Ellie's Bridal Boutique

Ellie's bridal is a friendly and neat place to shop. they were helpful and understanding when my fiance and I decided to change a wedding date (we are in the army). Marie got my dress for 2 weeks only because the company has in stock my size. It was wonderful and pleasant experience. Special thanks to Sylvia - a seamstress, she is professional. Go to shop with Ellie's. Good luck!

Posted 09/24/09 | Report Abuse

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My daughter and I shopped at several bridal stores around Old town, McLean and Leesburg. Ellie's provided the best service and variety. They were very helpful, and pleasant. Spent alot of time with us vs. the other snooting OT shops. I'm actually buying my MOB outfit there, I liked them so much.
so be careful what you see online. some reviews are just not true.

Posted 09/22/09 | Report Abuse

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Just this past week, two workers and management were in an all out shouting and cussing fight...in front of all the customers. Oh...my...God...how unprofessional are the people at Ellie's to let this kind of display happen for all to see and hear? That led me to go online.

From all the reviews I'm reading online...(i.e. no offer of a refund after alterations problems, and unkept garments and surroundings) equal poor management. Isn't it the Manager's responsibility to be there for alterations and to make sure to check all dress alterations before it reaches the customer? Since I've rarely seen the owner at the store and If Marie is the Manager, isn't it her responsibility to make sure that the employees are trained properly, the shop is not dirty, cluttered, or have torn upkept dresses and a filthy bathroom? The store is just poorly managed. Period.

Granted, the service is friendly and that was the most inviting part of shopping at the bridal boutique. But organization, attention to detail and cleanliness of a bridal store are important too and all depend on who the management is. "Under New Management" brings in new business because people know that a better manager will mean hopefully better business practices.

Posted 09/06/09 | Report Abuse

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Marie was not great. She was inattentive and basically checked out mentally during my appointment. She told me at the beginning of my appointment "that we would have to hurry up cause she was getting out of her at 6 pm today." She disappeared for 15 minutes without a word and I thought she had gone to get more dresses. Nope she was just on to something else. She did this a couple of times. Like everyone else I found the store dirty, cramped, chaotic and just unwelcoming. Just save yourself the hassle and go elsewhere.

Posted 03/31/09 | Report Abuse

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As with most of the other reviews on this website, yes the store is cramped and full of dresses, yes Marie is WONDERFUL, yes the alterations leave a lot to be desired (somehow my dress ended up with black lint inside the hem and up into the dress that wasn't there in the first place) and yes Ellie is rude (if you can even get her to talk to you), cheap and a liar. You'd think that she'd be a nicer business lady but when you think about it, being brides who hopefully only are going to visit her store once for one wedding why bother with worrying about repeat customers. That being said, she can stand to take a few customer service lessons. The store's only saving grace is Marie. She's marvelous, professional, has an incredible memory for all her customers and without her the store would certainly go under. Incidentally, after MUCH discussion, I was able to get my money back from Ellie for the botched hem job with the lint that another seamstress had to remove. But she refused to pay for the additional charge to remove their mistake in the first place. (The dress was already in another state and I in another country.) I love my dress, but the service after finding it left much to be desired. Words of warning.

Posted 02/19/09 | Report Abuse

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I got my dress from Ellie's and worked with Marie who was great; however, every encounter I had with the owner, Ellie, was TERRIBLE. There was a spot on my dress when it first came in and 4-5 other people at the store recognized it and said they would clean it, then Ellie comes over and says she can't see it. Obviously, she was lying and Marie (as well as my mother and a bunch of other people) showed her specifically where the spot was. They cleaned it and it was fine. Then after I picked up the dress, we got another bill for the stick-on boobs that cost $80. The store claims that they were in the bag with the dress, but they definitely were not!!!! I tried to fight it for a few months, but Ellie never took the time to call me back. I would never shop there again or would I recommend the store to anyway. I hope Marie gets another job somewhere else because she was terrific!!

