Peeved about "No Picture" rule

[Missrocks]

Up until this point most of the high end bridal salon's I have been to have been fine about photography. First of all, my mom lives in Ohio and really feels left out on the dress selection process. She has been so thrilled that I have been able to send her pics of me trying on dresses, because it makes her feel "in" on the whole thing. Most of the stores I am looking at currently, are at least an hour away. Also, I consider myself a very picky person and feel since I am looking at spending a good amount of money on a dress I need visual aids to help with my decision. So I finally found a dress that I think may be "the one". Problem one was no photography allowed. I even tried to sway the SA but she wouldn't give. Secondly, I'm not thrilled with the store or service. Bridal Galleria San Francisco. If anyone reads Yelp.com there are so many bad reviews. My service wasn't as horrible as some of those stories, but bland enough to make me not want to shop there. I just don't understand how I'm expected to plunk down almost 5k on a dress that they won't let me take pics of and in a store that I feel lacks great service. That's a good chunk of money to me- to much to make the descision happen in one day. I don't know what I would've done if I would've fallen in love with the one's that were just there for the trunk show. I just wanted to vent and see if anyone else has had the same experience or feels the same way.

Or maybe I am just having a "bridezilla" moment of irrationality..


More on the BG experience...It was also wierd that they wouldn't even leave us alone in the room with any of the dresses. She always had to take it off me and hang it outside the room before she would go get the next bunch. At one point we started talking pricing and I asked for a price "breakdown"- she did leave me and my friend alone for about fifteen seconds...My friend was able to get one picture, but it wasn't a great one.

That's the only thing that made me feel better about my day. I wonder if maybe I just a got a bad SA and I should go back another time and ask for someone else. There were also about three other dresses I had wanted to try on but my SA never brought back for me- may be we ran out of time. Oh, well. Anyone else with BG experience please share, or if you recommend a SA there. Thanks!

 

[monarch64]

In my experience, I brought my mom and MOH and my SIL (who was a BM)...we could only take pics at David''s Bridal where we started out to get ideas of what would look good on me. The rest of the boutiques we went to, you could not take pictures, which was a huge downer but not completely unexpected. I really did just fine without many visual aids...I chose the 13th dress I tried on, and it was beyond perfect. But of course I''m one of those decisive girls who just "knows." My advice to you would be to go to DB, try on different silhouettes/styles, take pics, email them to your mom, and let her choose which style/color looks great on you. Then try on your favorite designer gowns at boutiques/salons where you can''t take pics...I''m really betting there won''t be that much difference in pics between the two. Email your mom the DB pics, the boutique/salon pics, and the website pics of the dresses you try on, and let her help you choose from there.

Best of luck to you! It must be tough not having your mom there with you, but many a bride has done it, you''ll look stunning no matter what.

 

[Gwyn]

Unfortunately, many salons have this rule. I can understand the point of it, they dont want you takeing pictures of their work that you can then take to another seamstress and have made either cheaper or whatever.

What makes no sense to me is when this policy extends to gowns that are not original works. I mean, i walk into the salon with the picture of the maggie sottero dress i want. They have it, I try it on. Why does it then matter if i get a picture of it to show my mother. Like you, my mother is across the coast and felt left out. She actually flew over here and we went dress shopping. I was only allowed to take pics of the dress the day I went in and ordered it.

V. Strange...

 

[goldenstar]

I have not been to Bridal Galleria but I thought about it because they carry a couple of designers that I am interested in. I''m not sure I want to make an appt because of the reviews.

Quick question: Do they have a decent selection of dresses? I''m particularly interested in Monique Lhuillier and Vera Wang.

 

[basil]

Yeah, it is kind of a ridiculous rule. I mean, I can find a picture of my dress from every angle online. Not even other people''s personal photos, from ads put out from the designer! So it makes no sense. I don''t know if they do it to keep you coming back in more often, to make it difficult to compare to other dresses in other shops or what.

I went to a total of 3 bridal shops and I wasn''t particularly pleased with the service at any of them. So I ended up ordering from Pearl''s Place. No customer service there either, but at least you aren''t paying to be treated snootily.

 

[zoebartlett]

I get why they have a no picture rule, but as Basil said, it doesn''t make any sense when the dresses aren''t one of a kind. Pictures of many dresses can be found on several sites, so why a salon wouldn''t let you take pictures is beyond me.

