5 stars for Lisa! this was my first time in Julie Allen and it was a wonderful experience. If I have any advice, please request her. She radiates positivity and was so warm and helpful. Although I did not find my dream dress, she made sure I felt comfortable and happy in each dress I tried on. You can tell she truly loves her job and her knowledge is bountiful. Thank you again Lisa! read more

I cannot recommend Julie Allen Bridals enough to anyone planning a wedding. They went above and beyond for me multiple times throughout the year I worked with them. We found that my mother needed to start chemotherapy immediately the week we were going to start dress shopping. We had one weekend to search for a dress before she started treatment during the pandemic and could no longer go out in public, and I refused to go dress shopping without my mom. Our first stop was Julie Allen Bridals. We reached out to them ahead of time and asked if we could have a photographer come and photograph us together in dresses while we shopped since she would be losing her hair, and we wanted to photograph her with her long locks. Not only did they agree to have a photographer come, but they offered to shoot the photos for us with one of their bridal consultants, Erica, who photographs her in her spare time. She refused to take any payment we offered. We found a fantastic dress at that first shop that had amazing sleeves I couldn't stop thinking about it the entire weekend while we kept looking and made the decision to move forward with Julie Allen. They were very accommodating about the alteration requests I had as I wanted to change some underskirt colors and vastly cut back the long train and worked with me every step of the way to get clarity and make sure the dress was exactly what I wanted. Yupa, my seamstress at Julie Allen was so warm and kind. She knew exactly what to do to alter the dress and add little additions here and there to make managing the dress easier. We did try adding some clear strips to the shoulders under the sheer fabric there to stop some redness where the dress rubbed, but it was far too distracting and reflective in the light. The owner herself, Melanie, spent the better part of an hour removing them herself! My mom is officially in remission a year later, and focusing on the wedding gave her something positive to look forward to as she fought. We are so glad we started our dress journey with Julie Allen Bridals, and they will always have a special place in our hearts as we reflect on our wedding planning experience. You won't get a better experience than here at Julie Allen Bridals. I'd come here again, but I'm not planning to get married again soon, so I'll have to recommend them to all my engaged friends instead. :) read more

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Julie Allen Bridals is amazing! They are kind, professional, and have an incredible selection of dresses. I worked with Melanie, and seriously she is a dress savant. I went in with a dress I wanted to try on in mind, but didn't love it. Melanie listened to what I liked and didn't like, and we chatted all about the wedding. She came out of the back with a dress that was so perfect it made me cry to put it on! Not only did she help find the most wonderful dress, she helped me coordinate getting it to California where I got married! Every step in the process was smooth, and even the tailors they work with are magic. I so appreciate Julie Allen Bridals for helping me feel so beautiful on my special day. I can't recommend more! read more

I was extremely saddened by our experience here. We had a family friend recommend it so we thought we would give it a shot. My sister, the bride, left crying because the sales associate was so nasty. Not that you'd know this because you failed to provide a true, personalized experience but my sister is a hardworking doctor who doesn't get a lot of free days off. As you might imagine, Covid has been tough on these frontline workers. We came in with an idea of what we wanted, but feedback was not listened to at all as dresses were tried on. Furthermore, I know they're samples, but a lot of the dresses were fairly tattered in areas. The sales associate was also so hung up on the fact that we had a specific dress that we liked at a previous store. We weren't married to that one, we just explained it was one she liked. It was actually beyond irritating how fixated she was on it. The appointment ended with her saying she had nothing left to show us repeatedly. My sister no longer wants to try on dresses anymore even at other stores because she fears having another experience like this so thanks for taking the happy wedding dress shopping experience away from my family. 50+ years in business means nothing if your best assets (your employees) don't know how to serve their clients. read more

Positives: After trying on several gowns, I was shown a dress from a reasonably-priced designer I had not previously considered. Even though I was larger than the sample size, the aesthetic and silhouette were exactly what I was looking for. The dress ultimately looked wonderful on me, photographed well, and perfectly matched our venue. Negatives: 1) Per other reviews, the alterations appointments were very inflexible. My three best friends all work in the healthcare industry (2 live out of state) and the shop would not negotiate a mutual time for one of them to come to learn how to fit me into and bustle the dress properly. The videos they made were only slightly helpful, leading to some frustration on my wedding day. 2) Also per other reviews, the alterations costs were misleading. It appears the ~$250 alterations package I paid for was just to hire the tailor (who in fairness was quite good) and pack the dress in a dress bag for transport--not pay the tailor for her services. That was quite a bit more. My questioning of this practice led to a very awkward and unpleasant discussion with the owner, which basically went nowhere. The dress had arrived fairly close to my wedding date, and I needed it quickly, so it was too late to negotiate a lower alterations price. My spouse and I could absorb the extra cost, but I worry about those on a tight budget.... In sum: if money is not an issue, JAB has some beautiful and reasonably-priced dresses. In my situation, their stylists made some skilled and appropriate recommendations. But for clarity, and to stay on budget, before committing to your purchase, be sure to carefully read the fine print on the receipt/contract re alterations costs and procedures. read more

