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Paris Connection Bridal
Categories: Shopping Jewelry Shopping Bridal Jewelry, Bridal [Edit]
The Sobel Design Building680 8th St
Ste 205
San Francisco, CA 94103
Neighborhood: SOMA
(415) 552-9774
Announcement
Proud to be the Exclusive Retailer of @Justin Alexander Bridal , Justin Alexander Signature and Mia Solano in the San Francisco Area.
- Hours:
Mon, Wed, Fri-Sat 11 am - 7 pm
Tue, Thu 11 am - 5 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street
- By Appointment Only:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
115 reviews for Paris Connection Bridal
Review Highlights
"marie and her staff were really helpful and patient."
(in 102 reviews)
"She's the local Justin Alexander retailer."
(in 17 reviews)
"As you may have guessed, I found my wedding dress here."
(in 25 reviews)
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115 reviews in English
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Review from Jenny K.
San Francisco, CA
11/22/2011
Marie is the best! What a fantastic experience I had at Paris Connection. She made me feel so comfortable and special. I know she helps many bride-to-be's but I truly felt like I was the only one in the world that mattered at that moment.
And I found "the dress!" I will only need a few alterations and she is sending to me one that she highly recommends, who is also going to make me a short jacket that I can wear during the ceremony.
I always admired Justin Alexander dresses in all of the bridal mags and wow was I right! They are such great dresses! And then to have such great service on top of that, man was I in heaven. Walking out of the store with the dress in hand I felt like a million bucks walking down the street to my car. I can't wait until my wedding day! Thanks Marie! Hugs! -
Review from Vanessa R.
San Francisco, CA
9/29/2011
I feel very fortunate to have found Paris Connection Bridal and Marie. I had gone to two other bridal shops beforehand, one was "big box bridal" (you know who I mean) and the other was "high end bridal" (which could be any number of shops that charge minimum $3,000 for a dress). I was unhappy with both options and figured I would try Paris Connection since it wasn't far from my office and I could easily stop in over lunch. Well, I was shocked to find this hidden gem smack dab across the street from Zynga (note parking may be challenging and cabs will drop off here but rarely pick up).
Marie is everything the reviews say and so much more. She is honest and forthcoming, which is really important since your friends and family may not be - and she will go out of her way to ensure you have a wonderful experience and get exactly what you need in a dress, veil, and accessories. I didn't expect to find everything I wanted at Paris Connection, but I did - and then some.
Marie listened attentively to what I wanted and I tried on a number of beautiful dresses. When I found my dress I was over the moon - it was gorgeous and exactly what I wanted for my dream beach wedding. I even came back with a friend to make sure this dress was it. Unfortunately, I quickly learned the dress was discontinued. Marie was wonderful enough to sell me the sample and encouraged me to see either her tailor or my own. She was confident the sample was in adequate shape and that there was enough fabric to take it out where necessary.
Well, Marie was right - the dress has been fully altered and fits me like a glove. I have referred a number of friends to her shop because she truly has it all. I brought a co-worker who was looking for a Mother of the Bride dress and Marie let her take swatches of the fabric to ensure the dress would match the bridemaids gowns.
I also returned to Marie for accessories - she has it all! I ended up buying these adorable hairpins for my updo as well as a silk and wool pashmina to match my dress.
She has an amazing selection of veils, necklaces, earrings, and other accessories to ensure a bride looks her very best.
Really and truly, it was such a pleasure to work with Marie. I cannot recommend her enough. I will be sending all my San Francisco friends and family to Marie for all their wedding needs! -
Review from Lisa Q.
8/24/2011
Marie is AWESOME.
She's a no bullshit French lady (with the accent) that knows what she's talking about. I mean, it's almost like she walked out of a romantic comedy as the French fairy godmother of wedding dresses. I really mean FAIRY because her prices are magical. A dress that I wanted for $4,000 I found at her boutique for almost a fourth of the price.
And yeah, I bought it. On. The. Spot.
Wearing my dress I jumped up and down, ran around her store in a euphoric haze matching it with veils, *used her computer* and got to try the dress on sitting down. I also went up to the mirror like 300000000+ plus times grinning like a fiend and twirled, twirled, laughed, screamed.
And she laughed with me!! She told me I was her "funky bride." Which warmed my heart more than her saying I looked hella skinny in the dress I picked. And she wasn't BSing me, I for real looked like a coke bottle from the great corset built into the dress.
She said, "and this dress has a built in bra so you don't have to wear one."
I replied, "I don't ever have to wear one anyways," while giving my compact girls a loving pat.
This made her laugh her ass off and I laughed along--- oh my god, the whole experience made me feel like I was on drugs I was so high.
And nah girl, this wasn't my first wedding dress shopping experience. I'm a pro on both coasts.
I tried the Wedding Salon of Manhasset in New York, I tried Haute Bridal in SF, I even went to try... cough... David's Bridal--- which was a sheer disaster. I felt like a beluga white whale in those dress' at David's and trust, I am a secret fatty so to look actually fatty is like Dorian Grey looking at his own portrait, I straight up DIE.
Marie's selection is tiny but mighty, she only picks dresses that please her, I tried on about six and they all pleased me as well. But oh, my, sweet Jesus, I found my one and I knew it.
