Bridal & Tuxedo Emporium

I appears the warnings regarding customer service are correct. Perhaps they feel treating people kindly is only necessary if there will be a large profit from it. Beware all, your time is better spent at another store unless you are willing to open your purse at the door. I won't recommend this store to any other friends. My mistake. more

I wish that I could say that I checked this place out on City Search, and that is why I went. To be honest, I didn't want to try on dresses, but my aunt was in town, and I thought it would be a great time to go and try on my first dress. We went to Bridal & Tuxedo Emporium because it was close. We stopped in, expecting not much, but we were pleasantly surprised. I worked with Raffi, and she was awesome. She heard what I said and put me in what I didn't even know that I wanted. I am not an overly emotional person, but it brings tears to my eyes thinking about how wonderful everyone was there. When I walk into the store, they know me and say hello. They are friendly and flexible. I didn't have the money to pay for it outright, so they let me make payments on it (without applying for a stupid store credit card). Raffi also does the fittings. When we started looking for tuxes, they were willing to work with us on price and to find what we wanted. They also offered to tailor a shirt for my fiancée for free. When I read some of these other reviews, I am shocked! They were patient and kind. They helped me tremendously, and their customer service was never ending. I swear, if I have a problem the day of, Raffi would probable come out and fix it. more

I am plus size and it is hard to find clothes that fit. \r \r When I first visited Bridal and Tuxedo Emporium, Mike was very friendly and told me that Raffi would be able to handle anything. I had a thin bridesmaid with me to try on the dresses because I didn't want to go through the humiliation of having to get the dresses ""clipped"" to me and have half (more the half) of me hanging out the back. They were very accomodating and sensitive to my feelings. (Raffi was not there this day.)\r \r The second time back (with a different bridesmaid), Raffi was there. Mike greeted us immediately in the front. We said we wanted to look at more dresses--he said no problem and was there to help carry things to the back. My bridesmaid tried on a couple wedding dresses for me. Raffi introduced herself inbetween fitting other brides. She raised an eyebrow to the fact I wasn't trying on the wedding dresses...but she must have been holding back and could see I was sensitive.\r \r By the end of our visit, Raffi had engage in conversation with us and had us laughing. Feeling very at ease, Raffi told me she had a dress for me that she would feel honored if I would try it on. I hesitated and said, ""ok"". This was the first and only wedding dress I tried on. It was perfect and I am still amazed how she read me and knew what would look good on me all within a span of a couple hours or less.\r \r From there forward, I felt like family. Raffi didn't hold back and told me how it was...but the funny thing was...it was all positive, uplifting and confidence building. As the time closed in on the wedding date, I had gained weight instead of loosing (emotional eater). Raffi told me not to worry--to let her do the worrying.\r \r The dresses for the bridesmaids and my mom's dress came in within 3 months. My dress, which we altered to have no train but kept the detail at the bottom (Cassablanca #1773) took over 6½ months. It finally came in 6 weeks before the wedding. Raffi had called the manufacturer daily for weeks. I called too, apparently everything is made in China now, then shipped to the manufacturer's warehouse in the US, then to a distribution center, then to the individual stores. Good grief. \r \r Even through this big stressor, Raffi continually calmed me and told me, ""everything will work out in the end--you'll see--you leave the worrying to me"".\r \r She was right, it did! It came in and she altered it no problem. On my wedding day, my mom and bridesmaids told me how beautiful I was and that the dress was gorgeous and perfect for my figure. \r \r I am so happy that I had the confidence and guts to trust in Raffi. She does know her stuff!\r \r Connie McCullough--Eastlake, OH\r \r P.S. I came to this site now (after gettting married May2010) because we are attending a wedding and I need my cocktail dress altered (18 weeks pregnant and very short waisted--need shoulders taken up)...so I am headed back to Bridal & Tuxedo Emporium.\r \r Can't believe the negative comments on this site. I did experience one person that was very unhappy while I was there once; however, this bride looked tired, was stressed and I don't think she was liking herself too well at this time--nothing was going to please her. Maybe this is why there is negative comments.\r \r Trust this bridal store--they will go the extra mile for you.\r \r more