I have been to five other bridal dress shops and none can compare to this experience. Stacy worked with us and she was truly amazing. Since I didn't know the style I wanted we went through many different type. She figured out what I wanted before I did and would pull the dresses I ended up loving. My appointment ended up being over 2:30 hours and I did not feel rushed as it was almost 9pm... she also played around with pricing to find the most affordable way of getting my vision to life. Thank you Stacy read more

I recently got married and bought my wedding dress from Julie Allen and it was a wonderful experience. They were very accommodating throughout the process, it was very easy for me to schedule my dress fittings. I had over 4 total dress fittings that took over an hour each because I was so indecisive and they never rushed me and always gave me an honest opinion. Yupa was my seamstress and she was absolutely amazing, she is SO talented and worked with me until the very end to make sure I was happy with the result. She is truly the greatest and I am forever thankful for Yupa! Lastly, the day before my flight for my wedding (destination wedding) my mom realized she forgot to pick up my dress, and Yupa helped us get in touch with the owner, who came in on her day off for us to pick up the dress! The store was a 3 hour drive for me and the distance made it hard at times, but the staff definitely made it worth it! I shopped around many stores when I was looking for my wedding dress and commitment of this store/staff was like no other - I highly recommend buying a dress from here! read more

Julie Allen bridals was the first place I went dress shopping. The consultant I had really listened to my vague vision and was great at showing me so many different dresses (because I wasn't sure what would look good on me) before she found the absolute perfect dress that captured everything I wanted. I didn't buy it immediately, and went to try on some other dresses. But I always thought about that dress and bought it. Despite having to postpone my 2020 wedding a year, the staff at Julie Allen was absolutely amazing and a huge pleasure to work with. Huge shout out to Melanie who personally helped me so much (including feeding me when I almost passed out because I forgot to eat before my first fitting) and the incredible seamstress. It was all perfect read more

Julie Allen Bridals - Bridal Near Me - Newtown, Connecticut

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What an amazing experience with Melanie. I came here looking to help my mom find a wedding dress. This is definitely a place all brides to be should come and try on a dress. Melanie is very hands on and goes above and beyond to help you find the dress you want "yes to the dress". There is a great selection of beautiful dresses and reasonable prices. read more

I didn't have a very good experience here, I went to 6 different bridal stores and thought julie allen and David's bridal were my least favorite. They had very limited plus size options even though I called beforehand and they said they had a lot. A lot of the dresses weren't my size to try on so it made it hard and a little embarrassing to try to "picture" what they would look like in my size. I also don't like the set up when you try on wedding dresses, pretty much you change into dresses right in front of your family so they see you try to squeeze into everything half naked. There were so many children screaming and yelling in the fitting room, the staff apologized for it but it just made my experience not fun. The other set up was of various tiny fitting rooms and a hallway almost like how you would try on clothes and kohls. So many other amazing bridal stores that were great for me, and fun! read more

My daughter bought her wedding gown from Julie Allen for her September 2023 wedding, and we couldn't have been happier with the experience. We were very fortunate to have Melanie help her with her search, and she totally nailed it! The staff was wonderful to deal with, and her seamstress did a terrific job on the alterations. We would highly recommend Julie Allen Bridal - they have been well known for so long, and they truly lived up to their reputation. read more

I definitely agree with other yelpers saying the staff was quite rude. I drove over 2+ hours every appointment due to me working in Enfield and living in Vernon at the time. With that said, I felt extremely rushed at every appointment. Once I actually picked my wedding dress- it was apparent that they did not care about the level of service I received anymore because they already locked me in. One of the staff members was actually really nice though- when the front desk workers were trying to rush me (I was waiting for my mother to arrive) she spoke to them and shut them up which I appreciated. Another kicker was the alterations. Additionally, as soon as I found my dress I knew I did not want the long extravagant train. It just wasn't me. I mentioned my concerns initially and the owner kept stressing that their store is the best because alterations will not exceed $250. So surprise surprise when I said I wanted my train cut down at the first fitting and she said it would cause $395!! I was APPALLED!! I voiced my concerns and the owner "graciously" lowered the price like $50 but still was insane. The only good part of this experience was the seamstress. She was kind and really wanted to make you feel beautiful. She was REAL not fake not rude or anything in between. Honestly she should be working the desk as well cause this store NEEDS a kind, welcoming person. 3 stars because my dress ended up being beautiful (due to the awesome seamstress) but -2 for poor customer service and bad attitudes all around. read more

