AniA Collection

I feel terrible that I am getting to this review a whole year after my wedding day but just like "they" say, better late than never...I hope. I just wanted to share my experience here because I found many of the City Search reviews helpful when I was on the hunt for my dress. I went into several Portland metro area dress boutiques and ended up finding my perfect dress here at AniA Collection. This was the first place I went and to be honest I did not have a good FIRST experience here. I left bummed and discouraged. Sometime later I received a call from an AniA employee. Her name was Helena and she was following up on a previous email inquiry I sent prior to my visit. I shared with the woman that I was told there would be no dresses in my price range there and basically I felt shooed away. She influenced me to come back in and give it another go. She took such great care of me, picking out several options for me to look through. She found the most beautiful and affordable Augusta Jones gown for me. I ended up spending only a tiny more than my budget but I felt it was worth it for a fabulous wedding dress. Every time I went in there after that initial experience I was treated very well and everyone was helpful. There ended up being a snafu with the brides maids dresses from ANOTHER local shop and Helena came to the rescue. She helped to pick out similar styles and we found even better quality and priced dresses. She definitely made it worth my time and money. She was so helpful and really gave me a unique experience. Although almost every thing went off without a hitch, there were some altering complications. When I went to pick up the dress the day before we left town it was all wrinkled. I left it over night and was able to pick it up the next day, but it was out of our way. Also, it ended up being a little too long. I know that their 2 alterations gals were swamped during that busy season, and they probably should have had more help. Pros: Unique Selection, Helena and 'most' Customer Service Cons: Expensive, Busy more

The first time I stepped into this shop, I didn?t have an appointment and I figured that everything they had would be over my $1,200 budget. To my surprise, I was greeted immediately by a friendly girl at the front desk. When I told her that I didn?t have an appointment, she said it didn?t matter and she would get someone to help me. Two seconds later, another girl came out from the back and started asking me questions about my dream gown. Before I knew it, I was in a dressing room with several gorgeous gowns and all within my price range! While I ended up finding THE dress at another shop, I really wish that I would have bought it through Ania. The staff is helpful, nice, accommodating and friendly. If you haven?t found your dress already, visit this shop. They have a beautiful selection and are willing to work with you and your budget. Pros: service, location, selection Cons: parking, higher prices more

I showed up at AniA on a Sunday afternoon a month and a half before my wedding. I didn't have an appointment because I didn't know any better! Morgan greeted my sister and me with a big smile and told us that an earlier appointment had cancelled so she had time to help us right then. I picked out several dresses to try on and Morgan put me at ease immediately with a process that I had sort of been dreading. After trying all of them on, I told her which one I had my heart set on- it was so beautiful! She told me the price and I realized it was about $3,000 out of my price range. Minor detail! Morgan suggested that we talk to their seamstress and see if she could make me an affordable version of the dress, just with different material. It was just that easy! Morgan didn't miss a beat when she realized my price range was on the low end- she still remained professional as ever and found a great, creative solution for me! I recommend this store to anyone who wants a stress-free dress-buying experience. Thanks Morgan! more

I showed up an hour late to my appointment due to a series of accidental mishaps, which is bad enough on a normal day, but this was on a Saturday during a HUGE fifty percent off sale, so you can imagine how busy they were! However, when I arrived I was greeted by Karyn, who was as polite, friendly, and eager as ever to take as much time as she needed to help me out! Even though I was an HOUR late on a sale weekend!!! Karyn didn't rush me at all, in fact she kept encouraging me to chat and tell her all about what my idea of the perfect dress was. She helped me go through the racks and pick out a whole stack of gorgeous dresses and seemed delighted to help me try each and every one of them on! Pros: An amazing selection and even more amazing customer service! Cons: None! more

Selecting my wedding dress was a very trying experience for me. When I finally arrived at Ania I had been shopping for a dress on and off for a year. I did not really have poor experiences other places, but they weren't great either. I had just not found the right dress. Pros: Beautiful dresses, great staff Cons: Did not experience any more