She and I then dreamed up a design for a custom veil that's under $400. Oh fuck yeah. OH FUCK YEAH. Custom veil, believe your eyeballs. At most high-end bridal boutiques veils run $1,000 just by themselves and I'm screaming out FUCK THAT. Even if you don't buy your wedding dress from Marie, get your veils with her. They are beautiful, couture, and ethereal.
Oh, and she carries couture gowns. And guess what? She can customize those couture dresses to become boutique and it slashes the price of them.
Sweet Jesus, she fell down from heaven to make dreams come true.
I love her, I love her dresses, I love her accessories.Listed in: Getting Married! Bi-Coastal…
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Review from Shanna G.
Pacifica, CA
7/12/2011
I recently purchased my wedding gown from Marie at Paris Connection. I was interested in a particular gown made by Justin Alexander. She is the only person in San Francisco that carries this line. I'm a bit of a rarity in a bride, I only wanted to try on this one particular dress. Marie was surprised and did encourage me to try on 2 other gowns, one for size and the other a different color of the gown I had my heart set on so I would be sure and did ask me if I wanted to try other gowns on a few times
Marie was wonderful to work with, not pushy or rude. She was very knowledgeable and complimentary .We ordered the dress I originally wanted and it came 2 weeks early! When I picked up my gown it fit perfectly. The only alterations I will need is the length (I'm 5'2). The accessories here are numerous. I already purchased my veil elsewhere but I did buy a cute little hairpin that will compliment my dress perfectly. -
Review from Sandy T.
San Francisco, CA
5/22/2011
Marie is THE BEST. I have visited her a total of four times now and she's been lovely every time!
- She's straightforward about what will look good on you but in the sweetest way.
- The shop is in a great location (easy street parking, and no meters on Division) with lots of natural light.
- She was so accommodating of my budget and mindful that alterations would add to the cost.
The dress I fell in love with and later purchased was literally the first dress I tried on. I am the complete opposite of a person who makes snap decisions, so I knew I needed to visit at least a few more bridal shops. Marie agreed that I needed to see what else was out there and make sure this was the one. She very generously agreed not to sell the dress until she heard from me. We kept in touch over the next 10 days and after visiting 9 other bridal salons, I came back and purchased my gorgeous Justin Alexander gown from Marie.
She kindly offered to store it for me since my apartment is small and also recommended a great seamstress for alterations.
Marie made me, my sister, my mom and aunt feel like family. I got the sense that her calling in life is to run a bridal salon and help brides find the perfect dress. I'm so glad I found her and my dress! Many thanks, Yelpers, for the recommendation! -
Review from Lisa M.
San Jose, CA
6/30/2011
Marie Rocks!
I found my dream dress when I was back in the UK and Marie was the only person that could get it for me here. Knowing that I was in a bind, and my heart was set on this dress, she could have ripped me off but she didn't, Marie charged me a very fair price for the dress.
I have no opinion on finding a dress and the whole trying on process as I already knew the exact dress that I wanted.
A really great lady who is passionate about her business! -
Review from Alison B.
Dolores, CO
12/29/2011
I showed up at The Paris Connection and was immediately turned off by her lack of selection. The sample dresses she had were limited and unattractive. Furthermore, the sample dresses she did have were stained and dirty. I was so turned off by the dresses we left immediately. I really don't recommend the Paris Connection unless you already know she has the dress you are looking for.
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Review from Heidi L.
San Francisco, CA
12/10/2010
Marie is a sweet and lovely person. She earns the single star on her own merits. That being said, the wedding dresses here are HIDEOUS! It was a full-on bridal fashion massacre. I wanted to rip one of the gowns Marie insisted I try on off of me like that Carrie Bradshaw moment where she could not get the wedding gown off fast enough!
I was totally traumatized from the experience, practically speechless on the car ride home. It was store number six and I started to doubt whether I'd ever find a decent dress, whether I'd even manage to pull together a wedding, should I even postpone my wedding??? Dress shopping should not have this effect on you, your wedding plans and becoming the Mrs. of the man that you love. So, save yourself the pain and skip the trip to Paris Connection Bridal. If anything, go everywhere else first!Listed in: Bridal Gown and Wedding Dress…
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Review from Lisa G.
San Francisco, CA
9/29/2011
I got my gown here back in April. It was exactly what I was looking for and totally in my price range! I'm so excited to wear it on my wedding day this November. When I went to try it on last week it looked better than ever. I bought my veil and ALL my jewelry here too! She has an amazing selection from everything to hair pieces, bracelets, earrings, tiaras, necklaces...so many pretty things.
I didn't have anyone to go with me so lucky for me the store owner Marie was there to give me her honest opinion about what looked best with my dress. She did not try to push anything on me. She was just so helpful and sweet. Also, I could not carry my dress home on the bus she offered to drop it off at the alterations place for me. How's that for going above and beyond? Marie is the best!!
If you already have your dress still go here for the jewelry! You WILL find something I promise. -
Review from Alyson A.
San Francisco, CA
5/14/2011
Marie is a GEM!!! My Maid of Honor had purchased her gown and accessories for her own wedding from Marie two years ago, and I ended up choosing a gorgeous Mia Solano dress from her shop for my own wedding this June.
I just picked it up today. The fit was flawless, and she spent a good amount of time with me telling me exactly where it needs tiny alterations. We also spent some time talking about jewelry and playing with the hundreds of hair accessories in her shop.
I disagree with other reviewers who say every dress is "blinged out" I tried on at least three that were perfect for my midday outdoor wedding.