I bought my wedding dress at Julie Allen Bridals and had a great experience trying on dresses at my first appointment. Once I'd paid for the $2,000 dress was when I started to feel my experience working with them took a turn. At my final fitting appointment, I arrived at 9:25, for my 9:30 appointment and waited over 40 minutes to see the seamstress. This was definitely not the seamstress' fault- Carmen is wonderful and doesn't handle the schedule- but it was inconvenient as I had other wedding appointments schedule that day and live an hour away. When my Mom and I asked the owner about the wait time, she was incredible discourteous and said the seamstress was with a customer and she couldn't rush her because she's an customer who deserved attention and we'd just have to understand and keep waiting. After almost an hour wait, we were rushed into the room by the owner who told the seamstress she only had so long to work with me because I had another appointment and the rest of my alterations/fitting were crammed into 10 minutes. I was not happy with this and this is not how I expect an expensive bridal boutique to treat brides. We were super polite about the wait time, but felt the owner's response was rude and disrespectful. Wasn't I a customer who deserved a thorough fitting too? I suppose that is just how Julie Allen treats customers *after* they have paid for a dress. They have beautiful dresses, but the staff leaves something to be desired. read more

I didn't come here for myself, but went with a friend to find her wedding dress. We are from the NYC area but my friend read about this place on a wedding site with rave reviews. The staff was extremely rude and kept pushing designs on her she did not like and openly objected to. After a few dresses, the attendant was getting flustered. The store did not let you peruse the racks of dresses on your own, leaving you dependent on them to provide *the* dress for you. Annoyed, the group my friend was with and I started picking through dresses. After finding a few, another sales associate rudely said "don't even bother looking at that rack, it's out of your price range" and loudly pronounced the price range not once or twice, but EIGHT times. You shouldn't be shamed for having a budget, but especially a pretty flexible one. I am positive this demeaning exchange was because the bride and her family were Hispanic. This store and staff were disgusting and there are better places to drop your money at. Support other businesses who are non-discriminatory. read more

I got my wedding dress from Julie Allen Bridals. I found a dress I liked online and Julie Allen was the closest shop that had it - an hour's drive away. I decided to go try it on since I had already tried on a bunch of dresses at local shops. Turns out it was the dress I had been waiting for, but unfortunately it was at Julie Allen. My mom and I didn't feel treated warmly by the staff there. Once I purchased the dress and went back for fittings, my first two fittings were both cancelled and rescheduled. I can understand one, but cancelling on me twice? And at my third and final fitting, we had to wait 45 minutes because they were running late. The seamstress also seemed very distracted whenever she was with us, and had to leave early from my first fitting. Luckily I was happy with my dress on my wedding day, but I wished I had purchased it from a different shop. read more

Great experience today. Went in with my friend who is looking for a mother of the bride gown. Worked with Pam who was wonderful. She fostered an atmosphere that created safety and ease and helped my friend find the dresses that were just right. Definitely a place to go when dress shopping! read more

This shop provided the best experience! I ended up purchasing a dress that I absolutely fell in love with. My consultant made sure to put me in dress styles that I wouldn't have picked online or off the rack just so I could really see what I liked and disliked about different styles. My initial appointment was on a Wednesday morning and we were the only ones there and I got a very personalized experience. We went back on Saturday morning (it was noticeably busier) and ended up purchasing my dress! I'd definitely recommend Julie Allen to anyone looking for a super personalized, detail oriented experience! read more

It took me a while to write my review about this bridal shop. This shop and it's staff is the best. Me and my daughter were shopping for her dress in August. We went to a few shops including this one. Needless to say we came back to this shop. The staff was exceptional along with the owner and her daughter. The took care of my daughter 100%. The helped her find her dress and veil. I the mother also tried on a few dresses also. But didn't buy anything at the time cause i was coming back to New York in the fall/winter. The service that we got i have never had anywhere else. I ended up returning to this shop in the middle of December cause I did go to Davids bridal in Scottsdale Arizona and there service was horrible even the 2nd time around. I came back to Ct and went to davids bridal near Ansonia and they were just as horrible!!! I took myself and daughter and one of her bridesmaid to Julie Allen. I ended up finding my and drress and the bridesmaids also. My daughter found her dress for her bridal shower and at an excellent price!!! I will never go anywhere for my special occasions. I traveled all the way to CT from AZ cause there customer service is the best. I would love to thank the owners Melanie and her daughter Lauren. The staff all the Liz's,Erica Lois and Robin and and all the other lady's!!! You lady's are the best!!! From the way you helped us try on dresses and the advice on what looks good on us you lady's are the best!!!!! read more

Love the ladies at Julie Allen!! Always on top of things, always helpful!! Not only did I use them for my wedding I had to go back to see these lovely ladies when a friend of mine had us get dresses from a different shop and that shop REFUSED to alter my dress at the last possible minute (which I needed done at the last possible minute cause I was 7 months pregnant). When I called Julie Allen to see if they could accommodate me they welcomed me with arms wide open, along with another bridesmaid that needed her dress fixed as well. I will forever use Julie Allen!! I do have some pointers for Brides shopping for gowns: 1. ALWAYS make and appointment!!! Think about how frustrated you would be if your sales person had to take time away from your appointment to work with a walk-in 2. Bring photos to styles you like andddd styles you don't like, everyone explains things differently and that really helps to narrow down some styles. 3. If the sales person, or the owner has a suggestion, listen to it!! Most likely they have been in the business longer then you have been looking for dresses so they might think of something you haven't! Wedding dress shopping can be a very emotional experience, but the ladies at Julie Allen kept me calm and extremely happy!!! read more

