Check out this post and the 3 parts before it. The first post on these threads are links to the previous threads.
http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/jasmines-bridal-shop-china-dresses-part-iv
Typically with lace, everyone says to upgrade the fabric but if the dress is fairly simple you can get away with premium craftsmanship.
I''m not sure of the turn around time on dresses but others will know. They do shut down for 3 weeks in February due to the Chinese New Year.
Yes, they will send you pictures of lace if you request it.
Anyways, definitely check out the "Jasmine's" threads. They are super helpful!!
OOOooo @tanyaaabee can we see your design inspiration? I also just submitted a lace dress idea email to Jasmine's yesterday and would love to see your idea too. I agree with @jwilk241 to get on the other message board she linked. Tons of information and resources there!
Thanks guys! I actually have looked through every page of those threads (one lazy Saturday night!) but was wondering if there was a clear "You should reference X, Y and Z when ordering."
This is the dress: http://modno.ua/images/looks/17-08-2012/13451669782707.jpg
@tanyaaabee: I would reference everything you can possible think of.
The easiest way to submit an order is to send them an email, or PM from Weddingbee or through their Face Book page with all the details in a word document. Keep your communication simple, because James (American born and educated) will need to translate your request into Chinese, so short, sharp comments, use dot points if possible.
Then James will assess your order, advise you if they can make the dress in timeframe and the availability of lace. Lace is a difficult fabric because it depends on what is available and in stock. So far all the Bees who have chosen lace have been very happy with the result because James selects the best match to the original. He may or may not be able to send you photo samples.
After you have gone over the details, including price, you will then be charged 50% of the total price, (not shipping). This is when the order is accepted by both you and Jasmines and work commences.
Yes there is an additional % charge for a rush job, a dress to be made under their minimum time limit. It is clearly stated on their website, including all the other terms and conditions. You should read them.
I agree you may not need to upgrade the craftsmanship, but I would highly recommend upgrading the fabric because it is a lace dress.
Put a quick post with a link to this page on the main Jasmines thread, it is currently running at part 5. Lots of very experienced Bees on there will be able to help you.
Also you need to show us a picture of the dress so we know what we are talking about when we advise you.
Remember, Jasmines will only accept a dress that they know they can do within the time frame that you want it.
They are extremely busy now and take a few days to reply.
I always recommend:
Trying on a similar style of dress before you order to make sure that the style suits you.
Getting measured professionally, and then getting another person to double check the measurements, wear your wedding day underwear and shoes.
Jasmines will send you multiple photos mid production from every angle of the dress for you to have a good look.
Remember, if there is anything that they have done wrong, you need to tell them at mid production and they will fix it.
But if you want any changes at this stage that you did not ask for originally, then this is considered a 'design change' and will incur extra $s. So that is why it is important to get all the information (including any pictures you can find) to them when you first ask for a quotation.
Jasmines are amazing with veils and remember to purchase your underskirt at the same time because they are so much cheaper than buying in from a bridal shop.
We all love following a new dress journey so keep us posted.
@tanyaaabee: Sorry that is part 4. Also if you order your veil and underskirt or anything else you want at the same time, and ship together, you will save more money.
@Aussiemum: That's brilliant!! Thanks for all the info :-)
I did read the terms on their website but thought that 13 weeks wasn't a rush job. It is very possible I missed something, though, and will ask James.
@tanyaaabee: The reason for the rush fee might be that they close for the Chinese new year.
What dress are you ordering?
@hiheel: Good call on the Chinese New Year! That must be it.
The inspiration is a $10k couture design from Inbal Dror.. so there are no simple images showing the dress straight on/back/etc. I have also asked for the bodice to be altered.
These are two images of it: one and two.
I was lucky enough to try the dress on when a few samples were brought over to London from Israel, and was therefore able to sneak(!) some photos of me wearing it.
@tanyaaabee: Beautiful dress, but there is not much detail showing in the images. Because you have tried on the dress you should submit as much information about any details as you can. Even if you have to reference other dress images for the details.
Remember they can only replicate what they can actually see. Be short and sharp in your communication, use dot points rather than long complex sentences.
