Grace and Lace, Chelmsford

My only daughter is getting married next year and two weeks ago we went to Grace and Lace to look at the Lusan Mandongus collection which was being hosted in the Chelmsford branch that weekend. The assistant allocated to us was absolutely wonderful and SO patient (sorry I can't mention your name, but you know who you are, J!). My daughter couldn't decide between two dresses but there was absolutely no sales pressure, despite one dress being nearly £1,000 more than the other. She must have tried each dress on 20 times and even got one of the other assistants to try on the other dress at the same time so she could compare! In the end, she opted for the more expensive dress and is confident that she has made the right choice - something she may not have been had there been any sales pressure. All in all, it was a lovely experience for us both and one which I will remember always.

Having travelled from brentwood to try on dresses I entered the shop in a happy mood.

The lady who served me stated that as I'm so "small" only certain dresses will suit me.

She continued on to talk about how lovely tall people are in dresses making me feel like total rubbish.

She then pulled out a chiffon straight dress and said this is what I should go for and that she had been going it for years and as I'm do small il find it difficult to get a dress. Then again said how fortunate tall people are.

Well at 5 foot and 6 and a half stone I think I will get a dress and have never on all the dress shops been treated so badly.

I then asked to use the bathroom and she said there's one in the town centre.

A truly formidable experience- beware brides to be.

Lovely shops is recommend are:

Matchmakers

Serena bridal

Couture shop in chingford

Mia Sposa

All fantastic service.

After a shocking experience in the Colchester branch I was nervous about going to this branch - unfortunately they stock the bridesmaids dresses I am after.

I walked in, no appointment as I only wanted to asked about said BM dresses.

The woman on desk was rude and abrupt unless 'what do you want' is the normal way to greet customers.

Anyway I proceeded, explained what I was after & went to show her a picture & she said 'what's the number' I explained I didn't have it but would look. So I did a quick Internet search to try and find it when the woman said 'what does it look like' - I explained I had tried to show her - but pulled picture up again & she said 'oh we sold that' - that's it end of conversation, no helpful advice, nothing.

So out the shop we walked

Between Colchester and Chelmsford branch they have lost themselves not only my business in a wedding dress but also 4 bridesmaids dresses too.

I would never reccomend this shop to anyone!

I had an awful experience buying bridesmaid dresses from this shop. I ordered two bridesmaid dresses and one flower girl dress in October 2011 for my wedding in June 2012. I was told that they would be in the shop by the end of April 2012. I also requested swatches which never came despite numerous phone calls. So I decided to give up with the idea most brides have of matching the invitations etc to the colour of the bridesmaid dresses. By the middle of April I had not heard anything from the shop so I called them and was assured that the dresses would be in by the end of April. The end of April came and still heard nothing so phoned again, spoke to the manager who said that they weren't in yet but should be in the first week of May. This again came and went. The manager said that she would keep me updated which never happened unless I phoned her first! I phoned again in early May and she said that she contacted the supplier and they would be with them the latest the 19th May. Again this date, came and went, can you see a pattern emerging? This happened a few more times until it came to the end of May and I found out that the shop had told the suppliers that the wedding was in June 2013 so my dresses hadn't even started being made and they were coming from the far East. Not what a bride wants to be dealing with two weeks before the wedding. Needless to say, I had to cancel this order and start from scratch. Do not go here if you want to have a smooth ride and not get stressed beyond belief. Mistakes happen, but had they actually checked with the suppliers when I spoke to them the first time (or any other time) this issue would not have happened. Not impressed! An awful stressful experience.

After being let down by my first dress shop badly with 9 weeks to the wedding I had to try and get a new dress. I knew this would either be paying a lot of money to get it rush made or buying off the peg. One Saturday morning I walked into Grace and Lace with no appointment, and told a wonderful lady (who came from the Colchester shop) my problem. She immediately whisked me upstairs to see what was available to me. In the end I found the dress of my dreams! I have read other reviews that the staff can be a little unfriendly and I can see why people have said this. During my time there and going back for fittings there was a particular lady that didn't really seem to make an effort shall we say. In fact on the morning that I first visited the shop in all my panic she made a point of saying that they do not take walk-ins and I would have to go soon. Very abruptly. To which the lovely lady said but this women doesn't have a dress 8 weeks before her wedding! And that was the end of that. As for size complaints I am also your

