Chia Lieu Bridal Couture

Chia is the sweetest lady and totally transformed my wedding dress to fit like a glove. I came to her 6 weeks before my big day and she got all the alterations done just in time. She even allowed to me keep my dress at the store as I didn’t want to have it crunched in my closet the week before. My dress had so much intricate jewels and pearls, especially with a very delicate back. She made it an easy process and so worth every penny.
Thank you Chia for everything!

So I initially was looking to hire a different seamstress but she referred me to Chia instead. It turned out to be a great experience! My dress had 4 layers– and the bridal store I had ordered the dress from didn’t measure me right and ordered a dress one size smaller than what I should have gotten… I couldn’t ask the bridal store to re-​order it for it since it took 9 months for them to make to order and deliver it to me. I was only 2 months away from my wedding when I first found Chia. She worked her magic– and after much alterations, the dress fit be like a glove. It was not only flattering but also comfortable by the last fitting appointment. My Maid of Honor went to my last 2 appointments and made sure Chia had all the right pointers to make my dress fit around me and not the other way around. Chia is amazing at what she does and also makes her own wedding dresses! I wish I had known this sooner since she makes her dresses so light and breathable. Please take the time to come out to her store and try on some dresses and definitely hire her to alter your dress if you get it from somewhere else. Altering made a world of difference and it would not have been the perfect wedding without her help. Look no further ladies!
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I was actually referred to Chia by another seamstress who was not taking new clients at the time I called her. Chia turned out to be wonderful and very skilled at her profession. Being a designer and dressmaker herself allows her to understand the intricate construction of wedding gowns.
On my first meeting with Chia, I told her what changes I wanted to make to my dress and she also made her own suggestions, which I followed. After our consultation, she calculated everything and allowed me to make the decision of whether or not I wanted to proceed. I didn’t feel pressured at all and found her prices to be pretty reasonable.
I made an appointment with Chia to return in about one month for my first fitting. When I came back I expected my dress to be almost completed (Chia mentioned she usually does 2 or 3 fittings and then the final fitting) but I found out that Chia likes to work in stages on your dress. This allows her to make adjustments to your taste as she continues working without having to redo something or make corrections.
The one change I made towards the end of the process was to make the neckline of my dress more sweetheart. I brought in photos as an example and she was able to make the alteration perfectly.
These are the alterations Chia made for me: tightening the bust, adding bust cups, sweetheart neckline, shortening the length, tightening the dress under my booty (I had a fit and flare style) and adding a bustle. The resulting dress fit like a glove and I did not have to worry about adjusting my dress the whole day.
Looking back, the only thing I would have changed was the thickness of the bust cups she added. I kept insisting to Chia I wanted to «enhance» my chest so she added the extra thick bust cups but I think it caused the bust to gap away from my chest a bit. It wasn’t noticeable looking at me from the front but it was from the side (and consequently in some of our photos). However, I wouldn’t fault Chia for this because I was persistent and she was trying to make me happy.
I would highly recommend Chia because she is very detail oriented and takes pride in her work. Overall, I think I had 4 or 5 fittings total before I was able to bring my dress home (about 2 weeks before our wedding date). She is also quite accommodating to your schedule and was always able to see me in the evenings after work, around 6:00pm or 6:30pm.
Tip: Each fitting lasts about 30 – 45 minutes and make sure to always bring the undergarments and shoes you’ll wear on your wedding day.

I had picked Chia after doing a lot of research and reading the great reviews about her. However, my experience was mixed. I did pick the dress I will be wearing for my wedding here.
But when I took it to a different seamstress she told me the dress was not right for my body type because I was short. Not once did Chia tell me or the people with me that this dress makes you look shorter and I would alter it this way. She had me stand up on the round platform she has and told us all how great it looked. I mentioned I’d be wearing flats and she never said, this dress isn’t right for you. Thankfully my seamstress is going to adjust the waistline, so this isn’t a total disaster.
Another sad thing that happened was after I tried the dress on and said we’d buy it, Chia said she had promised that dress to another bride and I’d have to wait and see what the other bride decided. What!!! You had me try on a dress and talked to me about it for several minutes and not once did you mention it wasn’t available?! She mentioned the other bride was picky and had asked for several other dresses to be held too. So… we kept asking, then why won’t you sell it to us? She actually called the other bride and left a message before finally agreeing to sell the dress to us.
All of this left a bad taste in my mouth and I would not recommend her. If I could do this over again, I’d go somewhere else.

