My normal dress alterations location was unfortunately closed for a few months during the pandemic, and was grateful to have found Connie here on yelp. She was quick with responding to communications and I felt her prices were fair with my timeline of wanting alterations completed for my dress. I didn't get any custom work or design done, but Connie was great in giving me the freedom to share my ideas as well as giving me ideas of her own. The dress ended up fitting great and very secure on the day of! Would definitely recommend Connie to anyone looking for dress alterations or any custom designs. She was so sweet and nice to work with. read more

I could not be any happier with the dress and shawl she made for me from my grandmother's kimono and obi. Exquisite workmanship, efficient, it was such a good experience working with her! I will definitely be returning for more dresses! read more

Connie made quick alterations for me in the few weeks right before my wedding. I didn't need much work done, but had a lot of issues with sizing for my dress which was made elsewhere in Orange County. So I was a bit anxious to get my dress to fit in time for my wedding and I didn't want to deal with driving up and down from OC again. I found Connie through Yelp and decided to trust her. She quickly made the alterations, was prompt in communications, which was so important for me since my wedding was literally under a month, and got the dress to fit beautifully. Pricing was fair too. She was very patient and kind. Highly recommend! read more

I don't usually write reviews, but Connie was the most professional, understanding, and sweet person I've ever met. I had the pleasure of having Connie make my dress for Prom. I had a few additional requests the day BEFORE, and she was super understanding and took me in and did it. I went to 2 proms, and when the dress got a little messed up after the first (was my fault), she allowed me to come back so she can sew some of the beads back on. Through all of this, she never got mad or upset. She remained super professional and sweet. Not to mention, she created the most beautiful dress I've ever seen. I would recommend her to anyone looking to get a dress made! read more

Connie Tao Designs - Bridal Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I wanted a custom Indo-Western dress for my wedding gown - my friend designed it, and Connie did a beautiful job making it! She is very talented, and she was able to make my dress from scratch at an affordable price. Connie is also a very pleasant, calm, and friendly person, which made the process of making my wedding dress all the better. I definitely recommend Connie, especially if you're looking to make a dress that is less traditional! read more

Connie Tao Designs - Bridal Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I went in for a quote for my wedding dress to get it altered and Connie was quick with giving me a quote . I tried on my dress she gave me a quote within 10 minutes (: Connie was very sweet and thoughtful ! read more

Connie did an amazing job on my dress, and her patience and dedication to helping me get it right was unparalleled! She had the amazing idea to stuff the sleeves with tulle so they'd stay puffy, and they truly did survive a cross country plane ride. As a short gal, she managed to get my hem just right even though the horsehair trim kept bucking upwards. Combined with some very reasonable prices, I don't think you could ask for anymore! read more

Connie Tao Designs - Bridal Near Me - Pasadena, California

This is an overdue post. My wedding was in March right before the COVID shutdown. I had started to plan my wedding in November/ December and was quite worried about the short time frame of 3-4 months to plan my wedding. I found Connie through Yelp and I liked the idea of bespoke dresses because I have a strict dress code as I observe the veil for my religion. I knew my dress would need long sleeves and a high neck and be full coverage (not sheer). I knew that if I went anywhere else so many alterations would have to be made to meet my criteria. So I went to Connie first because I figured why not get a dress custom made to my liking. When I first met Connie, she reassured me that she could have a wedding dress made in the time frame I had. She then proceeded to ask what kind of dress I wanted. I had been looking on pinterest but hadn't quite nailed my look. She really listened to my needs and wants and was very easy to talk to. She proceeded with a few sketches of my ideas and we narrowed down my vision. Along the way, we discussed specifically what material I wanted and lace patterns. She took into account my budget as well, which I appreciated. As time neared, I went in for several fittings and she guided me on several details. (I didn't have anyone else with me to give their opinions because my family lived a little out of the way...so talking it through with Connie was helpful). In the end, I was very happy with the final product. I received so many compliments on my big day. I felt like my dress was unique and very much me. I should add that I come from a very multicultural family and my original vision of my wedding dress was not a white gown. I don't even think white looks good on me! But I'd have to say my dress made me feel very special. I would recommend Connie! She's very talented! If you have a specific idea and you can't find it out there, I'm confident she could create your dream dress! read more

