Designer Loft — Local services in New York

I cannot say enough wonderful things about my experience at Designer Loft Bridal, all thanks to my incredible stylist, Jamie! From the moment I walked in, I felt welcomed and at ease. I was also shocked at how BIG the shop was—there had to be over a thousand dresses in every style imaginable! Wedding dress shopping (and planning a wedding in general) felt overwhelming, and to be honest, I had been dreading it. I kept putting it off, but all that changed the moment I met Jamie. She made the entire process effortless, exciting, and truly magical.

From the start, Jamie took the time to genuinely listen to my vision, preferences, and concerns. She asked thoughtful questions to understand exactly what I was looking for and expertly guided me through different styles, silhouettes, and fabrics. What impressed me most was her deep knowledge of bridal fashion and her ability to pick out dresses that complemented my body and captured the essence of my dream look. The dresses she chose for me were EXACTLY what I pictured in my mind—just from our brief initial conversation.

Jamie’s patience and warmth were unmatched. Never once did I feel rushed or pressured. She helped me in and out of each dress, encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone, and provided honest, insightful feedback to help narrow down my choices. Her enthusiasm made me even more excited, and I could tell she truly cared about helping me find the right dress—not just making a sale. The dress I fell in love with was slightly over my budget, and I became emotional knowing it might not be possible. But somehow, Jamie worked with her manager to bring the price just under my maximum budget and even included a veil! I don’t know how she pulled it off, but there aren’t enough thank-yous in the world for making this moment possible. It was a day I will never forget.

Jamie’s attention to detail and keen eye for styling made all the difference. She helped me envision how the dress would come together with accessories and alterations, making the entire experience feel personal and special. Thanks to Jamie and the Designer Loft Bridal team, I got the dress of my dreams—one I never thought I could afford. The manager was also amazing and made it clear that their priority was helping brides, not just making sales. The level of care and customer service was truly unmatched.

I had an absolutely unforgettable experience, even more special by sharing it with my best friend aka maid of honor. If you’re a bride-to-be looking for a seamless, stress-free dress shopping experience, do yourself a favor and book an appointment at Designer Loft Bridal. Save yourself the hassle of searching multiple stores—I guarantee you’ll not only have an unforgettable experience but also find your dream dress here!

PS. Just when I thought my experience couldn’t get any better, Jamie handed me an envelope as I was leaving. Inside was a hand-drawn card featuring all the special things we talked about during my appointment—an elephant, my dog, crystals, and butterflies, each holding deep meaning in my heart. I was completely blown away. I was already smiling, but that card made my happiness...

I was late for about 10 minutes for my appointment, and I called beforehand and apologized because the train was delayed. My stylist started off with "since we don't have time, I can't show you around the dresses, and you will only have little time to try on the dresses." I totally understand and agree and I'm willing to try on fewer dresses, but she refusing to show me around and pick the dresses made me feel very not welcoming.

Then she asked me what type of dresses I like, and I told her that I like mermaid and showed her pictures of dresses I tried from other stores (I had 2 other previous appointments on that day). She immediately said "why did you still come here then?" I was left speechless. Of course I came here because I made an appointment, I want to be respectful, and haven't decided on the dress I want. There was a Vera Wang dress at my private area, so I told her I want to try that dress. She said "this is very different from the styles you tried at other stores, why?" What do you mean why? I want to try different styles, isn't that reason enough?

I then described to her I like mermaid dresses that are more fitted to my waist and flare in the bottom, and she said "I don't understand what you're saying, mermaid dresses are all like that." I tried multiple mermaid dresses in other stores and some have very smooth bottoms vs. flare bottoms. She was either very inexperienced or unwilling to show me around. When I asked her what styles does she think would fit me (since I was still trying on different styles and wanted to figure out which style looks best on me), and she told me I should have a style in mind before coming to the appointment, and that they have everything in store but I need to tell her an exact style of dress I want.

None of the dresses she picked fit good on me. After trying 2 dresses, I wanted to leave already. But since it was only about 10 minutes past our time, I didn't want to embarrass her and stayed for some time. When I was changing, she asked me to show her some photos of the dresses I like, I said the dresses I saved online did not look good on me (which was ball-gown, satin mermaid, etc). I want to try more lace mermaid and A-line dresses. She insisted I show her pictures as she didn't know which dress to pick. I then showed her one picture, and she said they don't have a dress like that. I said it didn't have to be exactly the same, a similar style would be fine (it was just a basic satin mermaid dress but with some lace applique on it). She then convinced me again that they don't have a similar style. I show her the second picture (which was a lace flower applique puffy one), and I can't believe even until today what she said. She said "trust me, you won't look good in this dress." She insisted that I show her pictures of the dresses I like, and after I did what she said, all I got was "you won't look good in this"???!!

I decided to leave before my appointment time ended. It was a very unpleasant experience. I immediately decided to buy at...

TL;DR: Go to Designer Loft, ask for Kate. She's knowledgeable, fantastic at her job, and really cares about her brides.

Long version: I had a wonderful experience working with Kate at Designer Loft and highly recommend you request working with her. The appointment process was simple and easy—no appointment fee, and the store was quick to confirm my request with a more flexible time than initially available on their website, which was a nice touch. Kate took the time to carefully review my style preferences before the appointment (DL requests you fill out a simple form and bring reference photos), and when I arrived, she went through my photos with me. and then started pulling dresses that aligned with my vision. She was very knowledgeable about the store’s inventory and picked out options that were either exactly what I had in mind or very close to it. I appreciated that she listened to my thoughts on each dress without pushing anything on me, and she could easily tell when something wasn’t working just by my reactions, which made the whole process feel comfortable, stress-free, and effortless. In the dressing room, Kate was respectful of my comfort and made sure to ask about my preference for her presence while helping me get in and out of the gowns. She was candid but super polite about what was and wasn’t working for me in terms of fit and style. When I found the dress I loved, it had a bit too much volume, but Kate explained how it could be altered to give me the silhouette I wanted. Kate also went out of her way to make the process easier by taking photos and videos for me, since my mom isn’t exactly the best photographer. She even gave me her cell number, which was incredibly helpful when I wanted to try the dress on again with my fiancé. After going home and discussing the dress with my parents, I was a bit unsure about whether the alterations I had in mind would be possible, as one of their friends, who works in alterations, thought it might be tricky. Kate kindly sent me detailed photos of the dress’s underlayers, which helped reassure me that the alterations could easily be done, and I felt much more confident moving forward. Kate’s approach was exactly what I was looking for—professional, down-to-earth, and attentive without being over the top. She understood that I wasn’t looking for a big “Say Yes to the Dress” moment, just a beautiful, timeless gown that felt right for me. She also stayed well within my budget request, which was an added bonus and greatly appreciated. Overall, I’m so grateful that I got paired with Kate and had such a positive experience at Designer Loft. I’d definitely recommend her to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and thoughtful...