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36 reviews for I DO I DO Wedding Gowns
Review Highlights
"...an amazing selection of both consignment and new dresses."
(in 19 reviews)
"...and they had a suprisingly large selection of dresses."
(in 21 reviews)
"The alterations were perfect, my dress fit like a glove."
(in 9 reviews)
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36 reviews in English
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Review from Missy T.
Washington, DC
1/22/2012
Carole is the best! She made my entire experience an absolute blast. She's a petite lady like me so she definitely had an eye for what would look best on my small frame. I was looking for wow-factor, but didn't wan to get lost in mounds of tulle and chiffon. I showed her pics of a few dresses I had tried on at another shop and she pulled about a dozen dresses that looked great on me, including the second dress I tried on the previous weekend. Carole's a pro!
I showed up on a Saturday afternoon with two of my bridesmaids and Carole made us feel right at home. She didn't show me dresses that were out of my price range, a color i didn't request, or anything that deviated from the specific style I was looking for. She worked hard during our search and let me take my time in front of the mirror in each dress.
I love that they have a webcam in the store, so my mother who lives in Florida could view the dress I had picked out before i bought it which made the entire experience complete.
My only hesitation was that the dress I bought would require intricate alterations. I'm only 4'10" so the seamstress would have to have an eye for detail and skill with delicate material, so lift the hemline without destroying the asymmetry that MAKES this dress. Carole and the shop owner came over and explained in detail how the seamstress would make it work and all my fears were put to rest.
I'm excited to head back to I DO I DO Wedding Gowns for my first fitting, because I know I'm in good hands.
Thanks Carole!!! -
Review from Angela A.
Silver Spring, MD
1/18/2012
Let me first say that I'm one of those women that believes in spending as little as humanly possible for a dress that I will only wear for 8 hours of my life. That pretty much left me with 3 options: St. Anthony's, David's Bridal, and I Do I Do.
My honest-to-god budget was roughly $250. Not out of necessity, but for the reason stated above, and, you never know how much alterations are going to cost.
I was excited about shopping here because of the consigment dresses; I have no problem wearing a pre-owned gown that's been professionally dry-cleaned. But man was I fooled...they rarely do consignment on used gowns, only unworn ones. So head's up if you are hoping to sell yours after your wedding. You're better off donating it to St. Anthony's in Rockville and taking the tax deduction. The one and only pre-owned dress I could find only had one more month (you get 10 months to try to sell it) before going back to its owner. The "consigment" area is really things like discontinued styles, samples, and "change-of-mind-after purchase" type of dresses that are all new-looking and unworn. Many still had the original tags on. They were not as cheap as expected. :(
I had brought in a few picutres to give "Antoinette" an idea of I was looking for, and she knew exactly which dresses to pull. She really has a knack for knowing what looks good on your body. I would recommend getting her as your consultant if you can. She also has a lot of other helpful knowledge (did you know the groom shouldn't wear a white shirt if you are wearing ivory?). Of course, all of the dresses but one were above my "budget"--she actually found one for $199--but I went with the flow. I did end up purchasing one of the new dresses--$357 plus tax. Not bad.
I will be back to shop for veil/headpiece, and accessories!
PS- I should mention that they have plenty of "regular" wedding gowns, you know, the kind that take 4-5 months to come in once you order them. About $500 to $1200. -
Review from Abegail A.
Washington, DC
12/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
I sooooooooooooooo wanted to like I DO I DO Wedding Gowns, especially since I loved their concept of offering both new and consignment dresses. However, my experience here was not cool.
I came here on a Friday evening around 4:30pm (they close at 6pm). Besides myself, there was a lady trying on some gowns for her daughter's wedding. After browsing some bridesmaids dresses for about five minutues, the sales associate finally finished her conversation with the lady's husband and asked if I needed any help. She then got another associate to help me.
I was on the hunt for a short wedding dress, so she took me back and showed me the three gowns they had available. I was interested in trying one on just to see how it fit and if I liked it. Nope, appointment only. But there is no one else here. Sorry, appointment only. Even if I just want to try one on, which will take me like five minutes? Yeah, you have to make an appointment for that. Are you guys all booked for tonight? Yes, we are busy. Really? There is no one else in the store, especially since the lady and her husband left. Make an appointment, and then you can try it on. There are three dressing rooms available. Sorry. You get the picture.
