Bombshell Bridal

Absolutely amazing service! Went here for bridesmaids dresses and the ladies went above and beyond for us! We had an hour appt but ended up staying there two hours because of all the advice and info they were sharing. Amazing service. Highly recommended!

I find it so strange that so many reviews are on here praising the customer service.
When wedding dress shopping with my (now) wife, we went into Bombshell Bridal to look at dresses. When we entered, there weren’t any workers even visible in the store. As we walked around looking, we continued to be ignored. Finally, we gave up and walked out. While we were walking out, there was a worker finally sitting at the desk (on her phone) who looked up at us and said «oh sorry, we are booked today.»
Booked today? There isn’t a soul in the entire store.
Needless to say, this wasn’t the perfect place for my wife to get her dress.

Every girl should have an awesome story about how their wedding dress came to be. They have shows on TV about it, special bells installed at big box stores… it’s a moment many families cry over and laugh over and rejoice over.
Now. I’ve been to the stores… you know the ones. A bridal store named after a man. That doesn’t even make any sense, does it? I had been there before because where I come from, we went and picked out bridesmaid dresses to wear to homecoming and prom dances. So, every time I ever went there, I went alone because I was too embarrassed about my body size to go with my friends and face the very real possibility that if they even have anything in my size, that it would be some totally awful dress you get for your 40 year old cousin that is in your wedding. Do you know what I mean? It’s always been that way. That, or it’s only mother of the bride dresses on the rack where your size is.
I face very real anxiety when it comes to this experience. For prom and homecoming… who cares. Eventually you find something you like and it doesn’t even matter. But for your wedding? You are the belle of that ball and you should have exactly what you want. So, I envision myself going into That Guy’s Bridal shop and telling a girl my size and she brings me 3 crusty, matronly dresses and tries to sell me on them.
Many women struggle with fashion and I have always strongly believed that dressing plus sized women is a relatively untapped market. In the recent past we’ve gotten some nice clothing companies who cater to our beautiful bodies and make clothes that fit us, rather than accommodate us… and that is great! But when it comes to the one day in my life where EVERYONE will be looking at ME… it has to be even more than that. Right?
Well, I didn’t want that to be my experience. I wondered if after all this time, somebody finally made a shop that is friendlier to girls of girth. I asked around in a few wedding forums and I was referred to Bombshell Bridal. I could tell right away just from their website that it was the place I wanted to be.
They are about a 45 minute drive from my house, but I still have this anxiety about being in the spotlight and there not being something that works for me. So, I went out to check the place out and met Debra. She greeted me as I came in the door and not long after that we were like a couple of schoolgirls chatting about my wedding plans. She made me feel comfortable even though I have not decided some of the plans and gave me the space to check out some dresses on my own without making me feel pressured. Space, but before I could feel overwhelmed, there she was to gently ask if I needed anything or had questions.
Debra and I made an appointment together to try on dresses with my mom. She helped me into probably a dozen dresses and each time we collaborated on what we liked and disliked about each dress. It seems like such a little thing… but being insecure about being in a bra with a stranger and being overweight, it was such a magical experience to have this time with Debra. She helped me feel totally comfortable and we talked about body issues and how the dresses accentuated my body in good ways and bad.
The cherry on top? Debra gave me a sweet folder with information about my purchase inside and it includes «an official Bombshell Bridal pink bow» hair clip. I don’t know… I just think every bride should have this sentimental experience when they buy their dress… and this company provides this service for women of all shapes and sizes (not just plus)!

I had such a wonderful experience here both times I came to shop! The consultants are very knowledgeable and kind. I felt like these women really listened to me and what I was looking for. I didn’t feel pressured to buy, either. They have lots of happy customers, just look at the walls of their dressing rooms! Completely covered with glowing testimonials from so many different women. I could tell the salespeople don’t just see this as a job, but a calling. They really do care, and they have such a gift for customer service that I was really bummed out not to find a dress here! I am right in between straight and plus size, and at most straight-​size boutiques I found it really depressing to try on dress after dress in tiny samples that I couldn’t even zip. Another bonus? They let you take pictures! That made a world of difference, especially for a visual person with a terrible memory like me
I can’t even tell you how much these women have done for the self-​esteem of us average American women. Thank you for all you do, ladies!

I had a great experience here with Debra. No pressure. She was very helpful, supportive, and knowledgeable about dressing and accessorizing.
I’m surprised this is classified as $$$. I guess it *could* be, but in comparison to Alessandra in Warren – BB’s most expensive is still a good deal. (Alessandra is lacking in customer service, anyway.) FYI, I got a sample dress for half off, so I definitely saved!

