Theo P

Unacceptable, Disrespectful, and Deeply Unprofessional

Bride & Co Umhlanga – Unacceptable, Disrespectful, and Deeply Unprofessional I am writing this review to formally express my absolute disappointment with Bride & Co Umhlanga. What my family and I experienced was not only unprofessional, but outright disrespectful and demeaning. We visited the store this past weekend by appointment, as this is the first wedding in our family—a once-in-a-lifetime moment that should have been handled with care, dignity, and professionalism. Instead, we were made to feel judged, belittled, and unwelcome almost immediately. A staff member by the name of Natasha behaved in a manner that was completely inappropriate for someone working in a bridal environment. The very first focus was not on the bride, her vision, or her experience, but on how much we were willing to spend. When we stated our budget of R25,000 to R30,000, Natasha responded by saying it was “pocket change, that’s all.” That statement was shocking, insulting, and entirely unnecessary. No customer—especially a bride and her family—should ever be spoken to in such a dismissive and degrading way. Budget aside, basic respect should never be optional. To make matters worse, we were then questioned about why we had viewed dresses at another bridal store and made to feel as though we had no right to be there. The tone and attitude communicated very clearly that we were not considered “good enough” to be in that space. What should have been a joyful, emotional, and memorable experience was reduced to one where we felt treated like second-class people. This level of arrogance and lack of empathy is unacceptable, particularly in an industry that relies on trust, sensitivity, and human connection. The contrast was made painfully clear when we left Bride & Co Umhlanga and visited Jasmine’s, where we were treated with professionalism, warmth, and genuine respect. As a direct result of that experience, we spent double the amount we initially intended. That outcome alone highlights that the issue was never about budget—it was about attitude and how people are treated. A wedding dress is not just a sale; it is part of a lifelong memory. Bride & Co Umhlanga has permanently attached itself to one of the worst experiences our family has had during what should have been a beautiful time. Management should take this feedback extremely seriously. No bride, and no family, deserves to be spoken down to, judged, or humiliated under the guise of “luxury service.”