I get the whole appointment thing. But, they weren't busy. Come on now. I ended up leaving the store. I sat in my car for about fifteen minutes searching to see if there were any other bridal stores in the area I could go to. In those fifteen minutes, guess how many people came in the store. None. Zero. Nada. I could have tried on one dress in fifteen minutes. But, it's okay. I wasn't THAT interested in trying it on anyhow.
They have a fairly decent amount of wedding gowns and a small selection of bridesmaids gowns. If you don't have an appointment here, I'd suggest that you don't waste your time and come here. -
Review from Becky E.
Washington, DC
2/3/2012
Yes, it's a little low budget and yes, it's not one of those fancy bridal boutiques where they serve you champagne and you are the only person in the store trying on dresses. BUT this was one of the best service experiences I have had.
They were warm and friendly. The woman who was helping me (I am blanking on her name right now) let me go way over the 1 hour appointment limit to try on additional dresses, she made helpful suggestions and did a good job of including my mom and sister (who came along to help). She was funny and did not pressure me in to buying a dress.
I didn't find anything I wanted in the consignment -- I was looking for some simple clean lines and most of the stuff they had was ruffed and sequined. But it is an enormous selection of consignment dresses definitely worth looking through. -
Review from S K.
Washington, DC
1/27/2012
I have mixed feelings about this place. It's one of 5 shops I visited and they were by far the worst with customer service (even David's Bridal was far superior). I arrived right on time for my appointment. It took them almost five minute to acknowledge me and then another 10 for Antoinette to start showing me dresses. I told her what I was (and wasn't) looking for and she immediately said, "you don't want that." Fortunately, I am not a push-over and was not afraid to reject ones she pulled that were exactly what I said I didn't want, or to insist on trying on ones she discouraged.
That being said, they do have a very good selection of consignment dresses in a wide price range. All the dresses appeared to be in perfect condition. I ended up finding a dress I absolutely love that was probably about half the original price. A huge bonus was that they have a webcam and so my mom was able to help me make the final decision without actually being there.
So while I was showing the dress to my mom, the other saleslady kept trying to get me to put on a veil, despite the fact I told her multiple times I am not wearing a veil for the wedding. I practically had to snap at her to get her to drop it. Then, despite the fact that my mom, my maid of honor and Antoinette all agreed that it fit perfectly in the bodice and did not need alterations there, the same saleslady kept insisting that it would need to be taken in.
So overall, if you're willing to demand what you want and be pushy back, it's a great selection at good prices. If you want an enjoyable shopping experience, steer clear. Needless to say, there is NO way I'm going back to have the dress shortened. -
Review from Kelly Z.
12/3/2011
I did not end up getting my dress at I Do I Do, but I had to write about our great experience here.
This was the third of four stores I visited.
The store has a great selection-- huge variety, better than any of the other three stores I visited. I was specifically looking for dresses that are not strapless and I actually had a choice here. (Unlike other stores where strapless overwhelmingly rules.) The prices are great. I love the idea of consignment-- I'm only going to wear this gown once so why should it exist just for one day? (Though our consultant, Carole, explained that all the consignment gowns have been worn 0 or 1 times before-- some are bought from other stores before they are ever worn.) The dresses were all clean.
Carole is a true asset-- she was helpful, friendly, patient, and knowledgeable. After several dresses she said "I think I know what you're looking for" and went back and brought back several gowns EXACTLY in the style I liked that my friend and I had somehow missed.
I would definitely recommend this store as a must to any bride.Listed in: DC Wedding
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Review from S K.
Washington, DC
1/4/2012
I visited I Do I Do a couple days ago and had a wonderful experience! It was made pretty clear early on in my appointment that I am "all over the place" in terms of style. I was worried this would make my consultant's head spin but after trying on a handful of dresses Antoinette helped me better identify what works and what didn't.
Let me also say that I was dreading this experience because I feared I wouldn't find anything flattering ...not to mention the whole idea of being swooned at all day makes me want to barf. Needless to say my experience at this salon was AWESOME! I plan to go back later this week to *hopefully* finalize my decision. Woop woop! -
Review from Heather O.
Washington, DC
12/20/2011
I had a fantastic experience at I Do I Do. My friends and I were a tad hesitant walking in, but they have a great selection of gowns and excellent staff. My consultant was Carole, and she was by far the BEST person I dealt with all day, including going to two other places. Warm, helpful, easy to talk to, and she listens! The staff all around seemed great. Extremely supportive. The store goes out of their way to see that you have a good experience and find gowns that work for you. The selection of consignment dresses was very impressive; I quickly found a couple that I liked.