Julie Allen Bridals - Bridal Near Me - Newtown, Connecticut

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I agree with some of the other reviewers on this site that a few of the ladies who work at Julie Allen Bridals are very rude. My wedding dress came in several months early and they insisted that I come in and pay within 2 weeks of the dress coming in even though I live over an hour away and I have a very busy work schedule. The lady was very rude on the phone and I was honestly in tears. They require 80% deposit on wedding gowns which is huge compared to other places. The day I bought my dress, one of the ladies who worked there came over to the register to try to hustle me into purchasing a veil even though I had already told the sales lady I was working with that I wasn't sure and not today. It was a little uncomfortable and I felt very pressured. The only reason I give an extra star is because I thought the tailor did a great job. They have a maximum fee of 300 for standard alterations which I thought was reasonable. The alterations are only done on Tuesdays and Fridays so if you don't live close to the dress shop you'll have to take time off work. I would avoid this place if you have other options. They made the process more stressful, but in the end I was happy with the dress. read more

The consultants were in not attentive to my group. We had to show our dresses in the FITTING room because they either overbooked their schedule or just didn't really care about our group. So I had to change and get half naked with the entire party there. Way too many people and the shop is so tiny. I wasn't overly impressed with their selection. Bridesmaid dresses were around $250-300 when you can buy online for $100. Save yourself a trip here since the consultants don't actually help you pick out dresses. Online is the way to go. read more

I came to meet a bride for her dress shopping. I stood in the store for about 6 minutes before anyone even greeted myself and my sister in law. Then when the bride went off to try dresses on we were not able to go into the room. We understood it was small but expected to be able to see the dresses tried on. Another downfall of this place is that you cannot have any champagne. You can get your nails done and get champagne, but not here. It is supposed to be an exciting event and you want to celebrate. Staff doesn't really accommodate the conpany. read more

Julie Allen Bridals - Bridal Near Me - Newtown, Connecticut

I am appalled by how rudely this store owner treats her employees. I was there recently with my daughter and was so turned off by what I observed. The demeaning and condescending way with which this woman talks to the workers who drive her business was unbelievable. Needless to say, I left quietly and will never go back! No one has the right to treat others in the manner that I witnessed! read more

I just purchased a bridesmaid gown from Julie Allen for my sister's wedding, and having gotten married three years ago, I came off a truly wonderful experience with dress shopping elsewhere and I know that it's all about treating your brides and their maids with respect and courtesy. Julie Allen, I suspect, gets away with being rude to customers because there aren't many bridal shops around, and the entire experience left me pretty disappointed. I can't speak for the bride herself, so take my experience purely as a bridesmaid into account here. The times we visited during the week (aka when the shop was dead) were fine and the staff were accommodating and polite. But dare to take a trip there on a weekend (even with an appointment) and you'll be met with a cold shoulder and the attitude that you're nothing but a bother...even when you're dropping thousands of bucks on dresses. The alterations are not done in-house, so the seamstresses only have appointments available two days a week and you have to pay extra (at the place I bought my gown, alterations came included and the seamstresses were on hand during all business hours). When I told them I was out of town the week before the wedding, they scoffed at me as if it was MY fault they only have limited times available. They told our fellow bridesmaid that their Thursday alteration appointments "book months in advance." How can that be? Literally, how? Whatever. Then of course I go in and the seamstress has not done the job properly, requiring me to come back in 48 hours before the wedding. I live well over an hour away, so making multiple trips to this shop was hardly part of my plan but alas... All in all, the dress was beautiful, though the fit wasn't exactly perfect and I felt the dress ended up being too loose on top. But the bride's dress was beautiful so I guess that's all that matters. However, I'd never recommend friends to come here unless they can exclusively deal with them during the week, which is super helpful for the 99.9% of us that, I dunno, *work* during the week. They're simply too rude on busy weekends. Go elsewhere. UPDATE: I also wanted to update my review to add that I'd had the seamstress add in bra cups to my dress so I wouldn't have to wear a strapless bra, and by the time I got the dress home the next day, the cups were falling out of the dress. I took the dress to my local dry cleaner to have it cleaned and for $12, they inserted the bra cups in the dress in the proper way. Julie Allen lost another star for this, in my book. read more

