Bridal Connection

Choosing a wedding gown is sometimes difficult; however, the staff at Bridal Connection are wonderful. My family and I had a great experience choosing the dress and the alterations process was super easy. They were so patient with me and willing to help me find just the right dress. I would definitely recommend this bridal shop!

I would not recommend anyone to go to the bridal connection in Ankeny for anything wedding related. First off, this company only looked at dresses over my budget, my dad suit was the wrong color and incorrectly ordered, two of my groomsman didn’t have their suspenders in and the lady working the night I had to deal with all of this mess handled the situation very, VERY poorly. The Monday before me wedding, I got a call letting me know my dad suit was the wrong color and that the correct color would be here Thursday, two days before my wedding. I went in there that Thursday and my dad suit color was still the wrong color, he called and sent me a picture. I went into bridal connection already upset, and the women working handled it VERY poorly. She asked me to show her proof that my dad tried on the wrong suit. I asked her if they even has the correct suit..... which they did. What did she do next? She tried blaming my dad and said it was his fault he left with the wrong suit. Then she proceeded do tell me to calm down and not get upset. What? You want to tell me that again. After I was done with her crap. I found out two of my groomsman sided have their suspenders. The lady said one would be in Friday and the other one would be in the morning of my wedding. Once the last suspender set got in, they actually tried charging my dad when it was THEIR mistake. You can see the stress this company put me through the week and day of my wedding. Take the advice from a bride who just for married a week ago..... DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME WITH THIS COMPANY!

Had a fantastic experience trying on dresses. My consultant was really great at finding dresses in my style and with my budget. I felt confident saying yes!

Had a great experience here trying on dresses! Although, they really try to rip you off:/ They wanted me to pay 300 some dollars because they had a makeup stain on the dress and that was the cost to clean it... Felt like they were just trying to get the most money from me as possible. Didn't purchase a dress here.

The owner only cares about sales and not about the bridal experience.

I had an amazing experience at Bridal Connections. I visited several shops in the area and this one stood out. I felt truly valued the whole time I was there. My consultant Erin was just fantastic and really understood my style and what I was looking for. The dresses they have are gorgeous and have lots of options to try on all in all sizes. Everyone at Bridal Connections made it very easy to say Yes to the Dress!

THIS DRESS ❤ Omg this dress. When we first got engaged I had no intentions of a big fancy expensive dress. But then my mom suggested we go try a few on and get ideas so we could order something online. So we made an appointment at @bridalconnectiondsm . We got there, Selena listened to what I wanted, and she picked out about 5 or 6 dresses. This was the first one I put on. The others were also gorgeous, but there was just something about this one. But I didn't want a big, fancy, expensive dress.... so I grabbed a friend and we went to something like 8 bridal shops around the Des Moines Metro and I tried on probably 40 dresses, and I honestly hated all of them. So our last stop of the day was back at Bridal Connection. I tried it on and she instantly started crying. So with the Express permission of my husband-to-be (sight unseen), I bought it. But there was a problem. It was a size 26. I was probably a size 18/20. So we did a lottttt of alterations. We were almost done with it when we canceled our first wedding so I picked it up, unfinished, and took it home to my moms house for the better part of a year and a half. Fast forward three more wedding dates, I called my new friend Celina (different one from before, same shop) and told her I needed to see if we could do anything about my dress.... but there was a catch. I had lost 60 more lbs. I could hear the panic in her voice a little. "Uhhh, yeah. We will absolutely try. But I just want to warn you, that is a LOT. It MIGHT NOT be possible" So after about a week of panicking, I went in and met with the seamstress and they got started on the dress again. FIVE more fitting appointments SIXTEEN more inches out of the waist Bra cups Hemming the bottom (which is a task in and of itself) Cinching the skirt sides Undoing and redoing the sleeves three times And a bustle later We have it. My seamstress CK worked her BUTT OFF to make sure this dress could happen for me. And Celina (who is seriously a new friend I made out of the deal) made sure it all could happen. This dress was an absolute dream come true. I'm not 100% how they made it happen for me but DANG 🔥🔥🔥 THEY DID SO GOOD! Size 26 dress to an estimated size 14. 🤯

The ladies I worked with from the purchasing of my dress to the recreating the bustle of my dress were fantastic. The only hiccup was when the seamstress changed her schedule and my dress got lost in the shuffle, but they worked with me and got it corrected right away. One of my bridesmaids was so impressed, she is now going to look for her wedding dress there.

