So the first stop on my list today was Mariana Hardwick on Sydney Rd Brunswick. I have been told a few bad stories about the customer service at Mariana Hardwick but I went in with an open mind and I had a wonderful experience.The showroom is amazing. It's very open and spacious, lots of small areas set up for the brides to try things on in. We were away from the main room in one of the side rooms so it was a little more private.
Our sales assistant (bridal consultant?) was very good. I think it helped having a few dresses already picked out so we could start from there. I only tried on 4 dresses while I was there. Of the two I loved (both were similar in style but very different in embellishments and the skirt was different), one was the first design I picked out and the second was one the sales assistant suggested.
One of the things I was worried about was having to strip in front of a stranger, but I shouldn't have been worried. They must do this all the time and know where not to look. It reminds me of my Myer days when I used to work Miss Shop and the Bra dept. I had seen some weird horrors there in my time, so I imagine the girls in a bridal boutique would be used to pretty much everything. By the time I got to Brides of Melbourne in the GPO on Bourke St I was no longer worried about stripping off. I also bought with me my own shoes so I wouldn't have to wear the ones provided, but the problem with this was that the shoes I picked haven't been broken-in yet and killed my feet.
Brides of Melbourne seems to be a one stop shop for every kind of bride. They had such a range of dresses. There was a lot of organza. I don't think that was a good thing. I prefer tulle or lace. Most of the dresses in the shop are made- to- order which means you pick a style and they take your measurements and 4 months later you get a dress. After that they make alternations to make sure it fits you perfectly. There are a lot of hidden costs in buying a dress. Any extra embellishments you must pay for yourself, and any alteration to the design of the dress will cost you.
The service at Brides of Melbourne was good. But I will be honest, after going to Mariana Hardwick, I see why women will pay more for their wedding dress. The difference is the quality (fabric & design). The first two dresses I tried on were not good. My mother and I shared a few knowing looks, we knew they weren't right and we were both comparing them to Mariana Hardwick dresses. We eventually agreed on a lace dress, but apparently if I want to try it on again I have to go in before the end of the week because the sample was on loan. This just sounds like a big inconvenience to me. The one dress in the shop I like and if I want it I have to decided this week! Honestly I'd rather pay more for convenience than pay less and have a dress come in that I guess I'll like. And what if I order the dress having only seen it once. What if I forget what it looks like? What if I hate it in 4-5 months?
But here's the dilemma: Do you buy a dress that is way over your budget but you love it and makes you feel amazing when you wear it - or do you buy the dress within your budget and feel okay with it but not amazed by it?
At the end of the day, does it really matter what kind of dress I wear? Is the dress so important that I'll break my budget just to get the one I feel better in? Is it worth it?
Tomorrow is Simonelli and Baccini & Hill
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