Once again the lovely ladies at Julie Allen Bridal saved the day!!! My husband and I or pregnant with our first child and I am due in February 2016. I was also a bridesmaid in my friends wedding on November 20th 2015. When I contacted the dress shop in Orange that we purchased the bridesmaid dresses from I was told that there was nothing they could do about getting me a larger dress and we just had to hope that we would be able to take fabric from the other girls and add it to mine..... Not very comforting. Not to mention at 6 months pregnant I was growing weekly and they wouldn't alter my dress close enough to the wedding. So I reached out to Julie Allen bridal for help! Not only were they willing to wait until the absolute last minute to alter my dress (to accommodate growing baby) but they also were able to help another fellow bridesmaid who needed her dress taken in seeing she had just had her baby. The ladies at Julie Allen welcomed us with open arms and fixed our bridesmaid dress dilemma. I will forever be a client of Julie Allen Bridal!! Thanks again ladies for saving the day!!! read more

Julie Allen Bridals - I was also a Julie Allen Bride!!! Loved my dress and my bridesmaid dresses!!!! Thank you ladies!! Xo - Bridal Near Me - Newtown, Connecticut

I purchased my wedding gown and veil at Julie Allen Bridals and I cannot recommend them enough! I was a very stressed about picking my gown, as I have a scar in the middle of my chest that I wanted covered. The majority of gowns have a sweetheart neckline these days so it was very difficult for me to find a gown to my taste. I ended up going to 13 different bridal stores in southwest Connecticut as well as New York City. I tried on over 150 gowns over the course of a couple months. I saw it all! I had some very bad experiences at other stores. Several stores had me try on dresses outside my budget without telling me beforehand. Many had very pushy saleswomen and trying to sell me hideous, expensive gowns and a few made some very inappropriate comments about my weight that were completely uncalled for! Julie Allen Bridal's saleswomen were all very professional, informative, and not too pushy. Ultimately, I ended up initially finding my gown (Allure Bridal 9422) in New York City at Kleinfeld Bridal. It was the perfect detailed lace gown, with a scalloped train, a hint of pink lining, and a delicate illusion neckline that gave me the scar coverage I needed without looking too conservative. The price was definitely jacked up and the alterations costs were outrageous at Kleinfeld, not to mention my visit was rushed and factory-like. So I reached out to smaller stores closer to my hometown to see if they had the same dress available. Julie Allen Bridals did not have the gown available for my initial try on, but I was able to try on other gorgeous gowns that were all within my price range. At my second visit with my family, they were able to borrow the gown I wanted from another store. I appreciated it so much that they went out of their way to have the gown available for my Yes! moment with my loved ones. Not to mention, the gown was several hundred dollars less than at Kleinfeld and they extended a sale for me as my mother was flying in a couple days after their Allure trunk sale, and I did not want to say Yes! without her. It was a perfect moment. I had my gown altered at Julie Allen Bridal as well. The woman who did the alterations was very kind, she made me feel comfortable, and did fantastic work. The gown was perfectly fitted. I also purchased a veil from them which complemented the gown perfectly. Overall, it was a pleasure working with the women at Julie Allen Bridal and I cannot recommend them more. read more

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Took me as a walk in to get fitted for a bridesmaids dress. Very helpful, very knowledgeable and extremely friendly! If you're looking for a dress, or if you already have one picked out, they have it all!!! read more

My wedding day was Pi day, March 14, 2015. Julie Allen Bridals provided me with many joyful memories throughout my dress shopping experience. I booked an appointment in the Spring of 2014 with Lauren for my initial dress search, and was anxious about the day. My body type does not fit the mold of a typical boutique 0-12, but Lauren was able to pull dresses for me that fit, some enough to just hold and others actually zipped. I was pleasantly surprised by the selection they had for my size AND my budget. Everything I tried was beautiful and wouldn't break the bank. Lauren was kind, professional, and FAST! I had on at least 15 dresses that day in less than an hour and a half. Throughout the session I felt well attended to and well listened to. I was able to walk away from that first dress search finding two absolute favorites, and I knew I didn't need to look anywhere else. Julie Allen Bridals was nice enough to put me in for a few days away so that I could show the women in my life the dresses and have them help me decide. On that day, my family was treated like their family. They had muffins, candy, water and coffee available to us, and a nice open seating area so the ladies in my life could view my top two. The one that made me cry was the winner, and it was so beautiful to share my moment with the entire staff at Julie Allen. They were extremely complimentary and shared in my joy! Lauren and Melanie helped me find the perfect veil for the dress, and I felt like a gorgeous bride already. Receiving the dress from Allure took longer than anyone anticipated (by a few weeks), but the bridal salon is not to blame. It didn't matter since my wedding was in March 2015, and the dress was in by Autumn of 2014. I could've taken the dress to any tailor but I wanted to stay true to Julie Allen. My fitting with the seamstress was a piece of cake, and she is a lovely and personable woman. I knew immediately that she knew exactly what she was doing, and she listened and answered all the questions I had. She took her time with me. When the dress was ready for the final fitting, it fit me like a glove. She loved the dress on me, and so did I, and so did the staff and my family. A defining moment so close to my big day. I notice that there are negative reviews on this site, and I can't speak for everyone, but I believe booking appointments well in advance is key to your success here, or in any boutique. Julie Allen is not a dress factory like David's or Alfred Angelo, and that's one of the reasons I loved my experience so much. read more

