Laughing Brook Designs

I found Andrea at Field's Fabrics in January, 2013, where she worked part-time. I asked re: making dresses for my wedding, May 25, 2013. We realized when she gave me her business card that she was the sister to a boy I had treated for severe speech therapy needs when they were children. I also knew the mother quite well and did some private work for a ministry she established with other children in need. We were very excited to run into each other after all this time.
I agreed with Andrea's fees of $100.00 per dress (simple knee length dresses), $10.00 per shawls, and $50 per man's shirts, plus the cost of material. She used her employee discount to buy the needed materials. I paid no money upfront. I asked that my dress be done asap, so the ladies dresses could be done after that. I asked for all to be done by April 1, 2013.
Immediately I had difficulty getting a hold of her. I would leave messages on her phone (when it wasn't full), send emails with no response for over a week. I finally got a hold of her 10 days later by leaving the message that if I didn't hear from her, I would need to go elsewhere. She assured me all was well and things would be done on time.  Initially I wanted to get her the patterns and have my measurements taken. This taking charge was what was needed throughout the time with her. My 2 attendants, both from out of town, were measured separately but with plenty of time to have things done. I kept asking her are you sure you can get this done on time and she always replied 'I am sure'.  I showed up at Field's Fabrics (I called to find out her schedule) to confront her on the progress and get fittings on the books as she did not return my calls/emails again. Time passed and I had a couple fittings. She had told me she would make a mock-up of my dress from an old sheet to be sure it fit. She made the bodice and started the skirt, but never finished the mock up. The same thing happened with my attendants.
She was looking for the same material for my dress as the attendants for quite some time, so I finally went out to a competitor's store and found what I wanted. She was able to purchase it at Field's with her employee discount.  I had numerous fittings with adjustments that were made that had to be readjusted. There were times when I couldn't reach her again and neither could my attendants. I always had to ask for the adjustments to made in a timely fashion, not more than a week. It didn't always happen that way.
Then in March, Andrea's mother, passed away suddenly. I went to the visitation to give my condolences to Andrea and her family, I let her know she could get back to me in a week or so. She was back sooner than I thought so I figured things were OK. We had all the material now for my dress, the attendants, dresses and the men's shirts. One of my friend's had a couple fittings (came over from Muskegon) while the other only had one while she was in town. My dress was not done. Then Andrea announced that they were going on vacation for 10 days....after being gone for a 4 day weekend for the Easter holiday. She kindly offered to stop at my friend's in Detroit area on her way to Ohio to do the first fitting. It was the mock-up of the bodice only.  My friend was worried...and so was I....but at this point, I felt stuck. The wedding was a month away. I often let her know I was not pleased.
My dress was 'finished" the middle of the second week of April, but it didn't fit. I had tried it on at Andrea's house but she would hold up a mirror for me to see it. My husband-to-be noticed (I know I wasn' supposed to show him but I had no one else to judge) that the back of the bodice/skirt was longer than the front as well as the skirt was longer on one side. I called Andrea and it took a few days for her to have the time to fit me in. The adjustment took the bodice's neckline down in the back. I was uncomfortable with this as I have sever acne scars and didn't want them showing. She assured me it didn't show anything (wrong).
It took another 2 adjustments to get it "right" and that was the Weds. night before my wedding. I needed to have it professionally pressed as she was unable to do that. The shirts were done next...and I had to have them professionally pressed. My friend from Muskegon picked up her dress the day before mine and paid to have it professionally pressed. My friend from Detroit had her final fitting the day before my wedding and picked her dress up that same night after the rehearsal dinner. As it was a weekend we were unable to find a dry cleaner's that could press it for her. We tried our best the morning of the wedding, but it wasn't done well.
I had a wonderful wedding day. The dress however did not feel right. I could feel the gaping at the back of my neck (and yes my adnes scars were showing), the belt was not tacked down as I had asked so it rose up and down my torso throughout the day, my bra strap showed under one arm if I lifted it, the bust line wasn't the same as mine so it gaped & puckered in the front as well, and the hem was still uneven. My attendant from Muskegon was happy with her dress, but I noticed the same ill fit for the bodice for my friend from the Detroit area, as well as an uneven hem line. I was angry and then depressed, especially once I got my wedding photos and my suspicions were real...and etched in my wedding photos for all time.
I did not hear from Andrea for 2 months, despite my parting words to her being 'send me the bill'. I received the bill via email 2 months after my wedding with her apologies for it being late. The price was what we had agreed on...I took some time to think this all through and decided to pay her, despite her not keeping her end of the deal. I am writing a letter now to her with my dissatisfaction. It is my wish that by putting this review on Angie's list, no other bride will go through this.
PS. I should note we had a wonderful wedding and a lot of fun, and I use that memory to keep me happy about the day!  It's only when I see my wedding photos that I remember the ordeal that it was and how my wedding dress did not fit....