Connie Tao Designs - Bridal Near Me - Pasadena, California

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If you're looking for a custom gown or wedding dress alteration. Look no further. I first contacted Connie because of how beautiful her shop was. I had purchased my wedding dress from an Australian boutique and needed to have my dress tailored, to fit my frame better as the designer was in Australia, I had to look for options here in LA. I contacted Connie through email to set up our initial meeting and she was so lovely and professional, I knew my dress was in good hands. She gave suggestions but listened attentively to what I wanted. She had my dress for a couple months and when the date rolled closer, my dress was ready and it fit perfectly. I brought my bridesmaids with me to do the final fitting so they would learn how to tie my dress, the day of. Needless to say, Connie did a spectacular job and I would recommend her to everyone. Thank you Connie! read more

Connie took great care of my mother's 40 year old wedding gown that I ended up wearing for my wedding this past month. From the initial email communication to the final fitting, Connie has been great. She modernized the dress while keeping the original "feel". SO pleased with the result! read more

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Connie did the alterations for my wedding dress. My dress already fit me pretty well, but Connie was great at letting me know which alterations would be nice to have, and which were unrealistic or would cause me more problems down the line. She helped me take in the sleeves of my dress and helped adjusted one of them to increase range of motion on the second fitting. Everything went smoothly! read more

Connie is just the best! She is very skilled and will walk you through what the fabric and seams are capable of. I found a wedding dress that I really liked, but she turned it into something that I loved! The top was great, but the bottom skirt was a bit too billowy for me. She slimmed up the skirt and made it my dream dress! She is very patient and will go stepwise so that you aren't making huge changes that aren't right for the dress. I cannot recommend her enough! read more

Love Connie Tao designs! She did my custom transitional qipao and altered my wedding gown. Very flexible and can get things done in a timely manner. Highly recommend! read more

Although I did not end up buying a custom made dress, I highly recommend you visit Connie for at least a consultation! She is warm, patient and so helpful! Custom made dresses cost less than I expected, and take even less time (for this store, other stores take longer!) She is a 3rd generation dress maker and there are lots of unique designs at her store! I was very very close to getting a custom wedding dress... she is wonderful! read more

This review is long overdue. We had the pleasure of working with Connie last summer and she was amazing! My daughter was asked to be a flower girl and we wanted to make sure that the dress was as special as the celebration she was participating in. We found Connie, here on yelp, and booked a consultation. From our introduction to the sketch process and final fitting, Connie was phenomenal. And the final dress was as sweet as could be. My daughter was thrilled and the dress received rave reviews! read more

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Connie made the days leading up to my wedding day a little less stressful. I only needed to go in 2-3 times to get some needed alterations to my wedding dress. On the day of my wedding, my dress fit absolutely perfectly. Thank you so much! read more

Connie helped me with alterations for my wedding dress - she was great to work with and my dress turned out perfect! I appreciate her flexibility with my tight timelines and clear communication - definitely would go back for any future alteration needs! She was so pleasant and extremely professional. 11/10! read more

Had a great experience! Communication was easy and Connie was very helpful and friendly

Loved my experience here for alterations on my wedding dress. Reasonable pricing, kind, helpful and great work. Had several fittings to get my dress just right. Would send everyone here. read more

Connie is the BEST! She did alterations on my wedding dress, and wonderful to work with. She did exactly what I was hoping for, provided solutions to all my concerns, and was a delight to work with! She made this experience completely stress free. She also finished my dress incredibly fast, so really a bonus for brides on a tighter timeline! Would absolutely recommend Connie! read more

