In today’s hive:
- maricris is looking for a hair stylist/makeup artist in the NY/NJ area and wants to know the cost for a typical trial and for the actual day travel expenses?
- Virginia is looking for a white lace bolero but hasn’t had any luck.
- honey is looking for a high-end salon to get a new hair style.
- Yvette wants to know if anyone knows how to create the fruit/veggie candle holders we featured last week. It looks easy but she needs your creative input.
- Tea got really bad service at David’s Bridal when she went to buy bridesmaid dresses. She wants to send a complaint letter to that branch, but should she also send one to corporate? And should she wait until after their dresses come in?
To add your question to the beehive, leave a comment below and we’ll update this post to include your question. See all past beehives here.
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55 Responses to “Beehive”
i was wondering, i had a really bad experience at david’s bridal recently when we went to look for bridesmaid dresses. the lady helping us was very condescending to the bride and us and just overall rude [she made the bride feel like she was doing everything wrong]. i want to write a complaint letter, but not sure to who. i figure i’d send one to that particular branch but should i also send one corporate or just at that branch? and should i wait until after i pick up my dress [we did buy our dresses that day...we're all super annoyed that she got our commission] or get it in now? tia!
Ooooo hm- thanks!!
yvette- i am considering this! but i like the votive cutter that hm found better. wonder if it work with peaches tho… they’re def more juicy and depending on what kind perhaps too soft??… hmmmm~ feel free to email me: peach@weddingbee.com
Tea–I would definitely send a letter to the main corporate headquarters, not just the branch. You want to make sure that someone who can hold the branch accountable reads it, so main HQ is necessary!
To send now or to send later…that’s a tougher question. One idea might be to call the branch and ask to speak with the manager and just try to talk about the problems. You should be able to tell very early in the conversation if the manager is going to be helpful or not. If she sounds receptive and concerned, I’d just tell her everything without worrying that the dresses will be affected. If she’s really on top of everything, letters may be unnecessary altogether. If she sounds like she’s just going to stick up for the awful salesperson, I’d cut the conversation short.
A final idea would be to call another DB in your area and ask if they can have the dresses shipped to their location so you never have to go back to the mean one.
Good luck! DBs are such hit or miss.
tea: i use this book as my model and have gotten results with EVERY letter i have written:
http://www.amazon.com/Shocked-Appalled-Dismayed-Letters-Complaint/dp/0375701206/sr=8-5/qid=1166556737/ref=sr_1_5/102-7972673-4079330?ie=UTF8&s=books
write to the person who can give you results; in your case, corporate and the branch manager can answer your complaint. i would suggest that you write your letter now, rather than wait.
be clear with the problem: make sure you are not just whining and actually explaining the problem.
what action do you want taken? do you want a refund, a discount, an apology? make sure it addresses the problem you stated, and is a reasonable response to your problem. you’re not going to get a free dress, but you may get a reduced price or free alterations and a new sales consultant. do not threaten.
expect a result. state that you would like a response within a specific time frame, or you will follow up with them.
good luck, and don’t let them treat you this way! it’s not okay, you are not okay with it, and you do not want it to continue!
Virginia- I was looking at this Essense of Austrailia lace bolero but I don’t think it’ll match my dress. But maybe you’ll like it too!
http://www.essensedesigns.com/files/onepiecefiles/D525.html
tea- I had a very bad experience at David’s Bridal too, I went there as my very first place… to look and try on dresses because I didn’t want to spend much on my dress. The girl that helped me was so rude and she didn’t put any effort into it. It made me not want to go anywhere to look for dresses. I thought everyone was going to be unfriendly and condescending like her, but after going to other bridal shops they were so much nicer and I found a MUCH MUCH NICER dress for almost the same price as the dress that I liked at David’s Bridal.
My question: anyone know a good, inexpensive hairdresser in the Ft. Lauderdale area (preferably near A1A and not in downtown)?
Tea~
You should definitely write to HQs. My best friend bought her dress from David’s Bridal last year and got TERRIBLE treatment when she went to get her dress altered. They actually made her cry. I’ve heard so many bad things about Davids Bridal.. I’m avoiding them at all costs.