I went to 2 salons and it was the second one I visited that I found the dress I wanted. They wouldn''t let me take pics of it until I agreed to buy it. Not only that, but this particular salon said that it was the designer him/herself who were very secretive about the dresses. I couldn''t find pics of my dress online anywhere. Talk about being paranoid.

I''m sorry you''re going through that.

 

[Missrocks]

Goldenstar,


I can't really answer since I didn't really get to try on anything but Romona Keveza. I showed pictures of five different Vera Wang's and they actually said they had three of them (the one's I didn't get to try on). So I would assume they have a pretty large selection, since most of the time, when I show pics, the places haven't had any of them. The only dresses that were out for viewing were the RV, so I didn't really get a feel for how much inventory they had. I guess it wouldn't hurt to make an appointment and see for yourself. Again, my service wasn't horrible, but definetely disappointing from what I've gotten at MMorrison and Trudy's Brides. I found out the Alexandra's Bridal Salon is having a RV trunk show end of March so I may go there. Have you ever been?

 

[Missrocks]

Monarch- Thanks for your support! Its good to know that it is possible to do w/o visual aids!

Gwyn- I''m glad your mom was able to make it to go dress shopping. My mom hates to fly. Good thing is we are meeting up in NY in june for my sisters graduation, so we were thinking we should all visit Kleinfeld bridal, just so she can see me in some dresses.

Basil- That is how I feel. I understand them not wanting the dresses copied, but yet you can find pics online from every angle. Expecially when they aren''t original.

Zoebartlett- Wow, that sucks. At least I could find pics of this one online. Well, at least you are probably getting a one-of-a-kind dress- if they are that secretive.

 

[Independent Gal]

By pointing out that my mom was away far away on another continent, and that we were both sad she wasn''t sharing this experience with me, all the salons I went to allowed me to take pictures. I think if, under the circs, one didn''t let me, I would tell them that I didn''t feel comfortable buying from them since they were so heartless and then I''d leave.

I mean, really.

 

[Missrocks]

Date: 3/2/2008 2:01:57 PM
Author: Independent Gal
By pointing out that my mom was away far away on another continent, and that we were both sad she wasn''t sharing this experience with me, all the salons I went to allowed me to take pictures. I think if, under the circs, one didn''t let me, I would tell them that I didn''t feel comfortable buying from them since they were so heartless and then I''d leave.

I mean, really.

If I wouldn''t have been able to "sneak" that one pic in, I would''ve ended up saying exactly that. In fact my friend and I were talking on the way home and I said I almost wish I HAD said exactly that. Next place I go to I''ve decided that I should make that clear in a very tasteful way.

Very well said

 

[goldenstar]

Date: 3/2/2008 1:45:27 PM
Author: Missrocks
Goldenstar,



I can''t really answer since I didn''t really get to try on anything but Romona Keveza. I showed pictures of five different Vera Wang''s and they actually said they had three of them (the one''s I didn''t get to try on). So I would assume they have a pretty large selection, since most of the time, when I show pics, the places haven''t had any of them. The only dresses that were out for viewing were the RV, so I didn''t really get a feel for how much inventory they had. I guess it wouldn''t hurt to make an appointment and see for yourself. Again, my service wasn''t horrible, but definetely disappointing from what I''ve gotten at MMorrison and Trudy''s Brides. I found out the Alexandra''s Bridal Salon is having a RV trunk show end of March so I may go there. Have you ever been?

What a coinky-dink-- I had an appt at Alexandra yesterday!!! I arrived a little early and I wasn''t sure if I liked the place because they ignored me at first. But then when it was my turn it got a ton better. The woman who helped me was Nicole and she was the manager. I went for the Vineyard Collection trunk show. I thought that the selection was a little small. Thus, I think its more worthwhile to go when there is a trunk show so you''ll know what you''re going to see. I forgot to ask if they allow pics. I found one dress that might be a contender and I''m going to ask if I can swing by and take a pic of myself in it so I can get more opinions.

The service was good, but I like Marina Morrison better. Definitely check it out.