Marie goes out of her way with customer service. I called last week, starting to panic about my dress that had not arrrived yet (I'm six weeks until the wedding). Marie had been calling the company repeatedly (supposedly they ran out of the lace which caused the delay). She had the dress for me within three days. I didn't return her first message, and she called again just to make sure I had gotten it (I'm a busy girl who doesn't always get back to people right away).
So excited about my fairy princess dress. THANK YOU MARIE!!! -
Review from Ngoc T.
Oakland, CA
8/10/2011
Love Love Love Marie!
This was the first and only bridal shop I visited in my search for the perfect dress. It was love at first sight with the Justin Alexander dress I ended up ordering but Marie was great about listening and talking to me about what I had in mind. I'm an outside of the box kind of girl and she took the time to talk to me and really understood what I was looking for. She picked out a couple of styles for me to try on; just to see what it would look like on my body type (I'm really petite). I truly appreciate her straight forward honesty when it came to deciding what worked and what didn't.
She was very accommodating to my budget and went the extra mile and connected me with an alterations that was also fabulous! Since my wedding date was only a few short months away, she got on the phone right away and found a way to get my dress ordered and delivered in time for alterations and my ceremony.
I can't thank Marie enough for making the dress search so easy and fun! -
Review from Kathleen R.
San Francisco, CA
4/4/2011
I highly recommend Paris Connection for your wedding day accessories. I wanted a custom veil that you can only find in very high end bridal stores who quoted me $500.00 for the veil I wanted. I researched yelp for veils and accessories in San Francisco and found Paris Connection.
Marie was so sweet and was willing to do whatever it took to get the right veil. Because the veil I wanted is not your typical veil, she didn't have anything like it in stock. After I sent her photos of what I wanted, she had a custom veil made for me.
I walked in to the bright and airy loft to meet with Marie and it was spot on the perfect veil! I added a clip that had a few feathers to complete the look and total the cost was $240.00. $200.00 for the custom veil and $40.00 for the feather clip.
Marie was so pleasant and easy to work with I would recommend her store to anyone who likes service that goes the extra mile.
Thanks Marie for helping complete my fabulous wedding look! -
Review from Bella V.
Menlo Park, CA
Updated - 10/14/2010
I have to update my review. I am still very happy with my dress, and Marie did a great job helping me find the perfect one.
The reason I am taking off a star is when the time came to do the measurement Marie measured my a size too small, she was probably in a rush and wasn't too careful. I pointed it out to her but she said the measurement was fine. Luckily when at another store my bridesmaids were being measured I asked the people there to get my size too, and indeed I needed to go up one size. This was only a few weeks later so I called Marie and she was able to have the manufacturer change the dress size, so when it came in it was still on time and fit me perfectly. Whew, disaster averted. I would still go to Marie to buy my dress, just make sure the measurements are right.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/22/2010
I love Paris Connection. The previous weekend I went to Trudy's Bridal in Campbell and the sales… Read more »
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Review from J L.
Oakland, CA
12/28/2011
I have to admit that this was not one of my first bridal shops that I had intend on going but I have to say I am so HAPPY that I gave this place a try. Its somewhat hidden and you wouldnt even stop to think twice that there is a bridal salon in the area. Marie (the owner) is simply a great consultant to work with. A darling woman. I like the fact that she does not pressure you to buy the dress and is very honest in terms of what she thinks looks best on you and what doesnt. She even encourages you to sleep on it think about it before you should buy the dress. I like that approach since I dont feel pressured and rather comfortable that I can take as much time as needed. She was easy to work with and was rather flexible. She carries a lot of accessories so I wouldnt worry in that department. However, her selection is rather limited so if you are lucky you'll find the dress of your dreams and if not well I still thought she had great customer service and is worth while to give a try. i did ended up purchasing my dress from her (1) because I really do LOVE my dress but (2) she deserved my business since her service was utmost excellent.
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Review from Rachael S.
San Francisco, CA
7/17/2010
I like how honest Marie is when giving you her opinion of the dresses. I came in not having any idea what I was interested in, but because she was very honest about what she thought I was able to start narrowing my selection down. Also a plus: she lets you take pictures. Unlike other customers, I liked that she gave me the option of helping me into the dresses or letting my mom do it. I'm a little shy, and being in a dressing room half-naked with a stranger is not my thing!
The downside: rather small selection of dresses, although I will definitely be back for accessories. She also doesn't have the clips for the back of the dresses to make them more fitted. It makes it very hard to tell what a dress is going to look like when you just have someone holding the back in one spot.Listed in: Wedding stuff!!!!
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Review from Robyn S.
San Francisco, CA
5/24/2010
If over your blinged-out tranny lingerie you want to wear a wedding dress that makes you look like a broke Harajuku girl then you should totally come here. If you despise manners, professionalism, even just good old fashioned kindness, then this is the place for you. If quality, selection, class and space are overrated in your opinion and a bridal store really needn't boast any such niceties, then allow me to introduce you to Paris Connection Bridal! Ta-daa! Enjoy, suckers!
I am a bridesmaid in my dear friend's wedding and she selected this bridal salon solely on the merit that it had, at a very good price, the dress she already knew she wanted to buy. (Thank god for that one dress because otherwise you can basically get everything else available here at your local Michael's.) Of course, just because she already knew which dress was "the one" didn't mean she wanted to be deprived of every bride's inalienable right to trying on other dresses, being lavished with compliments and creating another precious memory with her bridal party to help complete the mosaic that is a gal's dream of the journey toward (and including) her wedding. Of course, Marie felt otherwise; a good time will not be had in her store! She almost seemed to take pleasure in doing the Mexican Hat Dance on this bride's dreams.
