The Elegant Bride Salon

The owners of this store are nice at the beginning. After that you find out they only care about themselves and will do what it takes to give excuses as to why you can't see who makes the dresses and do not disclose anything about the dresses for comparison with other stores. You are treated rudely and it is not worth your time. Rude owners to say the least. The owners also need to keep their arguments between each other out of the store. Unprofessional. more

I have lived in the Tacoma area and when it came time to get my wedding dress I had heard of 2 places I had to go...the elegant bride and the wedding bell! The first choice being the elegant bride! So I made my appointment...I had an amazing experience...I brought about 5 people with me and they were good with that. The lady Amy that helped me was very nice and very helpful with her suggestions and tips...I really wasn't sold on a dress so I tried some other places and realized the customer service out there for bridal salons is terrible in general! People do just not listen to your wants and needs! So I went back to the place that I felt had the best customer service. I had started my search early so I had a season change so new dresses had come in to the elegant bride by this time! Amy was the lady again that helped me there was a dress that I liked but she said she wanted me to try on one more and I was sold! They took my measurements and ordered the dress...I had 3 fittings and every time after that there was a new girl in the salon but all were very helpful and very nice...I went to pick my dress up the week of the wedding and they opened the bag to show me the steamed finish and the owner was not happy with the job so she took it back then and there and 10 minutes later it was perfect...she didn't make a scene or throw a fit she just said she wasn't happy with the results and took care of it! I have recommended a friend who also had a great experience and bought her dress there too! After reading the other reviews and seeing how old they are...maybe they have changed their ways for the better...highly suggest! more

My fiancée was getting shipped overseas so we decided to move up our wedding plans. I thought I was going to have to buy at David’s (I didn't figure I has enough time to order) but a friend told me to check out this store. On my way in I read a sign saying they had a $75.00 charge for a third visit, so since I had come alone, I asked about it. They explained that in order to keep their prices low, they have built into the price only two visits by a bride. If the bride wants to come to try on a 3rd time to confirm her choice, that’s OK, the money is credited to the dress purchase. I was a bit worried that I didn't have an appointment but when I explained my timeline they not only assured me that I had several options but also fit me into their schedule. Because they work with several designers, some have inventory they could order from while others had a “quick ship” of 4 to 8 weeks. And they will sell their samples off the rack. I found one of their discontinued designers samples and got it for half price. My wedding dress is in great shape, maybe it was the wet naps they ask you use before you touch a dress :)\r They completed the alterations in a week and they were excellent. Inna the seamstress is amazing.\r \r They were awesome to work with and I have a great dress at a great price!\r more

I selected this bridal salon for my wedding needs after attending the trunk show in the Spring. When I walked into the store, the manager was annoyed that I did not have an appointment. It is not customary that bridal shops require patrons to have an appointment, but I understand why they have them. They should, at a minimum, have a sign that customers need to call ahead of time in order to see their selection. Despite the fact that I did not have an appointment, the manager was able to give me a tour of their facilities and show me their selections. (I think he did this because I was adamant about getting a particular dress that they carried and no other salons in the area carried them) Anyway, during the tour he kept emphasizing that they carried a wide selection of products. He looked me up and down and with a condescending hiss said, ""We also carry a large selection of dresses for the plus sized bride as well..."" Uhm, EXCUSE ME?! According to the fashion industry, I may be plus sized and frankly, I don't care. What's horrible is that the manager had the audacity to down-right insult me or to make it sound like a size 12 is something to be ashamed of. That right there made me want to switch services, but I loved this dress and was already committed to buying it. So, I stuck with them. I was sorry that I did, because when it came close to the wedding date, the seamstress took down incorrect measurements and the dress became too tight after the alterations. They wanted to charge me even further to have the problem fixed. They ended up giving in after I pressed them, but they were not happy about it. Furthermore, they really try to push all sorts of unnecessary accessories on you. I told them in advance that I planned to wear the veil and jewelry my mother wore at her wedding, but they kept insisting that I look at their selection. These weren't gentle suggestions either! I recommend going to this location if you're looking for a bargain (and don't mind dealing with crabby service) because their off-season or low stock sales are fantastic! My sister was able to get her wedding dress for as little as $400 + alteration costs. If you're looking for the full service, go elsewhere!! Pros: Good prices, nice selection, reduced off-season dresses Cons: Customer service is lacking; Greedy, pushy and rude! more