Chia is an amazing Bridal Couture Specialist! We love her and highly recommend her to anyone. Her expertise in wedding gown design and alterations are unsurpassed and you will not be disappointed. My daughters bridal gown needed major alterations and after the first fitting I knew we found the right person. Chia knows what she is doing, how the gown should fit and the best look for you. She has a gentle, caring way of navigating you through the ups and downs of the wedding gown process. Wedding planning can be very stressful and to find a professional like her that is trustworthy and dependable is refreshing! My Daughter went to 4 fittings with Chia and when she was done the dress fit like a glove. Thank you Chia!!!

Love love love Chia. She is amazing. She made several dresses for my friends and coworkers for their weddings, so I’d seen firsthand the quality of her work. I found a dress from BHLDN and took it in to her for alterations. Chia gave me a quote for alterations but pointed out the craftsmanship of the dress and how it would look in photos. (I asked for her honest opinion and neither she nor my mom was sold on the dress). I am so glad she was frank with me, so I returned the dress.
Fast forward 3 months. I found a Vera Wang dress that was misordered for another bride. It was huge and I was swimming in it, but I loved the dress and was hoping Chia could work a miracle. She did! The dress looked amazing. I went in for 4 fittings which I loved. Each week she made small changes to the dress so that once it was all done, it fit perfect. No one would ever guess that she took the dress down 3 sizes.
All I can say is you are in excellent hands with Chia for custom dresses and for alterations.

Chia was wonderful in helping me choose a dress that was perfect for my style and body type for my wedding. I received many compliments on my wedding day. Chia took the time to get me fitted just right and was wonderful to work with. It was great to wear one of her designs. A final plus, it was a sample gown in great condition so I did not pay full price. Thank you Chia!

I picked up my wedding dress from the woman I had originally gone to the afternoon before my wedding only to find that the alterations had not been completed and that my dress was falling off of me. I found Chia quickly on google and called her at 5pm on a Friday. I couldn’t keep it together and cried while I explained what had happened and that my wedding was the next day. She told me to come in right then and that she had thirty minutes before she had to leave for a reunion. She quickly pinned my dress, made the alterations with me right there and had one of her employees come in early the next morning to finish the inside stitching. I owe the big day to her; she is a lifesaver!!!

Chia did a wonderful job altering my dress. I could not afford a designer dress, but wanted a specific design with a whole lot of bling. Although she advised me not to, I was able to get a dress made in China for an affordable price. Of course it had it’s cons. Even though I accounted for my heel height, I did not account for the fact that it would still be too short since they added a petticoat. The neckline was also too high, which did not align with my bustline. It was also very straight and did not give me much of a waistline.
Chia gave several suggestions on what she would change, add, etc. Overall her suggestions gave me more shape, which I liked. Since I am petite, it was important to have some curves. I asked around at other dress shops nearby, and although they were less expensive, they only suggested to adjust the length. When I asked about taking in the sides which was one of my priorities, they said it could not be done. Obviously, they were just being lazy or did not know how.
After shopping around, I went back to Chia because she was very educated and willing to work with me. She was not pushy about needing to make adjustments on certain parts of the dress. If I couldn’t afford something, she would even make suggestions on how I could do it. For example, if I couldn’t afford to sew some beading back on, she showed me how I could do it myself. Or if I could not afford to bustle my dress, she showed me a way to do it by safety pins. She is understanding and flexible along with an expert in her craft. She gave me curves and made my dress more «western» vs. «oriental» as she calls it. Basically, it molded to my body and even gave me a back side. Her price was worth it.