While I have elected to use my grandmother's dress, had I not had this as an option, I would have bought my dress here, hands down. And I just can't say enough about how wonderful Carole was. -
Review from Elizabeth F.
Richmond, VA
7/19/2011
Long story short: my dress arrived too late to wear to my own wedding.
Long story long: I traveled from Charlottesville to I Do I Do after reading about the store in the WP. On my first trip, I found a beautiful flattering dress for a very reasonable price. So I paid in full as required for custom-made dresses and was told to expect my dress to be delivered sometime in February (it was October and the wedding was in April).
Well February came and went and so did most of March. I continually called the shop to find out the status of my dress as the wedding was quickly approaching. After weeks of putting me off, the owner finally confessed over the phone 3 weeks before my wedding that my dress had arrived in February but she sent it back to the manufacturer as she felt the lace was applied badly and she did not know when the manufacturer would be returning the dress. When asked why she did not inform when earlier of this, she had no answer other than she thought she would have the dress by now.
So I tried to get her to refund my money or give me a store credit and let me pick out another dress. She refused even though she could have easily sold my on-order dress (assuming it ever arrived). The only thing she offered was to CONSIGN my dress once it arrived (with her getting her standard cut). No thank you!
By this time, the wedding is about 2 weeks away, so I ended up going to a bridal boutique closer to home and getting another dress off the rack as I had no idea if my dress from I Do I Do would ever arrive. It finally did about a week before the wedding. By then it was too late for alterations or even having a wedding portrait made. So I picked up the dress and finally donated the I Do I Do dress to Brides Across America.
I think you are probably fine if you find a consignment dress that you can take out of the shop with you. But I would not take the chance of ordering anything through this shop based on how careless and thoughtless they were with me.
ADVICE FOR BRIDES TO BE: When buying a wedding dress, tell the store your wedding is at least a month earlier than it really is. That way, if there is a delay, you are not caught in the same mess I I was in. -
Review from Lauren H.
Montgomery Village, MD
9/3/2011
I had a wonderful expierience at I do, I do. My consultant, Nancy, was fantastic. She was able to help me find a dress near my price range (which was only $500). I found a dress that fit perfectly and did not need a single alteration. The entire staff was friendly, and they had a suprisingly large selection of dresses. The dress I selected was in the consignment section, but was a new, never worn dress with the tags still on it. In stores my dress retails for around $900, but I paid just under $600 for it). There were other dresses there for under $500 that I could've selected from.
On their website they advertise that they have a webcam which enables you to connect with friends/family who can't make it to your fitting. I was really excited about this service, but unfortunately their internet was down and they didn't know when it would be fixed. -
Review from Melinda C.
Alexandria, VA
3/5/2011
This was the first place we went when looking for my bridal gown, and I had a really bad experience. We got there around 9:45 and were in the car freezing, so we jumped when someone came to the door (they open at 10 which I didn't realize). But she told us that they wouldn't be open for another 8 minutes, we couldn't come in and wait. She then went to her car and had her last cigarette before the shop opened, and then turned out to be my consultant and was breathing her smoky breath all over me since we were in close quarters. I ran to the bathroom (after the long drive to Gaithersburg), and my mom/friend had pulled a few dresses and so did the consultant. She asked if I looked at the consignment dresses yet, and I said 'No, I was just going to try one what I had first.' and she said 'Well you only have 30 minutes left.'. Tick tick tick was all I felt from then on.
We get in the room and she basically only wanted me to try what she had pulled first. Not to mention I didn't have a strapless bra and had to borrow theirs. She told me to take off all my stuff. There I am, with this totally strange woman, with a pair of underwear and holding a boob in each hand until she finished whatever she was doing and could help me put that strapless on. From the second she mentioned time, I was watching it click down. I must have tried 15 dresses on but only got to show 3 to my mom/friend. Finally, with 9 minutes left in my appointment, I just asked to try on a pretty dress I had pulled. It didn't work on me, which she said 'I knew it wouldn't, but I had to let you see for yourself'. I'm *still* rolling my eyes with that one.
Anyways. My mom and friend said all the other consultants looked like they were really nice and way more helpful, so I think I just got stuck with a bad one. She ended up narrowing in on the style I ended up getting, but there was something about that dress I didn't like, so we left there and headed to Bridal Images. She definitely knew her stuff, I just didn't care for her attitude and demeanor. It felt like the figured 'where else are you going to go? If you want what we have you'll deal with it.' I Do I Do was packed, 5 girls with the same appointment.
