Amy Kuschel Bride

Amy Kuschel is the ultimate bridal experience! The people there are so sweet and make you feel like a princess.

The airy studio with clean hard wood floors is located in a fifth floor loft in Union Square. I was immediately greeted by a very sweet (and fashioinable!) employee who immediately offered me and my sister some water. I chose about 8 that I liked, which were noted by my representative and her assistant.

Amy Kuschel's dresses start at around $1000 and is more affordable than a lot of bridal salons I've been to for the quality of fabric you get, and of course the couture experience!

I had an interesting experience at Amy Kuschel. This was my second stop on my wedding gown tour. The space is definitely roomy, loftish and on a weekday practically empty. The gowns if one is not familiar are definitely simple and elegant and her choice of fabric is makes what seems to be a very simple style appear amazing! Considering they do custom make the dress to you!

I wanted to like my Amy Kuschel experience. Upon sitting down w/my bm and consultant, I told her that there were certain things I wanted to see in a gown but was pretty open, since this was only my second shop. After listening to me, the consultant pretty much told me there was nothing there that would fit my needs (not in a pretentious way, but it still felt funny) then said I was free to look at the racks and if I wanted to try something on she would assist me. I ended up trying on about 6 gowns, that I probably didn't know I would like if it were not my initiative to try. That's probably why I didn't enjoy my experience at Amy Kuschel, the gowns are definitely amazing and probably would've walked away w/really thinking about one if I felt the consultant encouraged me more.

I really liked Amy Kuschel's space - very wide and lots of room. The collection is limited to only a few standout dresses, but what's neat about it is that you can customize a standard dress to how you want it (a certain lace, a certain trim, etc etc). One thing I didn't like though was that the person helping us kept changing. I think 3 different people ended up helping us, whereas it would've been nice to just have one the entire time.

I adored my Amy Kuschel dress -- my goal was to get a wedding dress that fit perfectly, which I achieved b/c they make the dress specifically for your body. For every single one of my fittings Amy was there herself, fitting me, adjusting the measurements, etc. I also loved working with Theresa, who does fittings once you buy the dress. Overall, the staff was really attentive and patient. I feel like her dresses are perfect if you want modern but simple silhouettes. I bought the Tandie dress, which has spiral seaming (very flattering) and is a mermaid / trumpet silhouette. I always thought I would just get a plain white dress with a fitted silhouette, but I surprised myself and fell in love with an embellished sash. Always try lots of different options b/c sometimes you like things you normally wouldn't like!

My overall experience at Amy Kuschel was excellent. I ordered my dress the second time I visited, and I believe you receive $150 off the dress price if you purchase w/in two visits. I selected the Marion! The consultant was very knowledgeable about the fabrics, dress types, and overall process. Amy Kuschel's dresses are very classic, simple silhouettes, and stunningly beautiful!

What sold me on Amy Kuschel was the fact that they custom make the dress. I’m a very petite person and finding a dress that fit my proportions was very difficult. Any other place, I would have had to order the dress in a pre-determined size and then alter the dress to fit me. With Amy Kuschel, the dress was made from the ground up, starting with the pattern and custom made to fit my measurements. I had about 4 fittings, each lasting not more than 30 minutes. In fact, my 2nd dress fitting was a mere 10 minutes b/c the dressmaker did such a fantastic job making my dress with my measurements. I also had intricate pleating on the bodice, so the dressmakers used my bustier to mold the pleats and to ensure they laid perfectly.

The only hiccup was that I did not have my shoes during the 1st fitting, so I had to come back in two weeks for a shoe check, and I was charged for that.

Overall, I was very, very happy with the final dress. My dress fit me like a glove; the length of the dress was perfect. Also, it was strapless, and not once did I have to "pull" my dress up.

