Bridal Gallery By Yvonne — Local services in Town of Colonie

Working with the Bridal Gallery by Yvonne has been an emotional rollercoaster. In the beginning I was very upset. I was told when I purchased my dress that it would fit like an A-line when it came in and was actually " my size" - not necessarily what you want to hear but I loved the lace so I believed the saleswoman and purchased the dress. I was a little disappointed when my dress came in and I tried it on as my dress was a modified A-line and not a true A-line dress as I was told when I first purchased my dress with the saleswoman Janet. My first time I tried on my dress was with Yvonne- she made me feel at ease and was very reassuring. We came up with a tentative schedule for future fittings and alterations. My first fitting was stressful- I came in with a list of things I wanted changed on my dress and there just was not enough time. The seamstress had to bounce back and forth between other appointments and I was asked to come back on another day the next week for the last appointment so more time could be spent on the dress. The second fitting (which ended up being considered my true first fitting) was with another staff member and she was outstanding! She got Marge (the seamstress) and we started discussing different alteration plans. We only had time to get to the sleeves and the top of the dress (bust) pinned. We still had so many other alterations that needed to be done and the wedding was only 2 weeks away! I was beyond stressed! My next fitting appointment was with the original saleswoman Janet as Yvonne was not there that day. I knew we didn't have a great history but I went in open minded and she proved again to be extremely arrogant, rude, and not helpful. I left crying. No alterations were completed or even started from my previous fitting. We discussed more alterations that needed to be completed such as adding on my belt, hemming the bottom of the dress, adding buttons, adding a bustle - and to top it off my wedding was in 1 week!!!! The next day I felt so sick to my stomach and stressed so I called to make sure that Janet would not be there for my next fitting and Yvonne ensured that Yvonne would be there for my next fitting. My last fitting was the Tuesday (4 days) before my wedding with Yvonne and Marge. I was the very last appointment that night. I stood there from 6:30pm- 9:30pm while Marge hand sewed everything onto my dress. The work that Marge does is absolutely AMAZING!!! Marge and Yvonne are so incredibly patient and kind and so reassuring. I left that night crying HAPPY tears. My vision of my dress finally came together and I looked beautiful! I purchased another dress because I was afraid that I would hate my dress from Yvonne's and that night I decided I was not even going to wear my second dress and I was going to stay in my dress from Yvonne's the entire wedding night. I trusted Marge to take my dress and reinforce all the sewing because that night was the last night I would have it on before my wedding day. I picked up my dress Thursday afternoon from Janet because Friday morning at 8am we were leaving for Warrensburg so we could begin setting up for the wedding and to have the rehearsal. Thursday night as I was packing my husband asked if my veil was in my dress bag or in a separate bag. That is when it hit me......MY VEIL!!!!! Janet never made sure my veil was with my dress!!!!! The fury raged through me- I double and triple checked my dress bag and undergarment bag- my veil was NO WHERE TO BE FOUND! Then I remembered.....we were so worried about my dress that I hadn't tried on my veil since my very FIRST fitting! In the end everything ended up working out but I feel that so many alterations wouldn't have had to be done if I wasn't lied to when I purchased my dress initially. If you do anything AVOID working with Janet. She is the only staff member that is terrible to work with and caused so much stress and tears. If I could only rate Marge and Yvonne I would give 10 stars. They are both absolutely amazing people and made the process so...