Shopping for my wedding dress was a huge moment in my life, and not knowing what to expect and have to deal with that was heartbreaking. I'm still angry about it. But their selection was large, between ones you could order (with decent designers) and the consignment options, and their consignments looked gently used (by that, I mean they looked great, you couldn't tell they had already been worn once at all). -
Review from Bing S.
Alexandria, VA
2/7/2011
DC is not a cheap place to live, so as a bride on a budget, this was my first stop. I DO I DO has consignment (re-sell) dresses as well as select gowns that the owner orders from the designer. Fortunately, I found mine (a consignment one) for a little more than $400. (However, I tried on a dress that was only $130!) My dress is a sheath-style, which is perhaps why it's so inexpensive. Most of the traditional-style bridal consignment gowns I tried on were more expensive (due to more fabric/beading/lace/etc). Didn't even bother perusing the designer selection, since it was definitely out of the range.
If you have an exact perfect design in your head that you absolutely must have, then this place might not be for you. It helps if you are flexible about details (such as color or zippers/buttons), especially if you're only willing to buy consignment.
Stacy was also a wonderful salesperson. She listened to what style I was looking for, and helped me and my maid of honor narrow it down to the perfect dress. She also had a great personality and I felt she was easy to get along with. -
Review from Jess L.
11/8/2010 1 Check-in Here
This was a great dress shopping experience. Antoinette was so fun, honest, and helpful. She really took in what I was saying about the dresses and was able to pull ones that I really liked based on my most vague descriptions. She was also flexible on the one-hour time limit, which she said is more of a rule on their busy weekends.
The space includes two rooms. There are racks with samples but also probably twice as many consignment dresses. They have a great range of dresses and a lot of variety, from very beaded and busy to simpler dresses, from big ball gown dresses to sleeker and sexier.
Antoinette really was a delight. She helped a lot with the dresses, and we laughed a lot throughout the process. She gave me time to walk around and talk with my mom and friend. She wasn't at all pushy. She was definitely an expert.
The dresses definitely ranged in price, but there are tons under $1000.Listed in: the Wedding Dress Search
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Review from Jorina N.
Reston, VA
10/28/2010
It was just a very stressful and upsetting ordeal for me.I actually have been avoiding to write this review because every time I think about the day I left this store, I feel so taken advantage of and ripped off. I still remember the day I had to carry my dress out crying all the way home while driving.
I had bought a full-price not a used wedding gown. Two months before my wedding,I realized that the dress was not even and that one side was 2 inches longer than the other. I went back to the store to have them take fix it. The first thing the owner said was that my shoulders were uneven and that one side of my shoulder was lower than the other side which caused the dress to be uneven.I was shocked and speechless because that made no sense. So the manager basically told me that if she had to fix the dress that I would have to pay her. She said the contract stated that once the dress is removed from the store, the company is not responsible. I have never seen a policy like that applied to a brand new dress?!?!?!
Apparently, once you buy and leave the store, their customer service also went out the door too.This was a brand new dress that I had paid full price and she treated me like I bought a used clearance dress!
And for the fact that she did not take any responsibility for the defect in the dress and made false accusation that it was because of me, that was just unprofessional, selfish and illogical. She had me left crying and I had to take my dress elsewhere. Advice:Buyer Beware! Work with vendors that believe in practicing honest business work ethics.Especially since being a bride is already stressful, do consider using wedding vendors that honestly do care about you and WANT to make sure you leave 100% satisfied. -
Review from Cynthia R.
Arlington, VA
9/5/2011
I've been looking for a dress for over a year. I've been to J. Crew, David's Bridal (twice), Ellie's Bridal, Hitched, Rosalyn's, and Love Couture Bridal. The selection, attention, and prices at I DO I DO make it a mandatory stop for all brides who want a great dress and great bargain.
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Review from Nicole P.
Gaithersburg, MD
12/4/2007
I went to I do I do when shopping for my wedding gown, however I did not purchase one here. Even though they are a wedding gown consignment shop, they have very high standards as to what they will sell, for example, you must be the original owner to sell the gown. If you bought yours on consignment, they won't accept it. The gowns they carried really were of great quality. They also carry bridal accessories -- I don't know if these are new or also consignment.
The people were very pleasant, helpful, and courteous.
The prices were higher than I would have anticipated. Most gowns were in the $1000 area. I was hoping for a $500-$750 range, so some of them were even still a little out of my budget.
Even though I did not find my dress here, I would recommend others to try I do I do. -
Review from Chloe F.