If you look at the Christos website, http://www.christosbridal.com, CH71 (my dress!) is shown with a lace bolero. Perhaps you could look somewhere where Christos gowns are sold?
hi honey,
i go to christopher stanley salon and see paul cucinello for color. he doesn’t really do cuts, but he is absolutely the best with color!
Tea- I went into David’s Bridal to check out the bridesmaid dresses and they were rude and not at all helpful. I have heard other bad things about them from my friends who also said they received bad service and dealt with rude salespeople. I wouldn’t recommend them to anyone. I agree that you should write to corporate.
Penguin, that’s my dress! The lace jacket is beautiful and, the picture doesn’t show this very well, it has seed pearls and Swarovski crystals sewn onto the lace. It has a bit of sparkle but not so much that it’s tacky.
Tea, I had a bad experience with DB, too - specifically my sales consultant. They made me feel like nothing since I wanted a simple dress (less commission) and no pricey shoes, tiara or veil., and no BM dresses. To make matters worse, when my mom was checking out and I was getting measured for alterations, they told her I really wanted the veil and tiara that they’d shoved on my head. Luckily we caught it before we left, but that was over $300.
Personally, I waited until after I had my dress in hand. I didn’t want to take any chances!
VIRGINIA - BOLEROS
I had a bolero custom made for my wedding since I had a hard time finding one too - I would recommend meeting with a local dressmaker.
Here are other options…
http://www.mcbridal.com/boutiquegownsproductgallery.htm
http://www.mcbridal.com/lacetopsale.htm
http://www.marisabridals.com (view catalog)
http://www.bridalonlinestore.com/store/Jackets.asp
Someone mentioned MCBridal. My daughter is getting married in 4 weeks and paid Mia Callaway $3000 for her dress. She won’t answer email or phone calls for a month. My daughter doesn’t have a wedding dress and is out that money.
Irene- the same thing happened to me…I ordered my dress from mia callaway costing 2000+ and never received it…I had to go out a week before my wedding to find one…I’ve tried everything possible to get my money back with no luck…have you had any?
Just saw your blog. I was able to get back the first 1000 because it was on my credit card, but my daughter had sent checks for the other two payments of 1000 each and never got it back. Did you notice her website is posting again? My daughter had sent a Private Investigator and police to her door and she wouldn’t answer. You and my daughter should get together and try to do something.
i would love to get together with her to do something!!! My mom had mentioned going to the court house to take out a warrant against debtor (?) i think…but it looks like that might not work either. i’ve ran out of ideas and a lawyer is going to cost us way too much! we just need to make it as hard as possible for her to do business!!!
i’ve contatcted paypal, the knot and the better business bureau…none of them can do anything for me 
if its easier you can email me directly at daenpear@hotmail.com
It is amazing that no one can do anything to warn brides about Mia Callaway - she takes their money and leaves them without a wedding dress and no time to get a decent replacement. Nothing was added to her website for 6 months, but she is now posting and advertising again. Don’t know how she sleeps at night. Anyone have any ideas?
Wow, I am glad I visited this site. I know this thread is a little old, but I was just on the Mia Callaway website. I won’t be buying a dress there!
Mia Callaway is one of the best wedding gown designers in the country. She’s also a great person.
Unfortunately over the past 2 years her family and internet business has been targetted by a group of unscrupulous people and she was unable to work for several months last year.
Fortunately, as of August 2008, All of her clients have been taken care of and no one is left dissatisfied with her service.
Please do not continue to slander her and her business practices on the public internet. The MCBridal Collection is currently being preparing for Spring 2009 Bridal Market.
In response to the above post, I have to say HOW DARE YOU. No matter what is supposedly happening in your personal life, there is no excuse for what was done to these two brides (and who knows how many others). They frantically called and emailed Mia trying to find out about their gowns and this “great person” never returned a call to at least tell them she couldn’t make the dresses and return their money. A few weeks before their weddings they had to go out and buy dresses off the rack which they just settled for. Mia still refuses to return the thousands she owes them. Even if they do get that money back from their pending lawsuits, it will never make up for the stress and the unbelievable disappointment. Every girl dreams about her wedding day and she turned theirs into a nightmare. I know that I and all the brides she ripped off will have to warn everyone if she ever comes out with a Spring 2009 line. We would never want this to happen to anyone else.
well UNFORTUNATELY i’m one of those clients that HAS NOT been taken care of! I got married a year ago and i havent seen a dime of my money that i’ve paid her!
