Starlet Bridal — Local services in Windsor

I am very sad to have to leave this review. My dress was gorgeous (thank God) but the process of ordering, receiving, altering, my dress was excruciating. The last thing you want to have to worry about when you are getting married is your dress. I went into Starlet Bridal in January to find a dress for my July wedding (7 months) I was extremely rushed during the process of trying on dresses. They are a very busy shop as there are about 6 dress shops in the entire Napa and surrounding area so I get it but if you make an appointment you shouldn't have to feel like trying on every dress is a race. I felt like I did a pretty good job but I found a dress in less than two hours (maybe due to peer pressure!) I was told that if I needed to think about the dress or which one I wanted that I wouldn't get it by my wedding date, so pretty much I needed to make the decision immediately, so I did. Don't get me wrong, I get it. Making a dress takes a lot of work and time and I appreciate that. The lady helping me, along with 3 other clients at that time, took my measurements as the "sample" dress was extremely large. I trusted that she knew what she was doing and that the numbers she was writing down were correct as I knew no difference. Anyway, long story short, I was told my dress would be in by by June (Wedding date was July) and was reassured that there would be enough time to get it shortened as that was all it would need. By the end of June I never heard from Starlet Bridal about my dress so I called the shop and was told that they would call as soon as it came in but that they could see the designer was "almost finished" and would be mailing it the next week. By the next week (plus about 3 days) I never got the return call that I was told I would when my dress would be shipped so I was worried and I called back and left a message. I waited another week and called back (the shop is about 2 hours from home so a long drive and by now we were about 2 weeks out from my wedding date) I was then told by a sales associate that they had had my dress in the shop for almost a MONTH! So why I was told it wasn't even done yet when apparently it was sitting in the shop is beyond me. Anyway, I didn't make a big deal about it and asked why I wasn't called and the associate stated that they called me (on my business cell that I get multiple calls and VM on a day) "many, many times" but never got an answer. This completely stunned me as this is my main work phone and I never had a single missed call; let's not forget that I was told about two weeks ago that my dress hadn't even been mailed... I asked why I had no voicemails and she said that my voicemail wasn't set up; again, not true as this is my main line and I get many voicemails a day. So then I asked why they didn't email and she said they did! So somehow, two weeks before my wedding I missed multiple calls, voicemails and emails - the Gods must have been against me! Needless to say I was extremely stressed out as my wedding was two weeks away and I hadn't even tried on my dress! I quickly jumped in my car, took the day off work and drove to pick up my dress. When I got there no one had any idea who I was (not even the lady who helped me find my dress!) that actually didn't bother me since I was so worried about the dress fitting. They handed it over to me and wished me the best. No one asked if I wanted to try it on in the shop or anything along those lines. I took it straight to my alteration lady and tried it on for the first time in her office. We were both speechless; she measured everything and the dress was 3 sizes too big! The Russian seamstress asked me why I ordered my dress so big and that in order for her to "fix" it it would be a very large project and would entail her remaking the dress. All I can say is thank God for Lina (alterations) and her talent as she did in fact completely have to remake the dress in order to make it fit. So, long story short, I paid over $2k for a dress that was in fact ordered and made in the incorrect size and also had to pay $500+ in...

To start this review off, I want you to know that I've had terrible experiences in the PAST with OTHER bridal shops in Eureka, CA.

It took me a while to start my dress shopping for close to 6-8 months. When I found Starlet Bridal online, I was excited to know they provide experiences to plus size people and were willing to work with my body type not against it. I can not express the happiness I had when I called into the shop and the owner stated "I'm a plus size girly myself, we're going to find a dress for you!!" Our phone calls and text messages were fantastic and uplifting. Alison (the owner) wanted to get to know me, my style, and the story behind my wedding. It was personal and refreshing. I was called a week before to make sure I was still coming in, who I was bringing, and if they could grab my information to make sure everything one file was correct.

A couple of days before my visit, Molly called me and we hit it off right away. We spoke about what I wanted, what I preferred, my experience with other shops, who was coming, and even bonded over my likes for Disney, Marvel, and books. This gave me the warmest of feelings knowing I would be coming into a team of people who have been warm throughout my experience with them.

Now we're on the day of my visit. My team of ladies and I are buzzing and excited to come into the store to look at the dresses. The shop is open, warm, and inviting. They offer drinks, have nice chairs ready, and greet us with smiles. Allison comes over and sits with us, asking me about my wedding date, how the planning is going, and what I've brought with me. Then she's off grabbing the dresses that fit what I've asked and told them I wanted.

8 dresses. All different, some puffy, some glittery, and some with embellishments. All beautiful! "Remember dresses do not have feelings, if you don't like you don't wear them!" Them sums up my dress shopping experience! I twirl, turn, and shine under the lights. Then find the one that makes me feel the prettiest.

They place me on a beautiful sun lot spot in the shop with my veil on and tears just flow. I've never had such an amazing and glowing experience. The whole shop is clapping, cheering, and enjoying the experience of my dress. Photos of my family and I are taken, the ladies are excited for this moment with me. The check out experience is easy and simple. They provide my measurements and give me a little wedding shop file for me to have with all their information about my dress and what to do next.

We also needed bridesmaids dresses. They are pictured below. It's a little shop across the way with loads of beautiful and colorful dresses to look at! My family enjoyed taking turns and looking at the variety of dresses they provide. We chose the one that I loved out of the ones they tried on. 🥰 Again an easy check out and they gave us a discount for grabbing their dresses there.

After getting home, I have now been contacted twice to let me know they ordered the dresses and that my sister's is in! How exciting!!!! Once mine is in, the alterations are completely done in house with their seamstress!

I'll update this as time goes on so it reflects my full...

Terrible lack of communication, sub-par customer service and willingness to share information. Just another customer. The only reason I’m giving them 2 stars is because my dress was beautiful.

Edit: In response to Alison. I do appreciate your response. Just to clear a couple of things up, when I purchased my dress I had the understanding that it would be in in June. When I made my final payment in May and I inquired I was told “No it’s still August”. Leaving a bit confused, I waited until the end of July and when I had yet to hear anything I reached out. My voicemail box is never and was never full, I received all of the messages that were intended to be left to me. I am also old fashioned and don’t mind phone calls, I had been working. After being told that there wasn’t a ETA on the dress yet at the end of July I became a little concerned, especially having no knowledge of alteration times or who to even go to at that point. It was in to August that my Matron of Honor reached out herself because she was concerned about the timing of all of this. After a few back and forth calls I was told that I “Should schedule and appointment now for alterations for the first week of September” but that a date was still unknown. I was given one name and scheduled the appointment immediately. My dress arrived and I did receive an email that only said “Tifanee, your dress has arrived. Take care, Starlet”... Irene was very sweet and very kind to me and I appreciate that. My experience overall was simply laced with miscommunication and misunderstanding. This is the only time I will ever need to buy a wedding dress and I vocalized that my experience and knowledge of the process was very green. Therefore, what may have been common knowledge for a business who deals with this process daily, was quite stressful for me when details...