It felt a little like Pretty Woman when no one would help her because of how she looked and then after she spent craploads elsewhere she came back into the store where they had mistreated her, holding up her bags, and stated. "Big mistake. Huge." The bride had every intention of buying the main dress and we made that clear - Marie: you will make a sale. We have this appointment time, we'd just like to use the rest of it having a little fun, trying on a few more dresses and telling the bride how she pretty she is. No harm in that, Marie! - but she fought us every step of the way, was downright rude and even combative. So much so that not only did we have a craptastic time but the bride did, in the end, purchase the dress elsewhere and now Marie's getting blasted on Yelp. Big mistake, Marie. Huge. -
Review from Vanessa M.
Suisun City, CA
8/13/2011
Marie is the best. After countless bridal dress consultations I was sure I would never find THE dress. Marie took one look at her subject (me) pulled a few dresses and helped me into each one. She was very honest about what worked for my body type and what didn't which put my mother and I at ease. Finally, a genuine opinion!!! Marie has a small range of unique dresses that look more expensive than they actually are. The dress I chose is killer. Even my seamstress said it was the most beautiful dress she had seen in a long time. Visit Marie with an open mind. Her selection is minimal but she has great taste in fashion and will help guide you in the right direction even if you don't chose one of her dresses.
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Review from Michelle Z.
San Francisco, CA
5/31/2011 1 photo
Marie is absolutely amazing!!! She was a HUGE help to me and honestly I have never dealt with a nicer person. She has a large selection of fabulous wedding accessories ranging from hair to earrings and much more!! I had come to purchase a veil and have to say that it was the most pleasurable experience. Her veils are ordered by special order with the color you want, the length you desire, and the width that matches your body type. Do not go with a standard veil that is supposed to be one size fits all. No bride is one size fits all!!!! Her prices are extremely reasonable and working with her makes it even that more enjoyable! You will never regret it!
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Review from Susan C.
San Jose, CA
4/11/2010
Paris Connection was I think the 3rd or 4th place I went to try on dresses.
I really liked Marie who owns the place! I have not decided on a dress yet but will be going back to try on 2 dresses I absolutely loved. Paris Connection is definitely a comfotable place and Marie is so helpful and honest. She also allows future brides to take pictures.
Marie stocks much more affordable dresses than other bridal shops, most under 2K. Mia Solano and Justin Alexander are her 2 top designers. The dresses are gorgeous. I can't wait to go back and take more people. -
Review from Kelly B.
San Jose, CA
3/15/2010
I wish I had had the same experience that everyone else had.
We had a noon appointment and showed up right on time. (I should note here that when my friend called for the appointment, she was very clear that I was looking for something low key, classic, and sophisticated - and that I wasn't into super blingy showy dresses - Marie indicated she could accommodate that. FYI for brides looking for something similar to me - this place focuses on bling and show). We glanced around the salon but there weren't many dresses, but because I was there to try on, we found a few. The owner (Marie?) helped pick out a few, though I didn't get the sense it was for any particular purpose (i.e., with my shape or style in mind).
She helped carry the dresses into the fitting room (which, btw, had no door or curtain - apparently b/c they just moved, but come on!) and hung them on some mirrors. She then said "Let me know if you need any help" and left me. I haven't tried on many dresses, but I was under the impression that a salon owner was there to help you get in an out of things. I called in a friend to help me do that.
I put a few things on, and they just weren't my taste at all. As a result, I didn't come out of the room, just took them off. Apparently, while my friend was helping me in and out of the dresses, and while I wasn't exiting the dressing room, Marie was overheard talking smack about those issues - something to the effect of why I was having a friend help me and not her (um, you abandoned me in the dressing room) and why I wasn't coming out (I didn't like the dresses, why waste time). The store is very small, and two of my girls overheard this conversation.
All in all, we were there for about 15 minutes, and were totally perplexed when we left. The experience was not even close to what I was hoping for.Comment from Marie G. of Paris Connection Bridal 3/16/2010
Apparently all parties involved were unable to establish… More » -
Review from Alyssa F.
Sacramento, CA
4/21/2010
My first appointment with Marie was just for my future mother-in-law and I to come in and look at one dress. I had found the Mia Solano dress online and just wanted to see it in person to determine if I was really interested in it or not. We were the only ones there and she was fairly helpful, despite leaving us on our own for a while as she was on the phone.
I made a follow-up appointment and let her know that I was going to be bringing in 3 bridesmaids, 1 maid of honor, and my mother to try on not only that dress, but maybe a few others. I mentioned that I was making this appointment so that it could be a little event for my bridal party and mother to enjoy the wedding dress choosing process, but that I would be choosing the Mia Solano dress from before. She was very enthusiastic and pleasant about the appointment.
We showed up, and somehow the moderately pleasant Marie from before had morphed into someone else. As I tried on dresses with my bridesmaids, she would begin shouting at me that it was the wrong dress. As my bridal party sighed happily and took photos of me in the gowns, she would make angry and exasperated sounds. I tried on a veil (as I did at my previous appointment), and she literally came by to rip it off my head. My bridesmaid repeatedly let her know that she was going to make the sale, but for god's sake, just let her have the fun of being a bride and trying on 2-3 dresses. She also booked 3 other brides for the same hour, despite only having 2 dressing rooms (one of which was full of boxes, which I got moved into to make room for another bride-to-be).