Wonderful experience. I couldn't be happier with my dress. It first I was a little flabbergasted that I was paying so much for my dress, but the fact that it includes all your fittings and alterations and is custom made to your unique body, makes it all worth it. My dress was made of exquisite silk and was constructed so well. If you are anything like me and want a simple silk dress that is stunning - this is your place. I should also note that I was so very pleased with their customer service. From trying on dresses, to fittings, to picking her up, they were top notch all the way - without kissing up. This is really good to know, since sometimes places are only good to you before you sign on the dotted line. Highly highly recommend!!!!

Also, if you buy your dress on your first or second visit, you get a discount of at least $100 off.

I enjoyed my visit to Amy Kuschel. The salon is spacious and airy. It has a "couture" feel withOUT the snobbiness. So you feel like "wow, I'm in a DESIGNER's space" once you set foot in there. The staff is very professional and friendly. The girl who helped me was so nice, sweet and patient. It was one of the best services I've received from bridal salons (and I visited about 10). The collection may not be as extensive since they only carry their own designs, but I thought their dresses were beautiful and well made. Plus the fact that it's custom made to your measurements can really make any girl feel extra special. I highly recommend this place.

Everyone who works there is very attentive and knows what they're talking about. The dresses are not as beautiful as some other places but they are still pretty.

I went to about 9 salons ranging from more discount places like David’s Bridal to more expensive salons like Jin Wang (my experience at Jin Wang was horrible, btw. Do NOT go there, unless you want a mediocre dress and want to pay $4000-8000K!). I loved Amy Kuschel. She makes your dress for you. You basically go to her salon and pick out the style you want and then a mock up dress is made for you, followed by your actual dress. Her workmanship is wonderful. My mom is a seamstress and was satisfied with the care and attention that she pays to her work. There were three fittings and, yes, Amy Kuschel herself helped to fit me to make sure the details were perfect. It is made of Mikado silk and I couldn’t have found a more wonderful dress. I considered other lines, but I just couldn’t beat this price to have my own dress made. Because I am about petite, it was VERY difficult to find a dress that fit. Most of the time brides try on a dress and then it will be fitted to their body through alterations. I’ve learned that if you are petite, the proportions will be all wrong.

A bride asked me how it works at Amy Kuschel. You can go to her site and check it out. Every season she has about 20 or so new dresses. How it works is that you go to the salon, look at what they have, try on the one they have at the store, and then one will be made to fit you perfectly. So, you do not design your own dress. Rather, you pick from their wonderful selection.

And might I add, the experience of being at that salon is great. Very clean, bright, and also relaxing. I went to other salons and it felt like a cat fight. Girls were trying to peel dresses off my back after I tried them on. I hated that feeling. At Amy Kuschel they DO NOT overbook, so you get attention paid to you AND it is relaxing (they offer you candy, water, etc.). Cost = approximately $2000K (you can make 3 partial payments, one at each fitting).

P.S. The place that came in a close second was Miosa in Sacramento (on J Street). They also make your dress for you, based on a number of pre-made designs. But the one I wanted cost $3000, which is a little more than what I wanted to pay. The silk is imported from Italy at Miosa and their workmanship was superb. My mom couldn’t get over it at Miosa. If you have the dough, go check them out. Way better than Jin Wang, and other high end designers such as Monique Llullier, in my view. I know people are all about name brands, but just go with what you find fits you best and what you LOVE. You can’t go wrong that way. Miosa is a little-known store, but a well kept secret in my view. If I’m ever rolling in it and need a dress, I’m going there. Ask for Michael.

