None,None,California
3 (33)
Reviews
STORY TIME! I bought my wedding gown about a year in advance. Then as time got closer I used this business because the boutique where I bought my gown referred me to them. Ava Clara Couture is not at fault so let me say that. They were always nice and after this ordeal, I did inform them and strongly urged them to discontinue using Van at C&R Bridal as a preferred vendor. July 22 2022 is when I brought not only my wedding gown but a shorter reception dress for alterations. There was extensive work to be done to the short one and a medium amount needed to be done for my gown. I paid up front in July and we scheduled out 4 dates in the future for fittings and final pick up. After showing up on my initial pick up date (sept 21) for a fitting, and driving 30 min only to be told she had NO progress on either dress, pushing my pick up date 2 more times, on 09/26/22 when she confirmed via text that these dresses would be ready to be picked up, she admitted she should not have taken on these alterations. She stated that the work on removing fabric from the gown was extensive and time consuming. And that my reception dress needed different pieces ordered for it that she was waiting to be delivered. None of that was ever communicated to me. She never kept me in the loop on her plans for alterations or any obstacles she was having until it was too late. I came back on 09/27 when she said again that both dresses would be done only my gown was ready but only because I told her I am leaving with at least one dress That Day! She then asked me why I wanted to get the dresses so soon. Absurd!!! After the fitting that day she casually says I owed her $100 more because of all the extra work on my gown. I told her no ABSOLUTELY not. At this point my wedding was 4 days away and I had no dresses. So I told her due to HER lack of communication and constantly pushing my pick up date without warning and inconveniencing me on the week of my wedding (other appointments pushed, driving 30 min daily, etc) that I was NOT paying her more and that she absolutely needed to finish my dresses priority. She had me come back 09/27 at 8pm to pick up my gown and said the next day (today 09/28/22) that my reception dress would be complete. She said 3pm then 4pm then ultimately 5pm (at different times throughout the day). So not only was she never apologetic, not only did she try to charge me extra after this horrible unprofessional experience, she continued her behavior of misleading me on times to pick up! If you choose to do business with Van, be prepared for deadline extensions without warning so maybe avoid this place if you need things in a timely manner!!!
Go anywhere except here for your alterations, this was the worst experience I could imagine. Van scheduled appointments with me (which I confirmed) and twice when I arrived, told me the dress wasn’t ready. One time when I arrived, her store was even locked and she had gone out of town (I needed the dress for an event the next day). She made me come to her shop four separate times the week before my wedding because she never made enough progress on the bustle and then at my final fitting the day before I was leaving for my wedding, she made me stand in the dress for two hours while she tried to figure out the bustle and then told me that it had to be completely redone and I needed to return 3 hours later. This experience was absolutely horrible and I hope no one ever has to go through it.
The quality of my alterations was wonderful. Van does great work. HOWEVER, She gave the train of my dress away to another bride without my permission and I had to go through the process of getting it back. I do not understand how a business can take something that belongs to someone and allow another person to take it because “they thought it was beautiful.” I am glad my dress is finished. I will not be using their services again. Update: I wore my dress for bridal portraits and got stabbed in the foot and couldn’t figure out what it was until I found 3 different pins still in the bottom of my dress... ridiculous.
Mrs Van. provided EXCELLENT service. My bridal shop had abruptly closed up with my dress being incomplete and Mrs. Van diligently worked on my dress. It was stunning and fit amazing! She also provided the alterations for my bridesmaids, mom, and groom. You can trust her with every detail!
As someone who read the reviews written previously, I really didn’t want to go here. In fact I tried going somewhere else first. After going somewhere else, I left in tears and called the dress shop saying it just doesn’t fit right what can we do. She insisted I need to go see Van at C&R. And OMG it was a day and night difference between someone who does bridal gowns regularly and someone who has only does a few. Van knew exactly what she was doing and exactly what needed to be done without me saying anything. I was incredibly happy with the work she performed. I would recommend any bride go to her for alterations.