You have been dreaming of your perfect wedding gown since you were 5 years old, now the day is finally here and you have no idea where to begin. When it comes to planning a wedding, there’s nothing as ‘time-consuming’, entertaining or even ‘panic-inducing’ for a bride as finding her perfect gown. In this new series on Satisfashion UG Weddings, brides share interesting true stories of how they found the perfect bridal gown.
Bride: Brenda
My wedding was scheduled for 6th August 2022, and the search for my dream gown began in 2021. After seeking inspiration off social media, I went to stores in Kampala to get this curvy girl a befitting gown.
The first bridal store I visited was okay. They charged a consultation fee of 40k per hour, which I paid, even when I was was skeptical about their offering. I shared with them pictures of what I was looking for, but sadly, as I later found out, they didn’t have the type of gowns I desired. I wanted 3 gowns; 2 white gowns and 1 changing dress. Being a plus-size girl, they all had to be body-hugging. The first gown was meant for the mosque service, the second for the reception, and the third for the after-party. Clearly, my first consult did not have what I desired, so I decided to move to another.
My next stop was at a bridal shop, which I later learned was run as a side gig. Wondering how I got there? A friend recommended this lady. She was a banker who dabbled in the business for passion. My first impression was good; she seemed to understand what I wanted, and won my trust almost instantly. I paid my first deposit, and the money was immediately sent to the design house outside of Uganda to commence production.
Along the way, things went from promising to suspicious! Whenever I reached out to her for samples, or how far the designer had gone with the custom work, she would request me to be patient. 6 months later, there was no prototype or sample to see. In between, I remember receiving a photo of the lace they used. But the entire 2021 passed with nothing for me to see. I panicked!
The gown finally arrived in mid July 2022, and it was nothing close to what I had ordered! I was horrified! We ended up getting a refund from her and left for another store. Our next stop being Penny Bold Bridals!
Upon recounting our terrible experience, she was quick to support us. That very day we were able to fit into a gown because she had a wide variety of gowns catering to all shapes and sizes. I was elated! We agreed on my preferred specifications, and Penny gave us 7 days to have the gown ready. It was hard to believe this, considering the terrible experience we had just endured. Plus, Penny was charging literally the same amount as the previous vendor.
We took her word for it and placed an order for two gowns; one for the mosque service and another for reception. Just hours later, she was already sharing with me videos of the custom design process in Turkey. The most surprising thing is that she delivered even before the 7 days elapsed. When I went in for fitting, the gown was fitting like a glove and holding me to perfection. I couldn’t contain the joy! Penny had just saved my wedding!
It is, however, not surprising because Penny has been in the business for 15 years. She has so much experience under her belt. Even better, is her offering of a wide range of designs, materials, and colours to recommend to brides. She literally saved my wedding and my wedding day! It was an experience that started so bad but ended in the most amazing way. I had all my three gowns. She even sent her assistants over to support me as I dressed up during the wedding. They made me feel really special! The two were body-hugging dresses.
My reception dress was made by Charma Couture, who is a personal friend.
Credits
Nikkah & reception gowns – Penny Bold Bridals
Changing gown – Charma Couture
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