In highly highly recommend this bridal salon at any size! It’s quaint, personal and warm. The girls that work here at super sweet and make you feel wonderful! The seamstress MaryAnne is a miracle worker! She’s laid back, easy going and great to work with! Outstanding experience! Thank you!!!

I went to Bombshell Bridal a total of 3 times in pursuit of my wedding dress. The first time I went just to look around, but not try anything on because I didn’t think I wanted a traditional bridal store type of dress. They were welcoming and let me do my thing despite my lack of appointment and real desire to purchase something. The second time I went back was when I was further into my dress shopping journey. I had decided that Etsy wasn’t the route for me because I was too nervous to purchase a dress that I didn’t try on first. I had also considered the China dressmaker route, but in the end, felt that it was too risky. The second time back to BB, I found two dresses I liked. One was lightweight, white, inexpensive, and more traditional. The other was tea-​length, floral, and pastel. The third time I went back, I bought the pastel dress! My consultant was great about allowing me to try on many dresses, and always gave me her honest opinion. This store has so many options! I could probably easily find a few more dresses I would love to wear for a fancy event. Also, I appreciate the cute videos the store employees make :) Check out their website and you will see what I mean!

Being a curvy bride is something that would’ve otherwise been so frustrating! But Bombshell was so wonderful, no dress fit because they were too big!!! (No that’s a great feeling!!) Customer service is amazing, they make you feel like a friend. They actually care about their customers, and what’s more is when you give them a price range they STICK TO IT or try to beat it.

Fantastic people work here. They get an A in customer service. I also applaud their cause. If your above a size 10, wedding dress shopping will be somewhat frustrating; these guys make it easier for you. All of their sample sizes either fit me or were too big on me. What a great feeling!
Having said that, the interior needed some work. Harsh florescent lighting, it wasn’t as «cute boutique» looking as the other places I had been to. I also wasn’t a huge fan of their dresses. I found one I really liked but one at another place trumped it. (but that’s just my taste, different strokes for different folks!)
The location also isn’t very whimsical. Being on Harper connected to a Dominos kind of takes away some of the magic.
I think these guys are just starting out though so I feel these are all things that will develop in time.
I would absolutely recommend this place for ladies to check out.

This is an update over a year later. My original review is at Bombshell’s old site:
. I’d given Bombshell 5 stars because they had a great selection, made me feel welcome, and helped me find my dress.
From there it got… messy. My dress came in late. The sash had a brown stain on it. But the real problem was — the dress was several sizes too small. My measurements hadn’t changed, so it wasn’t me. Bombshell had just recommended the wrong size for me to purchase. In the end, Bombshell took the dress back and I had to find an entirely new dress with just a few months to go until my wedding. The dress I was able to find that late in the game did not ultimately make me happy. The entire experience was thus disappointing.
How did such a mistake happen? My understanding is that Bombshell ordered me a dress in what we’ll call size X; my bust was smaller than X, my hips were larger, so the idea was to meet in the middle. But I learned that dresses don’t work that way. You can take a dress in all you want, but you can only take it out so much. And the size Bombshell ordered was in fact SO small on my hips that there was no saving it. There was not enough material to take it out.
Bombshell handled this blunder well for the most part. They instantly saw the error and said they’d make it right. They contacted the dress manufacturer. I was told that if I wanted the dress, they would make me a new one in whatever size I asked for and it would be the very next dress off the line. But at that point my wedding was so soon. What if the dress was late again? Would there be time for alterations after that? I talked to the seamstress I’d be working with and she said there was very little room for error there. Even a few days late and she wouldn’t be able to complete the work in time for my wedding.
I also learned that the dress’s open back that Bombshell had so confidently assured me would be easy to solve with the right bra was actually a bit of an impossible puzzle. I wear a 36G bra. There is no good, backless bra that comes in 36G. So even if I got the correct-​sized dress on time, could the back issue be solved? Why did a dress shop not know this would be such a problem; this is really within their purview. Or did they know it but want to close a sale? Regardless, this added piece meant that even if the dress came in on time, even if the seamstress could fit me in for alterations… what would come of the bra issue?
Like I said, it got messy.
In the end, there were too many IFs. I asked Bombshell to take the dress back. They agreed. We parted ways. I found a new shop. But since it was too late to order a new dress, I shopped from the warehouse (dresses that people had been trying on). This meant I had to find a dress that could be tailored… there was no ordering a new dress in whatever size at that point. I found something I was okay with, but I didn’t love it the way I loved the dress I ordered from Bombshell. The style just wasn’t me.
Yesterday was our 6-​month anniversary, and even now I find that I am still sad about the dress. The dress I bought from Bombshell was *me.* I knew it the second I put it on; I didn’t even need to look in the mirror. Those months that the manufacturer was making the dress… I spent those months imagining wearing it. Feeling beautiful in it. Feeling like myself. Before trying it on I hadn’t been able to picture myself walking down the aisle, even, but with that dress things somehow came together. It felt amazing.
But then I couldn’t wear that dress through no fault of my own; so I feel like I was cheated. I feel like I came SO close… like everything came together when I walked through Bombshell’s doors and suddenly this impossible thing — me feeling beautiful in a wedding dress — was possible. But then it all unraveled in a way I couldn’t control and couldn’t fix.
So how do I rate Bombshell? Is the single star unfair? Should I average the 5 and 1 to make 3? I maintain that Bombshell welcomed me in a way that remains impressive, that they run a gorgeous shop that gives plus-​size women the shopping experience they deserve. I maintain that Bombshell was professional from beginning to end. All good things. But I just can’t shake the feeling that ultimately a wedding dress shop has a single job: to get you the dress that you choose. And they failed at that for me.