I went to AniA Collection and was provided with the BEST customer service from Lisa. She was helpful, supportive, honest, nice and very classy. The entire experience was a joy...especially compared to the other two shops I visited later that same day. Pros: Best Customer Service in town! Cons: None more

A young woman named Josie assisted me in all of my visits last summer to find the perfect dress. She had a warm manner to her and knew when to offer her opinion and when to step away to allow me to discus the dress options with my parents. I should also mention that she was exceptionally, in fact outstandingly patient over the course of three visits. Once I narrowed down which dresses I was considering to three options, I struggled to make the decision. I am certain I was nothing short of high maintenance. I walked in the store uncertain of what budget range I wanted to work within and no idea of dress style or even general look I was going for. She never came across as being irritated or annoyed and was helpful as I tried on dress after dress and then retried on the three final options repeatedly. I never felt pressured or as if they were trying to up-sell me from once choice to another. On our visits they would offer my 'consultants' water and made sure that everyone felt welcome. Pros: Customer Service more

Dear Brides-to-be (and Bridesmaids), three of us, brides, are getting married this summer. We have had an experience of a lifetime in our realm of planning all of our weddings and we highly recommend ANIA. The reasons are as follows: sweet, respectable service by Karyn and Rachel, attentive service to cater your personalities, and they listen to your needs (not to only meet them, but to exceed them). Pros: Tentative, personable service Cons: No walk-ins more

Ania is AMAZING! I looked at three other bridal shops in Portland without finding a dress... I walked into Ania and bought the first dress that I tried on! I can't wait for it to arrive!!! Pros: Friendly Service, Great atmosphere, beautiful dresses Cons: A little spendier, but worth it! more

I joined just to write this review because I had a fabulous experience with AniA. I was on a tight budget, and looking at the upmarket store I thought it was out of my price range, so I tried all the other places first. I went in on a weekday morning, and was asked if I had an appointment, which I didn't, but the girl checked the book and fit me in anyway. I was actually looking for an ivory bridesmaid dress for my wedding gown. I found the perfect one at AniA, and at a very reasonable price. The staff made it feel like a special experience, not the McDonalds experience of other shops. Later, I had a difficulty with the veil I had purchased from a different retailer. I asked one of the girls as Ania for help, and she actually showed me the correct way to pin it -- believe me, this absolutely made the wedding outfit. I also used the taylor they recommended, who was fabulous, and did a perfect job, really reasonably priced. I don't know what happened with the negative reviews I see on here, but I was in there several times for fittings/pickup etc and every time the staff were great. Brides, when you've tired of the other c*** on the market, go here and get the real thing! Pros: Luxurious shop. Nice, knowledgable sales people Cons: Parking in Portland, what can you say more

My wedding was this summer and I bought a dress from Tres Fabu before I read all the terrible reviews. Fortunately,it was off-the-rack but they were holding it for me at the store. As soon as I saw the newscast on Tres Fabu,I picked up my dress immediately(I didn't need them loaning my dress out to another bride-seriously, it happened to another bride). I didn't want to give them more money, so I took my dress to a different store to buy my undergarments and petticoat. Come to find out that the dress they sold me,that I had tried on twice,on different days and with different salespeople,was TOO SHORT FOR ME! Look,its the first time I've been married. How am I supposed to know it should barely skim the ground and not be 3 inches above it? I left the store in tears because it was only 3 mo now to my wedding and thought there was no way I could get a new dress in time. Pros: patient with their customers, RELIABLE, not just there for a sale Cons: none more

I created this account for the sole purpose of writing this review. The attitude of the staff of Ania Collection is beyond reprehensible. I am truly appauled at their behavior. more

Ania Collection is an amazing salon. I am a California bride. I unfortunately was not able to travel to Portland to purchase my dress, but I took care of everything via telephone. more