Julie Allen Bridals - My gorgeous Allure Bridal gown from Julie Allen Bridals. Photo credit to Mike Yamin on March 14, 2015 at the Branford Library. - Bridal Near Me - Newtown, Connecticut

I ordered a bridesmaid dress for my brother's wedding which was gorgeous. I came in with my 5in heels 2 weeks before the wedding for my alterations. The seamstress had mentioned she was 80yrs old and retired but kept coming back so I left the faith of my dress in her hands assuming she was experienced. Upon my return 1 wk later, she had hemmed the dress to my ankles which was completely crooked, and tightened it so I couldn't breathe!! (mind you I'm pregnant). The owner and her gave me horrible attitude and said that perhaps those weren't the shoes I had originally came in with and that I was standing crooked and I was growing everyday which is why it's so tight. They were horrible. I had to run out and buy flats just to look decent. I would most certainly not recommend this place and most definitely avoid the seamstress!! As I was leaving, there were 5 women complaining re their alterations and the owner made a remark that perhaps they gained weight, absolutely appalling! read more

Getting married is supposed to be one of the happiest moments of your life, and wedding vendors usually try to resonate that feeling... unless you're shopping at Julie Allen Bridals!! My fiance and I were visiting CT from Florida because we're actually getting married in CT, and we were hunting for wedding venues/reception halls. We were driving when I spotted Julie Allen Bridals, and I asked her to please stop so we could go in (yes, my fiance and I are both women). Usually, bridal shops will tell you in one way or another that they serve clients by appointment only (with a sign on the door or whatnot). But this one had a sign that said, "Open! Come in!" So, we did! Needless to say, we were not made to feel welcome. The lady who "greeted" us (and I use that word loosely) looked at us like she had no idea what we were doing there. It was like she forgot that she worked at a store, and we had actually walked into her living room in the middle of dinner. We told her we wanted to look at wedding dresses, and she just looked at us like she couldn't be any more confused. She finally came around and asked me if I had any idea what I was looking for. I said no, and that I wanted to look at a few dresses to see what I liked. She then told us, in probably the rudest way she could, that they serviced customers by appointment only. We really had no idea that this was the case, and even if we did, she could have been a little more polite about it... especially after making us feel like we had just landed from Mars and decided to invade her store when we initially walked in. She then offered to let us take a look at some of the wedding dresses "in the back." Little did we know, "the back" was a cramped little room full of dresses that were zipped up inside plastic bags. There was no way to see anything in there; my fiance and I barely fit in the room! We told the lady that we would just come back another time, and we left. This was really the worst experience I've had in my wedding planning so far, and it left such a sour taste in my mouth. Our wedding planning has been so happy and peaceful, and we've enjoyed it so much together. This experience made us feel like we were being looked down upon, and it just turned us off entirely. I'm never setting foot in this store again, and I've warned our CT friends to not do so either. No soon-to-be-bride should feel ridiculed when she's shopping for her dress. read more

Really more like 3.5 stars. Julie Allen is a hidden treasure in Newtown. I only found out about it from a friend who came to see bridesmaid dresses for another wedding here. When we came here for our appointment, we were the only ones in the store. Very nice! I really loved how the store was set up - very private fitting areas, tastefully decorated. There was nothing tacky about it. It was a bit odd in another way, though. The woman helping us (owner, I believe) had me describe what I wanted, and then pulled dresses - without me even seeing the selection. All bridal gowns are kept in a separate, closed room. She brought out dress after dress that was not exactly what I wanted. After half a dozen of those, my mom finally asked if we could save the hassle and just go look at the dresses ourselves. Thankfully, we were granted permission (all dresses are in clear plastic coverings anyway, so not sure what the big deal was). The lady wasn't as pushy as others, but definitely had her own idea about what would look good on me and did have me try on some outrageous numbers (a pouffy tulle gown with giant appliqued flowers that would even make Cinderella cringe). Didn't find anything special here for myself, but its worth a visit. read more

I had the luck of coming in and it felt like a family affair from the get go. I was still in the looking stages of shopping, but after our experience here on our first visit, we determined we would make which ever purchase we would eventually make here, especially since they were so flexible and able to order and work with their brides. Erica was my consultant, but I did work with several of the staff members. They really take pride in knowing all of their inventory and knowing it well. Often I would say that there was a part of one dress that I liked and they would come up with several variation suggestions from their inventory that they would run and get. I truly felt pampered. Turns out that my experience was truly a family affair as I had family that had purchased their gowns from their old location in the past!! Truly special to know! I had a unique situation with a great deal of my wedding party being spread out all over the east coast, and they were amazing at working out the details to get dresses ordered and really help with the coordination of getting the orders done and on time, taking measurements from bridesmaids and ordering the proper dress if they were away. Tailoring is also done on site and was done very very well and was affordable, especially as I have heard all kinds of stories, I was truly impressed. Even my Mom found her Mother of the Bride dress here! The entire staff and family are truly amazing, and I have recommended this to countless friends, acquaintances, and just other brides to be that I have come into contact with. They truly know what they are doing, and do a quality job. I am currently working with them for the maid of honor from my wedding who now has her turn to get married! Again all the dresses will be going through their shop for the party, and they even were able to order the dress she wanted she found elsewhere since she really only wanted to do business with them! Now it is my turn to be the bridesmaid across country in California, and they have been great coordinating getting the dress ordered! Here's to another amazing wedding by Julie Allen Bridal! read more