Sterling, VA
7/14/2010
This place was pretty excellent. I'm giving 4 instead of 5 stars because of a scheduling hiccup; see below.
I had been to maybe 5 other places in the area before I finally decided to try I DO I DO and boy am I glad I did! It's a little different from other places, obviously, because of the consigment aspect. They basically have three kinds of gowns: samples to try on and order in your size, samples that are marked down and available for immediate purchase, and consignment gowns available for immediate purchase. Everything is very well organized by size, so you know exactly where to look. Our sales associate sized me up before we began, and told me which two sizes to be looking at, which made it very helpful. The second dress I tried on was "the dress", a never-worn with original tags Vera Wang ball gown with a deep discount. It was still a little more than I wanted to spend, but you only get married once, right?
In addition to wedding gowns, they sell bridesmaid dresses, mother of the bride dresses, flower girl dresses, veils, shoes, jewelry and accessories.
They have a seamstress, Maria, who is not actually a member of staff, but is affiliated with the shop through her own business. This is where my hiccup comes in. When I purchased my gown, I left it with Maria so she could do preliminary alterations. Some time afterward, I called up I DO I DO to schedule an appointment to try on my gown again, while my future mother in law was in town. I did this at least two weeks in advance, and I'm sure I mentioned that Maria had my dress. We arrived for the appointment, and no one could find my dress. (You have no idea how anxious this made me). Eventually, it came out that Maria had not been informed that she would need to bring my dress that day. My mother in law had to leave town, and we were all very disappointed that she was not able to see my dress.
In short, I was pleased with the selection, pricing, and atmosphere, but I suppose their communication skills are somewhat lacking. Make sure you follow up multiple times, call to confirm appointments, speak with Maria directly instead of trusting whoever answers the phone to pass along the message, make sure everything is spelled out crystal clear, etc. -
Review from Rebecca R.
Washington, DC
6/12/2007
I Do I Do sells a combination of special order gowns and consignment gowns. The consignment gowns have been worn once or not at all, and give the small store a huge variety of styles, manufacturers, and sizes.
Prices range from around $200 well into the thousands, but tend to be concentrated under a thousand, even for high-quality dresses. Alterations are also very reasonable.
The salespeople at I Do I Do are extremely helpful and friendly. Overall, a great shopping experience and very little pressure.
I Do I Do has recently moved from Rockville to Gaithersburg. It's not Metro-accessible. -
Review from Heidi S.
Washington, DC
1/26/2009
I had an amazing experience at I Do, I Do - the staff was nothing but helpful and beyond friendly.
I found my Alfred Angelo wedding gown here for $500 - the dresses range upwards of $1,000+ but they definitely have new and used gowns for any budget.
They also have a great selection of bridal shoes, accessories, veils and bridesmaids/mother of the bride dresses. Definitely a place to check out if you're a bride in the DC Area. Just be sure to make an appointment ahead of time! -
Review from Lore R.
Alexandria, VA
6/17/2008
I would highly recommend this bridal shop to any bride
who expects great service,
who doesn't want to feel pressured to buy a dress,
who doesn't want to feel rushed, and who
wants to save money.
I never thought about buying a dress at a consignment store, but the selection of dresses are endless. The store carries a variety of new and consigned designer wedding/bridesmaids dresses.
I ended up buying my dress and unexpectedly received my dress a month earlier than expected. The dress was exactly what I wanted.
I will likely go back to this shop to get my alterations done because of the great service I received.
They also provide special rates for those who purchase a dress at their store. -
Review from Tara G.
Denver, CO
2/17/2010
Loved this store! It was the 3rd (and last) store I attempted in searching for my wedding dress and I honestly could have left the shop with 5 different dresses I was in love with - but thank goodness one of them stood above the rest :) ! I got my dream XOXO dress for $535.
The dresses are extremely well maintained since the "twice loved" dresses are prepared to be sold and taken home that day if you don't need alterations. The dresses were in perfect condition, making it a much more enjoyable process than the other stores of raggedy, pit stained dresses that had been tried on hundreds of times at the other boutiques I tried. The boutique is cute...nothing fancy, but well maintained and perfectly clean.
The price range was fantastic and there were so many styles and sizes to choose from. The lady who helped me (Jackelyn?) was very knowlegable about what they had in stock that she wanted to show me. She could also read my shape very well and even pulled dresses for me to try on that I probably wouldn't have picked out - - and her choices were really the best ones on me, including the one I got married in!