I had gone prom dress shopping here in high school and had awesome experiences and was able to get great dresses at affordable prices, so I figured I’d give it a try. This was the first place we went to and my consultant was really good about letting me try on every single style (bless her heart, I tried on so many)!! She was so personable and not pushy at all. She seemed like she genuinely cared. The problems I had (and I didn’t know until I went other places) was that my consultant was terrible at clipping me into dresses. I am a size 4 and was trying on anywhere between size 10-22. It was impossible to picture what they would actually look like. The other problem was the prices. My budget was very reasonable and I was trying on dresses all above my price range and they weren’t anything special. Needless to say this isn’t the best place for small girls or anyone wanting a beautiful dress for less than a used car.

Being a plus size bride, I was excited to find a shop that carried things I liked. I wish I had found something I loved though. My consultant, Kimberly, was nice, friendly, and fast (I think I made it into at least 10 dresses). She wasnt overly pushy, which is good because I need time to make any financial decision as large as a wedding dress. She wrote everything down so I could come back in later and find the things I picked out. However, I think it was the owner but I'm not sure, this woman came over at the end of the appointment and made me very uncomfortable. She tried to guilt trip me into buying the dress I had told my consultant was an 8, even though the sample was too big even on me and it wasnt even the color I wanted. She said some other bride would take it from me (as if I wouldn't purchase and order a perfect fit). Plus she spoke down on other stores in the area and that never sits well with me anyways. My friend got married last year and while her dress was stunning, it and all the bridesmaid dresses were held together by safety pins by the end of the night. So if you get a dress here, do alterations somewhere else.

What a wonderfully bridal shop! My bridesmaids and I had a great experience, and the staff is so kind and helpful. I appreciate them all helping to make my wedding day extra special! Definitely would recommend!

I visited Bridal Connection on a Friday afternoon. I tried on a few dresses, but ultimately wasn't able to find one within my budget. I would have appreciated the Bridal Connection website advertising their price points more clearly before I made an appointment. They also charge a shipping fee of $150 on top of your gown price. My appointment was with Melissa, who was very helpful. I appreciated discussing my vision privately with her before getting started with the appointment. We weren't allowed to take photos, which I respected but didn't love. At the end of the appointment, Lara, the owner, came back and visited with my group. She made rude comments about photos of other dresses I had tried on and about the stores we had previous appointments with. Overall, I wouldn't recommend Bridal Connection unless your budget is well over $1,500.

Kathryn (not sure of the spelling) was amazing!! I went looking just to see the different styles and ended up purchasing my wedding gown! I will say though, they sold me an extra piece of fabric to make the dress more shiny but when I took it to the tailor it couldn't be used because of the cut of the dress. So don't let them talk you into extras if they aren't sure it's possible. Overall an amazing experience. So great, I have taken two of my friends to gown shop there.

Almost turned into a nightmare. We found my dress here that part of the experience was good. The lady who is assigned to you during the process are all so sweet. My negative experience came during the alterations process. My wedding was in October, but the dress arrived in Feburary...so there was plenty of time to get the dress to fit perfectly. We started alterations in August and every time we went in there was some sort of delay due to something. They state in all of their information they will have your dress to you two weeks before your wedding, but I took my dress home the week before because they still had not finished! Most of the delay was due to "extras" my mother had added, which we discussed with the salon before we did anything. They seemed to be very excited and then ended up using it as a huge excuse as to why they were delayed in finishing anything on the dress. My mother, who is a pretty good seamstress, felt terrible for putting them out, but we talked with them before doing everything and they never made mention that it would add to more work on their end or tips to make that process easier for them. Why are you making someone spending thousands of dollars at your store feel bad? One alternations meeting I stopped in thinking I would be able to pick up my dress and they just wanted to check the hem...because they didn't finish anything else. The next week I went back thinking my dress would be done and still just one more thing was finished. Luckily they had called me before hand (30mins) to let me know it wasn't finished and asked if I would come back again the next day. That is when I took my dress and my mother just finished it for me. Taking a closer look at the dress they had managed to finish the sides, the hem adjustment and added the bustle. The hem was cut so badly my mother re-did that, she also fixed the beading on the sides, she also finished the tacking of lace in several places. (call my mom if you was alterations :)) They did offer us compensation, but looking back it was not enough to offset my mothers time and our stress. Long story short- they have a beautiful dress selection; but I would go else ware for alterations. I felt like such a burden to them and was made to feel I was being irrational over my dress not being finished a week before my wedding.

