Tuxedos - Men's Wearhouse, Okemos, MI & Tampa, FL
Grade - B
We had groomsmen, fathers and ushers ordering tuxes from across the country, so we knew we would be best served by going with a national chain for tux rentals. Each guy went to their local Men's Wearhouse to get fitted for their tuxes and place their orders, then all tuxes were picked up at the Okemos location 2 days before the wedding. We heard about other peoples' troubles with MW, so we checked every bag for the correct sizes and styles, and had the groom, FOB and an usher try on their tuxes in the store. Out of 9 tuxes, the only one with problems was the groom's. The jacket was too big, the shirt's collar was too big, the vest was the wrong style and she shoes were scuffed. He was told to come in the next day to get the correct items. When they went in, they had the correct size of shirt and jacket and the right style vest, but the jacket was missing the top button and the shoes were the wrong size. They sewed a button onto the jacket and told the groom to come in on the wedding day to pick up the correct size shoes. He went in and picked up the shoes on Saturday. During the day on Saturday, the top button fell off the jacket, so the MOH had to sew it on between pictures and there ceremony. It was crazy that they had all of the other tuxes right except for the groom's, then made him come back twice to get the right pieces.
We had groomsmen, fathers and ushers ordering tuxes from across the country, so we knew we would be best served by going with a national chain for tux rentals. Each guy went to their local Men's Wearhouse to get fitted for their tuxes and place their orders, then all tuxes were picked up at the Okemos location 2 days before the wedding. We heard about other peoples' troubles with MW, so we checked every bag for the correct sizes and styles, and had the groom, FOB and an usher try on their tuxes in the store. Out of 9 tuxes, the only one with problems was the groom's. The jacket was too big, the shirt's collar was too big, the vest was the wrong style and she shoes were scuffed. He was told to come in the next day to get the correct items. When they went in, they had the correct size of shirt and jacket and the right style vest, but the jacket was missing the top button and the shoes were the wrong size. They sewed a button onto the jacket and told the groom to come in on the wedding day to pick up the correct size shoes. He went in and picked up the shoes on Saturday. During the day on Saturday, the top button fell off the jacket, so the MOH had to sew it on between pictures and there ceremony. It was crazy that they had all of the other tuxes right except for the groom's, then made him come back twice to get the right pieces.
Dress Preparation - The Wedding Bell, Okemos, MI
Grade - D
Since I was coming in from out of state, I needed someone to prepare my dress for the wedding. Based on their repuation, I called The Wedding Bell in January, 2011 to see if they could press and steam my wedding dress, a mother of the bride dress and two bridesmaids' dresses. They said "Of course, no problem!" and I made a appointment to drop off the dresses on the Wednesday before the wedding and pick them up the next day, on Thursday. They charge $50 for the wedding dress and $25 for each bridesmaid or mother of the bride dress. I confirmed this appointment one month prior to the wedding and also on the Monday before the wedding, both times reminding them that I needed the dresses pressed and steamed. Both times they said, "Yes, absolutely, we have your appointment in our books". I dropped the dresses off on the Wednesday before the wedding, and told the clerk that I needed the dresses "pressed and steamed, do whatever it takes to get the wrinkles out" and she said "Of course, no problem!" I went to pick up the dresses on Thursday evening, and all of the dresses were still wrinkled terribly. I told the store clerk that there must have been a mistake because these dresses weren't steamed and pressed. She said that she would re-do them and I could pick them up on Friday. I left the store, and on the way home I had an uneasy feeling so I called the store when I got back to the hotel and spoke to the sales clerk again. I told her that all of the wrinkles absolutely had to be out of the dresses by Friday. She said she had just spoken with her manager and that the manager steamed the dresses herself but the wrinkles didn't come out. I asked if they had pressed the dresses like I had requested numerous times, and she said "Oh, we don't have a press so no, we didn't press them". I have never heard of a bridal shop not having a press! I was furious because if I had known they couldn't press the dresses, I would have found another place to take the dresses to ensure that they done before the wedding. The clerk apologized that the previous sales clerks had not been forthright with me about the fact that they didn't have a press, so I told her I was coming back to pick up the dresses and expected a full refund. I went back and picked up the dresses before the store closed and I was given a full refund and the clerk was apologetic. I think it's terrible customer service to "leave out" the fact that your store doesn't provide a service that the customer has specifically requested. I was then stuck trying to find ANYONE who could press and steam these dresses with only 1 day's notice.