Posted 01/16/09 | Report Abuse

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Don't go to Ellie's Bridal Boutique!! I wish I had read the reviews before I dealt with Ellie's. Everything about the store was average - the sales people, the variety of dresses, etc. I found a dress that was OK and decided to order it. (My only excuse I can think of why I ordered the dress was wedding stress!) The dress arrived much later than they quoted me. The woman who answered the phone gave me wrong information about my dress several times. Finally the dress came in and I decided not to take the dress. I was willing to lose my deposit to get a better dress at another store. But they charged me the whole amount and didn't give me the dress. What crooks! I am still fighting with them months later!

Posted 12/20/08 | Report Abuse

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After having experienced two really bad bridal shops, I was very discouraged walking into Ellie's. I had just finished telling my BMs that maybe bridal shops are just rude...NOT SO! The second I walked into Ellie's, I was greeted by Marie. Marie, immediately, tended to me and asked me very important questions and knew exactly what I was looking for. She was very honest and very friendly. She is the BEST!!! If you go there, ask for Marie!! She is very professional and reassuring. I ended up finding my perfect dress. She will do everything to make sure you get what you want. Since I just ordered my dress, I have not experienced the alterations and am worried based on other people's reviews. I will definitely post a review after I get my dress and have it altered. As far as finding the dress, I would highly recommend Ellie's.

Posted 08/24/08 | Report Abuse

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Brides and bridesmaids beware!! This is not the shop for you. I ordered a dress from this shop on June 1st for a wedding on July 19th, paid $50 extra for supposedly "super rush shipping" and did not recieve my dress until July 12th, exactly one week before the wedding. To top it all off, when I went to pick up my dress I was totally ignored by the ignorant and untrained staff at the shop and there was noone to whom I could voice a complaint. If that isn't enough to make you reconsider shopping here, this will be: My dress was actually ordered in the wrong size (after they supposedly measured me) and when I tried it on it was not only 2 sizes too big but the seams in the sleeves had fallen out (or maybe never put in right). I ended up spending even more money having the dress taken waaaay in and fixing all of the unfinished and falling seams. All told I paid $50 for non-rush shipping, a markup on MSRP for the dress itself, a $15 I'm not even sure what it was for charge, plus tax of course, and obviously I took it to a different establishment for tailoring (which they charge $95 for at Ellie's). Please do not patronize this store, they deserve to go out of business.

Posted 07/14/08 | Report Abuse

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PROS: great service, personal attention (more so when they're not as busy), good selection, honest opinions on gowns

CONS: cluttered.. smaller store that gets crowded quickly

Posted 05/31/08 | Report Abuse

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If you are looking for a wedding dress, or any dress for that matter do yourself a favour and stay away from Ellie's Bridal Boutique located at 225 N. Washington St. Alexandria VA. They state on their website that they are a full service boutique that takes pride in it's relationships with it's brides. I experienced nothing even close to this. Two of the appointments I scheduled with them when I showed up there was nobody there. You will not be treated like a soon to be bride should be. You are treated as an inconvienence, not a customer spending a lot of money. Any time I called the store the only thing they were interested in was getting off the phone with me as quickly as they could. Buying a wedding dress should be a great experience, not a hassle. In the end the owner of the store yelled at me when I questioned as to why nobody was at the store for my scheduled appointment. She called me a "not nice person", and refused to do anything to make the situation better. Ellie is very rude and unapoligetic and blammed me for any mistake they made. Ellie basically told me she did not care when I said I would not recommend her to others. If you are looking for a great wedding dress experience make sure to buy your dress from any place but this one.

Posted 05/20/08 | Report Abuse

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I first found Ellie's while looking for BM dresses (I had already bought my gown). I've been back several times since because one of my BMs is also a bride and has purchased things from Ellie's. The store is quite small and definitely not as fancy-pants as some other places around this area. Not that there's anything wrong with the fancy places - I bought my gown from one of those - just don't expect to hear Chopin in the background and be offered a latte while you wait at Ellie's. On the other hand, the staff is a lot more down-to-earth than some of the snotty old marms at the other stores.

Because the store is so small, it gets crowded very quickly. If you go on a Saturday, there might only be 2 other brides there with you, but with their entourages and the inevitable walk-ins it will feel like a madhouse. If you are expecting white-glove service at this time, you will not get it. If you can be cool and come with a patient, self-help attitude it's fine. The place is less manic on weekdays.

