Recent Carolyn Allen Tux Experience?

[lurkyloo]

Has anyone had any experience with getting tuxes through Carolyn Allen since September?

We arranged all our travel plans around a 10am Saturday fitting because they told us it was the last time they'd be able to order new pieces from the warehouse if something didn't fit. Now I find out that since they switched to Jim's Formalwear in September (the part they did tell us about originally) they can't get any new pieces from the warehouse over the weekend, cuz it's in Georgia!

So A) we could've arranged to fly in Saturday morning instead of Friday night if they'd told me when I first called, and B) I am terrified that they'll bring the wrong sizes - and no amount of hemming can fix a jacket that's too big or small.

What has been your experience with the accuracy of the sizes they bring to the fitting? I had head some CA horror stories, but that may have been before the switch...

Thanks!

 

[autumnbride2B]

My DH used Carolyn Allen's for our wedding in October. We were really happy with them. At the fitting one pair of pants and one jacket had to be changed and they were delivered to the hotel the next morning. There were no problems getting the tuxes, vest, ties, etc that DH had picked out in April.

 

[lurkyloo]

Great! So when you say changed, do you mean they just hemmed the jacket and pants, or actually exchanged them for different pieces? Was your wedding on a weekday or weekend?

Thanks!

 

[autumnbride2B]

They actually changed them. Our wedding was on a Saturday at 5:00. They had the exchanged item at the hotel at about 8:00 that morning. The guys who needed them just picked them up at bell services.

 

[lurkyloo]

Hmmm... our problem is that the style of tux we chose is not one they keep on hand at CA's shop. I'm a bit nervous now that you had two pieces that needed to be exchanged...

Too bad AfterHours is such a mess lately - does anyone have any other suggestions for tux shops that will deliver to WDW?

 

[Kristen14]

Yikes! I dont know what to do with the darn tuxes!! I was gonna pay the extra $$ to go with CA's, but not if they cant switch out over the weekend!

 

[autumnbride2B]

Have you called them and explained your situation and concerns? I talked to them a few times before the wedding (we had a couple groomsmen who were very late getting their measurements in) and they were always helpful.

 

[lurkyloo]

Yikes! I dont know what to do with the darn tuxes!! I was gonna pay the extra $$ to go with CA's, but not if they cant switch out over the weekend!

Well, depending on what style of tux you want, they may have the pieces on hand at their shop to swap out - notch lapel jackets and wing collar shirts, they have plenty of! But we are going with peak lapel jackets and spread collar shirts - d'oh!

 

[lurkyloo]

Have you called them and explained your situation and concerns? I talked to them a few times before the wedding (we had a couple groomsmen who were very late getting their measurements in) and they were always helpful.

That's great to hear!

 

[figmentcookie]

I just stumbled across this thread. Has anyone used Carolyn Allen's for tuxes and had a major problem since they switched to a different supplier? Please let me know!! Or, who did you use for tuxes if you didn't use Carolyn Allen's?

 

[ElleBren]

I'm using men's warehouse, and I don't know if they carry your styles, but from what they have told us is we can pick them up from where we live now take them to FL and leave them there. I know it can be annoying traveling with it, but knowing it fits and not having to change out pieces is better for me.

We are having our VR on a saturday and my DH can pick up his tux that wednesday and travel with it. No extra charge or anything. I hope it works out well, we will know for sure come september.
Lana

 

[lurkyloo]

That's great info - I wish there'd been a service like that when we had our wedding (but MW Tux was still going through a painful transition from After Hours).

As it turned out, we did have a problem, but it was not Carolyn Allen's fault - the best man had been incorrectly measured for his tux. Since CA did not keep the style of tux we used on hand (and the warehouse was closed b/c it was the weekend) he had to wear a too-big tux at the wedding.

I am a little puzzled why they don't keep something as common as a peak lapel tuxedo jacket on hand... But their service can't be faulted!

 

[malaea3]

We just used Carolyn Allen's last weekend and they were fabulous. We had a lot of size changes on the tuxes and they came back and forth at leats 5 times over Friday and Saturday before the wedding. I give them a great review and highly recommend them. They went above and beyond to get it all right. We had the khaki color tux.

 

[luandjustin]

Thanks for this info, everyone. Thanks to this thread, I think I've decided on Carolyn Allen for my groomsmen.

And I too am digging the khaki colored tux. (Great minds think alike, right?)

 

[malaea3]

Thanks for this info, everyone. Thanks to this thread, I think I've decided on Carolyn Allen for my groomsmen.

And I too am digging the khaki colored tux. (Great minds think alike, right?)

Definately. Here is a silly pic of the boys carrying matt around and a not so great one from afar. i haven't received too many pics yet.

 

[disprincessatheart]

I'm using men's warehouse, and I don't know if they carry your styles, but from what they have told us is we can pick them up from where we live now take them to FL and leave them there. I know it can be annoying traveling with it, but knowing it fits and not having to change out pieces is better for me.

We are having our VR on a saturday and my DH can pick up his tux that wednesday and travel with it. No extra charge or anything. I hope it works out well, we will know for sure come september.
Lana

That's what we did for ours. Worked out really nice since our bridal party was so spread out - we live in NC, DBIL is several hours away and my dad and nephew are in NY. Everyone got measured near home, DH and his dad picked theirs up near us, DBIL got his near home and my dad and nephew picked theirs up from a store in Orlando so as not to add to the amazing amount of luggage they were already bringing. The day after the wedding my mom and dad stopped by our hotels where the guys had all left their tuxes with the front desks and returned them all to a shop in Orlando. It went really well.

 

[figmentcookie]

We just used Carolyn Allen's last weekend and they were fabulous. We had a lot of size changes on the tuxes and they came back and forth at leats 5 times over Friday and Saturday before the wedding. I give them a great review and highly recommend them. They went above and beyond to get it all right. We had the khaki color tux.

I'm so glad to hear they will go above and beyond like that I'm worried that if the Groomsmen, DF, and DD all get measured by different stores, they might not all fit the same (or if their weight changes or whatever). As long as they have some of the standard tuxes in stock and can come on the weekend for the standard ones, that would take care of some of my worries

Men's Warehouse sounds great, but I'm not sure how reliable FBIL would be in getting theirs back.

 

[ElleBren]

Men's Warehouse sounds great, but I'm not sure how reliable FBIL would be in getting theirs back.

From what they told us we just leave it in the lobby of our hotel at disney and they come pick it up. No matter where we brought it from.

 

[lurkyloo]

Out of curiosity, I called the Winter Garden MW Tux to confirm this, and yes - no matter what MW Tux you pick the tuxedo up at, you can leave it with Bell Services at your WDW resort and they will pick it up for you. (No free pickup from non-Disney hotels). Fabulous! I wish they'd been up and running in time for our wedding!

The woman mentioned that you should call the Winter Garden store first (407-656-7700 ext 2601) to set up a "one-way" tux rental because your local store may not be aware of this service, and she can set the whole thing up for you.