Since I was coming in from out of state, I needed someone to prepare my dress for the wedding. Based on their repuation, I called The Wedding Bell in January, 2011 to see if they could press and steam my wedding dress, a mother of the bride dress and two bridesmaids' dresses. They said "Of course, no problem!" and I made a appointment to drop off the dresses on the Wednesday before the wedding and pick them up the next day, on Thursday. They charge $50 for the wedding dress and $25 for each bridesmaid or mother of the bride dress. I confirmed this appointment one month prior to the wedding and also on the Monday before the wedding, both times reminding them that I needed the dresses pressed and steamed. Both times they said, "Yes, absolutely, we have your appointment in our books". I dropped the dresses off on the Wednesday before the wedding, and told the clerk that I needed the dresses "pressed and steamed, do whatever it takes to get the wrinkles out" and she said "Of course, no problem!" I went to pick up the dresses on Thursday evening, and all of the dresses were still wrinkled terribly. I told the store clerk that there must have been a mistake because these dresses weren't steamed and pressed. She said that she would re-do them and I could pick them up on Friday. I left the store, and on the way home I had an uneasy feeling so I called the store when I got back to the hotel and spoke to the sales clerk again. I told her that all of the wrinkles absolutely had to be out of the dresses by Friday. She said she had just spoken with her manager and that the manager steamed the dresses herself but the wrinkles didn't come out. I asked if they had pressed the dresses like I had requested numerous times, and she said "Oh, we don't have a press so no, we didn't press them". I have never heard of a bridal shop not having a press! I was furious because if I had known they couldn't press the dresses, I would have found another place to take the dresses to ensure that they done before the wedding. The clerk apologized that the previous sales clerks had not been forthright with me about the fact that they didn't have a press, so I told her I was coming back to pick up the dresses and expected a full refund. I went back and picked up the dresses before the store closed and I was given a full refund and the clerk was apologetic. I think it's terrible customer service to "leave out" the fact that your store doesn't provide a service that the customer has specifically requested. I was then stuck trying to find ANYONE who could press and steam these dresses with only 1 day's notice.
Dress Preparation - Unique Tailor and Cleaners, Okemos, MI
Grade - A+
I frantically called my DOC to ask for her help finding someone who would be able to press and steam my dresses with only one day's notice, and she told me that she found Unique Tailor and Cleaners. She warned me that they aren't the fanciest place and it's located inside of the Okemos Meijer. I called the shop and spoke with the owner, who said that if I brought the dresses in before they closed on Thursday night he could have them ready for me by 3:00 on Friday. This was PERFECT timing. Although I did NOT want to take my dress into a Meijer store to be pressed, they were the only shop that was willing to do the work with one day's notice so I had to do it. When I dropped the dresses off, the owner examined each dress and told me that he'd try to have the dresses done earlier in the day on Friday if he could. He also told me that he only charges $25 for the wedding dress and $15 for each mother of the bride and bridesmaid dress--much less expensive than The Wedding Bell, and they could press them! On Friday morning at 9:00 am, the owner called me to tell me that the dresses were done and ready for pick-up. I couldn't believe how quickly he got them done, and they looked perfect (not a wrinkle in sight). He did an amazing job and was willing to accommodate us at the last minute, so we gave him a sizeable tip and thanked him profusely. Even though it seems a little sketchy to take your wedding dress into a Meijer store for this type of service, the owner was amazing to work with, very inexpensive, and did a truly beautiful job. I highly recommend him.