After a mere 30 minutes and her constantly complaining and yelling, we all felt rather sick and confused by her behavior and left. What was meant to be a pleasant event of trying on a few dresses and sighing and being happy about the upcoming wedding became us fighting for the ability to even be there for our designated appointment, let along have a nice time during it. It was completely bizarre and left us with a bad taste in our mouth. And unfortunately, in the end I was very uncomfortable about potentially having to deal with her wrath again, and I ended up just purchasing the dress online anyway. I couldn't begin to fathom why she acted the way she did, but at least the other woman who was working that day was very sweet and even a bit apologetic that Marie was acting the way she was. -
Review from Andrea T.
Oakland, CA
4/30/2008
I walked in the door of Paris Connection and thought, YES. This person gets my style entirely. The person in question is Marie, whose presence absolutely makes the place a terrific experience. I felt an immediate connection with her, and instead of being in a bargain basement free-for-all or a reverent 'museum of style' where I felt out of place, I was suddenly transported to a comfortable space with a friendly face, who has a serious talent for spotting quality at a good price. Her small shop is just filled with goodies.
It was exactly the middle ground I had been looking for.
Marie chatted with me quickly about what I was looking for, and began pulling dresses off the racks, "How about this one?" and then "No, no... let's see, this one?" Dress after dress flew into the dressing room. It was the highest number of dresses I tried on at any bridal salon, and was more like being at a family friend's home than a bridal salon. And as I emerged in each one, she zipped and smoothed and fitted and then looked in the mirror and gave me her brutally honest assessment. I didn't always agree 100%, but after being in so many places with zombie autopilot salespeople, "Oh, you look so beautiful...," I adored her for it.
At one point, she said "I can't help but be opinionated, I'm French!" I wasn't aware that the French have cornered the market on opinions, but I found her utterly charming.
As you may have guessed, I found my wedding dress here. It was $900, is flattering from every single angle, well put together, and has amazing embroidery detail. And oddly enough, it's a lot more traditional than what I set out to find, but it's perfect for me and for my venue. And best of all, I was the first to try on the floor sample for the dress, newly arrived that day. It happened to fit almost perfectly, and Marie offered me the sample at a $200 discount, bringing my total to a whopping $700. That's UNDER my budget of $1200, even with tax and alterations, which generally run about $350. And the best thing? I don't have to wait 6 months for my dress to be ordered and to arrive. It's in my closet right now!
It was a long search, but I'm so glad that I didn't settle for less!
Marie is seriously worth a visit for anyone looking for a non cookie-cutter wedding dress.Listed in: The Wedding Dress
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Review from Dani B.
Alameda, CA
1/8/2008
Marie was nice but I found the selection somewhat limited. One of the first things that she told me was that she loves "bling-bling and lace", which I am trying hard to avoid. Go here if you like that sort of dress.
Another negative: I had made an appointment and I arrived right on time by myself. Then another girl walked in WITH HER MOTHER with no appointment and I got ignored while she helped the other girl. grrr. It was a strange and slightly humiliating experience and I left in a bad mood. -
Review from Christin C.
San Francisco, CA
8/23/2010
WE LOVE YOU MARIE! My bestfriend has been searching high and low for her wedding gown and finally found the perfect one here at Paris Connection. When we first walked in we were kind of "ehh" at the number of gowns she had (about 20-25) but once Marie took them down and showed them to us, we were amazed. The gowns were all beautiful and very well made. Marie explained to us that she doesn't go cheap on quality, I loved that about her. She is determined to find you the dress & accessories that fit you the best.
She picked out a beautiful dress straight from Paris for my best friend and she fell in love with it immediately. Marie suggested little alterations for the dress and we completely agreed with everything. She sold the $1,200 dress out the door for only $500 FLAT. No tax or anything! You can't beat that!
We are heading back here in a couple months for my maid of honor dress and the bridesmaids dresses. EXCITED! -
Review from H C.
Bay Area
8/23/2007
I came here to see the samples Marie had advertised online. Well, the remaining selection was pretty sparse by the time I looked. I appreciated her helpful attitude but we were not on the same page on terms of taste. To each their own!
She carries high-end dresses that are highly ornate. I want the opposite - simple, no beading, etc. So, we didn't make a deal. But I did appreciate that she met me after hours at 7:30 p.m. and pretty much gave me all access to her store.
She does carry a lot of fancy accessories - hair combs, jewelry, etc. I may be back for that!Listed in: Wedding Dress Shopping
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Review from melissa t.
San Francisco, CA
3/30/2010
I have to give this place one star, that's all they are going to get from me.
I made my appointment for Paris Connection a month in advance. When I called I told Marie that I wanted something that came in red and she assured me that she carried gowns that came in various colors. So, as you can imagine I was one very excited bride-to-be.
A few days before my appointment she called to ask me what time it was at. This should have been my first sign. I confirmed the time with her and thought all was good in the world. Still a happy bride-to-be.
A few hours before my appointment she left me a message asking if I could come in 2 hours earlier. Another sign I should have listened to. I couldn't help but wonder why she didn't ask me this when I spoke with her two days earlier. As luck would have it I couldn't come early, I had an appointment elsewhere.