After trying on dresses at several different shops, decided to go with Connie for the following reasons: 1. She's incredibly talented, thoughtful and listens to what you want (which let's face it getting what you want is the most important part of YOUR wedding day) 2. She's thorough and has a detailed, organized process 3. Custom dresses are totally an options 4. Have you seen the dresses? 5. I really enjoyed working with her. Wedding planning is stressful and Connie makes it easy and that can mean so much In our initial meeting, I brought a few example pictures and we discussed what I liked and didn't like. She incorporated our discussion into a series of a few lovely hand drawn designs. We met again and discussed what I liked and tried on a few dresses that either had some of the features or similar silhouettes. As with most dresses, we met a few more times as the dress was being made to make sure the measurements were correct and to make a few minor design changes. I was so happy and excited to work with Connie, I ended up having her make my bridesmaid dresses as well. Every detail and penny counts (at least for most of us) and this was well worth the investment. read more

My biggest regret was not coming directly to Connie Tao Design first. I was dress shopping for over 2 years. And then I finally got fed up and settle with a dress for $$$$. And 6 months later, when the dress was finally ready I realized it wasn't the perfect dress for me. So initially I had went to Connie's to have a purple Qipao made and a 3rd short party dress. During my appt, I was able to try on some of her creations and fell in love with several dresses that were beautiful and had fit my frame better than the current one I purchased. And I had mentioned how unhappy I was with my wedding dress. Connie was so sweet and offer to redesign my dress because she felt the most important thing is to be happy on my day. And to no surprise, she made it perfect. All the dresses were perfect. The Qipao and wedding dress hugged my frame just right and the color and detailed bead work on the QiPao and party dress was beautiful. I received so many compliments on all the dresses that night. I cannot thank her enough for making me a HAPPY bride on my wedding day. read more

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There were so many dresses that I've tried on from other bridal shops but none were juuuuuust right. I liked elements of three different dresses and I wanted to combine them... So I found someone with high praises, Connie! Building your dream wedding dress from scratch ain't all sunshine and rainbows but if you have the right designer it's worth every moment. To do this with Connie every step of the way was like seeing an artist come alive. And the best part is knowing there's no one dress like mine! If I could give more stars I would. Why? I wouldn't consider myself bridezilla but I think I become extremely indecisive and my high maintenance personality comes out during wedding planning mode.. But Connie knew how to direct me to ease all my worries and indecisiveness. Even though I had an idea of what I liked, the tricky part was to see how to combine them in the most cohesive and beautiful way. There was so much to consider that I never thought about and everything seemed daunting. I had to decide on shape of the top, type of train, which lace pattern for which areas, the type of beading, how long or how high. But the best part of this entire process was you have an expert that takes your inspirations and puts them into your reality. Another reason why I love Connie and her work is not only because it's unique but the price for the quality can't be matched anywhere else. No need to keep looking elsewhere, message her and you'll see! I'd recommend Connie to my friends, strangers, mothers, and of course brides to be! Pictures to come after my wedding in two weeks!! read more

If you're looking for a custom gown in the SGV area, Connie is your person! Her professional attitude and easy-going nature makes designing a custom dress a breeze. She has so many great ideas and is able to execute them so well. I would definitely recommend Connie to anyone who wants something different! read more

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So happy I chose Connie to execute this time sensitive wedding dress. She is such a gem, adapts pretty fast to changes to deliver a product you're satisfied with. My short dress was all the rage, I get endless compliments on what chic statement it was. The process was easy, the quality of her work is great. I will definitely be using Connie's services again! Can't recommend enough. read more

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I cant say enough great things about Connie and and her talent. I brought in my dress for alterations and her services exceed my expectations. She was very straight forward, honest and kind. During our numerous visits, she never made me feel rushed or silly for asking so many questions. She was incredibly helpful when it came to deciding on which accessories would best fit the style of the dress. Had I have known prior to purchasing my wedding dress, I would have come to Connie for a custom dress or one of the dresses in her boutique. She is a true artist and has beautiful gowns! I am incredibly grateful to Connie for making my dress absolutely perfect. HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend Connie! Not to mention, her boutique is super cute and clean! read more

