Request for a 2nd bridal fitting

I've promised to blog more about my bridal experience with Destino bridal after my previous blog...but it takes me a long while before I can have some time to sit down and pen down my experience.. Before I continue, I would like to re-iterate that my blog review is solely base on my own experience and how I personally felt.. It's un-bias, it's non advertorial and I am not paid to write about them as well...

My point is simple, to share my marriage preparation journey to my readers and to recommend good vendors to bride to be whom is clueless, just like how when I first preparing for my own wedding..

So here I go:

After my 1st Bridal fitting @ Destino Bridal Gallery JB, I am very worried and felt uneasy... Somehow or rather I blame myself for making a reckless decision to choose them even when there are so many negative reviews about them.

This makes me think a lot.... Did I make the right decision to choose this bridal shop among thousands that I can choose from in Singapore & Johor Bahru. I am quite concerned will I look good in those gowns that I have selected as some of the selected gowns is very NOT my type (a more polite way of saying not nice and not appealing to my personal preferences) and seriously I am freaking out again.

Out of a sudden, I remember a fellow SGbrides forum friend, Doreen whom I have recommended to use Destino. I facebook chat with her and she seems to having the same experience with me; not very satisfied with the wedding gowns during the actual fitting.

After discussion with Doreen, I've decided to to call Joelle from Destino Bridal, as I personally felt I'm responsible for referring Doreen to Destino and even highly recommended them on SGbride and Perfectweddings forum.

Similarly I also think it's unfair to Joelle and Destino as well when we are unhappy and we did not inform them. Of course I would like to know how will she be able to help us, as we are sincerely a customer and bride to be whom just want to look our best and wanted to get the utmost for what we have paid. We are not set out to tarnished their good names or brand...

I've never regretted the call made to Joelle, she seems to be very receptive of my feedback, did respond to me rather professionally and did rectify by arranging me to go down for another trial.

What I am impressed is, she care to make a call to Doreen to check about her experience (the same day that I call and feedback to Joelle), as I did feedback to her Doreen's experience as well. (Of course, Doreen did gives me the permission to share about this, in fact she told me to inform Joelle her experience)

On the same day, I called Joelle again after Doreen informed me that Joelle did call her. I thanked her for following up on my feedback and deep down I am more relax now as at least the bridal shop which I engaged is not as "irresponsible" as other bridal shops that I have read... *sigh of relief*

Nevertheless, I hope my act of feedback to them didn't backfire and resulted a below mediocre after payment service from them...

We will wait and see again, how will my 2nd fitting turn out to be...

Bridal Fitting @ Destino Bridal Gallery

10th August 2013

Warning : Long winded naggy post

Today is our bridal schedule fitting at Destino bridal JB! I woke up at almost 11am only! Blame the late night the day before and the tiring door re-painting DIY for our house!

Call Mr Gil to wake up and waited for him to get dress! That guy need 1 hour to get ready (not that he groom himself well, its just his nature, slow!!)

We leave his house at 1215pm! Can you believe it?? Our fitting is set at 3pm at JB and 1215, we are still in Central of Singapore. I do have another agenda to do before the fitting ; exchange shoes at Padini and to have lunch.

I was mad, rush- mad and I nag at him non stop! ( I need to change this naggy habit of mine but Mr Gil slowness is driving me nuts)

Braved the long queue for bus 950, brave the human traffic at both Singapore and JB Checkpoint, we reached City Square JB at 155pm! Phew!!

As my cousin Nette is fetching me from City Square, I have some time to spare to exchange my shoes. Last week, I bought a pair of shoes from Padini and it doesn't seem to fit, so I went to exchange for a size bigger!

Me being a shopaholic for this upcoming wedding, saw another pair of shoes, Glitter Silver Platform... I was like WOW! Tried, Mr Gil says NICE! (He thought I chose this to replace the other one which I intend to exchange, haha)

When he says NICE which he seldom does, I need to buy this shoes!! and tada exchange done and I got  myself another pair of shoes! I bought 3 shoes in 2 weeks time!!

When I'm done, called Nette and she says she need to drop some stuff home then can come and fetch me so I waited for her... While wait, I was like.. Oh noes, I'm gonna be late for fitting. The girl from the bridal whom is in charge of my appointment even call to remind me not to be late... DUH!

Nette  reached JB City Square to fetch me about 225pm - 230pm, and we still need to have lunch together.. Jason (Nette's hubby) misses us much and have requested to have lunch together otherwise I would have grab a light bite at City Square.

Decided to eat at Jalan Serampang, opposite the bridal shop! We decided to have a quick lunch at Lavender Cafe & Bistro.

Foodwise is really so- so, slightly below mediocre and environment was like - acceptable only! Nothing much to choose on menu, guess I am too distracted by myself being late I don't have much appetite, hence nothing looks appetising.