Having been let down by another store in Chelmsford I would like to say how fantastic the ladies in Grace and Lace were. They sorted me out with a wedding dress and also all my accessories along with a bridesmaid dress for my daughter who is 6 (she loved it there too!) We only had 4 weeks to arrange everything and I must say Grace and Lace were really great. Thanks ladies xxx

Went into Grace and Lace on Saturday!!!! My wedding is only 4 weeks away. I had no idea that you even had to have an appointment at most wedding shops. None of the other shops in Chelmsford would let me try on as they all said appointments were necessary even though there were at least 3 staff doing nothing and from what I could see nobody even in the shop!!! I walked into Grace and Lace and they were really busy!!!! I can see why they are popular though. The very polite and understanding shop assistant explained that they currently had no changing rooms free but if I wanted to wait 15-20 minutes or go for a coffee an pop back that they could accomodate me. I had look round the shop picked the dresses I wanted to try then went for a coffee, relaxed by the river for another 10 mins before going back. The lady that helped me was great so patient!!! I hated all the wedding dresses I picked out so the lady ask if I would like her advice and picked some further dresses out for me! It was like she knew me better than I knew myself! All the dresses she choose for me looked great. One was THE DRESS!!! She picked out a beautiful side tiara that i'd never thought of with a beautiful veil and some gorgeous sparkly shoes!!! I bought the lot! I felt so relaxed and confident in my dress. I feel a million dollars in it! They also put my mind at ease about alterations as I'm only 5ft tall! They have booked me in for a fitting next week to have the dress pinned etc. And told me there was no problem for them to do it all in time. I met 4 of the staff whilst i was there and they all had such huge smiles and so did the other brides in the shop. I really felt at ease with the shop and can't wait to go back next week!!!! I would hugly recommend any Brides in Essex or further afield to visit especially and lastminute.com brides like me!!!! Love it love it love it!!!!!

I've just bought my wedding dress from Grace and Lace in Chelmsford. I am on such a tight budget for my wedding and went into the shop not knowing prices etc.

I'm getting married in May so I have to find a dress of the peg. They had just started their sale and i got a Maggie Sottero wedding dress that was £995 for just £499. Unlike other shops i've been to where the sale dresses look like something out of the ark the ones in Grace and laces sale were not only in really good condition but really gorgeous dresses. I have never found so many beautiful dresses on a sale rail before!!!

The staff in there were so nice and they were not at all judgemental about me leaving it so late to get my dress or my (little) budget. There was another lady trying on at the same time as me and it was nice to see the service I was recieving was exactly the same even though i'd imagine she would be spending about 3 times as much money with them. I'm going back next week for my 1st fitting and cannot wait to put my dress on again!

I would highly recomend Grace and Lace in Chelmsford to all xoxoxox

I have got to agree with you. The staff in Grace and Lace were supurb. From making the appointment on the phone where they fitted me in with little notice to trying on the gowns. I then went on to purchase my dream dress. I cannot wait for it to arrive now! They have relieved me of so much stress to the lead up to my wedding. I couldn't fault any of the ladies in there at all.

I made an appointment with this shop to go on a Saturday last October. I had already been to four other shops and was looking for a specific Maggie Sottero dress which they stock, all be it in 3 sizes too big but nethertheless i went along. i treid on about six dresses and couldnt decide between another one i had seen elsewhere. They ordered me a sample in, ok it cost me £50 for two samples but its well worth it to get a better idea.

The lady that dealt with me was the manageress hollie, she was brilliant and a credit to this shop. She gave the right amonut of advice on each dress. i returned in november to try my samples on and spent over an hour trying to deicde which one i was going to go for. hollie again dealt with me in a very nice and friendly manner. I finally chose the dress and went through payment options.

I left this shop feeling very refreshed, however i ma a bit of a bargain hunter so decided to hold on for a bit before ordering.

I phoned another shop which stock Maggie to get a quote for the dress in question. It worked out £40 cheaper as the alterations were included in the price of the dress.

i phoned Hollie and she matched the price i had been offered.

overall experience so far has been excellent.

The shop is really lovely. I like the fact that you get to share your experience with other Brides to be!!

i have been to a bridal shop where it is just you and the assistant which i thought id like..but getting to see others in the dresses was great!

am looking forward to my first fitting!!!