Matchmaker - www.matchmakerbride.co.uk

This shop is absolutely awful. Something that is meant to be the best day my life could have been the worst. I specifically wanted a pronovias dress and found matchmaker on there website. On arrival at the shop I asked the lady if she had a particular style in which she said no but she had a similar one in so I agreed to try that one. continuing to look I asked for other dresses which I had seen on the pronovias website however they stocked none of these (I understand they can't sell every single style) however each time I asked they told me why they didn't buy that particular one and each excuse was outrageous. The first one was because they didn't like the strap the second one was because it was not Nice material the third one they said looked like you wa wearing bandages and so on. Rather than just advising they can't hold lots they just slagged off every other dress by pronovias. I then tried a dress on which I liked, the lady a very pushy sales lady kept telling me how the dress will be going up in price and how I had to order it today which I didn't want to do. She then took some measurements and advised me I would need to order the dress in a size 14!!!!! I am of slim build 8/10 at 5'8 so definitely do not wear a size 14 dress! Having felt like a fat cow for the rest of the week I decided to book another appointment in a different shop. Where I tried on the size 10 pronovias dresses which were then clipped on as they were too big and have just ordered a size 8 dress from them. So I'm not sure what kind of sales technique it is to tell you you are a size 14 but it certainly didn't work! When speaking to the new shop she was even more confused when I told her apparently in pronovias I am a size 14! I have now happily ordered my dress from the second shop and have come away feeling a million dollas!! Would never recommend match maker in Brentwood to anyone!!

My sister recommended this shop to me as she brought her dress here the previous year. I was extremely nervous and self conscious going to a bridal shop and trying dresses on, but I felt immediately comfortable. The staff are so friendly and helpful. I was dreading trying dresses on as I'm not a skinny-minny but the lady I dealt with took away any anxieties i had.

The dresses are absolutely beautiful, if you are unsure of anything you are guided in the right direction and have dresses chosen for you that you would never have picked yourself - and I found the one! The fitting and alterations were done at the shop by a lovely lady ( spoke a bit brusque sometimes but with a foreign accent, so probably a language thing!) but she was lovely and made my dress fit perfectly. You won't be disappointed. :-)

Now, I ordered my dress (maggie Sottero Nora) rom matchmaker after being treated wonderfully by the ladies in there when I was looking for my dress. Don't get me wrong the changing rooms are awful and tiny, but the people in here were so lovely and helpful that I was so happy they had a dress I loved. So I ordered a dress in January to fit me as I was as I was to lose a little weight but I wanted to know that if I didn't it would fit - I didn't want the pressure if losing weight. We went for the sample size 12 (great as I could see how it fit then and they said they would put in a slightly wider panel as it was just an inch too thin for me) So, the dress arrived in plenty of time and I went in and put the dress on and all seemed fine, booked in for my fitting.

Went to the fitting and the bustle was pinned ready to be altered. At this stage I'm still completely trusting the shop to do what they said they would do.

I went back for my first final fitting and wasn't happy with how tight the dress was made in the lace up, so we made another appointment to go back to adjust it and also re look at the bustle as it looked awful. I get the bustle is difficult on tulle but it looked really bad and the whole dress was still in the train. So we go back and they loosen the lace up back and there a 3 inch gap this time and I haven't put on any weight. They argued that the dress should not be that loose as the front will be too big. After arguing about this they agreed to take in the front from the sides to fit when the lace was looser and put in the wider panel which they said they would do when I ordered it. I was told then (2 weeks before my wedding day) that really I should have the next size up dress. This is not what I need to be told 2 weeks before the wedding and by the "experts" that told me what size to get in the first place. But there was nothing that an be done with the bustle! Fine, I can deal with that if the dress fits. So make it fit me, stop trying to make me for the dress!

They then on our exit said the wider panel would cost £85 extra. We argued this point as this was something that was promised when I ordered the dress and they NEVER mentioned additional costs. We argued a lot on this point and they advised they would talk to the boss to see what could be done. We left.

We pick my dress up this Thursday and they had out in the wider panel and then did not try and change us again. Finally we had been heard.