If you'd like to truly know how this salon is please read the below. I just went today (7/21/18) and I couldn't wait to write a review. Nice trip from Stamford, went with one girlfriend from work and got to work with the lovely owner Melanie. Shop was busy when we walked in but we were greeted almost instantly by Liz who confirmed our appointment and then introduced us to boss lady! We got right down to business and I showed her quite a few pictures. Expert doesn't cut it, Melanie is running a shop that's been carried on for multiple generations and she has more experience than the years you probably lived. I certainly enjoy working with people who know what they are doing. She did not beat around the bush, was honest, and did so in a very friendly and appropriate manner. Everyone in the shop I met was wonderful, I felt like I knew them forever and as if I was family. Tried on close to 10 dresses, and even got to see the dress in the natural sunlight which is a must. Melanie let me know all the colors the dresses came in and even offered up a custom option which was very reasonable. I certainly like things that no one else has. Even nice patrons in the shop were very friendly and shared their opinions which was beyond nice. I've written quite a few reviews and seen even more, I don't understand how people can bad mouth this shop. I'm convinced they are just miserable people and don't care for customer service....that or don't know what solid customer service is. Prices are flexible with any budget and the alterations are reasonable as well. I have one more salon to visit on Long island, but I'm 110% positive I will be coming back to Julie Allen to SAY YES TO THE DRESS. Do yourself a favor and come visit Melanie and her lovely staff, they will be sure to make you look gorgeous and ensure your happily ever after. Bride to be....11/10/2019 read more

I have so far had an amazing experience here! They have an amazing selection compared to anywhere else around. Melanie the owner is exactly who you would want to help you with gown shopping-helpful, patient, honest and she knows her shit! And her daughter Lauren is amazing as well. She is attentive and goes above and beyond. Check out other bridal salons and you will find a poor selection, staff that doesn't know anything about weddings or bridal, or they are ovepriced. This shop is none of these! I read more

I went to this shop with my sister looking for her wedding dress and two other family members. A woman named Chris "helped" us at our appointment. Firstly, Chris was beyond rude and unprofessional. When I tried to turn a dress bag around and unzip it to view the dress she rudely said to me "So this is actually my job, and you can go sit down". If you don't want customers touching the gowns I understand, but there is a polite way of saying it which she did not even come close to. Then, my sister who to keep in mind is blessed with a near perfect body tried on a dress that the material shower the small imperfections in her thighs. After my sister pointed it out, Chris goes "yeah, this is a dress for someone who goes to the gym a lot". I couldn't believe it. Then the icing on the cake was multiple other workers opening the curtain of the dressing room when my sister was half naked asking if we needed any help. When my sister covered up and said that she was naked one simply responded "that's okay I'm so immune to bodies". That's not the point, my sister didn't want to be on display to the entire store! Ridiculously unprofessional atmosphere and rude workers. Would not recommend. Dresses are also very cheap quality. We actually left after only 20-30 minutes because we were so turned off by Chris and the other workers. read more

I'm not a customer of this place, not a bride, and not planning a wedding or getting fitted for a dress (and since I'm not a girl it would probably raise a few eyebrows if I did, lol). Because of that, I almost didn't write this review but I kind of feel like I have to. So here's the deal: I went to this place to meet a friend who was doing something wedding-clothes related. It was me (the one dude friend) and a handful of my friend's relatives (all women). I was only there for the tail end of the appointment, maybe 15 minutes. Everything was fine right up until we went, as a group, to leave. One of the people in the group was paying and having a little chat at the counter, taking their time because it was a slow social kind of thing. After a few minutes I realized that the woman behind the counter, a dour older blond with a severe Can-I-Talk-To-Your-Manager haircut, was glaring at me. Now, I'm not from New England and so I'm not used to the brisk way New Englanders interact with each other so I figured... I don't know, maybe that's just her face? and brushed it off. However, the glaring and staring went on for long enough that I started to feel a little uncomfortable. Still, I figured, probably just her face. It couldn't be some issue with me. I mean, yes I'm A Visible Gay, but it's not like I was twirling a rainbow flag around. I was dressed sharp (J Crew and Express, fresh haircut) so I know I didn't look sloppy or out of place. But then. Then she turned and addressed me with what I can only describe as half a sneer: "and who are you? the /ride/?" she said, bringing the conversation to a sort of stuttering halt. It became clear to me in that moment that she objected to me being there. I don't know why. I'm inclined to assume homophobia but who knows? What I do know is that whether you're from New England or not, straight, queer or whatever, you don't use that tone and make that face when you're talking to people. So I'm posting this review because Manager-Haircut, you were rude to me and implied that I didn't belong somewhere I had been invited. I think people planning their special day should be aware that their friends/loved ones might get a frigid cup of bitchiness if they patronize this establishment. And, in the words of Forrest Gump, that's all I have to say about that. read more