I cannot say enough positive things about this store. I found the dress of my dreams and feel like a true princess. I was there during their Bridal Styling Event and found the perfect accessories that matched! I can't wait for my wedding day this September!

The bridal connection had its positives and negatives. The store front was very professional, and extremely clean. The front receptionist was polite and helpful. Our consultant gave us a tour of the bridal salon and was overall friendly. However, once we started trying on dresses she did not listen to what I was asking for. She tried ending our appointment early, and was trying to convince me that I was overwhelmed with dress shopping. She was visablly upset that I was not going to be purchasing a dress that day and it seemed like I was only a sale to her.

I found Bridal Connection to be great during my first experience but horrible for brides maid dresses, tuxes, and alterations. There customer service is very unprofessional. The manager was unprofessional and did not follow up with my concerns about dresses. Also, the receptionist is flaky and rude. I would never recommend going here again. Very expensive and a horrible experience with lots of stress.

This is seriously a great place with awesome customer service. The employees work one on one with you and really listen to what you want in a dress and your price range. They are very knowledgeable and helpful with finding your perfect dress. I got my wedding dress there and recommended it to my friend, who also found hers there!

I had been to many rental places and refused to go back, due to horrible customer service. We received our tuxes 4 days before the wedding and my fiance calls and says..I'm not wearing this, I'll go buy something else. I immediately got angry at him until I got to the rental store, then i was fuming at them...the tuxes were ALL wrong! I was not very kind in the way I was talking and was going on and on. Celina came to me and smiled, did not once get annoyed with my bridezilla attitude and said We Will get this All figured out and we Will have these ready for you on time. Long story short...Celina was AMAZING!! And we are all set for the wedding. My pet peeve is poor customer service, do not take a customer service position if you suck at talking to people....She Shined! Great Job Celina! You are the BEST! I would recommend this place to friends and family, if you want one thing to not have to stress about while planning any event. Very professional and kind! 5 freaking stars..I'd give you more!

Walking into this bridal salon, I had such high hopes. The decor and space was well decorated and very elegant. It was a nice touch to see my name on the welcome sign. The selection of dresses seems quite impressive. We sat down and did a brief consultation on exactly what I was looking for. Next I was given four colored rings to place on the hangers of dresses I wanted to try on. It was difficult to narrow it down to just 4 in the large selection. I thought it was interesting that the dresses were arranged in silhouettes. The dressing room had a silk like bridal robe in it which was another nice touch. After trying on the four dresses and not being especially wowed by any of them, the consultant began picking out dresses she thought I might like and matched my style. Each time when she brought a dress before it was off the hanger, I questioned what about this dress she thought matched my wants, but tried each on attempting to give her the benefit of the doubt. After three more dresses, the consultant drug a mannequin into the dressing room to see what I thought of a dress. I thought this was a very considerate gesture but was again question what aspects of the dress she thought matched any of the likes I had voiced. Following this, she instructed me to put back on my street clothes and to meet her back in the couch area where my entourage was sitting. She shook my hand and explained when the fall line was expected to be in. I was shocked. After less than 50 minutes, and only 7 dresses the appointment was over. I'm a decisive person and know when a dress isn't making me feel gorgeous that it isn't the one for me. It felt like the consultant didn't feel like I could be swayed into a dress and ended it abruptly because of that. Gorgeous store with a large collection of dresses, the staff is nice but I thought the overall experience was rather lackluster.

My experience here was exceptional. I had been to several other bridal shops that day alone, and was still looking even though I had found several that I liked. Tori was amazing. She took the little comments my party was making, and at the end when I was slightly frustrated at not finding exactly what I wanted, she surprised me with the PERFECT dress. It had all the details we had been discussing, but I had passed over it on the rack, thinking it wouldn't look right on me. But she knew, and it was perfect. I can't thank her enough for making a stressful situation much more enjoyable and for taking the time to listen to my wants. I would definitely recommend Tori and the Bridal connection to any of my friends. I can't wait to visit again for fittings!

Absolutely wonderful people! My mom was unable to go dress shopping due to being in ICU fighting pneumonia while having stage 4 breast cancer. The staff helped to FaceTime with my mom and actually went to the hospital with the gown so she could see it in person. I can never express my gratitude. Outstanding human beings and a wonderful experience I will never forget.