Since getting home my mum has had me back in the dress to re look at the bustle, has taken alll of the bustle that they put in away and done a new bustle for me in 2 days. I'm lucky that she is a decent seamstress herself to challenge and amend the mess that they created. After taking the dress off today I must admit it is the first time I noticed the label. I have ended up with a size 10 dress instead of the 12 I ordered. It really is just the icing on the cake for me. They have completely ruined the experience of buying my dress in the last month. I can't believe that I have ended up in the position of putting my mum under pressure to fix their mistakes within 2 days because their seamstress was not prepared to listen to me and they gave me the wrong size dress to start with. I've got the receipt that even says size 12. I only hope they haven't mixed them up and some poor size 10 bride hasn't ended up with one that's too big and they try and charge her for alterations due to a change in size.

I've already recommended to one newly engaged friend not to go there and I will certainly be telling others I know not to go after telling them in June how great they were. I wish I had gone somewhere else, I shouldn't be standing in my dress annoyed and disappointed and I was because of them!

I have visited different shops in Essex,starting with matchmakers brentwood and ended up back there because of their excellent customer sevice. I have found them to be patient and were happy for me to pop in to view their dresses as I am so fussy. After going to most shops in Eseex and some in london I can honestly say that this was the best shop in Essex, a lady served me most times and is excellent and other staff helped too. I would thoroughly recommend matchmakers.

I'm not usually a review person but I saw the bad reviews below and couldn't disagree more!! I bought dress in February and had a brilliant time. It was the best shop we went to!! I had a lovely lady who was brilliant. It is a small shop so run on appointments so best to stick to your time as you have allocated time to look at dresses, as well as trying them on. I had a second try with some of the bridesmaids and had brilliant service again! They don't serve drinks in case of spillages, which is fine. We went for a drink after to celebrate!

Cannot fault this place.

Okay, admittedly they so have a good selection of dresses but b prepared for some bad customer service. I bought a wedding dress and bridesmaid dress from them. First visit for my dress they had ordered buttons not lace. Second visit it seems they'd ordered the wrong size as the lace joined down the back so she guessed how much to take it it. Also, I was rudely told by the woman in command there not to bend my dress bodice back after no instruction at all how to get into the dress. Then to top it off there were pins in the dress yet its supposed to be brand new. This was brushed off when I mentioned. Third visit and surprise surprise they hadnt taken in anywhere near enough so lace was still joining. The next appt I could get was 2 days before my wedding and I had to take a day off work in order to make it. Oh and I haven't even mentioned how I was given a faulty dessy dress with hole in it and they made cry before they would refund me. If you do go, be aware and ask to e serves by the foreign lady who was really nice.

Ladies/Girols if you want the fairytale experience of trying on dresses and feeling like a princess, DO NOT GO to Matchmaker in Brentwood. The service was appauling. I arrived early so that I could look at the dresses they had but I was greeted by a snooty woman, when I told her I was a bit early she just told me that I would have to wait my turn. The shop is in 2 parts and I was not allowed into the other part as there was a barrier of women that worked at the shop not letting me through until it was my turn!!!

Eventually my "consultant" was ready and she told my mother to sit on the sofa and wait there, like she was some dog being given her orders. I told her what styles I liked and disliked but she still proceeded to show me dresses I'd specifically said I didn't want.

When I got to the changing room she told me to strip and let her know when I was ready, which I did. Instead of helping me into the 1st dress she shoved it passed the curtain and told me to get in it, there was no help what so ever. After 3 dresses I felt really uncomfortable as I wasnt given a chance to look at them to see what they were really like on me, I was rushed to get the next one on.

To make matters worse the other girl trying dresses on had found "THE DRESS" and was crying etc, I said to my mum "that's how I want to feel when I find the right dress for me", the so called consultant then said to me, "I can punch you in the nose if you want, that will make you cry". That was the last dress I tried on in that shop.

I can happily say I found MY dress at confetti and lace in lakeside and had the service and experience I had been wanting.

The service we received from the staff at Matchmakers was fantastic and I would, and do recommend this bridal shop to anyone who asks or will listen. Whilst looking for my dress I visited several bridal shops in Essex and the service we received at Matchmaker was by far the best. The shop is well laid out and a lovely selection of dresses, lots of dfifferent styles, not like other shops which all seemed to stock the same dresses. Every time we visited the shop (which was often - as I was asked if I wanted to pay rent on the fitting room!lol) we received a warm welcome. We was seen by Lynda from day one, who was fantastic but when she was not available the other staff at the shop were extremely helpful. I found my perfect dress in this shop from their wide selection of bridal gowns, and Lynda helped choose the perfect accessories to compliment my dress. My recommendation would be to visit Matchmaker in Brentwood before choosing your dress. You won't be disappointed!