This was the first place I went to and like most brides I had no clue what to expect so when I came for my appointment i was excited to try some gowns on. That excitment went away when the owner of the store began to repeatably make comments to the bridal consultant that was working with me about some nonsnese they had going on. We would be in the middle of me trying on a gown when he would pull her aside yell at her, then have her go do something else that would take a million years, all the while i am standing there in the dress just watching the whole show! I think it is completly unprofessional to #1 talk to any person the way he did to the consultant and #2 in front of a BRIDE! I was so uncomforable and shocked at his behavior that I could not continue to watch and decided to leave in the middle of the appointment! I could not believe anyone would run thier buissness this way! Please avoid this store....trust me you will not be sorry at all!!!! Pros: umm NOTHING Cons: EVERYTHING more

I went to this shop looking for a bridal gown when I walked in there was a man and women arguing (turns out that they ate the owners) they finally quit fighting to ask me what I wanted,when I told them that I was looking for a bridal gown they were not happy that I didn't have an appointment. The man Steve gave us a tour and then let me select some gowns to try on. Later as I was trying on dresses the man Steve was just standing watching me try them on as of he was worried I was going to do something wrong and then he pulled the girl that was helping me aside only to tell her to make a sale or else things where not going to me good! I was I'm disbelife, it is so disrespectful to scold your employees in front of customers! The girl who by the way was super sweet returned all embrassed because she knew I had heard everything and apologized for her bosses horrible lack of commen sense! Then to top it off and make it worse I found a dress I loved but the moment I came out I heard the man pull the girl aside once more and scold her some more, that was the final straw! They lost a sale that day because of that man for being so rude and pushy! I think he needs to learn that there is a place and time to talk about pushing a sale and scolding employees and in front of customers is not the right thing to do! more

I live in Wenatchee, but my soon to be family in-law and some of my best friends live in Tacoma, so I am in that area a lot. I found a dress from a designer on line that I liked and their website said that the Elegant Bride carried their dresses. I called and a man picked up. I asked him if I could see if they had a dress in and he told me he could not because otherwise I would not come in and could miss out on another dress I might like. I told him I was sorry, but that I live in Wenatchee and it is a 3.5 hr drive one way and my fiance and I have a one year old together and that it is hard to just make the trip and that if they didnt have the dress than I probably wouldnt come in anyways. He told me that he understood and would look for me and call me back. He then told me they had a $25 try on fee that would be applied to the dress if I bought it. He said it was because people come in and try on thier dresses but then go somewhere else to buy it and they wanted to make sure they were getting paid for thier time. OK, I kinda understand. But I dont know any other place that charges a try on fee and when I ask other places if they do, they always say no and think its wierd that some place would do that. I know I went there with my friend 3 years ago and it seemed fine, a little small though. but I guess it has changed. the guy never called me back., so im not going there. I was very unhappy with their unwillingness to help me. more

The selection at this store is decent. I was disappointed that I went to the shop during a Casablanca trunk show (when they are supposed to have a bunch of that designer's dresses in stock so that you can try them on if you've seen them on the website). They only had about 1/2 of the Casablanca dresses I wanted to try. I had tried on a certain Casablanca style at La Belle Reve in Bellevue, and kind of liked it, so I wanted to show my mom when we went together to Elegant Bride. But, they didn't have it. Also, I found it very frustrating that you cannot take pictures of the dresses. If I can't see how it photographs, I'm not willing to pay $1500 for it. Also found it annoying that I could not get into the dresses myself, or have my mom help me (the saleslady has to put it on you). I became so frustrated with the dress-search, that I decided to have my dress custom made. I ended up paying more than I would have liked ($2600), but, I am happy to see that money going directly to the designer. Pros: decent selection, moderate prices Cons: can't take pictures more