P.P.S. Ive seen lots of posts from brides on how to go about finding a dress. I, myself, was totally clueless. As I noted above, if you are an average size bride (Size 6 and up), I definitely think it is worth going to salons like House of Fashion (Sacramento) and Trudy’s (Campbell) just to see what is out there and that can be altered to fit your body. Remember to bring pictures of dresses you like from the major bridal magazines b/c chances are they will have it there. What happens is that they have size 10 dresses of particular designs (I guess size 10 is the average size) and they will let you try it on (they will pin it in the back and you can try it on to get an idea of how it looks). Make sure you write down the name and size of the dress b/c you can most likely buy it for 40=50% cheaper from Netbride or Pearls Place (see my review of bridesmaids dresses for more directions). I’d recommend a line like Maggie Sottera (Australian designer, I thought her designs were very contemporary and affordable, some dresses beginning around $600). Then, there are salons like Amy Kuschel, Miosa, and Jin Wang that allow you to try on their own line and then one will be made for you in your size. Go this route if you are petite (which is what I did), or if you are picky and you want something that fits you like a glove. You’re going to be spending $1800 and up on this option, which might be worth it if you end up liking dresses in the $1500 at salons like Trudy’s anyway. Finally, there are fancy schmancy salons like Gingers in SF and Bridal Galleria in SF. They are like huge retailers of bridal dresses, much like Trudys in that they carry tons of dresses, but they are more upscale and carry designer dresses (like Monique Llulier, etc.). I didn’t go to Gingers or Bridal Galleria b/c I haven’t heard tons of good reviews from brides and I stopped looking after I found what I wanted at Amy Kuschel. If you are into name brands and designer gowns, you probably want to go to those two salons. OH YES, lets not forget about David’s Bridal. This was the first salon I went to (Colma branch). I would not rule them out. Their workmanship is not as good as a place like Amy Kuschel, but they have small sizes (and you can try these small sizes on at the store). There were some totally cute dresses, so I’d probably recommend going there first and then branching out and seeing what you like. Hope this little overview helps!

My dress was the hit of the evening. I am so so happy that I found Amy Kuschel. The dress was fit for my body and it was STUNNING. From my first dress try on to my fourth fitting they were always so professional and kind. The best part of Amy's dresses is that the alterations are included in the price, which for me was exactly what sold me on them. Other places quoted me anything from 200 to 800 as AVERAGE.

These dresses are for the modern women looking for something sophisticated and simple. Some ball gowns, but not a lot of puff and sparkle.

I can't recommend Amy's enough. You are one lucky lady if you get one of her dresses!! Oh, and they make the dresses on the 6th Floor and the SF floor is on the 5th floor, so it's locally made!!

This was my favorite bridal salon that I visited while wedding dress shopping. The space is light and airy and the staff there are very friendly. All of the styles there went with my vision for what I wanted in a wedding gown...elegant, sleek, sexy but tasteful. You choose among the selection of styles and they custom make the dress to your measurements. All alterations are included in the price. They also have a great selection of accessories there. I purchased my veil, hair comb and earrings here. I thought this was a great value...beautiful, high quality dresses for reasonable prices.

This is definitely one of the best places to get a wedding dress. I found exactly what i was looking for.
The staff was so helpful, they made the whole experience so easy!
I definitely recommend visiting the saloon.

My dress was amazing. I wish I could wear it again! The service at AK is top notch. I am so glad I went with them. It was such a great experience.

This place is amazing!! The entire experience was wonderful...from the moment we walked in. Like everyone else has already said - her dresses are modern & beautiful & they are reasonably priced considering they are completely custom made. I tried on about 10 dresses & was seriously loving so many of them. I ended up settling on the Tandie dress with the sash...as did a few other brides on here. Clearly it's popular!

Talk about a lot of hype. It's a beautiful boutique and they try to provide great service - they'll even bring you a tray with glasses of water when you enter. I know the dresses are made there with their own designs, I just couldn't find any I was excited about. I know they're designed well, and they're a good fit if you like very simple and classic and no embellishment. (On the other hand I want a 30s style dress and I've never met a bead I didn't like). And these dresses were all $2500-$3200 except for some $800 off the rack samples that were very dirty. They have a very good selection of jewelry.

I chose this place to be the first bridal store my mom would accompany me to because I thought it would be a great mom-daughter bonding experience, but the dresses were so far off what I was looking for I never even got the all important mom-misty-eyes.