My wedding dress alterations turned out perfectly! With just four weeks' time, Connie tailored my gown and added a very handy arm loop. I always felt at ease in her studio. After two small COVID-aware ceremonies, I thought about repurposing the top half of my dress and turning it into a custom jumpsuit for a future reception. I'd entrust Connie for this design in a heartbeat! read more

Had the best experience working with Connie! My wedding gown needed minor alterations (shorten straps, add bust cups, add decorative buttons) and a bustle and it only took 1 month to get everything done. We did a total of three appointments: a consultation, a fitting after she altered the top of my dress, and a final appointment after she completed the bustle. Price was very reasonable and I would recommend anyone to Connie! read more

Connie is very professional. Very patient in explaining what needs to be done to the dress. She is also flexible and realistic. Would recommend. read more

Connie is AMAZING! Hands down, just amazing!! I came to her initially in May to have a dress modified to fit me better but she had a ton of other suggestions for me that I hadn't even considered. Instead of defaulting to the more expensive thing I thought I needed, she had more cost effective alternatives that made much more sense for me at the time. I just came back to her again this month to have my wedding gown altered, I'd purchased a used gown online and it had a couple tears and some dirt on the bottom of the skirt so I assumed I was looking at a number of repairs and costs, but again she came through with solutions that made much more sense. She patched up the tears and recommended I wait on shortening the skirt as I'm planning to elope in a national park and it'll just get dirty again. tl;dr if you're worried about a seamstress who's gonna "car salesman" you, you don't have to worry about that with Connie. She makes smart suggestions that actually make sense, if you're budget-minded she can suggest alternatives and work with you, she is super attentive and very helpful in making sure your wedding dress dreams come true. I'll be recommending her to any and all friends/family who need dress alterations. PS if you're worried about covid she is taking the right precautions, masks on, only one person at a time for appointments, and hand sanitizer and face shield at the ready for you in the dressing room. read more

I loveeeeeeeeeeee AND adore Connie! She was the sweetest vendor I've worked with for my very own wedding. My fiance and I booked our wedding reception venue as early as February but he did not propose until August because he just HAD to find the perfect ring. I told him that I wouldn't book any vendors until AFTER he's proposed. So I did not go wedding dress shopping until 3 months before our wedding in November. LUCKILY for me, I was referred to Connie by a client of mine. I wasn't sure what to expect because as we all know, "custom" ANYTHING comes with a hefty price tag. I reached out to Connie via e-mail first to see what I was getting myself into. I wanted to see if it was affordable to begin with. I sent her a lot of designs that I liked and she gave me a rough estimate so I decided to schedule an in person meeting with her to go over the details. My BF (at the time) dropped me off but he came in to the meeting anyway. Connie and I went over my designs and ideas, she took copious notes about what I liked and disliked on certain gowns, we walked through her beautiful and cute boutique and looked at some of her designs (they were all so beautiful) and I pointed out what I liked or didn't like so she can get an idea of what I was looking for. She then drew 4 sketches for me to choose from and it was so hard for me to decide because they all looked so pretty!! Eventually I went with the first sketch (this is a good sign because it means she knows what you want!) and only made changes to add more lace to the bodice. This was a personal preference because I wasn't a "skinny" bride. I wanted to create a silhouette so I would look more trim lol My ideal dress was going to be simple. It was going to be trumpet style with the gown being simple without any beading or embellishments. The bodice had light lace, capped lace sleeves and scalloped lace trimmings on the train. The final product was perfect. I wish I had my photos back from the photographer already so I share it on yelp. Not only did I order my wedding dress from Connie but I also had her custom make my evening gown AND my veil as well. The prices were very affordable, I would've paid the same amount if I were to purchase a pre-made dress and then got it altered to my measurements. So why not get it custom made to YOUR specifications? I saved myself a lot of time going wedding dress shopping and the headache of having to deal with price gouging from these retailers. The designer dress I had wanted would've cost me $2000-$4000 at a TRUNK show, meaning it's already semi-dated and probably been tried on once too many times by one too many brides and not to mention the other bridezillas that I would have to fight over when Connie could make it for me for a FRACTION of that price??? I got everything I needed from Connie at the budget I had set. I couldn't be happier. Now my only wish was that I could get married again (to the same husband) and throw another fantastic wedding party and wear pretty gowns all day lol. No joke, the husband has already agreed we can do a vow renewal in 5 yrs lol. Hopefully Connie can make me a new dress again then! read more