I have recommended I DO, I DO to two of my recent brides, one of which often has a very hard time with sizes found her perfect dress there as well! -
Review from Monique P.
Ellicott City, MD
9/18/2008
This place was great. After being very discouraged by David's Bridal crowdedness and coldness, I stopped here since it was close to the hotel I were I was staying. I was on a cheap budget as we wanted to pay all cash for our wedding. I planned on paying under $1000 but wound up with a drop dead gorgeous consignment (1st one tried on) for $350. Who knew?!
I fell in love with it not knowing it was used and so affordable. And the ironic part: it was a David's Bridal dress.
I even got a consignment vail. Would enthusiastically recommend.
Oh, my alteration was a slightly crooked and it was too late to fix. No one but me & my mom noticed, but still. Go somewhere else for alterations -
Review from Melinda W.
Baltimore, MD
4/5/2010
I have nothing but good things to say about this place. Drove out from Baltimore because I was so intrigued. My consultant was really helpful, we found what we wanted there, and she even was late for her 2nd appointment because of me. She took the time and was patient, and didn't care.
It was really great. I highly recommend anyone in the Baltimore/DC area to go here. Well worth it. -
Review from Emily S.
3/26/2010
I joined Yelp because I had such a bad experience here I thought I had to give people a heads up. Got to my appointment 15 minutes early and the lady told me rudely that they were not ready for me. I then had to wait an hour after my set appt. time and whenever I asked what was going on the lady was rude yet again. After the wait, someone showed us the dress area (pointed out where the consignment, designer, and sale sections were) and then told me to go find what I wanted to try on. I told her the exact type of dress I was looking for and she just said "maybe we have something like that you are just going to have to find it." I would have much rather been searching than sitting for an hour.
I think your experience with the store could be different depending on who you are set up with and which dresses are in consignment at that time, but I could not believe how much my trip sucked. I picked out one dress to try on and when I was about to put it on, the lady walked in my dressing room when I was undressing without knocking and said "Do you want to try that on?" I had gone to some stores where the people went in the room with you and some where they did not, so I was not expecting her to come in the room since she was MIA after a couple minutes. It was such a strange place.
Also - the consignment section was much more expensive than I thought it would be. There were a ton of dresses in the $2,500 range and then a couple ones that were under $1,000 stuck n the mix. Most of the dresses had lots of beads, lace, and tulle, so if you are into that maybe you will be able to find something, but I hope you try out other stores because I had better customer service at David's Bridal (which is not usually known for their customer service and you will be able to find a much cheaper dress). -
Review from Masha O.
Austin, TX
10/5/2009
This was a perfect place for me! I was not one of those brides who plans a wedding a year in advance - I had four months to plan everything, and the dress was the first thing I wanted to cross off my list.
This is a TJ Maxx of bridal stores, and there's nothing wrong with it. If you are looking for undivided attention and ambiance, go to another place first, which is what I did.
By the time a turned up at I Do I Do, I zeroed-in on the style that seemed to work best, so it was just a matter of finding the right dress that I didn't have to order off the catalog and wait for months to arrive. And I found it here! They have an amazing selection of both consignment and new dresses. I think I tried ten or so dresses on before deciding on my "one and only".
The staff is jolly and down-to-earth. Yes, there's a lot of fuss and a lot of people around you, at least on Saturdays when I was there. You hear other brides' stories and pick up on the anxieties. But to me it was part of the experience.
After I decided to buy my dress and called with my credit card info, Kristin, who helped me find it, sent me a nice card congratulating me on my choice. I thought it was a nice touch.
I had to come back several times, so the seamstress (Dawn) could fix the asymmetrical bottom. Every time I had to wait for my turn, even though I showed up on time, but they were just busy.
I ended up also getting a veil here, which matched my dress beautifully. The selection of veils was exhaustive and I could try everything together during a fitting session.
The day I picked my dress up to take it home, the seamstress gave me a hug and wished me all the best.
This place really made me feel like a bride, I'll remember it fondly! -
Review from Erica S.
Vienna, VA
2/1/2010
I'm giving 4 stars because although I did not end up purchasing my dress here, it wasn't because of their selection or prices or service. I just simply found one I loved more at another shop.
My consultant was extremely helpful in both picking out some dresses, helping me in and out of them, and offering her opinion. All of the other consultants were nice, too. I stepped out of the dressing room in one dress that looked so pretty (I would have bought it had I not ended up with another similar one at a different store for cheaper and a little better quality) and they all "ooh'd" and "ahh'd" :) I would say that this store is the best experience I had in 5 different stores. You really feel like a bride in search of an important dress instead of just looking for something that looks good. The only thing I noticed was that the consultant didn't ask if I wanted to try on a veil with any of the dresses, but I was ok with that since I had pretty much made up my mind which dress I was going to get.
