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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to still be very upset about wedding dress problem?

42 replies

paap1975 · 27/07/2018 13:50

Got married a month ago.

I went to a reputable bridal shop last summer and ordered the dress from them in September. Paid for an alterations "package" at the time I ordered it.

When the dress came, I went for the first fitting where I asked for the neckline to be adjusted. Paid extra for that to be done.

Went for another fitting so they could check the tacking was correct before cutting any fabric off and finalising the hemming. It was fine. Neckline was not as wanted so they sorted that out.

Was told to come for final fitting one month before wedding, and that if everything was fine, I would be going home with the dress.

So far so good.

The day came for the final fitting. I went with a friend as it was a lace-up dress, so she could see how to do it. Had a different assistant, who clearly just wanted me to leave ASAP. The length was as it had been before, the bust had a bit that wasn't sitting quite right. After a bit of puffing the assisant agreed to quickly go and get that sorted.

Took the dress home. Didn't look at it again as husband was post-surgery and I was never at home without him being there.

Wedding day comes, extremely hot, so I put the dress on as late as possible, about half an hour before the ceremony. At which point it becomes apparent that the dress hasn't actually been hemmed, just tacked. Absolutely not possible to do anything about it at that late stage when I was already wearing it.

Of course the hem came untacked after about half an hour and the dress didn't sit right (we had to faff for the photos).

Now, on the scale of things, it didn't ruin my day, or the photos BUT my wedding dress is the most special dress I will ever wear and it was botched. I'm so upset!

The shop claims not to know how it got through 3 separate checks without the problem being spotted. They have offered to hem it and get it cleaned.

At first I thought I was OK with this but I'm not sure. I paid around £100 for the alterations package and the only thing it involved was hemming the dress, which wasn't done.

Spoke to DH about it this morning and he was very understanding of how upset it's made me feel. He says there's nothing that can be done, but that maybe I should get them to throw in a storage box as compensation.

What do you think? What would you do? So far I've been very calm and unemotional in my messages to the shop, but that doesn't reflect how upset I am.

OP posts:

namechange02837492 · 27/07/2018 13:54

Wow, that's a huge mistake! I think you are taking it very well, and not at all bridezilla-esque. But they absolutely owe you more than a cleaning!

CocoaGin70 · 27/07/2018 13:58

That's terrible. You wear your wedding dress once, for one day. It's completely pointless offering to hem it after the event. I would want the cost of the alterations refunded, the dress cleaning and a storage box/bag by means of compensation.

They're very lucky you're being so calm about it.

specialsubject · 27/07/2018 13:58

£100 back for not doing what you paid for.doubt anyone noticed but thats not the point - you paid for work not done.

get them to clean it too, then you can sell it.

killingtime9198 · 27/07/2018 14:00

I would be asking for a lot more - they did not provide you with the service that you paid for, and a hemmed dress is hardly much use now!

Go in asking for more than you want - say, 50% of the cost of the dress - and say you will have no choice but to seek legal action if they aren't playing ball. Offering you hemming/cleaning is a bit pathetic I think!

DingDongDenny · 27/07/2018 14:00

What's the point in you having a clean and hemmed wedding dress after your wedding. I don't imagine you are intending to wear it again

I would expect money off - the £100 for alterations that weren't completed and at least 20% of the cost of the dress. You paid a lot for a dress that was sub-standard

MisstoMrs · 27/07/2018 14:01

You poor thing!

My bridal shop totally messed up my (first) dress so I didn’t wear it - I got another one. No refund. No apology. Nothing. Just come and get it. Sadly I think it’s common in the industry.

What a totally pointless offer - it needed hemming before you’re wedding, not after!

killingtime9198 · 27/07/2018 14:01

PS - dare I ask what shop it was?!

Fabricwitch · 27/07/2018 14:07

I would say at least the £100 back, cleaning and storage box. Definitely ask for more, but I would not settle for less than that!