Looking forward to seeing this dress come to life.
Hi all -- just a quick question..
What would be your second choice (after Jasmine's) for a backless lace dress without a corset/boning?
@tanyaaabee: After reading about Jasmines I didn't even consider anywhere else to be honest, looking forward to hearing about your dress journey :-)
I don't want this to turn into a rant.. but I'm not sure Jasmine's is an option for me :-(
After a month or so of sending the design plans, back and forth correspondence, paying to get professionally measured, and sending my deposit, they've decided it is too difficult for them to do and suggested I buy the original $10k dress.
I gave tons of details for every part of the dress because I thought that's what they wanted (instead of a.. 'surprise me!') but I'm open to changing bits to make it more manageable. I'm primarily just stuck on the very low back.
The frustrating but is that I've been trying to find out what exactly is too difficult or what I will need to change, but haven't been given a real answer. I just want to know if the slip style low back is a problem or if embellishments are too difficult. If the latter, I'd like to hear how I should change it. If the former, it's a no-go.
Email replies are sporadic and slow. I feel like I've invested a lot into Jasmine's and am willing to work with them to make the design simpler, but time is of the essence. They're my first choice but I need a definitive answer.
This is the dress: http://cdn.indulgy.com/EA/mC/S6/94364554662073761eHJsVxouc.jpg
http://www.katiemay.net/wedding/#Gown%20Details
here is another option for low back lace wedding dresses that are NOT 10k :-)
@tanyaaabee: There have been a couple of Bees who have ordered this type of VERY low back dress and have been disappointed with the fit. Basically they have been saying that the dress are too loose, or just does not fit. Haven't seen any photos of the dress on them because they didn't post any.
Maybe because of that Jasmines have decided that the style of the dress leaves no room for error in fit. As you can appreciate, with a back that low, if the dress is loose then it is going to gape or fall off the shoulders.
What some women don't understand is that even if you buy the original, I will guarantee you that you will need alterations, sometimes quite extensive. For some reason they expect the dress to fit exactly and then complain, or are disappointed that they have to pay for alterations.
Maybe that is why Jasmines has decided to to attempt this dress style. This is only my summation.
@Aussiemum: They put very similar backless dresses as inspiration on their Facebook page, which I would assume means they'd like to tackle them, but I was still leaving room in the budget for alterations. I'm pretty realistic on what you're gonna get from China without being there.
What bothers me most about this is that they accepted the order (with a full Word doc) and bank transfer deposit, but let me run around in circles trying to make things easier for them before changing the price and/or telling me they don't want to do it. I've had months of email correspondence and a phone call.
Every email I receive is just baffling. In the end I sent them a picture of a dress and asked for it as is but no waist belt. I've been told I have too many ''requirements" but they can't list or explain what they are.
It's a Catch 22. If I provide bullet points explaining every detail, even if just spelling out what is in the photo, that's "too many requirements".. if I just send photos without explanation they have "too many questions" -- I can't win and am incredibly frustrated.
It is this dress: http://inbaldror.co.il/dyncontent/GalleryImage/2012/6/19/643057864046611757436.jpg
@tanyaaabee: That is a beautiful dress I must say. I can understand your frustration and your disappointment. Like I said previously, it was only my summation.
I really wish I could help you. Have you approached James to say you will wait until they are not so busy? They are really screamingly busy at the moment because of the Luna New Year when all their staff will be on leave for 3 weeks. In fact 95% of China goes on holidays!!
@tanyaaabee: This is only my opnion but I think the reason why they can't do it is:
a) They can't find a fabric that has the right about of stretch to make your dress
b) They are used to making dresses that have A LOT of structure and boning.
c) The pictures don't show enough detail to make a good replica
I think James did the right thing by saying he can't do it - sure it was a bit late, but as the saying goes "Better late than never". Would you rather have them make the dress that he is clearly uncomfortable of making and you end up hating it and then it will be too late for you to buy another dress?