Marie, who is one of the staff, is the absolute BEST. Somehow she remembers every single customer, by face and circumstance if not by name. She is so so helpful and so friendly, even when she's doing 6 things at once and trying to help everyone at the same time. She will give you an honest opinion about the things you try on rather than just trying to sell sell sell. One time I called her literally two minutes before the store was supposed to close, and she stayed late just for me so I could drive over and pick up a dress. When other staff members make mistakes, she is quick to sort out the problem.

I have not had any direct problems with Ellie, the owner, as some other posters on here have. But most of my interaction has been with Marie. They do have a new staff person who is not the sharpest knife in the drawer but Marie will take care of you. Every time I call or show up with a concern or question, she repeats to me that it is her job to take as much stress away from me as possible, and make sure all my concerns are allayed.

Even though the store is small, they have A LOT packed into it and they carry some lines you may not find elsewhere in this area. My BMs and I had so much fun looking through their dresses. It is MUCH better than Katherine's which is also quite small.

The shop may not have as much of a "relaxing" atmosphere as other places, but I think their service makes up for it. It's substance over style. I've referred my friends there. If you go, I would recommend asking for Marie and NOT making an appointment on a weekend afternoon when they are busiest.

Posted 05/03/08 | Report Abuse

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The staff was wonderful until I bought my dress, accessories AND prepaid for the necessary alterations. The seamtress totally botched up my dress and Ellie flat refused to refund any of my money - even the $300 for alterations. I went back 3 times trying to get it right and days before I had to leave town for my wedding, I took my unfinished dress somewhere else to be altered. Ellie was completely unapologetic - she did not care a whit. She is the most unprofessional person I have EVER done business with. I would have taken her to small claims court, but just got too busy after the wedding to get it done. I did report her to the Better Business Bureau.

Posted 02/04/08 | Report Abuse

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I know Ellie's gets a lot of bad reviews, but I had a fine experience. I made an appointment for a weekday when I knew it wouldn't be too busy. We were free to walk around and grab anything we wanted to try on, a nice change from our experience at Hannelores. I happened to find the perfect dress here, and it wasn't offered at any other store in the area so I went ahead and purchased it here. While we were there we noticed another bride seemed to be having trouble communicating with the seamstress. Also, the dress looked horrible on the bride. We knew right away we'd get it altered somewhere else. Also, I found the dress cheaper online and Ellie's went ahead and price matched. Find your seamstress elsewhere!

Posted 11/22/07 | Report Abuse

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This is the WORST bridal store in Old Town. Ellie is very rude. I cannot believe she is still in business! When you are going to spend money for a dress, a bride wants personal attention. It will not happen at Ellie's! Go somewhere else.

Posted 11/03/07 | Report Abuse

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Buying a wedding dress at Ellie's was a mistake. They were very friendly and helpful BEFORE the sale. After the sale I guess they think you are stuck. The gown did not fit at all. They kept making empty promises that the seamstress would fix it. She didn't. Three days before the wedding I realized it would never look good. Everyone told me it looked "fine," but who wants to look FINE on her wedding day? They even had the nerve to tell me to hide the flaws behind my bouquet. Well I just got my pictures back, and the flaws were visible. They made me pay $300 for the botched alterations. I agree with the previous comments - the staff was ok but the owner was extremely rude.