I am another one of those brides that she has not compensated. I was married in May of 2007, and had to buy a dress off the rack at David’s Bridal 10 days before my wedding because I was out $3,000.00, and had no dress to show for it. And Ms. Callaway knows that I am not satisfied or compensated as she called my attorney and yelled at him after I sued her. McBridal Rep, it’s not slander if it’s true, so you may want to brush up on your legal causes of action.
A little more info on this terrible situation. We connected with another bride on this site. My daughter’s wedding was in May 07 and hers was in August. While she was not returning our desperate phone calls in April and May, she was returning the other bride’s during that time. She kept returning her phone calls until Mia received the bride’s last monthly payment and then Mia stopped returning her phone calls too.
I think Mia Callaway’s eBay seller name is “bridalrep” (the background behind the dresses and tops looks the same as that on her former website).
Here is a link to a current auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=170252606814&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=007
Stephanie, thanks, that is really interesting. That is definitely her stuff. If it’s her selling it (and it probably is) she must know she can’t get away with that on ebay.
I thought that you may want to know that the definition of slander is … Falsely spoken words that tend to damage the reputation of another. You may also want to know that slander is limited to false remarks inasmuch as truth is an absolute defense to an action for slander. As there are brides on this site who never received their gowns and still have yet to receive their money I can safely say that you have absolutely no course of action. In other words… don’t use words you don’t know the meaning and use of.
To the ladies…Thank you so much for creating this post. You have saved my a great deal of heartache. I pray you find justice.
FYI it looks like she changed her ebay name to weddingdresslady.
I cannot believe she is selling items on Ebay and still owes people money! How ridiculous.
If she has changed her name to “weddingdresslady” (this does indeed seem to be the case), then someone should alert eBay. The “bridalrep” account is “no longer a registered user” on eBay. Usually (but not always) that means eBay has shut down the account for abuse, dishonest listings, owing another member money, etc.
I am so sorry to all the brides this “lady” has hurt.
Kate, Stone and Stephanie:
Are you POSITIVE in your knowledge that Mia Callaway - the individual; is selling items on Ebay?
And if so, just HOW WOULD you know that “bridalrep” has made a name change on that same website?
Here’s a question for y’all to ponder:
Do you do feel about ILLEGAL SURVEILLENCE?
The term you need to define for yourselves is “Libel”.
I suggest you people cease and desist with this conversation, because we don’t like it. 
Dear MCBridal Rep:
Nope, not “positive” which is why I wrote “IF” - (You can see for yourself that the pics have the same background and the same style mannequin that was formerly on the McBridal.com website. So it is my OPINION that unless Ms. Callaway gave permission to “weddingdresslady” to use her photos or her dress shop as a background for others to photograph, then it would certainly appear to be the same seller, or perhaps a friend or family member of Ms. Callaway). Please note: I also wrote “I think” - None of my posts state that I know anything with 100% certainty (please re-read for clarification).f
You think we should “cease and desist” with this conversation because you “don’t like it”?? Sorry to inform you, but the 1st Amendment of our Constitution allows me to state my OPINION. If you don’t like it, too bad. If the above stories from Irene, Dana, and Laura are true, then perhaps Ms. Callaway should have considered the consequences of her alleged behavior and the devastation caused to these brides; We reap what we sow.
FYI: On the three auctions created by weddingdresslady, it clearly states the copyright symbol followed by “MCBridal Collections 1999-2008″ at the bottom of each.
Illegal surveillance?? Looking on Ebay and drawing conclusions that don’t seem too far off is considered libel? Like Stephanie just said, it clearly states: “MCBridal Collections 1999-2008″ on the bottom of the webpage. Anyone using Ebay would most likely assume that “weddingdresslady” is affiliated with MCBridal Collections.