I frantically called my DOC to ask for her help finding someone who would be able to press and steam my dresses with only one day's notice, and she told me that she found Unique Tailor and Cleaners. She warned me that they aren't the fanciest place and it's located inside of the Okemos Meijer. I called the shop and spoke with the owner, who said that if I brought the dresses in before they closed on Thursday night he could have them ready for me by 3:00 on Friday. This was PERFECT timing. Although I did NOT want to take my dress into a Meijer store to be pressed, they were the only shop that was willing to do the work with one day's notice so I had to do it. When I dropped the dresses off, the owner examined each dress and told me that he'd try to have the dresses done earlier in the day on Friday if he could. He also told me that he only charges $25 for the wedding dress and $15 for each mother of the bride and bridesmaid dress--much less expensive than The Wedding Bell, and they could press them! On Friday morning at 9:00 am, the owner called me to tell me that the dresses were done and ready for pick-up. I couldn't believe how quickly he got them done, and they looked perfect (not a wrinkle in sight). He did an amazing job and was willing to accommodate us at the last minute, so we gave him a sizeable tip and thanked him profusely. Even though it seems a little sketchy to take your wedding dress into a Meijer store for this type of service, the owner was amazing to work with, very inexpensive, and did a truly beautiful job. I highly recommend him.
Hair - Douglas J. Salon and Spa, Okemos, MI
Grade - A
I used Douglas J. Salon and Spa in Okemos based on a referral from my flower girl's mom, who had her hair done by this salon before her wedding 4 years ago. She said that they were expensive, but worth every penny. I think it cost around $250 for my hairstyle, and about $75 for each bridesmaid's hairstyle. The salon is definitely more expensive than other salons I checked with, but your trial is included in the price and they give you a kit with an Aveda hairspray, lipstick and calming oil when you leave on your wedding day. I had two hair trials (both were included in the price) because I didn't care for the style in my first trial, and the stylist hit the nail on the head with the second. Candice was my hairstylist and she did a tremendous job. The style (a low up-do) held ALL day (from 10:00 am to 1:00 am the next morning) through high heat and humdity and many outdoor pictures, and never once looked droopy or had pieces falling out. All of my bridesmaids and the mother of the bride had their hair done at the salon too, and they were all thrilled with the hairstyles they received.
I used Douglas J. Salon and Spa in Okemos based on a referral from my flower girl's mom, who had her hair done by this salon before her wedding 4 years ago. She said that they were expensive, but worth every penny. I think it cost around $250 for my hairstyle, and about $75 for each bridesmaid's hairstyle. The salon is definitely more expensive than other salons I checked with, but your trial is included in the price and they give you a kit with an Aveda hairspray, lipstick and calming oil when you leave on your wedding day. I had two hair trials (both were included in the price) because I didn't care for the style in my first trial, and the stylist hit the nail on the head with the second. Candice was my hairstylist and she did a tremendous job. The style (a low up-do) held ALL day (from 10:00 am to 1:00 am the next morning) through high heat and humdity and many outdoor pictures, and never once looked droopy or had pieces falling out. All of my bridesmaids and the mother of the bride had their hair done at the salon too, and they were all thrilled with the hairstyles they received.
Make-Up - VixiDust Designs, DeWitt, MI
Grade - A+
Angela Noble is the owner of VixiDust Designs, and was wonderful! She came to my hotel and did my make-up trial on the Wednesday before the wedding, and came back to the hotel to do my make-up and make-up for my sister and mom on the wedding day. She charged $140 for the bride's make-up and $50 for each additional mother or bridesmaid. Things went great at the trial, and she gave me the name of the lip color she used so I could purchase it for the wedding day to reapply as often as needed. She also used airbrush make-up, so the make-up didn't smudge, smear or run despite outdoor pictures in very humid weather and a long day. She did an amazing job and I couldn't have been happier with my final look for the wedding.
Angela Noble is the owner of VixiDust Designs, and was wonderful! She came to my hotel and did my make-up trial on the Wednesday before the wedding, and came back to the hotel to do my make-up and make-up for my sister and mom on the wedding day. She charged $140 for the bride's make-up and $50 for each additional mother or bridesmaid. Things went great at the trial, and she gave me the name of the lip color she used so I could purchase it for the wedding day to reapply as often as needed. She also used airbrush make-up, so the make-up didn't smudge, smear or run despite outdoor pictures in very humid weather and a long day. She did an amazing job and I couldn't have been happier with my final look for the wedding.