I would definitely recommend it -- at least try them! The prices were reasonable for the most part (some of the consignment dresses were PRICEY and my consultant even agreed).
Cameras and cell phones are NOT allowed. -
Review from Jamie E.
Mobile, AL
7/30/2011
I made an appointment and showed up early. I let them know my price range and got a sour look right off. I was even told that my time was up well before my hour was over. I actually had to argue that it wasn't and that I wanted to buy a dress. That bought me a little time but not a mirror to look at my dress in. I did however find a beautiful dress at a great price which is why I I give it 3 stars. I almost didn't buy it though because I have shopped around and the customer service was not as good as a David's Bridal- you know what I mean. If you are on a budget I highly recommend it. Don't expect to feel like a princess though. Just saying. . .
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Review from LOLITA J.
Washington, DC
10/23/2008
I had a great experience here. I tried on dresses at Macys, Priscilla of Boston, Davids Bridal, and the list goes on! This was the only place to give me the attention that I needed. I tried on several gowns and the saleswoman, I wish I remembered her name because she was so nice, but she was helpful with helping me get in and out of the dresses. My sister and I picked out several gowns but then the saleswoman picked out one, and that's actually the dress I ended up purchasing for $750. It was right in my price range, it was so beautiful, it looked like it cost thousands of dollars because of the detail on the dress. The alterations were perfect, my dress fit like a glove. I would highly recommend this place.
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Review from Carla G.
Phoenix, AZ
8/24/2009
The store was very clean and had a lot of selection. However I came with three of my bridesmaids to look at the separates collections. I had booked an appointment about a month in advance. Yet when I got there all I got was a perfunctory nod and then they continued about doing what they were doing. My girls searched through the separates had to pull it out on their own and then here is my biggest annoyance, I had to walk about find a sales person to come and clip them in (because everything is sample sizes and therefore huge). That was the one and only time they clipped them in. From then on, I was doing all the work. clipping them in and pulling out stuff for them to try on. Also, forget about taking pictures, or talking on cell phones. That's not allowed in here.
Overall I was completely ignored even though I made an appointment specifically because I wanted to be attended and needed help. I got none. My girls got more help from me. Luckily the selection was good and they were able to make a choice but guess where we WONT be buying the dresses from. Perhaps they though it would be cost effective for two sales people to ignore me and the other to focus on the one bride in the store trying on wedding dresses. But considering I have five bridesmaids and a junior bridesmaid, and the bridesmaid dresses cost about $200 dollars somehow it doesn't seem that cost effective. Their loss. -
Review from Marcella F.
Fort Washington, MD
3/10/2010
My experience at I Do, I Do has been so wonderful I'm not even sure where to start.
First things first, I guess--a little about me and my requirements. I wear a plus-sized gown, somewhere between an 18 and a 20. And I was looking to spend under $1500 on a dress. I Do, I Do had an excellent selection of consignment dresses in or close to my size, and almost everything was in my price range. They even had a lot of dresses under $700, though the one I ended up choosing was closer to $1300. Still, the selection was phenomenal.
My consultant, Joanna, was really the best part, though. She was upbeat in a way that didn't come across as being false, and she remained cheerful and helpful long after I asked to try on the same dress for the third and fourth time. I think my appointment was only supposed to last an hour, but she never made me feel rushed, and when I was stuck between two dresses she suggested I go out for coffee and think about it. When I stopped back by a few hours later, she seemed really happy to see me and even gave me a chance to try on my top two dresses again before making my final decision and being fitted for the gown.
Joanna also made getting into dresses easy, even ones that weren't my size. At other shops I've had underskirts bunch up on me and consultants not take the time or effort to make sure the dresses were on right, but Joanna somehow made a size 14 dress look like it almost actually fit me!
Now, the downsides--which are minimal, but are the reason that I Do, I Do isn't getting five stars out of me. The first is the additional costs--plus sized dresses in my size were $50 extra, and they add an additional $25 shipping charge for special orders. These charges aren't unreasonable, but I was a little disappointed that the charges weren't mentioned when I discussed cost during the trying-on and fitting stage--only after I'd agreed to buy the dress.