Yvonne's is lucky they are getting a 2star rating from me. The only reason is the gown ended up beautiful but from the start the experience was awful. This is supposed to he a fabulous time in a brides life they made it nothing such from the minute I walked in. I don't even know why I stayed. My MOH set up the appt she had gotten hers here said it was great and said ahead of time my budget of 1000. (I'm sorry for you girls who think this isn't a lot of money but to me its a significant amount. I didn't have mommy or daddy buying my gown) I come in and the owner Yvonne doesn't even greet me. If you'd like to sell a dress you should rake pride in all your guests. The woman who helps says sorry we have nothing under 1500. I was appealed and said fine we will leave. Instantly she miraculously has some under1000. She brings out 5-6 I end up loving one and put the deposit down. They never ask if I'd like white or ivory I didn't even know I had an option. I went online and saw and went back to store to see which was best in my skin. What salesperson doesn't ask you a color? So from then on my experience was even worse. When it came to my first fitting I thought I'd be treated like a princess little did I know that wasn't happening apparently I didn't species d enough for that. I come in for my spot the door was locked (by the sun they say) I waited 15 to walk in girl let's me not eben a hello how are you what can I do just walks away. Wait another20 minutes after having an appointment women cones out doesn't help me finally I walked around store asking for help I have an appointment and they come another 10minutes in. Here I am45 minutes now into having an "appt" and we get no where. Try the dress on maria comes in to fit me. Yvonne is there the whole time mind you. I'm not happy with what's going on I ask how much alterations would be around I say I have another fitting. She throws a fit stops pinning me walks out of the room saying rude things under her breathe they put my bag in a plastic bag to have me go. Quoted starting at 395 for a slight hem abut taken in and cups. Nothing crazy. To send me out with a 1000 dressing a plastic bag!!! Who does this. Unbelievable. They didn't even tell Yvonne. Maria was so rude and left. The whole experience was terrible I could of gotten better service at David's bridal which I refused to go to a chain due to these matters when in reality this boutique didn't make me feel special in anyway.I called Yvonne very upset went and for my gown bag. She was supposedly mortified. Well why didn't you care to see your bride because I didn't spend 2000??? It was awful as a small business owner I make all my guests feel special and one and only she did nothing of the such. So I post on Facebook how awful it was I had 7. People chime in and say how awful they were to them. The reason I'm posting this is because I see a girl post a picture with her on a pedastool with flowers and a little sign welcoming her with a sign. I said congrats to you I hope your experience ends up great they did nothing like that for me but make me feel like a fly on the wall. When I talked to Yvonne she offered me nothing!! Worthless waste if breathe! I went to Lucia on rt 2instead for alterations she saved me over 100&made me feel fantastic and did an outstanding job! I recommended Yvonne's to no one I told my 5 friends getting married this year to steer clear!! I'm in the service industry I know how to...

There aren't enough stars to rate this review appropriately high enough! The combination of Yvonne's genuine customer service, years of experience and obvious love for her craft, makes for a bride's dream experience in choosing her look for one of, if not the, most important days of her life.

Having never gone through the process of shopping for, choosing and purchasing a bridal gown I was clueless on so many levels. Figuring it best to not to "put all my eggs in one basket," I set up an appointment with Yvonne and an appointment with another local shop. The meeting with Yvonne was first; I entered intimidated and scared of the choices and putting myself on display. Immediately upon arrival at the front desk and Yvonne's introduction of herself, I became confident in my decision of booking my appointment with her and became excited for this experience. She asked questions and listened to my responses but it seemed as if she really got my answers just by looking at me...it was like she knew what I wanted before I did. It was strangely magical! I tried on 7-8 dresses, with each one I began to feel more and more like a bride but I still held back from committing to a specific dress. I left the appointment with a few strong contenders, a smile and standing taller. I left a different type of bride; a bride with a vision.

I went to my next appointment at the other local shop thinking "now that I've done this before, I will go in and surely find the 'yes' dress." Nope! Totally wrong! Within minutes I knew I wasn't in the right place. From the atmosphere to the customer service, it wasn't right; I felt like just a number in their books. I knew I had to go back to Yvonne. Upon leaving the second shop, I immediately called Yvonne from my car and booked a second appointment with her.

The night before my second appointment with Yvonne I decided to find 5 photos of dresses that I liked, print them and bring them with me to the appointment. I thought this would help "show my vision" and give Yvonne a better idea of what I wanted to look like on my big day. I did just this and gave them to her when I arrived. She entertained the gesture as if it was helpful but in reality it only confirmed her confidence in what she already had lined up for me. Little did I know she reflected our previous meeting and "prepared" for this one. We started the appointment by putting on "my choice," my favorite dress of our last appointment. I was still impressed and liked it best out of all the dresses I had ever tried on but felt like there was potential for more. Yvonne felt the same way. The second dress she had me put on was "her choice," the dress she felt best fits my described vision, my body type and presentation and my displayed personality. IT WAS PERFECT! Let me tell you...there is truth in the saying "when it is right, you will know." 100%! She was spot on! We didn't stop there, she had me put on a handful of others but none of them stood up to the second dress I had on that day. SOLD! We found the one!

I will post a photo after my wedding day; I don't want to risk being seen in my dress before...