David's Bridal (Tacoma, WA)

David's Bridal did not have any short-sleeved dresses as I wanted, but the dress I bought there fit me almost perfectly right off the rack and looked simply stunning for my exact budget price of $300. But how they must make the big bucks is in the extras: $45 for a plain veil, $55 for the smallest petticoat, and $85 for a tiara. I would have liked to go home and consider those, but you only get the 10% discount if you buy those at the same time as the dress. Check around for the extras first (JoAnn's Fabrics is comparable in quality, but much cheaper), then go to David's for the dress.

I was very disappointed in the service I received at Davids Bridal. It started out promising... I was a walk in without an appointment and they got me in right away (perhaps that should have been a sign). As soon as I sat down to look at the catalog I found something I liked and told the woman helping me... she responded with "oh no, you don't want that, thats too plain and boring... you want more glitter and sparkles!" before I could respond she ran off to do something. I sat there stunned and felt very insulted. I couldn't really figure out what I wanted from the catalog so we wondered around and she acted very disappointed and upset with the dresses I liked. She certainly wasn't trying to hide here true feelings. When I was trying dresses on she kept pushing more color. I said no I didn't want color. "oh you want a colored sash or a dress with a little more color... I'll get one, what color do you want?" I said no thank you and she kept pushing so I finally gave in. Then when I went to change in the dressing room with her help some little boy that was running around came and opened my door! The woman didn't do anything to stop him or prevent it from happening again, she just made some snide comment about how children shouldn't be brought along (my future sister inlaw and her son were there with me so that was a little insulting as well). Of course I got dressed right away said thank you and left. I was so disappointed and insulted by that place. Just make sure you get a professional if you decide to go. I'm sure I would have been fine with my experience had I not been embarrassed and insulted the one time I went. :)