Everyone-\r We just finished with a very large Bridal Party.\r There were 10 bridemaids and mother of the Bride Dress.\r \r Anytime I read the negative reviews on line- I thought.\r ""what are they talking about""\r Raffie is amazing. If you have any problems finding a dress, if you want the truth and her expertise- this is the place to go.\r \r I am very picking. I read reviews as well. I am so very glad that I did not believe the negative reviews- because my experience with Raffie was totally fanastic.\r She was like the small Italian mother. She is very seasoned in her field. She knows what will look good and what will not look good on someone. \r I so trusted her opinion. She just didn't agree with the customer. She wanted people who bought dresses to look their best on that special day. \r I cannot even begin to tell you how many suggestions, tips, and making all of us feel like we were her only bridal party.\r \r I am a very picky person. I always do my homework because I want the best. I give you my word- they will make you feel special.\r If you have a problem- Raffie will fix it for you.\r \r Linda (mother of the bride) Pros: Great Price- They make you feel Special Cons: Smaller Shop- need one more person like Raffie more

I recently purchesed a bridesmaid dress and flower girl dress from Raffie for my sister's upcoming wedding. From the first time I went into the store I was treated with kindness and respect. The dresses arrived on time and in the right sizes. I even got an excellent deal on alterations. Thanks a million!!! Pros: Dresses arrived on time and were the right size. Cons: Closed Sundays and Tuesdays more

I dealt with these people a few years ago. They are horrible.They have terrible customer service, and their shop is DIRTY!! They too order all our dresses way to big and cashed a check that was written in October, two weeks before Christmas. Cons: many more

I had a great expereince with this shop even though I originally purchased my dress in Illinois. I had my dress steamed, hemmed, and altered by this place and for a LOT less than all the others in the area (and I did my research on pricing). This is a mom and pop type business and they treat you more like family than ""Expressions"" or ""David's Bridal"" did. I also bought my bridesmaides dresses from here. I originally found them online and at Expressions but couldn't believe the price difference here. What a deal! My girls were all happy and they alteration prices were fair. I did have to have my dress altered twice because I lost more weight and they didn't charge extra. I definately recommend them to anyone looking for a good deal and family atmosphere. Pros: great prices - mom and pop atmosphere Cons: the one lady is a little abrupt but nice (she reminds me of an old italian woman who takes a lot of value in her job- she is trying more to make the dress perfect than play ""but kisser"") more

I bought a bridesmaid dress there that was orderd in way too large of size. The alterations were not done properly and my dress didnt fit. Raffie, the lady who did my alterations was very rude and would not admit it was wrong. I had to argue with her to re-do the alterations.She finally agreed to fix the dress. When I went back it still wasnt fitting properly,nor was it comfortable.The lady there that day was so rude and treated me awful. She even tried to rip the dress off of me, threatening to keep it (although I already purchsed it months ago). She told me I should have gone somewhere else. they had no concern that I was unhappy< and did nothing to resolve the problem. i was told there was no store manager, and they havent seen the owner for years. There was no one to even complain to. I was still charged for a dress that didnt fit, and ended up having to take it to another shop to be fixed. Pros: there were none Cons: treated badly, horrible cust. service, not proffessional more

I had the exact same experience at this shop as another reviewer - I was a member of a bridal party in which the wrong measurements were taken and the wrong size dresses were ordered. When it was brought up to the seamstress who had measured us, she refused to take any responsibility for her mistakes, and nothing was done by the shop owner to remedy the situation. Alterations are expensive, especially when you have to have a dress completely remade because it is literally 4 sizes too big. Having this blamed on us is completely insulting and unprofessional.\r \r The employee/customer interaction when I was in the store was pitiful. I have been in many other bridal shops where the employees are eager to help you, but this is not one of those stores. Cons: Rude staff/owner, poor measuring resulting in wrong orders more

I ordered a bridesmaid dress for an upcoming wedding at this shop. The seamstress and owner were both very rude to myself and the entire bridal party throughout the ordering process. When our gowns arrived only a few weeks before the wedding (despite ordering months ahead of time), we found that we had been grossly mis-measured. Despite the seamstress' errors, the bridesmaids were blamed for the sizing issues. Nothing was done to correct the sizing issues, and many of the bridesmaids incurred very costly alterations because of the measuring and ordering issues (one had to pay over $150 just in alterations because of the errors). More than the sizes, the problem with this shop is the lack of care for the customers. I'd caution any future bridal parties to steer very clear of this store and spend their hard-earned money elsewhere. Cons: Bad customer service, inaccurate measuring, blaming the customers for their problems. more