Since I value and search for reviews of real experiences, I wanted to share mine as MOB.
Both of my daughters were married within three months of each other, this summer, and both purchased their gowns from Sarah Seven, in San Francisco. While the dresses were lovely, the overall experience was frustrating, dismissive, and unnecessarily expensive. We all strongly recommend choosing another bridal shop!
RUSH FEES. Despite ordering a gown eight months before the wedding — a timeline every other boutique considered ample — Sarah Seven required an exorbitant rush fee as a condition of purchase. The contract promised an 8‑week rush window; the dress arrived after 16 weeks. The delay was blamed on giving the employees off for Christmas. That wasn't mentioned in the contract but even with a week grace period for holiday closures they fell way short of the delivery time.
When the gown finally arrived, after 4 months, it was stained and unwearable. A salesperson attempted to remove the stain with a Tide‑to‑Go pen, making it worse. The dress had to be remade. When at 5 months we still didn't have a wearable dress, we requested a refund of the $600 rush fee, our first message was ignored. The second was denied with the remark, “no one forced you to purchase a gown here.” A reply that was simply stunning to us.
SIZING. We paid an extra $200 for split sizing, and the sales associate measured my daughter carefully. Despite this, the New York team decided — without explanation — to make the dress a full size larger, top and bottom. When the first dress arrived, it was visibly too big. We were told her measurements had decreased, which can happen, but the originally measured size would have fit far better. Because the dress had to be remade due to the stain, we asked that the remake be done in the correct size. Sarah Seven refused, but offered to make it in the right size for an additional $500! Absolutely ridiculous.
ALTERATIONS. Sarah Seven seriously aggressively pushes one alterations partner, Tailor Made in San Francisco, even writing it into their contract. Tailor Made estimated at least $2,000 in alterations to fix issues caused by the incorrect sizing. Independent tailors advised simply ordering the a smaller size so as not to pay to alter a dress that was clearly too big. We ultimately found a far more reasonable seamstress in Oakland.
Beautiful gowns can be found at many shops. Choose one that values its customers and supports a joyful bridal experience rather than complicating it.