So, I reached Destino at about 315pm, Joelle (the bridal executive), was no where at sight. Informed the receptionist I am here for fitting, was told to sit down and wait as the room for fitting is still occupied. Told me not to be late and yet the room is not ready?!?!?!

I was ushered to the fitting room at about 345pm only, if I were to reached before 3pm, I need to wait for 45mins!  I am not happy for the wait, actually but mantain my cool as I thought I need to be considerate.

Ushered into the room, another bridal assistance named Wan Yee came and assist me with the fiitng. She take my measurement and then tell me she will need to go and find gowns for me? I was like??? Now only you gonna go and find gowns for me? I thought you should have prepared some since I have informed you guys during my initial visit during paying deposit that what kinda gown I preferred and was assured that Joelle will take note and will tried her best to find beautiful and nice gown for me.

From a cool temperament, I turn warm now.... another incident or unhappiness, I surely surely not gonna be Ms Nice or Ms Polite anymore! Haha... When she bring in the gowns, I look at them, none of them are those that I tried, I still keep my cool thinking these maybe nicer but to my dismay, the gowns doesn't suite me and I find them old and awful! RM5399 and this is what I get!!

To add to my unhappiness, Wan Yee says, no photo taking allowed, although none of us taking photo at that point and deep inside me I wanted to take photo so that I can remember what I tried and I can choose what I want.. I voiced out my unhappiness for the first time, but in a calm and firm manner. I told Wan Yee, I paid so much and the point is I have paid, why can't I take photo and there's nothing I can do with the photo other than view and show my friend and ask for opinion?? She replied nicely says is the company policy and bla and if the company find out that if a customer take photo, her boss will deduct hers and Joelle salary. This point, I replied in a firmer way & obviously not happy after trying to nego with her. I told her not to lie and its obviously rubbish if her boss will deduct her salary in the event I took photo... I am in sales line and I know what kinda reason & tactics that sales/ customer servive used to  reject client request... I told her, you can ask your boss here and I can talk to her...

 As I felt cheated and at my ultimatum already, I told Wan Yee, if I want to stop and cancel everything now, can I get back my money, she muttered something like " no la bla bla", I snap and tell her I am serious, what now.

She quickly brush it off and distract me to try another gown... (Trying my best to be nice, I continue to try as I am not there to argue but to prepare for my wedding)

After a round of trying about 8 gowns, I shorlisted none! I told her I don't like the gown and these are not what shown to me during my initial stage before paying deposit. She then asked me if I have inform Joelle what I want, I snapped again says YES and I even whatsapp her... and yet none of these is what I want...

She excused herself and went out to find me more gowns and get Joelle in .. I guess my face is super long by now - fuming black andcertainly not a  friendly face. I can't get myself even to smile... I didn't talk much to Joelle and just told her to bring gowns that I like just as before when she showed me before me paying deposit..

Next, I got what I want... Wan Yee come in with more gowns which 1 or 2 of them is what I have viewed before... Slowly, I felt better (still not satisfied but better)...

Sneak preview of a gown that I didn't choose, haha!

Evening Gown - Pink

p/s Will continue to blog again soon..  time to bed after a super long day!

Destino Bridal Gallery, JB

Re-post from a thread I started in perfectweddings forum

Dear all BTB,

Just would like to create a thread for us to share about Destino Bridal Gallery in Johor Bahru Malaysia 

FYI, I am BTB in December and have signed up with them on May 9th 2013. I will share my experiences with this bridal from time to time here in this thread for references purpose. Just to clarify, I am not in one or other way related to them and the review here are solely base on my experiences

Other BTB who uses their services, please feel free to share your review here too be it good or bad!

My experience:

I am served by Joelle, a bubbly lady with a cute laughter. Frankly, she is someone whom is easy going and helpful but no doubts there are times I felt that her friendliness is all about the deal or the sales that she want from me.

I did not confirm on my first visit but love them the moments I went in and try their gowns! Their WG is gorgeous, whereas their EG is prominently lesser but still I manage to try 2.

I was promised a better discount if I go back to them (via whatsapp from Joelle) but when I go back, I wasn't being offer any better discount but I still signed on due to her customer service skill.

Overall - Moderately satisfied 

FYI - My package is RM5399! 

Why am I moderately satisfied only? Here's the reason...

As I didn't bring enough cash for the deposit, Joelle told me that her boss do not allowed RM 300 deposit, and asked me to use my SGD Credit Card which I refused!! Then I was told to withdraw money from a nearby ATM to make up the deposit to RM2000! I was a bit upset but figure it could be their "policy", so I obliged to top up my deposit to a certain amount and yes I did went to a nearby ATM to withdraw money ( I was drove there by Destino's staff and later part got scolded from my cousin as she says it's unsafe to let ppl drive me to withdraw) ....the balance I will be paying them by this week to make it RM2000!