Teenagerwoes · 27/07/2018 14:09

I wouldn’t be happy with that either, even with the added display box.

You say it didn’t ruin your day so perhaps that would be enough for you?

I would want a sincere apology (they know how upset you are likely to be) I would expect all the alterations fee back and some kind of compensation.

I would also leave an honest review of the service you received - obviously including the outcome.

LIZS · 27/07/2018 14:13

Least they should do is refund the alteration fee and make good. It will never fully compensate you but at least the dress will be as it should have been.

user1471459936 · 27/07/2018 14:14

Woah! I'd be demanding a HUGE refund. Fuck it, I'd give the dress back and ask for a full refund.

Piffle11 · 27/07/2018 14:20

They should be all over you trying to make up for this. I think the LEAST they can do is hem it properly for you and refund the alteration charges. I wouldn't be threatening them but I would be prepared to mention that I would be reviewing their service on every possible social media outlet. I wouldn't be mentioning the name of the store until you're sure they are not going to give you what you want/deserve. There are so many wedding dress shops these days that a bad review could certainly put people off.

crisscrosscranky · 27/07/2018 14:21

Was it C&L?

I would be asking for the alterations package to be refunded, plus 50% of the value of the dress in that what they sold was not fit for purpose without the appropriate alterations and you purchased the package together- it's one contract and they have failed to fulfil it.

actualpuffins · 27/07/2018 14:22

All of the above, plus add a bit on for upset and inconvenience.

Take them to small claims if they don't agree.

kaytee87 · 27/07/2018 14:23

Get your £100 back and them to clean it. I'd have been furious at their incompetence.

actualpuffins · 27/07/2018 14:23

Also do a Google review.

LoveInTokyo · 27/07/2018 14:25

Not unreasonable at all.

Offering to do the alterations to your wedding dress that you have already paid for AFTER YOUR WEDDING DAY is the very definition of shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted.

At a very minimum they should be refunding the cost of the alterations that they did not do, and ideally they should give you a substantial discount on the cost of the dress.

But please try not to let this ruin the memories of your wedding day.

Stopandlook · 27/07/2018 14:26

YANBU

I’m glad it didn’t ruin your day, good on you, but they should pay a good chunk back for the dress not being fit for purpose.

Totally get it - it’s a dress that you’ve paid to be perfect for the one time you wear it

Didiusfalco · 27/07/2018 14:27

Absolute piss take. No way do they get to keep your money for not doing the work you paid for - and that should be a minimum. But really I think you deserve a partial refund.

Bluelady · 27/07/2018 14:28

I'd definitely be wanting the £100 alteration fee back as an absolute minimum.

Whyohsky · 27/07/2018 14:30

Get a full refund and a written apology or sue.

TiredPony · 27/07/2018 14:31

Absolutely should get the cost back!
Similar thing happened to me, I needed the shoulder straps taken up and they didn't do it. So I spent my wedding with my boobs hanging out.

RideOn · 27/07/2018 14:38

I'd want the £100 back. I would not let them hem it now (what is the point) but get them to clean it. Then I would sell it and use the £100 plus sale money on something nice that would help me get over the annoyance!

Bombardier25966 · 27/07/2018 14:47

Get a full refund and a written apology or sue.

She'd be laughed out of court.

OP what happened is not acceptable, but you also failed to spot it and (most importantly in terms of your legal rights) you did wear the dress. You can't reject it for a full refund after the event. All you're legally entitled to is the fault being put right, so the hemming to be done. Anything in addition to that is goodwill, so a gesture to reflect the inconvenience on the day. As you say, it didn't wreck your day or affect the photos, your losses are very little.

I'm with your husband, get the dress hemmed and cleaned, and ask them for a storage box too. Anything more than that is a welcome bonus, but don't go threatening legal action when in reality a court will not grant you any more than they are already offering.

JennyOnAPlate · 27/07/2018 14:48

I think you need to ask for a significant refund op. You are definitely owed the £100 you paid for alterations, but i would want more than that.

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