West Coast Couture

I seem to be somewhat of an outlier here, but I had a miserable experience with Marie. Essentially, she didn’t listen to what I wanted and I felt extremely rushed every single time I came in. I kept telling her I was having nightmares that my dress was falling off (it was one of those backless dresses with thin spaghetti straps) and I told her my first (of many) visits that she could completely change the straps if needed to keep this from happening. She kept insisting that the day of, it would be fine. I didn’t listen to my instincts, and I should have. I should have asked that she change it to a halter top or criss cross the straps or something. Instead, day of, I wound up having to tape my straps on. I mean SERIOUS amounts of tape to keep the damn dress from falling off and exposing myself to all my friends and family on my wedding day. Now my photographer has to charge me extra to photoshop out the shiny tape, and it’ll be all over my wedding video.
I’m so frustrated because I told her about this issue my first time coming in and she didn’t fix it. She clearly thought it would wind up fitting fine, or maybe she just didn’t want to deal with it.
She also did my bustle extremely quickly (like it took her 5 minutes, I was there…) and lo and behold it completely broke… right before I walked down the aisle. I literally had to have 3 bridesmaids up my dress as my processional music was happening and they had to cut the bustle out. If you’re an experienced bridal seamstress, the bustle should be extremely easy. But somehow the way she did it got caught on the lining of the dress. I was extremely lucky that my junior bridesmaid is learning to sew and figured out how to cut the bustle out without destroying the rest of the dress. But then the rest of the night I had to hold my train in my hand to keep it from getting shredded or stepped on.
I paid a lot of money to have alterations and other than the shortening of the dress (which she did an absolutely perfect job of) I was extremely disappointed. I should not have to tape a dress on that I’ve paid good money to alter, and a bustle shouldn’t break 20 minutes after the dress is put on.
The worst part is, there’s nothing to be done about it now. She didn’t listen, and I had to tape on my damn wedding dress. What a nightmare…

Marie is amazing! I love her fiery NY personality. Her skill set is beyond anything I’ve experienced. She knows how to make you look and feel good! If you need a wedding dress altered this place is honestly the best and VERY affordable.

I was referred to Marie by J Birds Bridal
She was amazing! She was incredibly knowledgeable, thorough, and honest/​integrity based. There were NO upcharges. She told me the fees up front and that’s what they stayed which (being on a budget) I REALLY appreciated because I get it, altering gowns is undoubtedly tricky.
Another thing Marie did for me which was awesome? She told me to get the highest heels I could find for the wedding day so I wouldn’t have to get the dress hemmed. Such great advice. I wore 4 inch badgley mischkas which were perfect and kept the dress the ideal length. This sage advice also saved me a good chunk of change because my dress was VERY VERY ornate — lace, crystals, beading, tulle the whole 9 yards.
On a final note, it was just so refreshing to work with another East Coaster. I love that Marie is from New York. she was incredibly forthright about everything and explained everything she intended to do. She also had exceptional attention to detail and caught things on the back I’d never have seen.
Finally, Marie even tolerated the fact I was attending my appointments solo because my mom was on the EAst Coast where my wedding was held. So you know what she did during my fittings? Marie held up my iPhone so I could facetime with my mom. I think that speaks volumes!
Marie is a consummate professional and has undeniable experience which is exhibited in her exceptional work. At my final fitting as she put it, ‘now you look like the model on the dress bag’ (the photo of the model in the dress is attached to the garment bag). And you know what? All because of her, I did!
P. S. I didn’t experience the craziness others did. I had weekday appointments during my lunch hour which were quiet and just me and her. Was terrific.

My girl Marie did it again! She did my wedding dress 2 years ago and when I needed a hem for a red carpet event, I knew exactly who to go to. She is the absolute BEST to work with — so sweet and fun and makes you feel right at home. LOVE you!

This place is great! They worked me into their busy schedule and then once I had the dress on, were honest about it actually not needing alterations. I really appreciate them not taking advantage of my inexperience (i’ve never used a tailor before). The lady – didn’t catch her name – was extremely sweet, but also honest. I felt really comfortable, and will def go to them again.

