Sisters Bridal Boutique

BRIDES BEWARE!!! After a 15-month legal battle, JUSTICE got SERVED, and Sisters Bridal Boutique of Garfield, NJ was found GUILTY of violating THE CONSUMER FRAUD ACT, specifically N.J.S.A. 56:8-2. My goal in this review and the reason I never settled or signed a Gag order settlement was to ensure that another bride would NEVER be in the awful position Sisters Bridal put me in by having me wonder where my dress was just 7 weeks before my wedding, despite it being ordered 10 months previous!!! Here were the main points to my lawsuit (I'm going to try to keep it as brief as possible): November 2015- Sisters Bridal Boutique, specifically, Christina Stec, the owner, was given a deposit in the amount totaling half of a Maggie Sottero "Sybil" gown. Sisters Bridal, at that moment in time, was an authorized Maggie Sottero retailer, which would allow her to order said gown. December (2015), January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September 2016 -numerous lies were told to me regarding the whereabouts of my dress. Christina fed me LIE after LIE including the Chinese New Year-NO ONE works in China for 2 months in January & February-a port strike in California in June AND July, wrong gown shipped, poor production and shipping by Maggie Sottero, gown in a warehouse in Tenn.-to name a few. September 2016- I took matters into my own hands an called Maggie Sottero's Corporate (7 weeks before my wedding and TEN MONTHS after placing the deposit), to learn my gown was NEVER ORDERED, as Sisters Bridal was NO LONGER an authorized retailer, nor did they ever place an order for the gown with Maggie Sottero. I was fortunate to obtain my dress through RK Bridal in the city, which only took 10 to 14 days to obtain because, I learned, my gown was a priority/quick-ship gown. September 2016- I also filed a police report for Theft by Deception and contacted Bergen County Consumer Affairs. Ironically, I received a call from Sisters Bridal Boutique on the SAME DAY my gown arrived from RK Bridal. They were calling to inform me that my gown had arrived. Imagine that!! I already knew it hadn't come from Maggie Sottero, the MANUFACTURER, if it even ever existed at all, as Christina, on behalf of Sisters Bridal, was never able to prove she actually received it (even throughout the trial). September 2016 to March 2018- During this time, many court dates occurred, days off of work, threats from Sisters Bridal attorney saying I breached contract, etc. occurred. They even tried to sue ME for more than $25,000, alleging contract breach and defamation, which they could not prove BY A LONGSHOT. Pathetic. They also falsified a Certificate of Authenticity which was produced to avoid Theft by Deception prosecution. It was later found to be false as Maggie Sotterro confirmed in court documents and Christina admitted during testimony, to typing up HERSELF. Sisters Bridal also brought Tina's Bridal into the suit AND alleged that European Bridals obtained the supposed gown that was never ordered from Maggie Sottero. Again, no proof of gown EVER. Clearly, the owner will stop at nothing, including dragging other businesses into her unconscionable business practices. BOTTOM LINE, Sisters Bridal Boutique engaged in UNCONSCIONABLE COMMERCIAL PRACTICES, A VIOLATION OF THE CONSUMER FRAUD ACT. The judge ordered they pay TRIPLE damages, as well as my attorney fees. Not surprisingly, the judgment was not paid when it was supposed to be. Apparently, Sisters Bridal Boutique seem to believe they are above the law. In the end, my attorney cut his fees and we agreed to accept about of the court ordered amount, which was FINALLY paid 3/29/2018, nearly 2.5 YEARS after placing the deposit. I never accepted any settlement and refused to be bullied into silence because I don't want any Bride to have the anxiety of thinking her dress won't come in time for her special day! Please beware and shop elsewhere! Sisters Bridal, especially Christina, along with their relentless, irrational counsel, will stop at NOTHING to GET PAID. This business runs on manipulation and lies, and if you are currently involved with the shop, you probably think Christina, the owner, is GREAT! The only thing she's great at is telling lies and taking advantage of brides and their families. Do NOT trust a word she says, as genuine as she may appear and as much as you want to believe her. There's a reason Sisters Bridal Boutique was featured on a Help Me Howard episode 3 years ago. I'm not the first to be deceived and I am likely not the last! This review has been a LONG time coming, and I hope future brides think twice before handing their money over to this shady, DISHONEST, DECEITFUL business. HONESTY is NOT part of their policy. Good luck!