Bridal Boutique of Raleigh

05/22/2008 Posted by Christini

No one in this store knows what's going on and they'll charge your credit card for orders you don't want. I had picked out bridesmaid dresses at the Bridal Boutique of Raleigh on Hillsborough St. I was informed by three different people on three different trips to the store that a particular dress was available in the color I wanted. I found out on my own that the dress was not available in my chosen color. After calling the store and explaining my situation and that I would most likely be going somewhere else to find what I was looking for, they proceeded to charge the credit card of my bridesmaid who had called in to place her order (before we found out we couldn't get what we wanted). I had been informed they wouldn't be placing the order until they had everyone's information. Instead THEY CHARGED A CREDIT CARD FOR A DRESS THAT DOESN'T EVEN EXIST!!!! There are so many other bridal stores out there, avoid this one because I doubt they'll be in business much longer if they continue this kind of "customer service".

Cons: Incompetent Staff, Dishonest

05/06/2008 Posted by LittleMrsB

I once worked at a dry cleaner years back with Manu (the owner) so I thought since she now had a store and I was getting married and needed minor alterations on my dress that I would use her. BIG MISTAKE! Her employees were rude and she was even ruder! She made me feel terrible because I didn't buy my dress in her store and marked up my alterations (along with my bridesmaids dresses alterations) by 50% because of that reason!?!?!? What? Why? Also my she was supposed to bustle my dress which of course I paid 50% more for but on my wedding day we attached the bustle and it immediatel broke!!! Every picture of me in my wedding has me holding my train b/c Manu didn't do her job. Everything about my experience with Manu and the Bridal Boutique was of poor quality and poor service. I don't think she even likes customers, I seemed to be wasting her time and in her way while I was there for my fitting. IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT USING BRIDAL BOUTIQUE...THINK AGAIN! DON'T DO IT. DON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE MOST OF US REVIEWS MADE!!!! If I could give negative stars I would!

Pros: NOTHING! TERRIBLE ALL AROUND!

Cons: Service, Quality, Management, need i say more........

04/21/2008 Posted by 1shoppinggirl

I overlooked my first bad experience in the Bridal Boutique of Raleigh (on Hillsborough St) because I tried to give the owner the benefit of the doubt. After another visit to the shop, and after hearing friends speak of their experiences, I realized that Manu’s customer service is always bad. I have waited a while to write this review so that I am not “venting,” but just sharing. When I have been in the store, I have never seen Manu smile. I have also not seen her volunteer to help anyone – it’s almost as if customers irritate her. When I arrived for a scheduled alterations appointment, she simply told me my dress was hanging in the back. I had to rummage through lots of dresses hanging in the back area to find mine. The alterations were okay, but a little make-shift looking. The girls who work part-time in the shop (who seem to be nice and helpful) told me Manu would be right back to check my alterations. After at least 20 minutes, I wandered toward the front of the store, and she was just sitting at the counter. Once the alterations were approved, Manu asked if she could just press it later and let the bride pick it up for me. I didn’t want to bother the bride with something else to deal with, so I had to wait at least half an hour for her to press it. Since I spent a lot of time sitting and waiting, I observed another customer experiencing similar problems – walking out to the front in a wedding dress, confused about whether or not someone was supposed to be coming back to help her once she had the dress on. I would encourage anyone who is shopping for wedding or bridesmaids’ dresses to shop elsewhere. If you have to go to the Bridal Boutique of Raleigh, go with friends or family because you may need their help.

03/28/2008 Posted by SouthernSweetheart

I have friends who have worked and have shopped here. The owners treat their employees just like their customers. HORRENDOUS! The owner is rude, unethical, lacks customer service and basically should not be in business. The other reviews stated on this website about the owner of The Bridal Boutique and The Bridal Gallery at MacGregor are all true! Save your time and money and go somewhere else. It is well worth it!!

Pros: Great Selection of Dresses

Cons: The owners, unethical, lack of customer service, dishonest

02/18/2008 Posted by NeilandJo

Terrible owner, lies, deceit, accusations, DO NOT SHOP HERE. The shipping of a dress was over charged by 300% with money taken with no receipt given. We will be pursuing official means of recovering the money save yourself the trouble and shop elsewhere. The owner is as rude as the reviews here state, please save yourselves time, effort, money and stress go somewhere else to buy your dress and have a wonderful wedding!