Furthermore, what did anyone say that is libelous? That she may be selling items on Ebay, and if so it is ridiculous? That doesn’t equal libel. After all, truth is an absolute defense in the US.
This is absolutely incredible. Just as I am sure bridalrep and weddingdresslady is Mia Callaway herself, so is McBridal Rep. When we were dealing with her, there was no staff. “we don’t like it”, unbelievable, just like the rest of the posts from McBridal Rep. Since you are so chatty now after over a year of silence, maybe now you can stop avoiding what this is all about and explain why you took money from Laura and Dana, left them without gowns, wouldn’t call them back, called Laura’s attorney screaming that you paid them back when you know you didn’t, and on and on. There can be no good explanation for that but it is amazing that you are going on and on as if you are the victim here. “Libel”, “illegal surveillance” - what about larceny, what about internet fraud, what about thievery and just being amazingly cruel and heartless. Why don’t we talk about that.
It seems that MC Bridal Rep, weddingdresslady and bridalrep are all Mia herself. It takes a brave person to talk big on the internet. Like I said before, this type of message board is great for the consumer AND vendors…the good vendors, of course. I am still glad I found this board. I hope Laura and Dana receive their money back.
One more thing: why can’t MC Bridal just ANSWER why people have not been compensated? Isn’t that most important question?
McBridal Rep: Let’s look at the facts here. There are 2 women just on this site alone who ordered gowns from Mia Calloway. They never received the gown and never got their money, therefore slander does not apply. However, Ms. Calloway may want to look up the definitions of larceny, fraud and breach of contract, as those do apply.
Although this may all just be circumstantial, it is interesting nonetheless that on 8/24/2008 Stephanie found Mia Calloway items on eBay being sold by “bridalrep” and posted the link. These items clearly noted a copy right by McBridal rep. Within 2 days of Stephanie’s post “bridalrep” was no longer offering those items and was no longer a seller. On 9/15/2008 I found Mia Calloway items on eBay being sold by “weddingdresslady” out of Atlanta, Georgia. And again, as of this date, 9/17/2008, those items are no longer on the site and “weddingdresslady” is no longer a seller. Additionally, it’s interesting to note that “weddingdresslady” was a new seller as of 8/26/2008, just 2 days after Stephanie’s post.
As far as libel and illegal surveillance we find ourselves again in a situation where you have clearly not understood the definitions or how to use the words accurately. As nothing false has been written we can continue to say what ever we want and libel does not apply. And finally, as we are posting our thoughts, comments and opinions on an open forum, that you easily found, surveillance clearly does not apply let alone anything illegal.
My suggestion is to simply pay these ladies their money and move on. Everything that has been posted here can be used against Ms. Calloway in court so all you’re doing is adding fuel to the fire. Not very proffesional if you are indeed Ms. Calloway’s Representative.
Stone,
Thanks, those are the legal terms I couldn’t think of because I was so steamed and wrote that so fast.
Hi All!
Stone,
I’m not sure if there were other, older listings by weddingdresslady that you saw, but as of right now, eBay shows that she still has the following three items for sale:
1) http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=280266536236&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=018
These were the three items that I was referring to when I wrote that they all had the copyright symbol and “MCBridal Collections 1999-2008″ at the bottom.
I wonder why “Bridalrep” is “no longer a registered user” - She had a 100% positive rating. Very strange indeed…
Thoughts?
I too, am so thankful for boards like these…Amen!!
That’s so odd because I tried to find those items again to see if they had the copyright and nothing was coming up. I even did a seller search. Oh well.
You know it’s a real shame because the items are gorgeous. She has really done herself an injustice by having such appalling business practices.
We notice quite a bit of conjecture here.
To Irene Falcone,
MCBridal does not owe you anything.
Covert Surveillence is ILLEGAL in the United States and you are placing yourself squarely in the middle of something you obviously do not understand.
You need to shut your mouth about Mia Callaway.
Just answer one question - you don’t feel you did anything wrong in taking thousands of dollars and leaving them with no wedding dresses????? You know what - forget it - you are totally irrational. “Covert Surveillence” - this is getting too creepy. We will let Laura’s and Dana’s attorney handle this now. As you know their attorney also happens to be Laura’s husband. As you also know, Laura is also an attorney so you can stop throwing around those misplaced legal terms.