So, I show up on time and lo and behold she'd changed locations. She didn't even bother to tell me on either occasion I spoke with her. Fortunately the security guard at her previous location pointed me in the right direction.
When we finally found it I was shocked. The selection of dresses was ridiculous, the dressing room appeared to be a storage closet, and there were already a handful of people in the very cramped space. I wasn't even greeted when I first walked in the door. When someone finally did greet me and I asked about the colored dresses I was told they had coffee colored dresses. NOT what I had asked for.
Needless to say I tried on a handful of dresses and while I found one that I somewhat liked I would in no way buy it here. They were so utterly disorganized that I would fear the dress would not get ordered. -
Review from kathryn f.
El Sobrante, CA
7/18/2008
Marie is awesome. I went in on the recommendation of other yelpers and had a great time. I didn't think she would be able to find anything in my price range (up to $1000 including alterations) that I liked in her little store, but in the end there were two that I liked (both samples), one was $600 and the other $700.
Marie has a keen eye. She picked out a dress for me to try that made me look about a foot taller. She also has no qualms with telling you if a dress makes you look old and frumpy- honesty you can rely on!
I will recommend her to all of my friends.
Take note that Paris Connection is located in the SF Gift Center and Jewelry Market so you will need to make an appointment and have Marie leave your name at the front desk to be allowed in.
Also, Marie advised me to take my dress to be altered 6 weeks before the wedding. Whilst this did ultimately work out, my seamstress told me that it would have been better for me to bring it in a few months ahead of time because I needed it taken in by about 2.5 sizes and if I had have brought it in during the summer (her busiest period) she might have had to charge me a rush fee to get it all done in time. I don't hold it against Marie, I just though that might be useful advise to some people. -
Review from Ana D.
Lathrop, CA
1/10/2009
Too bad there aren't 10 stars to give to Paris Connection because I would do it in a heart beat! Words cannot describe how happy and pleased I am with Paris Connection. Let me begin by telling you that no matter what you are looking for, Marie (the owner) can help you find and even order what you want. I had a hard time finding the gown of my dreams. I was very picky and did not want the "trendy" gowns that David's Bridal and Bay Area Bridal carry. I wanted something unique! While browsing through the millions of options online, I finally found one that I just loved immediately. But I soon realized that most bridal shops did not carry it. I was browsing different bridal websites to see who carried the Mia Solano line and came across Paris Connection.
I called the Paris Connection to see if they had that particular gown in and Marie said she did not have it, but would be more than happy to order it for me to try on. Within a few days, my gown was in. It was love at first sight!! I bought my dress from Marie along with some unique jewelry (that Marie makes) and a flower pin for my hair.
What I liked about Marie was that she was genuinely sweet and honest. She gave me different dresses to try on, just to make sure I was 100% sure on the Mia Solano dress. She has a very unique variety of dresses along with very elegant accessories. I would recommend her to anyone looking for a different, well priced, beautiful gown. Marie is an amazing person and was very helpful. She truly does care about you and your VERY important day! She will help you look like a million bucks once she is done showing you all of the different things she has in her store. Remember, this is YOUR day and if you want to be treated like a QUEEN, go to PARIS CONNECTION!! -
Review from Kristy M.
4/23/2009 5 photos
Marie takes your experience of trying on wedding/bridesmaid dresses from 2 to 5 stars (not a huge fan of dress shopping). She made us feel very welcome and gave us 100% of her time and attention when we were there. *Note - make an appointment before you go.
I joined my friend a couple weeks ago as she was looking for her wedding dress and I ended up trying on some bridesmaid dresses as well. The place isn't huge by any means but she has a great selection to choose from. I was either looking super hot that day or she's that nice to everyone because almost every dress I tried on I looked "amazing" in...too funny. Though I will say she made some great and honest recommendations on the fit and style of dress that worked better for my shape which was much appreciated.
Though she didn't have what we were looking for in a Bridesmaid dress my friend ended up buying her wedding dress, that we just love, at a pretty significant discount! -
Review from Jess J.
Seattle, WA
10/25/2008
Came here with my dear bridesmaid and we had so much fun! It was such a relief from those other bridal stores that have rows upon rows of white dresses that all look the same. Marie keeps a selection of memorable gowns in stock, and I loved them all. She didn't mind at all that we spent a little over 2 hours in her store trying on dresses, playing with jewelry, and chatting about Versailles.
I found a great dress in my price range and got a head start on the search for accessories as well. It was easy to be there; I didn't feel awkward or unwelcome at all. She also played some great music. There is nothing like dancing around in a glamorous gown while Ice Ice Baby is grooving. Just for fun, Marie had me try on a scandalously naughty dress that had a transparent top and a fluffy skirt.
This is a fantastic place for the bride with personality and style, so go already! -
Review from Jenn F.
San Francisco, CA
1/9/2009
LADIES! GO SEE MARIE AT PARIS CONNECTION. I went to Paris Connection to try on wedding dresses about a month ago. I had had several negative experiences with bitchy bridal store saleswomen in other places and I was not really that excited about shopping. What a difference at Paris Connection. I went in there with my 3 closest girlfriends and we had the place entirely to ourselves. We pulled dresses into the dressing room and Marie helped us choose dresses that met the criteria that I told her I wanted. I loved that I could put the dress on myself with help from my friends and really enjoyed her laid back approach.