Disappointed. I purchased a vintage Monique Lhuiller dress at one of her sample sales. I read Marie’s reviews and although I was weary at first, she assured me that she had worked on many Moniques before. Everything seemed perfect. My first appointment was in Early January. I showed up 10 minutes early and she said her other appointment never showed and that we could get started. She started pinning me and then, her no show actually showed in the middle of my appointment. Marie stopped working on my dress and talked to the client. She said they could come in and started talking away with them. I think she was distracted while working on my gown but she said she was confident and the dress would be great.
I came back for the second fitting in March. This time, She scheduled me so no one would be there which was fantastic. I told her the top still felt too big and that I would need the dress by April 10^th to fly back to the East Coast. I came back for a third fitting and the body looked great. Marie was full of compliments. Later that night when I got home, I tried the dress on and the top is still too big. I called her and left a message. She still hasn’t called. I fly home in 3 days to show my family my dress. To sum it up, I am really disappointed. Marie is a nice lady but has bitten off more clients than she can chew. I spent a lot of money on an unfinished product and SLOPPY work. Pins were still in the bottom of the dress.

This is long overdue, but I will never forget how dedicated Marie was to perfecting my dream wedding dress. I had come from an awful experience at an alterations place in Brentwood when a friend recommended me to West Coast Couture. I’m SO happy that experience led me here. Marie held my hand through the entire process. Not only does she do an amazing job at what she does, but she puts her heart into all of it. She is very honest, really gets to know your style and does everything to make sure you are happy with your dress. Marie even followed up with me about some special care details for my dress a couple days before my wedding to make sure everything went smoothly for me the rest of the way.
I would definitely go back to Marie for any other alteration needs and recommend her to friends.

Small and private storefront that offers individual appointments and 1v1 attention. Marie’s (owner) skill and eye was so perfect! We had 3 fittings over several months and each time her alternations were spot on. She made great suggestions to ensure that my dress fit the best possible way on my body while still keeping my vision in tact! Thank you Marie for making my dress so much more amazing and beautiful!!! :)

If I could give Marie 10 stars I would. Long story short:
I had the nightmare all brides fear and that is my first alterations lady had no idea what she was doing and $ 500 later I had an ugly saggy Nicole Miller gown. I took it home, cried a little, and called Marie because Nicole Miller referred me to her. I explained my situation, she asked me to send her pictures, and I was booked to see her three days later. Marie keeps it REAL. She’s top notch and knows what she is doing. She has a genuine passion for what she does and will not let you leave her store looking crazy. She literally took my entire dress apart, redid it and had it perfect the first time around. I regret not coming to her to begin with. The best thing is that you leave her shop feeling like you made a new friend.

I was referred to west coast couture by Katie May for alterations of my wedding dress. From the first appointment, Marie gave great customer service and was very accommodating with all my appointments.
I was very critical of myself in my dress and she eased my insecurities and made me feel nothing but beautiful in my dress. She even helped my mom alter her dress.
Thank you for providing a great experience and truly making my dress «made for me.»

I love Marie and think she is the greatest and most talented out there.
What I love is that she is honest and has great taste. Although she is honest, she will always respect what the bride wants. She knew what to do with the dress and she took a huge Katie May dress I bought at a sample sale, and made it into the perfect dress for me.
I looked forward to my fittings with Marie, it was like meeting with an old friend who could always make you laugh. She’s so sweet and so personable, i miss going there for a dress fitting but know I will be back for future events.

Just needed a little velcro add to my military pouch. call this place up, and even though she was booked she got me in and finished the sewing within a few hours. Great, friendly staff, good price.

Marie is wonderful. The first fitting I went to was a disaster. I’m not the bride who likes to chat with other Brides. I like a private experience. That’s why I chose Katie may Bridal as my dress designer. All of her fittings are private and it provides a very low stress environment. I did’t like being watched while I was getting my dress fitted.
Marie picked up on this and so the second time I saw her she made sure that my appointment was at a quiet time where no one would bother us. I ended up with a perfectly fitted dress. Yes her prices are high, but I think it’s well worth it for your dream day. I have no complaints because I ended up looking exactly like I wanted. She even bumped me up from her normal time table because my wedding was quickly approaching. She’s from the East Coast and so am I so she’s a very direct shooter. I imagine those that do not like her are probably from the west coast and not used to the honest approach that East Coast people have. If you want someone to lie and be fake to you then Marie is probably not your best choice. But if you want her to give it to you straight and tell you what you can and can’t do then she’s your girl!

