What is with the prejudice against Davids Bridal?

I went in knowing what they were like since I had went with a couple of friends for their weddings. But I don't care how busy you are making a bride sit in a dress for almost an hour is pretty bad service.

I went to DBs 4 times for my wedding dress. 3 times in New Hampshire and 1 time in New York. All 3 times in New Hampshire I had the same consultant and she was WONDERFUL and I did end up buying my dress there....I LOVE IT! The 1 time I went in New York was to look at dresses with my mother and BMs because they live there and it was SO FREAKEN BAD. I had an app. and a girl without one walked in 2 sec before me and they had the same consultant helping both of us. She was never around and was completly unknowledgable.

So I guess it depends on the store you visit and the consultant you have.

I'm not sure why it is that some of the ladies who have had good experiences at DB's think that those who have had bad experiences walked in with some over the top delusions on what dress shopping would actually be like. I have never seen the Say Yes to the Dress show that everyone keeps talking about (sorry but I didn't have cable TV in Afghanistan and I don't have it here in Germany) so I wasn't walking in expecting to get my butt kissed when I walked in. What I WAS expecting was to be treated with some form of respect, not snapped at for asking questions or not knowing anything about wedding dresses (it's not as if I've been purchasing these things my entire life). I was also expecting to not be ignored when there were 3 workers behind the counter with only a few people in the store - none of which were being helped because the discussions about what their plans were for the weekend took priority.

If you’ve had a great experience at DB, than good for you. There are many of us here who wish we could all say the same. Fact of the matter is, some of us have had really crappy service there. I’m not sure why any bride who has purchased her gown from the store would take that as some reflection upon herself for going to DB, but seriously people? IT’S NOT PERSONAL. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and as long as no one is intentionally trying to hurt another person or is using offensive content, let them be.

@tina bo bina -- at least you got a response at all. i went to a boutique and was COMPLETELY ignored. no one even spoke to me.

just like some of you who have had bad experience at DB, there are those of us who have had less than stellar service elsewhere. everyone's had good service, everyone's had bad service...doesn't matter what store it is. what DOES matter is doing some research beforehand - figure out the best time to go, when it may or may not be busy season, etc.

the cheap dress comment was pretty rude, albeit an opinion of someone who has differing tastes than most of us who find the material to be just fine. i think a lot of tempers are flaring because of the WORDING of the opinions, as it has been stressed over and over again. everyone's had their different backgrounds and different experiences, and everyone's entitled to their opinion, positive or negative. some people are just trying to balance out the negatives with positives. let's just leave it at that.

@cyndi - my friend and i actually weren't greeted by our consultants until about 10 mins after we showed up and signed in, but we'd already walked a few aisles and picked out a few dresses. when the consultant wasn't around, i let myself in and out of a few dresses. i think i saw my consultant MAYBE 10 mins of the 2 hrs i was there. same time span, different experiences. just depends on a lot of different variables

Yeah, I knew exactly what I was getting into at DB and I went on a weekday morning. Know what it was? A hot mess of 3 hours I'm never going to get back. HOT. MESS.

This is silly. Who cares if a dress is cheap? Would you say Forever 21 clothes are cheap? Probably. Guess what? I wear that ish all the time! And I wear it right next to couture or designer stuff and NOBODY CAN TELL. Style is how it fits and how you wear it. Not in the price tag. Why so defensive ladies? No need.

I will say, other bridal boutiques pulled silk designer sample gowns that were cheaper than the dresses I tried at DB. (As in $300-$600.) And my silk designer gown purchased from a boutique was cheaper than some of the dresses I tried at DB too. So DB is not the only option for cheap.

Yeah, I said cheap. I love cheap. Who doesn't??

At least OP got a good and thorough reason for her post LOL

The few times I've visited DB my experience has been good. I love the dress that I purchase and the price was right! I didn't want to spend thousands of dollars on a dress that will be worn for a few hours. I still will be a beautiful bride with my $600 dress. Thanks DB.

Don't go to the ones in Arizona! I have had to buy THREE different BM dresses there and the quality stinks!!!! Save yourself the frustration and go to AA.

I have never bought or known anyone who wore a DB wedding gown, but I will say that hey, you are wearing it for ONE day. As long as it looks good and feels good on you who cares what you spent. Every girl on this website is going to have to make hard budgetary decisions, so cut costs where you want. the Maggie Sottero dress I am buying is only like $1059. Then again, I have a flower budget of like nothing, because we aren't huge on flowers LOL

I haven't had a bad experience with them, seeing as I haven't been there yet. However, my cousin did. When she got married, they talked her into a pair of shoes that didn't match the dress, a bra/corset thing that didn't fit or match the dress, and then tried to tell her that she couldn't pick up her dress until the day of the wedding.

I've heard horror stories, but I've heard fairy tales about David's Bridal too. So I guess it's up to you on what you do about it

Yeah I think as everyone said it really depends on your consultant. My experience was pretty good. I think you should just try them and see how it goes. I really wanted to find a dress there as their prices are very good. However, I think their styles are fairly simple so if you want a gown that is a little more elaborate then you might not find what you are looking for. Also, a lot of the designer and more expensive gowns have more boning and structure to their dresses or more expensive fabrics and that can make a gown look better. However, it's up to each bride to decide if that is worth the extra difference in cost. I ended up getting a dress somewhere else because I loved the way the other gown fit on me more. So my advice is to just shop around and see what you like.

I must agree their dresses tend to look a bit..costume? I tried on many ball gowns, hated them all. Went for a local bridal salon, paid just a bit more, and git a stunning, ethereal looking gown that didn't look so cheaply made. You get what you pay for.

I must agree their dresses tend to look a bit..costume? I tried on many ball gowns, hated them all. Went for a local bridal salon, paid just a bit more, and git a stunning, ethereal looking gown that didn't look so cheaply made. You get what you pay for.

Davids is definitely the Kmart of bridals. The sell the same dress , 900 times a year - if you're in line on a Saturday with “your” dress, I’m sure there’s 10 other ladies in line with the same one. To davids, you’re just a woman who needs a dress. They want the commission and that’s, that because they get paid $9 per hours, plus commission. They don’t really care about the service side, they are just pulling dresses that are selling and then moving on to the next woman who needs a gown. Davids impacts smaller shops who offer better gowns and better service — brides expect the same discount prices from custom boutiques, but they want the Kleinfelds experience. But honestly the prices at davids are not better than custom boutiques — you can spend $1500 at davids and weart he same dusty dress 900 other brides are wearing or you can spend $1500 at a local boutique, get amazing service and get a dress special ordered for you (if you have the time)

It’s a no brainer — take me to a local boutique any day. Davids is garbage and it’s not looking good for them from a business stand point. If you're buying from there, better hope they don’t go all Alfred Angelo on you.