Ok, so I found a dress that was gorgeous, but it was the first one that I really liked and I felt like I needed to shop around. Marie checked in with me every few weeks to see if I had made a decision but was not pushy at all. After about a month (I still hadn't made a decision), Marie emailed me to tell me that the dress I tried on was being discontinued by the designer and that she bought the last 2 dresses. She told me about the sizes and when it sounded like they might work for me, she actually offered to MAIL me one of the dresses (I live in Santa Barbara) so that I could try it on. Have you ever heard of such a thing? She is AMAZING. She didn't even charge me for it; just took my credit card number down for insurance.
She was extraordinarily patient with me while I figured out whether the dress was the right size. She even knocked a significant amount of money off the dress since it was being discounted and had been shortened.
The dress wound up being ABSOLUTELY PERFECT for me and I can't tell you happy I am.
Thank you Marie for being so thoughtful and kind and for making my wedding dress shopping experience end on a positive note.
Go to Paris Connection! -
Review from Kitty K.
Austin, TX
8/26/2010 1 photo
Let me just start off by saying love Marie!
I recently received my Justin Alexander gown from Paris Connection which they shipped to my door because I live in LA!
The dress is perfect and I couldn't be more thrilled. They were great with us since the very first price check.
We had issues with the manufacturer shipping it out too late but she figured it all out. We also had issues with our card when it came to the last payment but she was patient with us.
The prices are super low too! (at least for the designers she carries) I got my dress from them for $950 after tax but the other places I looked for this gown I couldn't find it for under $1500! My local shop wanted $2k!
On a side note Marie has an adorable french accent too! -
Review from Yvonne Y.
12/10/2007
Stress-free bridal gown shopping experience. Marie is absolutely wonderful to work with. She's to the point, asks you for your preference and totally open to what you like/dislike. Don't be shy to tell her the dresses you don't like. She needs to know and you're not hurting her feelings at all.
Price - very reasonable. Also, she usually has some samples from previous seasons which she sells off the rack for very cheap prices ($500 to $750 for the ones I saw). She always asks you for a price range and stick to it. You can find lots of beautiful dresses for less than $1,500, even under $1,000.
Service - Prompt. I found my dress on 1st appointment. It helps I went to her website and printed out exactly what I liked. She gave great feedback on what I looked good in and not.
Quality - She's got lots of different types of dresses in different materials.
I think her suite in the Jewelry Mart is 2065. It's not listed on her website. You have to make an appointment and register at the front desk before walking in. 6pm appointments during the week doesn't require registrations.
Also, she sells lots of jewelry, intimate wear, etc. Very French and affordable and absolutely beautiful.
They actually had my dress in stock so I got it in 1 month. She also has referrals for seamstress. -
Review from Selene K.
San Francisco, CA
8/12/2008
Paris Connection was stop #3 for me and Marie was awesome. She called to confirm my appointment several days beforehand and was very pleasant on the phone. She mentioned that if I have "traditional and conventional" tastes in wedding gowns, that I would be in a bit of shock when I see her inventory. But I told her that I'm pretty open to new styles and ideas.
My cousin and I came in on a Saturday morning and was their first appointment. Marie and her assistant did a fabulous job at recommending different styles without being too pushy. They also didn't mind when I tried on 2 of the gowns a couple of times, just to compare. I completely fell in love with one of the gowns that was on their mannequin. It was a Saison Blanche gown that had a tutu bottom. It was gorgeous. The retail for a brand new one is $3,000, but the sample one she had their (which happened to fit me to a T) was ALOT less. I really wanted to take it home then and there. But my cousin suggested that I keep looking, because this was just my 2nd stop.
I ended up getting my dress today at Bridal Image, just because I found something that was alot more comfortable to wear for a full day. I still think about the dress from Paris Connection though.
If you're looking for a dress that's unique and not everyone and their mama has, give Paris Connection a try. Marie is a delight to work with and you can tell she has a great passion for the business. Her follow through is amazing and will definitely make at least the wedding dress portion of your wedding planning way more stressless. -
Review from Ananda C.
San Francisco, CA
3/12/2010
I wish I would have come here months ago, before the burn-outs and anxiety that followed the dozen or so shops I went to first.
I feel like it is some kind of magical shop, where your ideal dress is hiding, despite the seemingly small selection. The dress I found there was so unique and beautiful, but it was not at all what I was looking for! I never would have found it in a place with a large selection.
Best of all, the dresses are reasonably priced, and the quality and fabrics are excellent. The three dresses I liked there were all under $1200.
The new location is delightful and bright. And Marie is delightful too! Just go there! -
Review from Lorraine L.
San Jose, CA
2/20/2009
I visited Paris Connection on Saturday, February 7 @ 11am and met with Marie and her assistant, Jennifer (I believe that was her name). Marie was finishing up with her appointment and Jennifer said I could look around and select a few dresses to try on. I think I must've chosen 6-7 dresses, because they were all beautiful. The thing I immediately liked about Paris Connection is the privacy you get when you try on the dresses; after the prior appointment left, me and my two bridesmaids had the place to ourselves. AND, even though Paris Connection doesn't have a huge selection like other bridal super-stores, Marie takes her time and selects such beautiful gowns!!!