I'm not one to review businesses, but I have to dispute the negative reviews. I had a wonderful experience buying my dress from this shop. I was taken on a personal tour of the shop by the owner, Irina during which she directed me to the gowns I liked as well as the ones that would be flattering and were within my price range. I was attentively taken care of as I tried on several dresses until I found one I loved. Unfortunately, the one I loved was quite a bit more that I was hoping to spend. Irina found a very similar dress that was half the price of the dress I picked and tried to talk me into the less expensive version! Irina is super knowledgeable, has an eye for beautiful dresses, and is refreshingly forthcoming about what works and what doesn't work. If you are hoping to have a wonderful selection of truly beautiful dresses and a lovely experience trying them on and choosing your gown, I recommend this shop. Pros: Personal service, beautiful dresses Cons: The dresses are all beautiful and high quality, so if you won't find cheap 'deals' here more

The owners of The Elegant Bride in Tacoma, Steve & Irina Anderson are amazing! I live in Hawaii and a month and a half before the wedding I found that the owner of a store here in HI that I had ordered some of my bridesmaids dresses from, forgot to order some of my dresses. I throught I would have to get completely different dresses for 2 out of 8 bridesmaids, but as a last resort I called every store in HI and WA (where some of my bridesmaids are from) to see if by some miracle I could find the same dress. After about 20 phone calls I finally reached The Elegant Bride on my list. Steve was the most polite and most professional of all the stores I had spoken with. Not only was he the most pleasant to speak with, he was the only person who showed any sympathy for my situation. He offered to check for me and found that the manufacturer would have the same dresses coming in and he may be able to get them in time. The manufacturer was already closed for the day so Steve, understanding my time constraint not only offered to call first thing in the morning, but from his home! He and his wife Irina followed up with me first thing the next morning and said they would rush the shipping from the manufacturer to them, inspect the dresses and have them immediately rushed to me in HI just in time for the wedding. \r Throughout 6 months of planning out of every vendor I?ve done business with, Steve and Irina were the only ones that made me feel confident that they would follow through with what they said. It?s amazing how many businesses can?t even find the time to return a phone call as promised, let alone bend over backwards like Steve and Irina! They completely went out of their way to find a solution for me and had every opportunity to take advantage of the situation by charging me extra and didn't. Steve and Irina from The Elegant Bride are great people with outstanding customer service and I highly recommend them! Had I known earlier I would have bought everything here!\r Pros: Great service, extremely knowledgable more

I have to disagree with the negative reviews completely! I brought in a bridesmaid dress that needed to be fitted: it was 4 sizes too big AND I bought from another retailer in another state. They did not hassle me or turn me away. They did not push me to purchase anything- not even shoes or a purse to match the dress. Irina insisted I come in for 3 separate fittings to ensure the dress was perfect. She picked up on minor details that I didn't notice, thinking the dress fit fine. The finished product is fabulous! She was able to do the fittings on my schedule as well. I would say that the price was a little expensive, but literally everything on my dress had to be redone: hem, zippers, bust, boning, seams - everywhere there was a seam, it needed changing. Irina took care of the dress for me, steaming it for the final fitting. Her employees did not hold back in saying that they loved the dress, that it it would photograph well- even though it was not bought from their store, they appreciated its beauty. I think this above all else shows that other patrons simply had bad experiences, or misinterpreted Irina's meaning. She likely doesn't want people just coming in for fun to try on dresses. She even makes people clean their hands before touching them! She is very involved in her work, and takes it seriously, which every bride should appreciate given the importance of her day. Thanks Irina and all the girls at Elegant Bride! Pros: Attention to detail, knowledgeable seamstress Cons: Seemed a little pricey, but worth it! more