This place is hideously over-priced and lacks any commitment to customer service or satisfaction. They came across as "trying to make a buck at ANY cost" EVERY time I had to talk to them on the phone. They made it extremely hard for me to do business with them as an out-of-town bridesmaid for a wedding I was in. You'd think that they could possibly pony-up for shipping my bridesmaid dress to me after I spent over $300.00...but no. It is completely unfortunate that you are a beholden audience to the bridal industry and this shop knows it. They will do anything to clean out your wallet. Additionally, when I phoned in for various questions and scheduling, I always received a different answer from each person I talked to. This is extremely unprofessional. They can't even get their facts straight. This place is an utter disaster to deal with. I do NOT recommend them. Pros: The dress is beautiful, but then again it better be seeing as it costs an arm & a leg Cons: over-priced, terrible service, rude, rigid, unknowledgable...the list goes on! more

Too frequently, shopping for a bridal gown carries all the joys of a root canal; a tedious and painful procedure performed in an un-empathetic atmosphere run by professionals profiting from an exclusive market. Whatever happened to those dreamy, exciting gown-shopping montages girls imagine in childhood? We all know that it?s never going to be ?perfect,? but does that mean a bride has to put up with rude treatment and dishonesty? I should think not. ANiA?s provides a welcomed alternative: good service, great dresses, and straightforward business practices. Pros: Beautiful Dresses, great service. Cons: Some dresses fairly expensive. more

AniA is wonderful. I went to try on bridemaids dresses, the same weekend as the Mika Inatome bridal trunk show. It was very busy. Rachel helped us out that day and she was wonderful! more

BEST BRIDAL SHOP OUT OF 8 I WENT TO IN PORTLAND METRO AREA! I have been to 8 different bridal shops from couture shops to basic wedding and formal places and this by far was th best experience! Pros: They listen to your wants and needs! more

I had very a pleasant experience during my visits at AniA Collection. The staff (especially Josie) is very friendly, helpful, and willing to squeeze you in at a moments notice (though I would suggest making an appointment out of courtesy). Their bridal gowns, though a little more expensive than other stores, are gorgeous and unique. They also carry the most beautiful bridesmaid dresses in town. more

....Because I have nothing to say except great things about AniA's. My appointment was during the week and not only did my saleswoman help me find my absolute dream gown, she then took the time to help me find my bridesmaids' dresses and all my accessories. The store is beautiful, the girl who helped me was professional, extremely knowledgeable, and by the end of my appointment, someone I felt completely comfortable with. I would really recommend going during the week...I stopped by on a Saturday and all the salespeople were busy with people who did have appointments so make an appointment or go on a Wednesday in the middle of the day. The dresses in the store are by far the most beautiful I've seen in Portland and the employees are very lovely and accomadating. If you want a really memorable experience when you pick out your wedding gown (great customer service, beautiful gowns, and a relaxed environment), go to AniA's! Pros: Fantastic customer service, beautiful gowns Cons: Slightly more expensive dresses (but worth it) more

If you want to be helped by an inexperienced anorectic teenager who makes comments about how you really do have a whole 10 months to lose weight for your wedding while she helps you into a dress, rolls her eyes when you walk in without an appointment and then directs you to a book without actually allowing me to look at any of the dresses, then this is the salon for you. The moment I walked into the store, I was asked, where have I looked for dresses? What was my budget? Did I have an appointment? My sales-child kindly pointed to a book on the table and told me that maybe I could afford something in that book since my budget was "only $1000". I had the pleasure of overhearing the saleswomen complain about how I didn't have an appointment and how could I just walk in. There was one other customer in the store who was being helped, and at least 3 sales people standing around. Apparently, they did not want to sell dresses because none of them felt like helping me despite not having other women (with appointments). These women were rude, unprofessional, and not worth the time it takes to find parking. Pros: I know what bad service is. Cons: Waste of an hour on a saturday, overpriced dresses, snooty saleswomen. more