I bought my bridesmaid dress here for an out-of-state wedding, only because the shop had this particular dress. The salespeople were not friendly and basically left me all alone in the dressing room, never coming to check on me or see if I needed anything. I ordered the dress in August and was told it would take 3 months. By January, they had not even called me to explain the delay - I had to be the one to call them to figure out what was going with my dress and was finally able to pick it up in February. They did offer in-house alterations for $75, but I'm happy to take my business elsewhere, even if it costs me more money. read more

What a very lovely experience. I worked with Lauren and she was FABULOUS! I didn't have very high expectations going in because of the reviews, but I was so pleasantly surprised. First of all, Lauren made sure that my mom was able to relax and enjoy being the Mother of the Bride. Not every bridal shop does that. Second, Lauren listened to what I was looking for and almost every dress she brought in was appropriate. (Not all appropriate on my body, but that's not her problem). Also, she asked what my budget was. Not only did she not go over the budget, but the highest priced dress was still $200 under my high end. All of the women in the shop were so helpful and never once did I feel like I was being pressured so they could "make the sale." I want to buy my dress there, but because I live out of state, I think it would just be too complicated. That is literally the only reason. Champagne would get this place 5 stars :) read more

Very disappointing experience. We checked in with the front desk for our scheduled appointment but then had to wait 25 minutes before someone eventually came to ask if we needed help. The customer service was abysmal. Once we were finally showed to a changing room we had to chase down employees to help us. Far too many appointments and not enough staff. Felt very much like a wedding factory. Finally ended up leaving after waiting another 15 minutes for an answer to a simple color question. read more

I contacted Julie Allen Bridals after seeing that they are a vendor for Allure and Allure Couture and am extremely impressed by their customer service and flexibility so far. I am honestly not sure about the negative reviews posted by a few other yelpers, because my experience with this company, it's owners, and employees has been nothing but pleasant and inspiring. I had found an Allure Couture dress at another store that I undoubtedly liked, but the dress was in a gold color. I couldn't decide if it was THE dress without seeing it in white and they did not have it in that color and said it was unlikely I'd be able to find it at another shop nearby. After calling about ten different Bridal stores who were also carried the Allure Couture line, I emailed Julie Allen. Lauren responded quickly and professionally, and said that they while didn't personally have the dress in stock, she might be able to borrow it from another store in New York. She did just that, and within five days, the dress was ready and waiting for me at Julie Allen Bridals. Due to the fact that they're located an hour away from where I live and an hour and 20 minutes from my work, there was no way I'd be able to make a 2:30 appointment on a weekday and I had to attend a memorial service that Saturday. I was disappointed that this was their latest appointment time and that I'd have to wait longer to see and order the dress, but made an appointment for the following Thursday instead. Later that same day, I heard back from Lauren and Melanie with another option. Though they are typically closed on Sundays, Lauren and Melanie went out of their way to accommodate me and offer me a Sunday appointment, which shows the care and dedication they have toward their customers and business. When we arrived, Melanie had the dress waiting and I was able to put it on quickly and efficiently. She brought me out to the main room and three mirrors so my bridesmaid could see it and so we could FaceTime my mother so she could witness it, too. The dress itself was gorgeous and Melanie offered cups to insert into the dress when I inquired about a bra being built into it. She brought out a few veil options and a spotlight, since the day was gloomy and overcast, to give a better idea of what it would look like if it were a sunny day. She even brought us outside to see it in the natural light, too! Melanie was amazing and extremely helpful! Another benefit of ordering through their company was the price offered. It was less expensive than that offered by the other business and Melanie gave me an extra discount because we'd had to wait for the dress to come in to their store. Furthermore, the money I paid for the shipping of the dress was taken off the total cost of the dress, too. Melanie assured me that the highest cost of alterations would be a maximum of $395. Lastly, when I expressed concerns about being able to make the alteration appointments in time, Melanie said that they would work with me in terms of the timing by holding a later appointment for me. All in all, I couldn't ask for anything more from them! They made this process and decision easy, affordable, and seamless, which is quite impressive! Though I'd originally considered buying my dress from a local bridal store, the service, cost, and accommodations offered by Julie Allen changed my mind in a heartbeat. I'd recommend them to any bride looking for a variety of options at an affordable cost! Thank you, Melanie and Lauren for making this such a positive and enjoyable experience! It makes all the difference! I will update this review more after my mother has tried on dresses there and once I see how the fitting process goes! read more