Bridal Elegance by Darlene

One of the best experiences I had in the whole wedding process was going to Darlene's. They are a wonderful group of women. They sit you down and have you review catalogs to get an idea of what you would wear and have you try dresses that maybe you hadn't considered so you can compare. The dress I wore I did not pick on my own. Darlene and Melissa, along with my sister, helped me with that. I felt like the most beautiful woman wearing that dress. Coming from me, that means alot. They worked with me on having a large bridal party and my sister living in another country. They helped expedite things towards the end when my sister came home and made sure everything was ready for my wedding. Their prices varies on the designer, but I felt that my dress was very reasonable.

We ordered our bridesmaid dresses here for my sister's wedding. All four of us had bad experiences with our order. They took our measurements and then ordered the dresses WAY too big. (I am a size 2, and they ordered me a size 6). They did the same for the other girls. Then they charged all of us $30 each for alterations. The alterations weren't complete until 3 days before the wedding. Then they had to alter them 3 times to make them fit! I thought my experience was unique, but after talking to the other three bridesmaids and comparing stories, I wanted to tell others to beware. It seems like a bit of a scam, or at the very least a shoddy business practice! Beware.

I loved bridal elegance by Darlene! I went to several bridal shops and this was my favorite of them all. They had a great selection of dresses, and were so friendly. Based on the dresses that I picked out they were able to find others that I would like- versus other dress shops that would pick out halter dresses when I told them I wanted strapless. Everyone at bridal elegance was so nice and I found several dresses that I loved! Also alterations were very reasonably priced!

Darlene and her staff are very knowledgeable. They not only pick out my dress, seriously the one I chose was the one Darlene picked for me; but they provided prompt alterations and were very professional as well!I will always recommend Bridal Elegance by Darlene to all brides!

I checked out other places around town (Alfred Angelo, Brides by Demetrios, David's Bridal, Ann Matthews, etc.) and was extremely impressed with Melissa from Bridal Elegance. She got the dresses I asked to try on but based on my comments with what I did or did not like about them she brought out dresses she thought I would like... and I ended up buying one that she thought I would like. If you go there ask for Melissa, she is amazing to work with! I did, however, feel that Darlene was quite insincere with her comments. I was in that store a few times and every time she saw me in a dress she would say some comment about me being so beautiful and I should buy it. As long as I stayed away from her I enjoyed my experience. I loved that I got to take pictures so I could review the dresses when I got home and see what I looked like in them. They have dresses in all price ranges. I did pick a dress that was a little over $1,000. But I felt that it was worth it.

Bottom line: Go there and work with Melissa!

My husband of 8 months surprised me a few days ago with an announcement of we are going to renew our vows as he felt he didn't give me the wedding I deserved the first go around. The bad news: I have a mere 3 months to prepare. I frantically searched several websites in search of a gown until I realized there is a reason this is a multi million dollar industry...one of which I have no clue to. I am a simple jeans and t-shirt kind of gal and haven't worn a dress in decades (sad but true). I didn't want any of the hassle of up selling and putting me in a dress that was more for the sake of an upsale than one intended to hopefully become a keepsake for my children. The mission: a destination wedding dress that wasn't going to require a second mortgage but brings my husband to his knees.

I immediately considered the typical David Bridals, Brides of Demetrios etc but after walking into those places I high tailed it out of there. I am sure there would have been beautiful dresses but I don't respond well to pressure sales, albeit I do understand the quotas have to be reached. My husband suggested a quaint store by the name of Bridal Elegance located on Menaul. I was wary where I need not have been. The moment I walked in, I was greeted by Danielle who pointed me in the direction of what I needed without an appointment. I picked what I thought I was looking for and Danielle the gem she is listened to my needs and pulled a few dresses she thought would meet the criteria including some I respectively thought, "Oh my those are just not me!." There is a great selection not only in designer but also in pricing. The store is not stuffy in the least and the air was ever so welcoming. As I began to try on dresses I fell in absolute love with a dress. Not just any dress but THE dress. Here I have to mention that it was a pick that Danielle with her keen eye suggested, one where I inwardly had scoffed. Now came the dilemma; my dress was not available due to stock and lack of time for my wedding date. Danielle, bless her tenacity got on the phone with the manufacturer and tried all she could to make it mine. It looked as though the perfect dress and I were just not meant to be. Much to my surprise the owner, Darlene even went as far as trying to get me the floor sample if the manufacturer would at some later date replace it. This unfortunately was also not doable by no fault of either of my helpers.

Just as I thought I needed to say goodbye to my dress (mind you this was several hours of every attempt possible being made). Darlene came up with an incredible work around so I could indeed make this dress mine with special alterations on what would have been an impossible size. I have NEVER had this great of a customer service experience. I am speechless by what these wonderful ladies provided and would gladly (and will) refer anyone out there to seek this gem of a store out. Weddings are supposed to be a once in a lifetime experience, this store and its wonderful helpers and owner will ensure that one of the biggest aspects of it, that being the dress will be a hassle free experience.

After visiting places like Alfred Angelo and David's Bridal, I was a little discouraged about dress shopping, and then I walked into Bridal Elegance by Darlene. It was like night and day - I didn't need an appointment, she let me sit down and pick out the dresses I wanted and then led me into a dressing room to try on. The thing I'll stress is that Darlene was so so knowledgeable, she knew all the different cuts and styles, where it would be bustled and then took it a step further and brought out a beautiful Maggie Soterro dress that I hadn't marked but she thought I would look good in anyway. It was a perfect mix of everything I had been looking for. She encouraged my mom to take pictures with her blackberry, and then encouraged us to come back with a digital camera as well. There were no pressure tactics, she didn't treat us any less because she would not get a sale that day - it was everything I had hoped a dress shopping experience would be. I haven't bought my dress here yet, but I am confident I will. And Darlene has my business for life!

They had the most unique dresses which was what I was looking for,designer ones that were unavailable anywhere else! also they put forth so much effort in paying. very close attention to my likes and only picked out the dresses that best matched my taste, which was very important because other bridal shops tried to force me into dresses that "they wanted for me."The staff was amazingly genuine and saw to it that my every need was met!

Darlene is wonderful- she has a great eye for dresses and she was actually the one who pulled the dress that I ended up buying!

All i can say is fantastic.My wife left the place very happy.

I was so happy that I had an experience with Bridal Elegance .The boutique was specious and carry all kinds of gorgeous pieces. And I loved atmosphere in it - very relaxing and stuff is very helpful.

The ladies that work in this shop are so friendly and helpful! They the only dress shop in town that does not require you to make an appointment to look at dresses, and sometimes when you are in there it shows because they are packed full. I had a wonderful experience here until it came to ordering my veil. I wanted a veil they had there but in elbow length, which they assured me they could do. When it came in it was not elbow length. Darlene told me they would shorten it at no cost for me and it would be ready by the time I was picking up the dress for my bridal sitting. It was not ready. She promised me it would be ready in time for the wedding, and it was, but after the hairdresser put it into my hair we realized that it was upside down and there was nothing we could do about it. They really dropped the ball on my veil but other than that I really enjoyed working with them for my wedding dress.

Great place for mother of the bride and bride's maids gowns. I also found my faux fur wedding cape which was stunning for our winter wedding!

I bought a demo dress for half price and it worked out perfect! I can't tell you how many compliments I got on my dress. And I made the groom cry, which was the best part! Loved my dress! I tried on almost 60 different dresses, and when I came to Bridal Elegance last, I dioscovered I should have gone there first! There dresses were just gorgeous and I found the perfect dress!

Have photographed many brides with beautiful and unique wedding dresses from Bridal Elegance By Darlene