I had been to 10 (maybe more) bridal shops searching for my wedding dress before coming to Bridal Connection. I had a great experience at Bridal Connection & (finally) found my dream dress! The staff were very helpful & made me feel so comfortable. They asked all the right questions to get to know me as a bride & what I was looking for in a dress. I would recommend this store to anyone in search of a wedding dress.

I was really struggling to find the dress I had in mind. I walked into the bridal connection and I believe it was the owner who created me. She listened so carefully to what I had in mind...which ibreally appreciated. Then she went thruogh their enormous inventory and picked out 3 dresses to try on. They were exactly what I was looking for...simple and beautiful. The seamstress did an impeccable job of taking the train off, taking the fluff out from inside the skirt and hemming the delicate fabric. I was on the verge of settling on a dress...I'm grateful to the Bridal Connection's staff for finding the perfect dress!

She said yes to the dress!! Absolutely AMAZING experience! We had an appt at another bridal store earlier in the day and had a terrible experience! The minute we walked into the Bridal Connection we were treated great! Bailey was awesome and she really took the time to talk with my daughter to find out not only about the type of dress she was looking for but about her! She was so patient and helpful! We loved that we got to look at all the dresses on the racks and pick ones we liked! Our appt was at the end of the day but we never felt rushed and EVERYONE was so nice! I am so happy my daughter got to have the experience she deserved in finding the perfect dress!

My mom and I enjoyed our experience bridal dress shopping at Bridal Connection. Everyone was so helpful from start to finish. I was able to find 3 dresses I loved. The girls helped me decide on the perfect dress. Alterations were easy schedule and very responsive to my requests. My dress fit beautifully and was one of a kind!

I am not a fan of shopping so I was reluctant to go dress shopping for my big day. I waited longer than recommended but Bridal Connection was first on the list of places to check out. Out of all the places we visited, Bridal Connection was far superior in every way. The atmosphere, the staff, the product...I can't say enough great things. The very first dress we spotted ended up being "the one" and I can't be more happy with my choice. It was the perfect dress for our big day and I am more than happy to share with others where I got it!

I got my wedding dress here. Everything was done on time and I had now worries my dress would be perfect for the day

I had an amazing experience at The Bridal Connection. The atmosphere of the store is beautiful and you feel very comfortable from when you walk in the door. All of the staff is super friendly and helpful! My consultant Stevi was amazing from the beginning and made me feel great!

I had the best experience at The Bridal Connection. I called two days before I wanted to go look at dresses, and they had no problem getting me in. Once I got there, Laurie made it so easy for me. I gave her an idea of what I wanted and she already had several in mind. Most bridal salons pick the dresses for you; however, Laurie let me pick a few that I wanted to try on. I love that I was the one that picked MY dress. She found the perfect veil and I was in tears. I found the perfect dress, and had a blast doing it! The owner is so nice and when I finally said 'yes to the dress', there were lots of hugs to go around. The staff makes you feel like you belong there. I would highly recommend The Bridal Connection, and I was definitely recommend Laurie!

The Bridal Connection was the second of three stores that I visited in the same day. From the moment I stepped through the door I knew this place was special. The ambiance in the shop is so calm and inviting and the staff was very friendly. I worked with Kelsey who asked me a few questions about my wedding plans and what I wanted in a dress. She picked out a few dresses for me and let me search through the racks for ones that caught my eye. She helped me try on all the dresses and explained all the important aspects of the dress process. She was so kind and helpful and patient as I went through piles of dresses. She picked out a dress that I never would have selected for myself, but I couldn't make a decision so I moved onto the next store. I couldn't stop thinking about Kelsey's dress pick or her service so I rushed back later that day and asked to see the dress again. During the second trip, the boutique owner was present and she made such an impression that we bought the dress on the spot. I couldn't have my dress altered there because we moved to another state, but they made sure to order the dress in the right size and gave great advice on what to look for in a tailor. The ladies at the Bridal Connection made this such a wonderful experience that I will recommend them to anyone who is looking for formal wear! Thank you!