Connie Tao Designs - A non-professional photo of my wedding gown that Connie made for me. This was 1 of 2 dresses that I had custom made. LOVED IT!! - Bridal Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Connie is an amazing human being! My fiancé, now wife, had trouble deciding on a dress like most brides-to-be would. But in this case, it was 3 weeks before our wedding! She is a Godsend for wedding dresses! We had come to visit Connie a couple months before and liked her designs and work. We wanted to do some investigative shopping around to see if we can get a better value due to our tight budget. What a waste of time it was to go around to other places! No offense to the other places though because they were very helpful since it was one of those places that allowed my wife to fall in love with a mermaid dress she so strongly opposed to begin with. The treasure was right in front of our eyes and we passed it up! Time is money and so is gas, stress, and your family's time. Do yourself a favor and save the headaches by not looking at other places. There is a reason why Connie won Best of Pasadena Weekly. She WILL know what you are looking for. She WILL know your exact body type. She WILL work within your budget concerns. She WILL get you your dream dress within 2 weeks (certain conditions apply and may vary between brides and peak vs off peak season). She WILL work with you extremely thoroughly by sketching several sample ideas and looks and spending hours upon hours with you trying on dresses before even asking for a deposit to start making the dress. She WILL follow up with you every step of the way (for us it was every few days) to make sure you are happy with your product. She made appointments for us to come in every time there was an update so we can make comments, suggestions, and add ideas to the dress. My wife came in about 5 more times when Connie started making the dress because she was very meticulous on certain characteristics of the dress to make sure it matched the theme of our wedding. She WILL make sure you fit your wedding dress by making any adjustments or alterations before your big day (no additional charge since it's included with the cost of buying your dress so you can start the dress making process 6-12 months or more in advance and 1-2 weeks before your big day she will take measurements to make sure you fit in it perfectly). She WILL be reasonable with your budget as there are so many design choices, types, fabrics, decorations and more that she can work with. She WILL save you money on your dress. In the case with my wife, Connie made the bottom part (gown and train) attachable so that she could wear it as an evening/cocktail/reception dress. She can still wear the dress when we decide to renew our vows or celebrate our wedding anniversary or go out on a special dinner or event without putting on the full gown and train. She WILL be honest with you and secure your feelings. She WILL impress you and you will discover things about yourself. She WILL make the process fun and exciting. She WILL give you a unique and unforgettable experience that you will look back upon for many years to come. She WILL have the utmost patience that knows no bounds. You WILL NOT regret the decision to have Connie create a masterpiece for you. The list goes on and on. You just have to pay her a visit to fully understand everything I listed. The money you spend here is well worth its weight in gold. It's those precious moments and unforgettable memories that bring you back to why you are getting married to your significant other in the first place. One nice touch that Connie did for us was use one of the flower designs that was stitched onto the dress and create an individual piece to use as a memento. It was actually my wife's sister's idea. It was brilliant. She used the flower as a hair pin and that made the dress even more meaningful. She continues to use it as a hairpin to wear casually to remind her of our momentous celebration. This is the kind of experience you WILL NOT get anywhere else. Keep in mind that the person writing this is a guy, the husband who witnessed first hand amazing things Connie and her team (her mom and Daisy the comfort dog) can do! So if you're planning to get married soon, do yourself and your family a favor and go see Connie now! read more