Number of Dresses: C+
Quality of Dresses (Did I Like Them?): C-
Strapless Bra Quality: B
Cost: D+
Dressing Rooms: A-
Service: B+
Understanding of My Taste: B

I checked out three bridal salons in SF and once I went here, I was sold. The bridal attendents know their gowns and styles. I love the fact that the salon doesn't book a ton of brides at the same time so that brides feel and get the attentiveness that they deserve. When I returned the second time to the salon with my mom, the attendents recommended a dress based on my desires that I communicated to the attendant, so they are able to listen and make sound recommendations. Additionally what I like the most about this salon is that the gown is made to fit your body type. I had a total of four fittings, getting fitted for the dress prototype on fitting #1, getting adjustments to the actual gown on fitting #2, getting the hem fixed on fitting #3 and getting the bustle implemented on fitting #4. If you are looking for simple (no-beading, no-puffy princess like dress) yet elegant and unique dresses that will be fitted to your body type, then check out this salon.

I absolutely love my Amy Kuschel gown and the entire experience of having the dress custom made. Her designs were perfect for me as I wanted something simple, elegant and classy, not the full, Cinderella type of dress. I went to 4 other bridal salons, found other dresses I liked, but Amy's dresses just spoke to me. My 2nd favorite place was Haute Bride, where my mom and one of my best friends fell in love with a dress.

I had a hard time deciding on my dress, but I think that was just me stressing and wanting it to be perfect. I chose the Antoinette-II, which is/was just gorgeous! I didn't want to take it off, and I want to do it again to wear my dress and experience the day all over again. It has a sweetheart neckline, unlike Antoinette which you see on the website. The material is gorgeous, the brooch details are gorgeous and even the muslin sheath at the first fitting was beautiful. My husband said he knew I would look beautiful, but he was just stunned.

It is definitely worth visiting their salon, the gowns are beautiful, and the experience is wonderful!

I just ordered my gown from Amy Kuschel and I'm very excited! I've visited a bunch of bridal salons and it was by far the best experience. The girls were attentive and sweet. They don't carry a huge collection but that worked out well for me b/c I didn't want to be overwhelmed. I tried on about 15 dresses in two visits and liked at least half of them. I think their prices are reasonable considering the quality of the fabric and the fact that it's custom made for you!

A MUST VISIT FOR ALL BRIDES-TO-BE! I went everywhere from David's Bridal to Neiman Marcus to find my wedding gown. And out of them all, Amy Kuschel had the BEST service, the BEST ambiance, and a great selection of dresses. Although I ended up not buying my dress here, I loved every experience I had in this store and would recommend it to any bride.

For a couture dress, Amy's dresses are priced VERY reasonably, considering each is made to order to fit your body - no additional alteration fees are necessary. Also, the dresses are for the most part customizable - if you like a particular style but not the fabric, they will work with you to pick a fabric that you like. And if you are trying to avoid the cliche strapless gown look, there are a bunch of different options for adding straps to your dress. I just wish the website had more pictures of actual people wearing the dresses instead of just sketches.

My bridal consultant, Amber, was extremely patient during my entire two hour appointment. As soon as we walked in, I was asked for my shoe size, and there was a pair of heels in my size waiting for me inside the spacious dressing room, as well as a half slip so I didn't have to keep flashing Amber everytime she helped me into a dress.

You only go gown shopping once in your life (hopefully), so even if you don't plan on buying your dress here, make an appointment and check this place out so you know how gown shopping really should be.

Having my gown made by Amy Kuschel has been the best experience, by far, in all of my wedding preparations. The staff is attentive and very sweet and the gowns are beautiful. I've been in for two fittings and now know what "experience couture" on their website means. It IS an experience to have a gown made and fitted just for me!
On my gown search I tried on beautiful gowns by wonderful designers that are made all over the world. But in the end I chose the most beautiful gown that happens to be made right her in San Francisco. I'm so happy I did!

Amy Kuschel is one of my all time favorite Bridal Gown Designers. She has an elegant style and a fabulous collection! Her Bridal Salon, located in San Francisco, is amazing. An appointment at Amy Kuschel Bridal is a personal and special experience.

We just love her designs period! She has a variety of stylish and different designs for every bride and wedding concept!