I went to Bridal Connection after getting a secret card from them at a bridal fair. I went and actually found my dress. They didn't pressure me to buy every dress I tried on which was nice. It went downhill from there. I was getting married 13 months later, so I took the dress with me, as you have to pay extra to hold it for over a year. They told me to bring it back a few days before the wedding so they could steam it and then I was supposed to have them show us how to bustle it then too. I called to schedule that and told them my zipper needed fixed. I was told to bring it in the Monday before my wedding (Wed.) and they would steam and fix the zipper(~$120-- surprise!). Great. I thought about it and decided I wanted to try it on again before the wedding because the hook and eye they fixed before had broken again and I wanted to make sure the zipper would hold. They told me there's no way they can do all that two days before the wedding anyway and I needed to bring it up now. So I did. I scheduled an appointment to come try it on with the new zipper. I get there and try it on and ask them to show us how to bustle it. There was no bustle in it. [Apparently wedding gowns don't always come with bustles in them, but they way the sales girl talked mine was ready to go with it in. I was also never asked if I wanted one put in, so assumed it was there. I'm a first time bride so I'm not familiar with wedding gowns...] So there goes another $85 to get that put in. They said they'd get it put in first thing Monday morning and it'd be ready to go by 3pm. My friend gets there to pick it up and she has to wait a ridiculous amount of time. I go to get in my dress on my wedding day and find they had sewn the two sides of my dress together while putting in the bustle (which amounted to putting in 4 strings...). Just what every bride wants to happen!! I also purchased a fur shawl for outside pictures. I wore it for about 15 minutes and then the clasp fell off. To add to my frustration with Bridal Connection, the dress started losing buttons before the reception even started. Poor quality at a high price. Look elsewhere!!

I have to say, The Bridal Connection is hands down the best bridal store I have ever visited! The store itself is absolutely beautiful and the staff went above and beyond to make sure they had a happy client with me. Not only did I get my bridal gown there, we also got bridesmaid dresses and tuxes for our guys! Our wedding was perfect and much of that has to do with the Bridal Connection! Thank you Lara and the rest of the Bridal Connection for all of you help!

I had an amazing experience! Unlike other places they are very personal and only help you. I cannot thank the staff at bridal connections enough for helping me find my dress!

I had the most wonderful time START TO FINISH at the Bridal Connection! I felt like family and was always greated by the same handful of helpful consultants. I was always handed off to the specialists in each department so that I was always informed by the most educated person! From saying yes to my perfect dress, custom fittings, tuxes, maids and everything in between! I received helpful hints each step of the way, even the best way to go the that restroom in my dress! I would choose bridal connection again and again if I could!

We looked at a few bridal stores, but Bridal Connection felt different from the beginning. Lots of space and great selection of gowns to try on and the staff treated us like we were the only people in the store. We didn't feel rushed and felt like they listened to what I was looking for. Once we had chosen the gown, the alterations department went above and beyond to make sure the ruching and fit was just right. They even stayed later to make alterations so we wouldn't have to drive back another night. Would recommend Bridal Connection to any future brides!

The whole experience from walking in and being greeted by a sign with my name on it, and then two super friendly professional women helped me. The showroom with the dresses was very clean and easy to shop compared to the other shops In Des Moines. Stevie was super sweet and helped me pick out 5-6 dresses that all were gorgeous and flattering. Lara gave a few suggestions as well and it led me to my Bridal gown! I am so excited and it couldn't be anymore perfect! The service was unbelievable and matched by an amazing gown by Justin Alexander! Well done Bridal connection!

I loved my experience at The Bridal Connection. It was my first stop for trying on dresses and my consultant was amazing! She was very knowledgeable in design and fabrics and stayed true to my budget. I had the best day and I had amazing alterations!

Had a great expereince with this dress vendor. They worked with me through multiple fittings and even rushed a final alteration the week before flying out for our destination wedding.

I loved my experience and my dress turned out perfect. They created a heart out of my Grandfather's ties and sewed it into my dress and it was perfect. Very helpful and encouraging.

From start to finish, the staff was great! I felt taken care of and knew that I was getting the best advice and suggestions available. They also did my alterations on kind of short notice, and they turned out great!

I found my dream dress almost a year before my actual wedding (long engagement). They were so great about letting me come in anytime to try on the dress and their alteration woman is fantastic!! They worked magic on my dress to transform it from a gorgeous dress to one that was a perfect fit for my body and personality!

My day was perfect!

We went here for my wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses and they were so helpful. They helped me find the perfect shade of light pink for the dresses and did a great job with ordering everything on time. Their shop is stunning inside with all the new demo that just happened this year. It is easy to look through the dresses and the consultants were really nice and friendly every time I went in to try on my gown. I could not have been happier with my experience with The Bridal Connection!

They had my dream dress in stock, but I was disappointed in the cost & quality of my alterations. If I would have got my wedding dress altered at the boutique my bridesmaids bought their dresses I could have saved a lot!