Chia is a life saver!!! I got my wedding dress at another bridal shop, but ended up not liking it! Unfortunately I didn’t have a big budget for my dress so I couldn’t get another one. I went to Chia and she did some major alterations to the dress and I ended up loving it!!! Not to mention she did the alterations in two days!!! Thank you Chia for the beautiful work on my dress!!!

I was out on my very first day of dress shopping with my wedding only 5 months away. I kind of had an idea of what I wanted, but with so many options, the task seemed daunting.
My friend and I scoped out a couple of chain places. At one of the places, I kind of found a dress I liked. But it didn’t give me that SYTTD feeling. I pulled out my list of boutiques and thought I might have better luck with a local boutique. After calling several places that required appointments, I talked to Chia and she said, «Come on in!»
We went there, and initially, I didn’t see anything on the rack that I liked. Then Chia said that she had some more dresses in the back, but from other designers. When she added «Everything here is $ 600, but it is ½ off because I need to make room for new stock,» my ears perked up.
I ended up selecting 3 dresses. The first one I tried on was «the one.» I turned to my friend, who served as my Randy Fenoli, and said «This is it!» Due to the low cost of the dresses, I even considered buying the second runner-​up.
I did some research on my dress, and it looks like it’s a really old design from the early 2000s. I didn’t care though. It allowed me to splurge on shoes and other accessories.
If I had had more time, I probably would have had my dress designed by Chia. But things worked out, and I’m a very happy camper with a ring on my finger (finally!).

Chia is an amazing designer and I highly suggest going to her bridal shop if you are looking for your wedding dress!!! She can make you a CUSTOM dress for less than a dress off the rack at other local bridal shops. If you want a unique dress, one that another bride doesn’t have, go to Chia! She is so easy to work with and helpful. She is willing to meet with you anytime and doesn’t charge extra for fittings or alterations — she is very detailed so will do as much work as needed to make your dress look perfect. She is not pushy and will not convince you to buy anything you don’t want. She understands that each bride has a different body and suggests only dresses that fit your body. My mom actually got her wedding dress from Chia and years later we were so happy I could get my dress from her as well. She also made my veil. The designs and fabrics are one of a kind. I wanted every dress in there! She also does alterations if you are looking for a place that does it. Good luck!

Chia is amazing! She has done all the alterations on my pageant gowns and her bridal work is breath taking. She is so lovely to talk to and makes you feel like a queen when you are at her place. She does A+++ work and she stays current with her gown styles. She does have some vintage looking gowns with I absolutely love! She does some amazing things with lace! She can work with any material and is always willing to negotiate prices and work around your budget.

It was love at first sight meeting Chia Lieu. I saw her designs on various wedding sites online before visiting her boutique in Orange County. Chia Lieu Bridal boutique is welcoming and beautiful, and features original designs by Chia Lieu herself, as well as a few other designer gowns. Unlike most other bridal salons, Chia Lieu Bridal is not overwhelmingly filled with outdated gowns and unnecessary «décor.» I was planning my wedding from the San Francisco bay area, and Chia was very accommodating with my travel schedule. On my first visit, I tried on several gowns and realized I loved one particular design but with elements of another design. Because this is a designer-​owned boutique, Chia offered to custom-​make my gown incorporating my feedback. She was also very accommodating and open with regard to budget, offering more affordable options made with alternative fabrics. I had my gown and veil custom-​made, and Chia was welcoming, friendly, and professional for each of my fittings. Another advantage of having my gown made by the designer was having fittings without the additional cost, time, and unreliability of alterations. She is also very knowledgeable about other wedding resources in the area because she regular attends expos. After my wedding day, Chia had my gown cleaned, and beautifully boxed (ready for display) for a reasonable price. Of all the wedding planning and decisions that I had to make, my experience at Chia Lieu Bridal was by far the most pleasant. Chia Lieu and her staff are friendly, personable, professional, and reliable.