[Below is a review from my wife] Before "Connie Tao Designs" was at a brick & mortar location, I had Connie make not only my traditional wedding dress, but also my Chinese wedding dress and my bridesmaids' dresses. I will preface this review with the fact that I've known Connie since kindergarten and am friends with her (which makes a further test of one's friendship to mix with business) but she delivered. Connie was great about talking with me conceptually about what I wanted in a wedding dress and the "look" I was going for (vintage, lace but not too fussy/heavy), and as a designer should be, she was tactfully honest, to make sure I would look the best on my big day. Her keen eye, attention to detail, and aspiration to make you the perfect wedding dress is unparalleled! At every fitting, she would notice if even one bead was off, and she never settled for "it looks good enough" and instead, made little changes to make sure the dress was "perfect for me." She was patient, professional, insightful, and fun to be around (wedding planning is stressful enough as it is). With Connie, you know your dress will be done and it will be done well. I've recommended her to friends and colleagues, and will continue to do so! read more

Connie altered my wedding dress twice! Once for my elopement and again for my wedding reception. She was honest about the alterations I did not need and told me my dress was a perfect fit. I had her adjust a few things for personal preference. The second alteration was to remove the train on my dress and it was quick and easy. Connie's attention to detail really impressed me. She had me come in for multiple fittings and made sure everything was perfect before my wedding. read more

Great help, dreamy result. Put in a lacebark to my wedding dress and added some details. Loved it. Thank you Connie

Connie Tao is the best, hands down the sweetest, most thoughtful, talented designer I had the pleasure to work with. I came to Connie with an image of a dress I wanted to wear at my wedding reception. The process was exciting as I got to see my dress in stages from paper patterns to the finished product. In the end, I loved my reception dress so much I didn't want to wear my wedding dress. I sold my wedding dress but kept my Connie Tao original not because I will ever fit it again (i may never lose my baby weight) but because I had such a wonderful experience with Connie. She isn't just an up and coming talent in the bridal world. She's extremely kind and genuine and I hope to work with her again someday soon =) read more

Connie Tao Designs - Bridal Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I am not surprised at all by the excellent Yelp reviews Connie is receiving- She and the rest of her team are incredibly talented, creative, accommodating and professional. Last fall, Connie designed my wedding gown and lace caftan and it was exactly as I had envisioned on my wedding day. Connie is so great what she does in part because she is a good listener, visionary and most of all, patient. I was surprised to learn that by having my custom wedding gown made by her I would end up saving about a thousand dollars and I was working with a tight wedding budget. I was considering a gown in a bridal boutique but wasn't in love with it or the price. She also has a variety of ready-to-wear gowns for all occasions for sale in her shop. Check this sweet bridal boutique out and have a chat with Connie- I promise you will be happy you did. read more

I am incredibly grateful to Connie Tao and her mother for handmaking the most beautiful wedding dress for me. She was kind, patient, unassuming, professional and not pushy whatsoever. She was genuine in all of her interactions with my family, friends and me. The dress is an absolute work of art. It felt great on and received many compliments. I highly recommend Connie Tao Designs! read more

Connie Tao Designs - Bridal Near Me - Pasadena, California

Connie is a magician - plain and simple. My client was going on Good Morning America and we needed a black jumpsuit in 48 hours. Connie came out to HER HOUSE, measured her, and turned a flawless form fitting piece around in no time. The client was beaming on GMA and so was I. Thank GOD for Connie Tao! read more

Connie Tao Designs - Connie Tao Designs on Good Morning America! - Bridal Near Me - Pasadena, California

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After a bridal alteration nightmare, I was terrified of tailors. Much searching lead to me to Connie, and I'm so glad it did. Her shop was lovely, and her vibe relaxed ((which if you know anything about doing "bridal" anything is NOT the norm)). I knew she was a full on dressmaker and I almost felt rude bringing her alterations. She was so so sweet and professional about it, she listened to and understood my every concern. I brought her a few different pieces, and talking clothes with Connie is like... so cool because you feel seen and heard, and like you're in it together. I wound up choosing a 1930's wedding gown to wear on my special day and I had no reservations what so ever about leaving it with her. She made it fit me beautifully and I am just.. forever grateful to her. I look forward to working with her again sometime, a great talent and lovely lady. read more