My second complaint is the seamstress who works with I Do, I Do. It turned out that a woman was coming in for her final fitting in one of my favorite dresses the afternoon that I visited, so they invited me to stay and see what it looked like on her. The dress looked gorgeous, but I thought the alterations looked a little iffy. You could see which seams had been altered and there were a few places on the dress that looked too flat or bulged in awkward spots. Nothing hideous, but enough to make me think I should look elsewhere for alterations. Which is a pity, because it would have been very convenient to do them at the same place where I purchased my gown.
The gown arrived right around the date projected, maybe a week earlier? They were friendly and helpful when I picked it up, and didn't pressure me to use their in-house alterations service.
Overall, I Do, I Do was by far the best of several bridal salons that I visited, and I would certainly recommend it to my friends and family--especially Joanna. -
Review from A M.
Rockville, MD
12/21/2007
I had a very positive experience here. All of the gowns are in great condition and are VERY reasonably priced!! I went by myself and it was just fine.
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Review from Monica M.
Washington, DC
5/12/2010
Two words: CLUTTERED and UNHELPFUL. I was so disappointed with I Do I Do. I heard hype about their 'twice loved' dresses so I decided to do the drive and take a look.
In a nutshell, this place is stuffed full of dresses and is cluttered, honestly it was worse than David's Bridal. My consultant basically said: "here are the consignment dresses organized by size, good luck!" She did not pull a single dress for me, I was astounded. I was on my own the whole time, all she did was help me into the dresses.
The only reason I am giving this place 2 stars is because I did find my bridesmaids dresses there, but I'm ordering them from another salon.
If you don't mind sorting through a bunch of dresses that are shoved onto racks in a cramped room with unhelpful staff, then you won't have a problem here. But if you want a nice, relaxed, organized experience, go somewhere else and don't even waste your time. Not to mention the consignment dresses aren't even that discounted, maybe a few hundred off of the original retail.
I couldn't wait to get out of there. -
Review from Linda W.
Takoma Park, MD
11/22/2009
I really enjoyed my experience here, and I would recommend visiting this store. The selection of their consignment gowns were nice and the assistants/sellers were nice. I just didn't like how I showed up on time and didn't have my time until 45 minutes after my assigned time (a mother and her daughter were taking forever). The person helping me did say sorry and I am very forgiving. I did like, however, how the person helping me knew what would look good on me and understood my style quickly. Their prices were exceptional and their selection was good compared to others. I did not get my wedding dress here, but as far as price, I wish I did.
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Review from Mia B.
Bethesda, MD
1/13/2009
I loved I Do I Do! I tried dresses on at a few stores (some high-end, some "low"-end like Davids), and this was the best place. I only had one other experience which came close (Terri Lynn Bridal). Christine (Kristen?) was wonderful - she was funny and friendly, and she actually was the one to pick out my dress! I went with my best friend, and we had found about 8-9 dresses that were nice, but when I tried on the one that Christine gave me, it was perfect. I had asked her to pick out a few because I had NO clue what I wanted, and she told me, "I'm trying to figure out what your style is and then I'll show you a few that I like". She was right-on! My dress ended up being only $550! Under my low budget of $600, which was wonderful. They have a huge range of dresses - I want to say the lowest I saw may have been $4-500, and there were definitely some upper-priced ones. They not only have consignment dresses, but discontinued (which is what I got) and new to-order dresses. After reading some reviews here, I'm thinking of getting my alterations there too!
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Review from Aya K.
Bethesda, MD
7/21/2008
I think they have a very nice collection. Prices 700$ and up. I was hopping for a little less. Their consignment section is nice, but I couldn't find anything there. I went twice, the first time I had an appointment, the second I did not. In the second time they did me a favor even letting me look at dresses (I was in the area and decided to come look again) but I was told that if I don't plan to buy a dress today they will not let me try on any (which I think was a little rude). The lady was a little pushy to my taste, but nice after all. If you are shopping for a dress I would check this store. I give it 3.5 stars.
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Review from Margaret S.
Washington, DC
5/26/2010
Hmmm, I have mixed feelings on this place. On the one hand, when I went there, the staff was really nice and helpful. However, they have a policy of not telling costumers the style numbers of the dresses they try on. I found one I liked, but not telling me what it was seemed really shady to me. Sure enough (after finding the style of the dress on the internet) I was found out that it was an older style and many other stores were selling it for 200 dollars cheaper. Needless to say, I didn't end up buying it there. Just goes to show that no matter what (especially with wedding dresses) you need to do your homework. However, just because this one dress was more expensive, I don't know if others were. And they were very nice.