This is the place where I found THE DRESS. It's a beautiful Justin Alexander gown, and it was $750 off the rack. It fits me perfectly, but the length is a little too long so it needs to come up a bit (not bad, since I have a person in the family who does alterations!). =) I had a few other appointments that weekend, but I could not stop thinking about the dress. Marie understood and said she didn't want to pressure me, so she called me that Monday and I bought the dress over the phone. I just picked up the dress last weekend and it is still as beautiful as I remember and fits me so well.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Marie! I love Paris Connection and it was definitely the best experience I've had shopping for my bridal gown. -
Review from Dr T.
Cleveland, OH
5/8/2011
We came into Marie's boutique on a Friday afternoon before our wedding day looking for last minute bridal accessories. Needless to say we were very stressed being our wedding was less than 24 hours away! Marie was extremely helpful and offered great suggestions to accessorize my bride, even though we didn't buy her dress from Marie. We left with a beautifully crafted hair comb at a great price! We highly recommend you visit this boutique for your bridal needs.
-
Review from Michelle L.
Tiburon, CA
7/10/2007
Fantastic service by Marie! My to-be sister in law was on the hunt for a veil, shoes and dress advice and we saw Marie's reviews on Yelp so thought we would start with Paris Connection. There was never a need to go anywhere else. Not only is Marie the epitome of a gracious hostess but she makes her own, lovely jewlery, works with you on colors and custom designs for everything from shoes to flowers for your hair and offers a calm, experienced perspective for your big day.
I am also recently engaged and in the very early stages of planning my wedding. Marie is working with me on the dress of my dreams. Don't miss visiting her shop as you plan your special day. -
Review from Megan B.
San Mateo, CA
11/7/2008
Before today, I'd never felt inspired to write a Yelp review....but after my experience with Marie at Paris Connection, I could no longer contain myself. In a good way.
I'd been on the prowl for the perfect wedding dress for about a month (30 days to some, an eternity for my OCD self) and was becoming bored and discouraged by all the "traditional" gowns popping up on my browser. That is, until I came across the Paris Connection, via Yelp.
Reading others' positive reviews and taking a tour of Marie's website convinced me that this boutique just may have that je ne sais quoi I'd become obsessed with finding. I knew after my first phone conversation with Marie that I'd be in good, stylish hands.
I popped into Paris Connection on a Wednesday evening, and was immediately enamored with the gowns that were on full-frontal display on the mannequins. Marie and I hit it off from the start, and before I knew it, we were both boisterously choosing gowns that would fit my personality and body shape to a T (all while listening to Joy Division, Madonna, and some unknown Brazilian band in the background).
Marie was aware of the my budget constraints, and assured me that she'd do everything in her power to find me the most exquisite dress at the best price. After choosing approximately 7 gorgeous, beaded, vintage-flair gowns, I made my way into the dressing room and about died as soon as I slipped on the first dress. It was perfect.
Marie guided me onto the pedestal in the middle of the boutique and raved over how slammin' this dress made my body look (and I agreed). That's the thing about Marie: she gives honest opinions, good or bad.
Long story short, I ended up falling in love with the most ornate, unique Justin Alexander gown. I didn't want to take it off! Marie also helped me try on various hair ornaments (which were amazing!) and browse her shoe catalogue. This place has so much to offer!
I decided to place an order for the gown, on the spot. And as promised, Marie gave me a great deal. I can't wait to visit her again in the coming months to discuss hair ornaments, jewelry, and just simply have a chat with an awesome lady that I would gladly adopt into my family if it were an option. =)
So. Bottom line. If you're a bride with a sense of style that isn't quenched by the same-ol' same-ol', please, visit Marie at Paris Connection. You won't be disappointed. And you'll probably make a new friend in Marie. -
Review from Ellen O.
Oakland, CA
5/14/2010
Marie is awesome. You see, I am the anti bride. I've worked with so many brides doing makeup, the the mere sight of one makes me want to stab myself. After many satisfying dreams of cutting the heads off of my most stressful bridal parties, I decided it was best to quit the industry. And now, I find myself in a weird and awkward situation.......I'm a bride.
My good friend, Andrea, hooked me up with an appointment with Marie. I walked in there with a budget and a weird request.......to wear a snazzy red dress.
"Why don't you want a bridal gown?"
"Because that's not me. I want to be bride fabulous, not bridezilla!"
I must have tried on about 10 dresses. I loved how honest Marie was. She has a way of telling you when something isn't flattering without it feeling like an insult.
I narrowed it down to two and I didn't even want to look anywhere else. Why torture myself with so many decisions? And it fell a coupla hundred dollars below my budget.
We played with different accessories and I ended up buying all of them.
At one point, another bride came in to do some final fittings and touches. Marie was very concerned about not paying enough attention to me. Really? Because I'm certainly not the only person in this city getting married.
I assured her that everything was cool and I would try to make a decision on which of the two dresses I wanted, made my accessory purchase and headed off to lunch.
My time there was exactly what I needed and wanted. And I just wanted to get right down to business and find me a dress. I made my decision, called Marie and the dress will be here a month before my wedding.
Do take into consideration that once you decide on a dress, it can take up to 12 weeks to arrive once it's ordered. I hadn't thought of this but thankfully I started looking in time.
Ladies, I know it's your special day. But calm down. You're not buying a house, you're buying a dress. And sad as it may seem, you may have to share space with other brides. (gasp) If you want a bit more one on one time, you'd probably do best with a morning appointment on a week day.
I had a great experience here. Zero stress and a whole lot of fun.