Cons: THE OWNER, THE LIES, THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE

02/05/2008 Posted by hemik8

I am maid of honor in my friends wedding and 3 of us stopped in there to look at bridal gowns and bridesmaids dresses. They basically encouraged us to leave. They said we wouldn’t have time to try on any gowns. We did come in 30 minutes prior to closing but with most businesses if you're in before close you get to try at least ONE on. Manu is the owner and she does own the Bridal Gallery in MacGregor Village. STAY AWAY FROM BOTH! See my review on Bridal Gallery for my experience looking at a dress.

Cons: Rude and in it for the money

11/17/2007 Posted by dbird3

This is the first time I've felt compelled to post a negative review for any place of business, however my experience at the Bridal Boutique of Raleigh was utterly disappointing. I visited the store to order a veil and several bridesmaids dresses. Veil... the item received was a poor imitation of the veil that I had ordered and paid for less than two weeks earlier. Luckily I had taken a picture while trying it on (since the floor sample was now missing). Nonetheless, Manu requested I pay more for the changes since it would require more tulle. I politely pointed out that this was the store's mistake. After discussion, Manu conceded. Two weeks later, I picked up the final product and it still was not what I had originally ordered. When I pointed this out, the staff had no interest in rectifying the situation, thus I opted to simply write it off ($200) and purchased another veil elsewhere. Bridesmaids Dresses… I was told that bridesmaids' info needed to be in by a certain date (approx 16wks b4 wed date) to ensure on time arrival without rush shipping. I called in the last bridesmaid's info 2 days before the cited date and the salesperson even stated how glad she was I got it in time. Three days later, Manu called stating that all dresses needed rush shipping. I questioned why since all information was provided 'in time', she stated that she doesn't place orders every day and when she called (3 days later), rush shipping was needed. I pointed out store error in waiting 3 days, but to no avail. I then called the manufacturer who reluctantly informed me dresses could still be ordered w/o rush. Fed up, I called Manu, stated what I discovered and requested no order be placed as I’d be taking my business elsewhere. She told me this was not possible as she'd already charged the cards and wouldn't provide refunds. Much discussion ensued and we ended up placing the order with the “hope” they’d come in time. They arrived 6 weeks before my wedding. Nuff said.

11/08/2007 Posted by carab1125

this shop is owned by the same woman who owns bridal gallery in mcgregor village. i acutally think bridal boutique is worse than bridal gallery, but i would avoid both if possible. the woman is horrible with customer relations, and will never take the blame no matter what the circumstance. she lied to me multiple times and avoided my calls. when asked for a partial refund for a service gone wrong, i was told no. in addition, this place is chaotic, dirty and understaffed. bad, bad experience.

Pros: location

Cons: horrendous service and customer care, dirty and chaotic store

11/08/2007 Posted by navyncsu

I ordered my bridesmaids' dresses and shoes from here because the price was better than other shops. What a mistake. I placed the order SEVEN months before my wedding. They blamed the manufacturer for being behind on shipping them out, but it turned out they weren't ordered when I was told they were. They arrived just a month before my wedding. The shoes sat in a back room when they told me "they're not in yet." Finally someone noticed them. Only the red-haired girl was nice to me (I actually think she no longer works there) and the older woman was incredibly rude. I would never recommend going there. It is cluttered, parking is difficult, and their service is awful.

Pros: Good prices

Cons: Bad service

10/26/2007 Posted by tdnwarren07

This was the first place my sister and I went to look for my wedding dress. I was so excited when I arrived at the Bridal Boutique of Raleigh...but that soon changed! No one offered to help us, so we were looking at dresses and I picked out two I wanted to try on. My sister and I each grabbed one and went to the dressing rooms. There were two people working in the store that day, a young girl and the owner. The young girl had another customer in the fitting room and the owner was working with no one. No one acknowledged me or offered to help me. I find it kind of odd that the owner stood up front, watched me walk in, watched me carry dresses to the fitting room, try them on, and walk out without ever saying one word to me! The store was pretty dirty and the dresses were really dingy. I understand that dresses get dirty after a lot of women try them on, but these were really gross. I left and took my business elsewhere.

Pros: location

Cons: rude service (or no service!), dirty