I love Marie and I loved how my dress fit!!! Marie is such a vibrant, fun loving girl who is truly passionate about her job and makes your dress tailoring experience so fun. Expect awesome stories from Marie and bring your champagne! She made my dress fit absolutely perfect and paid attention to every detail, making sure the bottom of my dress fell at the perfect length, making sure my bustle fell perfect, making sure that I didn’t muffin top by the armpits. Call ahead to make an appointment!!! Thanks Marie!!!

It was traumatic. Unfortunately, I was one of the unlucky customers that she yelled at (I left her store in tears, after a terrible fitting, and called her crying and telling her I wanted my dress back). Her reaction after my phone call… no words, suffice to say she became incredibly offensive and said that she called the cops and reported me. Yep, she went from 0 to 100 in seconds when I was the aggrieved customer. I ended up going to Carolina Herrera Boutique and Bridal (wonderful experience) and the seamstress at Carolina Herrera found gobs of material stuffed into the seams. No wonder the dress was tight… and ill fitting.
The five star reviews and reasonable prices are tempting… but the one star reviews really highlight how bad it can get. Not worth it.

Outcome: Perfection! Couldn’t have been happier. I wanted even more photos of myself in the dress than I got on my wedding day, because I couldn’t get over how well it fit and how much I loved wearing it.
My dress was all lace and fitted (mermaid-​ish) and I have a tiny waist and curvy hips — this is a CHALLENGE people — usually it’s just a challenge for me, but in this case, it was even more of a challenge for Marie as a seamstress! Not to mention, I wanted to change the neckline on the dress and wasn’t even sure it was possible…
She didn’t blink an eye. She wanted to go slowly, piece by piece, so that I’d feel comfortable with each change she made to the dress (once you cut lace, it’s hard to go back). She knew from the get-​go it was going to take several fittings — and after about 6 months, about 5 fittings in all, it was finally done! I loved going to all the fittings, though. It was so cool to watch her work.
Marie is intense — in a good way. She will not lie to you about what she can and cannot do with a certain material and cut, and will not tell you you look good until you do. She’s also good at seeing the dress as an extension of your character and personality, and making that a reality.
LOVE.

It’s hard to find something new to say amongst all of these glowing reviews. The best part? They are all true. Marie treats you like a human being — a human being who is looking to be gorgeous on her wedding day. She sees the dress as an extension of you and your personality, not just a dress you have to fit into. She makes the process personal and fun. She’s playful, while professional. She has such an eye for detail and beauty — super talented. And heck, she does it all herself (except for her fabulous assistant who keeps her efficient, on schedule, and wonderfully real).
The good news — I was lucky to be given my wedding dress from a friend unused. The bad news — she’s a size 2, I’m a size 6. BUT I could meet in the middle, and Marie helped me do it. Each time I would come it, she would fit it a bit closer to the areas needed. She didn’t rush me, tell me to eat less (which I did anyway), and said I was perfect the way I was. The dress fit perfectly day of, and I got a friend in the process.
I could focus on my big day and not the dress. THANK YOU WEST COAST COUTURE!

Marie is the absolute sweetest – she was so incredibly kind, welcoming, understanding, and accommodating during the entire process of altering my wedding dress. In addition to her lovely personality and top notch customer service, she is an expert seamstress. My dress needed hemming, and she did an exemplary job at making sure it was short enough in the front to walk and dance and long enough in the back to still have a subtle train effect. I could not have been happier with how my dress fit – thank you so much, Marie!

Wow! Where do I start?
Marie is a miracle worker!
I walked into the her store a few weeks before my best friends wedding. I needed to get a bridesmaids dress made out of the fabric that the bride picked out.
I had only about 3 weeks before the wedding and a few yards of fabric — with no design in mind.
The second Marie looked at me, she envisioned the perfect dress to match my body and got down to business.
She is so talented and detail-​oriented. I’m awed!
Love love love her and highly recommend her!

I would give Marie 10 stars if I could! She did an amazing job at altering my gown… up until noon Friday — THE DAY BEFORE MY WEDDING!
She is a sweetheart, passionate about what she does, super detailed and did an amazing job on alterations and getting my wedding dress to fit perfectly! Aside from all this, during your fittings, be sure to set some time aside to just chat with her. She has a super fun personality and easy to talk to. I actually spend almost 45 minutes after my fitting chatting with her one night. I kind of love Marie and wish I was getting married all over again so she could alter my dress again! LOVE HER!