It’s a message board, we are allowed conjecture.
“You need to shut your mouth about Mia Callway”, sounds like a threat to me. No has threatened Mia..oops, I mean MCBridal Representative. We have just been commenting on some interesting things found on the PUBLIC INTERNET.
Oh, and by the way, it’s SURVEILLANCE. Look it up. Searching the web and using Google doesn’t fall under “covert surveillance”. Someone must be new to the internet.
As of right now, when anyone googles “Mia Callaway” this thread is the very first hit they see. That will be hard for her to get around, especially for an online-based business. If you’re buying an expensive wedding dress that you’ve never seen in person, much less tried on, there has to be a huge element of trust between the customer and the company. Good luck with that part, Mia.
As I said before, we reap what we sow.
Irene Falcone-
MCBridal did not take thousands of dollars from you - nor were monies taken from ANY OTHER BRIDES. You’re lying and you are trying to exact some type of vengeful vendetta.
The FRIVILOUS lawsuit that you filed in January 2008 was not heard and thrown out of court.
I strongly suggest that all of you people stop libeling Mia Callaway and her business practices on this board. I also strongly suggest that you people stop paying attention to the conversation you’re hearing on that public feed.
excuse me….but i’m one of those ‘other brides’ and mia owes me 2242.95 to be exact! and i have receipts to prove it! so maybe you should stop lying! this whole situation could have been avoided if you would have just sent us our REFUNDS!!! i received an email from mia dated 3/3/2008 stating that i would receive a full refund once this ‘gang stalking operation is OVER’ and that it would come in form of a check…well guess what…i havent received a check yet!
why would we make this up?!?!?!
Why are you doing this to yourself??? You’re the one who is ruining your business. When my daughter was looking for a wedding gown, she couldn’t find anything she liked until she went on your website and fell in love with this gown - it was her dream dress. That is why she was so devastated when she didn’t get it. When she told me she was going to order a dress for that much money online, I told her she was crazy. So we did a lot of “covert surveillance” and I was satisfied. Everyone raved about your services and your dresses, you were even in bridal magazines. That is why I believe something really bad did happen to you last year to cause you to do something this terrible. It is a shame because you have a gift and if you would have come back and explained, apologized and returned their money, all this wouldn’t be happening. Maybe it still isn’t too late. if you apologize and explain and return the money, all this could go away and you would have a chance to start your business again. By the way, my son-in-law did get judgements against you in their respective courts for Laura and Dana and now has to arrange to collect in Georgia. If it goes that far and you never admit guilt, you don’t have a chance of selling another gown. It’s up to you.
As evidenced by The Irene Falcone’s ongoing comments - the Gang Stalking Operation that has been taking place over the past two years in Georgia is not yet over.
Since you’ve now confessed your active involvement in this operation; you must be aware that you are now being investigated for your “covert surveillence” activities involving an individual and her private business.
You do not have any jurisdiction nor control over Mia Callaway.
Furthermore, you will never have another opportunity to surveille and monitor the private lives and businesses of American Citizens again.
I’d strongly suggest that you locate an attorney for yourself before posting additional commentary on this board.
Wow. I hope that you get the help that you so obviously need.
LOL! Someone is either paranoid, or trying to be entertaining. Too bad for the people who were ripped off because I doubt it is entertaining for them.
Private business?? Selling things on Ebay isn’t private. I wonder if the IRS thinks it’s “private”.
Holy crap I don’t know if I should laugh or be sad for how pathetic a scare tactic that is. Seriously, though fuel for the fire, fuel for the fire. Clearly you haven’t spoken to an attorney because (s)he would be telling you to stop all communication right now. Fuel for the fire
Beehive
Feature Launched: Aug 31, 2006
About: A forum for readers to post questions and get feedback from the hive, aka the weddingbee community.
solutions sells a votive cutter that you could use on fruits and soft veggies:
http://www.solutions.com/jump.jsp?itemID=10011&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1,2,10181&iProductID=10011