Well I've been working with James to try to make it as easy as possible, but (this might just be me) I find him difficult to communicate with. I don't actually feel like I'm that picky! I want a flowy lace backless dress.. I really don't care about the lace design or if it is partial lace or full lace. At the very least, I would like a good base that a local seamstress could work with! I just feel a bit helpless and definitely sense that I'm not working with professionals. It is a shame I don't speak Mandarin and couldn't go straight to the independent dressmakers / factories James seems to outsource to!
@babecake I did realize that most of their dresses had a LOT of boning.. but I wanted to go with Jasmine's because of my budget and because I didn't want the type of dress I've seen at the shops.
They put Inbal Dror on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=198629220262674&set=pb.121989811259949.-2207520000.1359051526&type=3&src=https%3A%2F%2Ffbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net%2Fhphotos-ak-ash4%2F250957_198629220262674_6273652_n.jpg&size=453%2C695
As well as several slinky backless ones like this: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=190819787710284&set=pb.121989811259949.-2207520000.1359051593&type=3&src=https%3A%2F%2Ffbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net%2Fhphotos-ak-ash3%2F547278_190819787710284_920416261_n.jpg&size=577%2C948
Personally, I think better late than never is a bad business motto. I feel as though I've wasted a lot of time. He doesn't actually look at orders properly before pulling an arbitrary quote out of thin air. I've had so many ups and downs.. thinking everything is sorted to getting a shock when the prices jumps a lot after making it very simple and using half as much fabric.. to feeling like I have no other options.. definitely not what a bride needs!
I am posting this in defense of our practice, and hope to let brides understand the way we quote prices:
The same dress, can have different prices for different customers, just like the same insurance plan could have different cost depending on the person insured. For example, we serve many bridal salons/resellers, and the discount rate we provide to each salon/reseller are not the same. The more picky salons receive less or no discount, and the less picky salons receive more discount. I think it is quite reasonable - it costs more to fulfill the needs of the more picky salons compared with the less picky salons, so why should the discount rate be the same?
Each customer would require different amount of workload (consultation and revision services) on the same dress, because the customers have different levels of expectations. The more requirements a customer has, the higher the price for the project - this is very common when it comes to crafting especially in China. The same dress, typically costs a lot more to finish successfully when the customer does a lot of explaining (very focused, particular and meticulous) compared to a customer who doesn't (more lenient or laid back).
I am sorry that you feel your time has been wasted, but please remember that I have spent a lot of time on this too to help you arrive at your final design. The amount of pre-order consultation I have provided for your order already exceeds the time for 3 typical orders combined.
If you wish the price to be lowered, then we recommend sending a new order form (without any custom design requirements), and provide only the measurements requested in the order form. Once again, the more requirements you set, the more expensive the project will be for you, and for us.
On the bright side though, at least now you have a set of clean cut order requirements which you can use to order your dress with other dress makers. It will help you save cost and time. If you go in with the requirements you had initially, I think most dress makers would turn down the project. So the time you have spent in arriving at your final requirements for your dress probably could not be avoided and should not be considered wasted.
Thank you for your understanding.
*shakes head* I am still baffled. The notes in the document weren't "requirements" -- I was simply describing the photos.
Understand where you are coming from, but I don't think you understand how the Chinese seamstresses think :( It is very important that you find the consultant who you can work well with for your project and I am obviously not the right person for your project, so it is best that we decline your order respectfully and refund your deposit. There are other vendors who can make your dress. I am sorry that it didn't work out and hope that the time you have spent with us could be helpful for your dress. Best of luck to you.
Well, this will be great for the article I was commissioned to write...
Anyway, which companies do you recommend for good quality lace?
Thanks in advance !
I think a lot of bees can help on the lace quality and vendor choices :)
Fair enough -- you don't want to promote your competitors !!
I've asked before and didn't get any leads, but I'll try again... does anyone have any suggestions?
lol Not that, because we make dresses, thus there is no need for us to order dresses from any one, therefore we do not have the buying experience to make geniune recommendations. But I have seen a lot of good reviews for Dressilyme, and they are very affordable compared to us. You could try them. Good luck! :)
@tanyaaabee: I think there ve been good reviews for dressilyme an missfishbridal you could try any of them.
Well, this will be great for the article I was commissioned to write...
