +12 weeks after the dress and shoes were paid for because they were waiting for the matron of honor to select her shoes so they could place the order at one time but my matron of honor was not purchasing her shoes from this shop.  Having to make constant phone calls and multiple trips to the shop (+45 minute drive) was frustrating.  I was disappointed in the lack of clear communication once we made our purchases.  I was extremely disappointed in the alterations that were completed by their preferred business Alternations by Tina.  I was in tears when I left the shop because my dress looked awful and I was not looking forward to walking down the aisle in the dress.  I took my dress to another alteration shop to correct the alterations.  I love my wedding dress and have received numerous flattery comments about the dress.  I absolutely loved working with Candice during dress selection process but once the purchase and my dress arrived I seemed to have problem after problem.  I selected this bridal shop after careful research and meeting them at a bridal show and I was very disappointed because I did not receive the customer service I expected throughout...