 

[Missrocks]

Date: 3/2/2008 2:47:14 PM
Author: goldenstar

Date: 3/2/2008 1:45:27 PM
Author: Missrocks
Goldenstar,



I can''t really answer since I didn''t really get to try on anything but Romona Keveza. I showed pictures of five different Vera Wang''s and they actually said they had three of them (the one''s I didn''t get to try on). So I would assume they have a pretty large selection, since most of the time, when I show pics, the places haven''t had any of them. The only dresses that were out for viewing were the RV, so I didn''t really get a feel for how much inventory they had. I guess it wouldn''t hurt to make an appointment and see for yourself. Again, my service wasn''t horrible, but definetely disappointing from what I''ve gotten at MMorrison and Trudy''s Brides. I found out the Alexandra''s Bridal Salon is having a RV trunk show end of March so I may go there. Have you ever been?

What a coinky-dink-- I had an appt at Alexandra yesterday!!! I arrived a little early and I wasn''t sure if I liked the place because they ignored me at first. But then when it was my turn it got a ton better. The woman who helped me was Nicole and she was the manager. I went for the Vineyard Collection trunk show. I thought that the selection was a little small. Thus, I think its more worthwhile to go when there is a trunk show so you''ll know what you''re going to see. I forgot to ask if they allow pics. I found one dress that might be a contender and I''m going to ask if I can swing by and take a pic of myself in it so I can get more opinions.

The service was good, but I like Marina Morrison better. Definitely check it out.

Thanks for the feedback. Hopefully they can get the dress I like for the trunk show. It sounds like their service may be better.

I have had the pic of me in the RK dress pulled up on my computer and have been staring at it off and on for the last hour...I really think this may be "THE ONE"! I''m getting that exciting feeling.

 

[winston26]

I was thinking the same thing about the no picture rule. This is even at the mid-end salons where they are not unique---I went in and said "I want this specific dress" and told them my Mom is in a diff state and got the excuse that the designers don't allow it (yeah right, many of them aren't even "designer"). Yet at another store they now advertise "yes, we allow photos!" so at least some of them are catching on that it's annoying. I was sneaking in photos of bridesmaid dresses I tried on for the girls this weekend to show them how they look on too.
On the topic of them being so fussy about not leaving you with the dress, there was one lady who owned a little shop that made me wear this netted hood over my face when she put each dress on....made me look KKK with that thing on, yuck! And I had to take ALL jewelry off and put it in my shoe so as not to snag anything. Overall I find the SAs are verrry young girls who don't exactly know much but are attentive and nice OR an obsessive old bitty OR a motherly type who's sticking her hand in my bra to adjust it, etc. and leaving me half naked with the door open.....sigh.....good service very hard to find so I know how you feel!

 

[LegacyGirl]

When I read theads like this it makes me so not excited to go try on dresses. I really don''t want some stranger helping me dress either... do they all do this?

 

[Missrocks]

Date: 3/3/2008 10:12:54 AM
Author: LegacyGirl
When I read theads like this it makes me so not excited to go try on dresses. I really don''t want some stranger helping me dress either... do they all do this?

Every place I have been has been like that. I imagine it is because the dresses are expensive and they don''t want them ripped or stained. I don''t really like the idea either, but what is a girl to do?

 

[Missrocks]

Date: 3/3/2008 9:09:31 AM
Author: winston26
I was thinking the same thing about the no picture rule. This is even at the mid-end salons where they are not unique---I went in and said ''I want this specific dress'' and told them my Mom is in a diff state and got the excuse that the designers don''t allow it (yeah right, many of them aren''t even ''designer''). Yet at another store they now advertise ''yes, we allow photos!'' so at least some of them are catching on that it''s annoying. I was sneaking in photos of bridesmaid dresses I tried on for the girls this weekend to show them how they look on too.
On the topic of them being so fussy about not leaving you with the dress, there was one lady who owned a little shop that made me wear this netted hood over my face when she put each dress on....made me look KKK with that thing on, yuck! And I had to take ALL jewelry off and put it in my shoe so as not to snag anything. Overall I find the SAs are verrry young girls who don''t exactly know much but are attentive and nice OR an obsessive old bitty OR a motherly type who''s sticking her hand in my bra to adjust it, etc. and leaving me half naked with the door open.....sigh.....good service very hard to find so I know how you feel!

I feel you on the part of leaving you "half naked with the door open". At one place I dealt with it because it was all females, but at another place, there were salesmen from the tux rental place (in the same building) running around in the isles and they had these horrible curtains that wouldn''t quite close all the way. Talk about feeling uncomfortable!