Sorry you haven't been able to get the dress you wanted. I have a good experience so far with Tony at Fabulous U for bridesmaids dresses. They are also based out of China and their prices are really competitive. www.facebook.com/theFabulousU
Sorry to hear things didn't work out with Jasmine's. :(
From what I understand, DressilyMe doesn't like to do a lot of customization, but I think it would be worth at least talking to them to see if they can make something like what you want. I ran across this dress that isn't quite the same but does show a lot of the back and might be a place to start: http://www.dressilyme.com/wedding-apparel/elegant-lace-princess-scoop-neckline-cap-sleeves-wedding-dress-11098.html
Good luck.
It wasn't a threat; I am a indeed freelancer writer and am working on a ''Chinese replica" article. I'll let you know how I get on.
I still stand by what I said -- there wasn't much customisation. Jasmine's should remove the dresses they refuse to make from their Facebook page.
I'll definitely try FabulousU and Dressilyme.. thanks for the tips!
Just to clarify: the dress is not the reason for the decline of this order. We have 2 other Inbal Dror dresses just went into production, both very similar style to this dress (similar in pricing too), and one of them uses this dress as the base dress for a customized dress. The reason for us declining this order is because we felt that the project will not likely be successful while providing a good customer experience. We want happy customers, not frustrated or dissatisfied customers. It is better to end it early than too late so that the customer can hire a better vendor for her, especially for such an important garment.
@tanyaaabee: No, I actually did not. I absolutely agree with James' position.
This is like the Twilight Zone. They're making the same dress (twice) and despite my attempts to make it as simple as possible, I've been turned away! lol. I've gone through the emails, which were always very polite, and made it clear I was happy for them to run with it how they see fit.
Oh well. On to the next !
@vesnushka: +1. I'm siding with James too. If you're already blabbing and criticizing James saying things like "James is difficult to communicate with" on a public forum when he hasn't even made your dress, there's no way this could be a win situation. I know a difficult bride when I see one (I was one myself, though not to your extreme) and there's no way any sane person would make your dress when you've badmouthed and back stabbed them.
There's a lot of bees here who have purchased from Jasmine and are happy with their experience. You say James is difficult to communicate with but I found your thread a little hard to follow! Communication works both ways!
Regardless, good luck with finding a vendor you're happy with but if you continue with the mud throwing at James, you will receive a lot of backlash. Go Team James/Jasmines!
@tanyaaabee: Have you decided what other vendor you want to use? I would hate to see this post turn into an argument over jasmine when we could instead be focusing on the excitement of finding the place your dress actually was meant to come from. :)
Heyas -- I unsubscribed because I felt as though everyone was ganging up on me, lol.. (I swear I wasn't trying to be rude, I'm just honestly, honestly confused!)
However, I do respect your opinions and appreciate that you all have taken the time to reply.
Anyway, @saffy I've been documenting the whole process from day 1 so I will definitely keep those interested in the loop.
I don't want to hijack a Jasmine's thread and digress by discussing a totally different company more than I already have, so I'll start anew here: http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/dress-journey-fabulous-u
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Hello everyone,
I'm about to finalize my order/pay for a veryyy low back lace dress from Jasmine's for about $900 because I upgraded the fabric and craftsmanship. (They seem to be the best option based on value, customer service, fabric and craftsmanship -- but if you disagree, do let me know!)
They're a bit slow to respond at the moment because it is peak time, so I was hoping some of you ladies might have some answers :-)
I asked for the dress to be ready in 13 weeks because I thought the 'default' time was 10. They have added an additional $63 dollars for this. Is that correct? Does anyone know what a non-rush time frame looks like?
Will they be willing to send me photographs of some of the lace they have in stock so I can choose the one best suited to the wedding style? I'm looking for something simple, almost vintage-style, without cording/beading/sequins, and as it is almost entirely all-lace dress.. this is pretty important!
I've put together a long Word doc with photos and illustrations, but I haven't been able to find a 'how-to-order' cheat sheet so make sure I haven't missed anything. Although there aren't any difficult embellishments like beading, I think that the design is pretty uncommon!
Thanks for your replies in advance -- I'll be sure to document my experience along the way.