After reading about other the trials and tribulations of other plus size brides, including disrespectful treatment and lack of samples in plus-​sizes, I was determined to create a different experience for myself. I did not want my long awaited wedding dress shopping to be ruined. After some google magic, I came across Bombshell Bridal. I loved their website and \their thoughts on how EVERY woman deserves a magically experience, regardless of size. I ran the idea past my mom and sister, and we agreed that a road trip was in order.
Bombshell Bridal is everything I had hoped for and more. The ladies in the shop are lovely, especially Debra, my consultant, with whom I immediately hit it off. The owner, Amanda, was on site and is very accommodating. The business is family owned and run and everyone is wonderful. The atmosphere is the shop is warm and welcoming, there is no pretension and there are plenty of opinions (if you want them). When I checked in with Debra to see how we were doing with time, she told me not to worry about it. There is a large selection of beautiful gowns, even at budgets $ 1000 and under. There is also a gorgeous selection of discontinued gowns that can be bought off the rack «as-​is». I probably tried on 20 gowns. I received construction feed back from my consultant, did not hear a negative word from anyone and was shushed when I commented on my imperfections.
I had the fortunate problem of having many dresses that looked good… but none of them felt quite like «the dress.» When I asked Debra if I’d really know when I found «the dress,» she encouraged me that I would… even if it wasn’t purchased from Bombshell. Ultimately, I found «the dress». It is on order and I’m already looking forward a return road trip — possibly with some bridesmaids — to pick it up and visit the ladies of Bombshell Bridal again.
I cannot recommend enough that anyone who has concerns about ANY body image issues, who is plus sized or wants a laid back bridal gown experience visit Bombshell Bridal. I traveled 720 miles round trip and am SO glad I did. If you are able to make the trip, it is worth it. I promise. I’m proud to be a Bombshell Bride!

This place is like heaven for curvier brides. After a visit to a major chain bridal store which ended in tears, I found my way to bombshell. Let me tell you, these ladies are fabulous! I didn’t initially find my dress in the shop, which just shows how ridiculous I am because they have a large and lovely inventory. I did, however, find a dress that I loved and went to them with a name and style number and they were able to order it for me! While it was scary to order a dress that I’ve never tried on, they carefully took my measurements and assured me that it would be lovely on my body type and even let me try on something with a similar silhouette. Guess what? They were right! Not only was the dress fabulous but so were the accessories that I ended up ordering from them too!
Bridesmaids & MOB’s, don’t feel left out! They have an extensive selection for you too!

I searched high and low in Chicago for the perfect wedding dress and when I saw it, I was elated by the find but crushed by the price. Being that my fiancé is from Michigan, I started searching around for other salons that carried my designer. I was so pleased to find Bombshell Bridal. Although I am not plus size, they were very accommodating about setting an appointment quickly, clipping me into the dress so I could see its true fit on me and allowing me to try on all sorts of dresses. Always a socially-​conscious shopper, I fell in love with their story and their customer service and wanted to make sure I supported the business. …Not to mention they have much (much) lower pricing than Chicago. I bought the dress right away and its been smooth sailing ever since. I’ve been back several times: for an accessory show to buy a veil, to simply try on my dress again with a new belt from Etsy and now for my fittings. Their seamstress Marianne is wonderful to work with and also very accommodating of my travel schedule. Aside from choosing my fiancé, this has been one of my best wedding choices yet. Thank you Amanda and staff!