10/06/09

keep an open mind

by phantomosh

I, like many people, googled local wedding dress venues and found Serendipity.

I just have to say I was very impressed with my consultant Olga. I thought she did a fantastic job.

I've been engaged for over a year and have looked at dresses on and in the last month. I've mostly looked online and at pictures of the styles I like, though I've gone into a bridal store a few months ago with some friends. However I really had no clue as to what kind of dress I was looking for.

Olga showed me where all the gowns were located and had me pick out the ones I liked. Then she took me to the fitting room and helped me try on the different dress.

I found several that looked pretty, they didn't wow me.

Then, about 2/3 through the appointment, she brings out a dress that was looked okay. I actually ended up really liking it once I tried it on. It was exactly the kind of fit, train, flow I was looking for. The only catch was the dress was in ivory and not white and material wasn't the one I had in mind.

However, I was super impressed with Olga. I could not believe how quickly she was able to select a dress with the style I didn't even know I liked.

I've read several reviews from very upset people on here, and while I do not know their particular situation, I would like to add that every situation is different. I had a wonderful experience with Olga. She gave me a lot of great, very sound advice.

In terms of the store itself, it was nice looking, not too big, not too small. There didn't seem to be a huge selection of dresses and the ones they did have seemed to be mostly of the same style (similar fabric and design, just different ornamentation and cut). If you like one dress you'll probably like several.

Overall it was a good experience and I'd suggest those who go to keep an open mind.

• Pros: Olga was very helpful
• Cons: not a lot of color variation, most gowns were ivory

08/17/09

STAY AWAY FROM SERENDIPITY BRIDAL

by Angrybride09

Thought I would share my HORRIBLE experience at Serendipity with you!! I walked in and was told that someone would be right with me – they were very prompt in that! My sales person (OLGA) asked when my wedding was and where. I told her May 2010 in Vegas and I wanted to try to keep the dress under $1000 and wasn’t sure they would be able to help me. She assured me they could. I tried MANY times to tell her I want something really simple since it will most likely be a morning wedding in a garden and that I don’t want anything flashy! She interrupted me so many times I finally gave up on telling her what it was I wanted! She continued to tell me what I NEEDED not what I WANTED!

She started grabbing dresses like a crazy woman and when I tried to tell her I didn’t like the style she said I had to try on because it looks better on! Not once did she ask me what I liked. She took me to the sale area which I’m all about saving money!! HOWEVER most of the dresses there were completely covered in sparkly stuff that I had no interest in and were also a size too small for me! She kept asking me to try on these dresses I had no interest in and telling me “I need beautiful elaborate sparkly gown for Vegas”. AGAIN not my style!!!

She finally put one on me that SHE loved however I could not breathe in it and beads were falling off the top. I am all about a good deal but I WILL not buy a dress that is too small and stuff falling off!!! She insisted on taking pictures so I could email my mom since I was there by myself. I felt like I was in a photo shoot! She took no less than 10 pictures!!

After I took that dress off we walked around the store looking to see if there was anything else I liked – this is when I finally got through to her that I wanted something PLAIN& SIMPLE!!! She said to me “so you are looking for something that is like a white PROM dress. Maybe we should just look at the cheap bridesmaids dresses that we can order in white! They are only $300!” I could not believe what I just heard!!! Not only was I completely insulted I was furious at this point!

I WILL NEVER BUY FROM THAT STORE NOR WILL I EVER REFER ANYONE THERE!!!!!!! I could not believe what I was hearing! Now I realize that my budget is MUCH less than what they normally get in there but to be treated like that was absolutely crazy and unwarranted! I read store reviews about places before I go shopping and I should have listened to the postings on there! There were only a couple of good ones – the rest had experiences like mine!

I did however find a GREAT bridal store and if they are not in the bridal guide they need to be! They were SO nice, took the time to find out what I wanted and so patient!! Not pushy and never pushed THEIR opinions on me! They are Signature Bridal Salon! I WILL buy my dress there because they treated me better than ANY store in Austin! A friend of mine who is getting married referred me there because her best friend got her dress there and had the BEST experience!

Good luck brides with your search and I would highly recommend you stay away from Serendipity unless you want to be TOLD what you should wear on YOUR special day!

07/27/09

Horrible HORRIBLE OWNER

by Lissy23

So I bought my wedding dress from Serendipity bridal and I was actually quite nervous to go in after reading all these bad reviews but I still went and found a great dress and had a great helper, Olga. What boggles my mind is what happened afterwards, which I never thought I would get on here and write a review but what just happened to me is something that I have NEVER experienced.

I bought my dress and paid my first deposit of $800 on June 18th, they told me my dress would not arrive until Late September, in which I would have to pay the remaining balance of $800. Well I get a call on June 27th telling me that my dress had already arrived. Since it was such short notice and I was planning on leaving the country for 3 weeks I didnt think anything of it and figured I would schedule my appointment for my fitting when I got back early August and pay the remaining balance then.

WELL....I get back last week and I email Serendipity asking if I am okay to pay the remaining balance when I come in for my fitting in the next 2 weeks. I get an email back saying that should be fine and it is not a problem.

THEN today I get a call from VICKI who is the OWNER telling me that she spoke to me and claiming that I told her I would pay the remaining balance by the 24th and since I didnt she is now charging me an extra fee. I AM IN SHOCK that this lady can say such a bold faced LIE. I was in Mexico on the 24th and never would have agreed to bring in money when I was set to be out of the country. She then proceeds to argue with me on the phone stating that I called her and told her I would be in and I would pay. I know for a fact I have never talked to this lady in my life, I have only heard her voicemails when I got back. She proceeded to tell me that I answered her while I was on vacation and told her I was on vacation and told her I never answer my phone. This lady is crazy because I do not answer my phone when I am out of the country, my phone doesnt even ring when I am gone, it is completely shut off, because i dont want roaming charges.

I am sitting here shaking I am so mad, that an owner of a company that I am essentially paying almost 2000.00 can treat a customer this way. If I didnt love that dress so much I would honestly take my business elsewhere. HOW AWFUL for an OWNER to treat their clients like low life trash. I have plenty of money to pay I just didn't want to pay 1800 all in one month when I was getting ready to head out on vacation. I was planning on paying 800 in June and the rest in September when they told me the dress would arrive. HOW INCONSIDERATE AND RUDE FOR AN OWNER TO TELL ME THAT I AM LYING AND BRING IN MY PHONE RECORD.

Honestly to those that are looking to buy their wedding dress....you should probably listen to these reviews, because I didnt and thought I would check it out for myself and then I get treated like I am some trashy low life and basically called a liar when VICKI the owner is the one completely lying. She had the nerve to tell me...."well maybe you forgot that you talked to me"... I AM a professional person with a professional job and I think I would CLEARLY remember if I spoke to someone about my wedding dress for the most important day of my life. She is the one calling a lot of brides and bridesmaids you would think it would be her mistake not mine. I would remember speaking to someone and telling them that I would pay when I was set to be in a different country.

DONT GO TO SERENDIPITY ....LISTEN TO THE REVIEWS THAT TELL THE TRUTH. They really only care about your money and it is ridiculous to be degraded and talked down to when the owner is the one completely lying. I plan on taking my cell phone bill in and proving that she is a complete liar. No person should ever be treated that way I was just treated. I would never lie about something so crazy, these people just make up stories trying to get you to pay. I wish I would have gone somewhere else that deserved my $2000.00.

• Pros: Dress was nice but that has NOTHING to do with shop
• Cons: HORRIBLE RUDE OWNER -AWFUL