Posted 10/20/07 | Report Abuse

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Ellie's Bridal has the worst service!!! I had made two appointments at different times. One to look around and then one to try on a dress that I liked at the first appt. My experience those two times were okay, the lady who helped me was helpful and nice. Then I went recently to look at their bridesmaids dresses without an appointment and one of the ladies was extremely rude. I think she was the owner of the shop. We walked in and the lady that had helped me a couple of weeks ago was nice and said hello and she said that we can go right ahead and look at the bridesmaids dresses, but it might be a while to try on dresses because it was busy. We said that it was extremely fine and understandable. No one was looking in the bridesmaids section; they were all trying on wedding dresses, so we were NOT in anyone's way. Then the rude lady kept passing by us and saying that there won't be rooms for a while and mumbling something in her language and then finally we got fed up and said something to her because she was being so rude. We asked her what was the problem and she said that we come in there all the time without an appointment. We have been in there TWICE and each time we had an appointment! We said that the lady that helped me last time said it was fine to look around! She was extremely rude and kept repeating herself. It was a huge scene and the lady seemed like a crazy lady because we weren't rude or out of line at all. We told her that she must be mixed up because we only been there twice with appointments but she kept repeating herself. I don't know how anyone could act like this towards a customer AND a shop full of customers. I would NOT recommend Ellie's Bridal to anyone!!!

Posted 09/22/07 | Report Abuse

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"I have trouble giving this business even one star. My caution here is be sure about the dress you buy here and that your wedding is a definite one. Why? Because ALL SALES ARE FINAL!!!!!

I bought a dress and paid 1/2 that day in June. It went from the manikin, to a bag, and then to the store's storage room since my wedding wasn't going to be until December. My fiance is a military chaplain. He was to deploy in March but then it got moved up to December. We cancelled our big wedding, hence no need for a dress.

We found all of this out 3 weeks after buying the dress. Let me remind you that the only thing that Ellie did was move the dress from the floor to storage for three weeks. It never left her store.

Ellie was unwilling to refund my money, put the dress back on the floor for someone else to buy, nothing! It didn't matter that my husband to be was being deployed, died, or left me high and dry. Heartless!

Who wants to do business with a woman like this? I certainly don't. I hope you don't either."

Posted 09/10/07 | Report Abuse

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This was the third place I've gone to for a wedding dress, and it was a horrible experienced. Despite having an appointment, we were absolutely ignored by the staff, who never once helped pull out dresses or help me try them on. In fact, one employee complained to my friend, "just how many is she going to try?" after I had only tried six! The shoes they provide are absolutely filthy, and the dresses were often not much better.

There were some nice dresses there, but we walked out after being treating so poorly; by the way, we went to Hannelore's just before this WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT and were treated like princesses.

Posted 04/12/07 | Report Abuse

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I was a walk-in on a Saturday afternoon. The staff said that not only were I and my friend free to look around, we were able to try on once the scheduled appointments left, and the store staff turned their full attention on us at that time. Not sure if it was the owner, but the one thing I noticed (and appreciated) was that she <i>told</i> me if a dress didn't look good, rather than smiling and nodding in everything I came out (I checked the tags--her comments didn't have anything to do with the price). If they can, they'll make time for you. I really liked that. Selection is great for such a small store, and prices are comparable to David's with much better quality merchandise (in my opinion).

PROS: good selection, competitive prices, friendly staff
CONS:

Posted 07/07/06 | Report Abuse

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When planning my wedding this was my favorite bridal boutique!! This store has a great selection of wedding dresses at great prices. They also have a huge selection of bridesmaid dresses. They had many different designers of both wedding gowns and BM dresses. The staff (except for the owner) are all so helpful and really make your experience there a nice one. I had been to other stores, but loved the selection here. Watch out for the store owner though, she is very difficult and had my friend in tears over here wedding dress and actually stomped on it.

Posted 11/09/05 | Report Abuse

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Ellies bridal is a very nice place to shop for bridal dresses. I accompanied my best friend to shop for her wedding dress here. They had beautiful dresses but not a wide variety. We couldnt find what we wanted. The staff there was very friendly and not pushy. Recommended because they were very friendly and pleasant to shop, even though we couldnt find the dress we wanted.

Posted 10/01/05 | Report Abuse

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I will admit I visited this store without an appointment on what seemed to be a busy day. But I was only looking for veils, so I was not feeling like I needed to have an actual appointment. I got no service and while the other brides who were in the store were very nice, the staff kind of made me feel like my trying to look in a mirror with a veil on was a hassle because there were girls trying on gowns. I was very careful to approach the mirrors only when a girl was changing into her next dress, but the looks I got from the staff were not pleasant.

PROS:
CONS: Small shop

Posted 09/14/05 | Report Abuse

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