STAY AWAY FROM THIS SHOP!!! THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE, THEY JUST WANT YOUR MONEY! I recently called Elegent Bride about a dress. I spoke to a woman with a heavy accent on the phone and asked her to do some research on a dress that I found in a magazine and on line. She said that she had it in stock but needs to order it. She then proceeded to ask me if I plan to purchase it from her. I told her I wasn't sure since I've never been in the store yet. She also proceeded to tell me that she wanted to let me know that she did not want customers coming into the shop to try a dress on if they don't plan on buying it. I realized they were not a good business at this point and told her that she just lost my business and hung up. Does this woman not realize that brides-to-be should try a dress on before they purchase it? Unless this store has all the dresses in the world, I don't think any bride to be can guarantee that they'll buy it from that shop. Also, I don't know about other brides but I wouldn't want to tell someone that I'm purchasing a dress from them if I haven't even tried it on. Apparently these people don't know how to run a business and don't understand a thing about customer service. I will never recommend this shop to any brides and I have friends who are getting married next year. Cons: LACK OF CUSTOMER SERVICE more

We understand that most brides need to see themselves in the dress to see if it flatters their body type. Irina is a master dressmaker and is a graduate from the Moscow school of sewing technology, a 4 year dress in sewing. She has personally made over 1000 dresses. The store sells dresses but also fashion/dress expertise.\r When someone calls in for a style to see if we have it in the store, a red flag goes up. The sad but harsh reality is we are used by people to try on a dress and then buy it elsewhere, including online. Those online did not buy the sample just provided a picture. There is no dressing room or assistance and therefore their costs are lower. Using us, an independent retailer, to try on dresses and then go elsewhere does not help me feed my kids. It is not smart shopping,it is being a parasite.\r Therefore, we feel it justified to ask if you plan on buying locally or the internet. Most people don't realize that 90% of the bridal stores are independent ""Mom and Pops"" stores and not like the corporate chain stores that they normally buy clothes at. The reason that Penny's or Macy's don't sell wedding dresses is that it takes a lot of time for a bride to decide and she needs much more information as they are usually a special order item with delivery months out. It is not a self service type of sale. What you see, may not be what you wish to order, as that dress size is made only when you order it.\r Expertise in ordering a size is critical. All dresses will have a most important measurement to order the dress from the size chart. Some it is the bust, others the waist or hips. Expertise in knowing the most important measurement will mean not only a better fit but also minimize the alterations cost.\r Irina, as a master dress maker, is the best in the business at suggesting a size. It is always the brides choice. Like any other highly trained and skilled professional her expertize is highly valued and she does not wish to be used or her time abused. Pros: The owners are on site, great designers, alterations in-house. Plus sizes to try on, Modest styles more

Avoid this shop at all costs! My friend found her perfect dress here a full year before her wedding date. They told her to wait to order the dress until 6 months before her date. Her date was in June, so she called them to order her dress in January. When she called them to start her fittings in May, she finds out that they never ordered her dress! They didn't have enough time to do a rush order, and they tried to have her wear a different dress. I found the same dress online from a shop in Illinois, and she used this to find out if they can get this dress for her to make up for their mistakes. This time around, they insinuated that she was a crazy bride and tried to claim that she never called to order her dress. The groom had to argue with the owner to finally get a solution. Apparently, another bride, who just pushed back her date, ordered the same style dress in the same size, so they gave that dress to my friend. Over the phone, they offered free alterations, but when my friend came in for fittings, they denied saying that they would do free alterations and quoted the rush job to be $600! I would never recommend this place to anyone! Cons: Rude service, Lying owner, Tacoma traffic more

DON'T GO HERE!!! I went here with my friend from Wisconsin who is getting married and we could not believe the absolute RUDENESS we were treated with when we walked in the door! There was not a single other person in the store, but they told us we had to have an appointment. So we started to set one up for later in the day, when the woman asked where we lived. I said that I was the maid of honor and I lived here, but that my friend lived in Wisconsin. So the woman said ""The bride doesn't live here?"" I said ""No, but I do."" To which she said, ""That means she won't buy a dress here."" My friend responded, ""Actually, I might if I find one I like."" The woman said ""Why would we spend time with you if you're not going to buy a dress from us?"" Well we decided to leave because clearly they didn't want our business. I can't believe they had the nerve to be that rude!! How on earth do you expect anyone to buy a dress if you're turning them away at the door??? Pros: There are none! Cons: RUDE staff, refused us service, appointment only more