You should''ve gotten pics of the KKK hood just for kicks! How horrible.

 

[gtn]

The only place that I have been to that didn''t allow me to take pictures was Jin Wang in SF, but I understand as she is a designer and I was trying on her dresses. Everywhere else has been good about me taking pictures. Also, every salon I have gone to has watched me get into the gowns except Papers and Petals in Burlingame. If I needed help, they would dress me, otherwise, I would dress myself.

BTW MissRocks, I love your shoes and your gown. I think I told you that before, but I had to say it again. I need to start kickboxing so I could rock a dress like yours.

 

[Missrocks]

Date: 3/7/2008 1:42:05 AM
Author: gtn
The only place that I have been to that didn't allow me to take pictures was Jin Wang in SF, but I understand as she is a designer and I was trying on her dresses. Everywhere else has been good about me taking pictures. Also, every salon I have gone to has watched me get into the gowns except Papers and Petals in Burlingame. If I needed help, they would dress me, otherwise, I would dress myself.

BTW MissRocks, I love your shoes and your gown. I think I told you that before, but I had to say it again. I need to start kickboxing so I could rock a dress like yours.

Thanks again, gtn. I am really excited to go back (to a different salon) and try it on again at the end of the month.

Of course, with the shoes this time.
Kickboxing does really help with stress too. There have been many times I have envisioned specific people's faces on the bag... Should especially help soothe over the "bridezilla" movements in my future.

 

[LegacyGirl]

Ok I so do not want some stranger in the room with me while I dress.... what do you ladies wear when you go dress shopping? I''m so modest I really don''t like the idea of some stranger seeing me half naked.

 

[mimzy]

Date: 3/7/2008 10:03:03 AM
Author: LegacyGirl
Ok I so do not want some stranger in the room with me while I dress.... what do you ladies wear when you go dress shopping? I''m so modest I really don''t like the idea of some stranger seeing me half naked.

whenever i was faced with the dreaded saleslady that was about to walk in the dressing room with me i just insisted that i would let them know if i needed any help - i didn''t want ANYONE in there with me, not even my mom. it was never a problem and i would just usually come out and ask them to help if i needed help lacing up the corset or something.

but just in case, i always wore black boyshort undies and a full coverage strapless bra.

 

[LegacyGirl]

Date: 3/7/2008 10:30:37 AM
Author: mimzy

Date: 3/7/2008 10:03:03 AM
Author: LegacyGirl
Ok I so do not want some stranger in the room with me while I dress.... what do you ladies wear when you go dress shopping? I''m so modest I really don''t like the idea of some stranger seeing me half naked.

whenever i was faced with the dreaded saleslady that was about to walk in the dressing room with me i just insisted that i would let them know if i needed any help - i didn''t want ANYONE in there with me, not even my mom. it was never a problem and i would just usually come out and ask them to help if i needed help lacing up the corset or something.

but just in case, i always wore black boyshort undies and a full coverage strapless bra.

Thanks. I guess I''ll try that. I wouldn''t mind my Mom or my MOH (who has been my best friend for more than 8 years) in there but not some strange saleslady!!

 

[IWantAMilkshake]

Date: 3/7/2008 10:40:23 AM
Author: LegacyGirl

Date: 3/7/2008 10:30:37 AM
Author: mimzy

Date: 3/7/2008 10:03:03 AM
Author: LegacyGirl
Ok I so do not want some stranger in the room with me while I dress.... what do you ladies wear when you go dress shopping? I''m so modest I really don''t like the idea of some stranger seeing me half naked.

whenever i was faced with the dreaded saleslady that was about to walk in the dressing room with me i just insisted that i would let them know if i needed any help - i didn''t want ANYONE in there with me, not even my mom. it was never a problem and i would just usually come out and ask them to help if i needed help lacing up the corset or something.

but just in case, i always wore black boyshort undies and a full coverage strapless bra.

Thanks. I guess I''ll try that. I wouldn''t mind my Mom or my MOH (who has been my best friend for more than 8 years) in there but not some strange saleslady!!

I was a little shy my first couple dresses (you really do get used to it), but I found that wearing tights helped a lot -- I felt covered up and it smoothed me out.

 

[gtn]

I was a little shy when I first started too, but these women do this all the time. There is nothing they haven''t seen (at least that is what I keep telling myself) I just make sure I wear something that covers me up and take a shower before I go.