Dress shop Recommendations

CEMasley

HI Everyone, 

I'm a new knottie here - my name is Caitlin and I'm getting married October 2012!  I'm starting the dress hunt and am looking for shop recommendations - I live on the south shore , but wouldn't mind travelling a little bit for a good place!   My Budget is not huge - Trying to keep it under $1000 - So also looking for places that have a good variety in their pricing as well! 

Thanks Ladies!

Meggie32080

I had a similar budget and tried a couple places on the South Shore but non that I would really recommend.  I really liked Bella Sera in Danvers and I ended up getting my dress at Madeleine's Daughter in Portsmouth, NH.  Great selection, not pushy and they really listed to what you want. I am getting married in two weeks and they have been amazing.  It's worth the trip, make a day of it and go in to Portsmouth for lunch:)

Meggie32080

One more thing...no sales tax in NH!

Karen's MOH

I bought my dress at Country Weddings in Hingham and I loved it there. My budget was a little higher than that, but I think they would definitely have a good selection around there. 

keke2012

My budget was about the same I went to Hillarys in downtown Plymouth and found an amazing cassablanca dress for under 1000. It is a small bridal shop but they have a lot of great designer dresses for your price range and lower.The owner is young and knows her stuff. The very first dress she picked out for me I am getting!! She has a lot of designer dresses around your price so I definitley check it out. They also seem like they are going to be great to work with. It makes the entire expirience much better and easier when you are dealing with the same person and they will remeber you unlike when you buy a dress at a big bridal store. Good luck!!

sandra78

Bella Sera was great and they weren't as pushy as the others!

sunflower331

I got my dress at Precious Memories in Malden, MA.  I went to a sample sale and got a great dress at a great price..here is their website:
http://bestbridalshop.com/

looks like they're having a sample sale Sunday 11/28/11 10A-2PM...you should definitely check them out....good luck

http://www.bestbridalshop.com/newsevents.html

jesslimax

The Bridal Secret in Quincy! The owner Judy was wonderful and knew exactly what I wanted Plus, I got my dress for under $1000.

nikkibel

I had a great experience at House of Brides in Woonsocket, RI.   No sales tax either.  They sold me my Maggie Sottero dress with a great discount, gave me the sample!  It's the only way I could afford it.. (I paid $1050). 

good luck!

Ashleigh828

I have the exact same budget and ending up finding an amazing dress at Bridal and Gift at Shear Style in South Attleboro. They have an amazing selection of dresses and have an entire room dedicated to Maggie Sottero... her dresses are amazing and very reasonable! Good Luck!!

stengeranddolan

I too, found a terrific dress for under $1000 at Bridal and Gift in Attleboro.  They have been extremely helpful to me and didn't bat an eye when I told them I wanted something very non-traditional.  They helped me find the most beautiful blue dress ever!!! They have a great selection and you can try on SO MANY things.  I worked with Laura and I really loved her--she is very kind and quite an expert, and she kept looking until she found me something I loved.
Best of luck!

msstephanielynn

I just copied and pasted this from my post, fitting of your question though

I found my perfect dress with every element I could dream of online and called almost 20 shops that did not have the dress. Some were rude and un-interested. When I called The Wishing Well, Pam picked up the phone and asked me to describe the dress - I did and she knew exactly the dress that I was talking about. She said to stop by any time (no appointment) and we could try on dresses. When I got there, she remembered me from the call and helped me try on THE dress as well as like 14 others. She encouraged me  to try on every dress in the shop pretty much. Amazingly of all the dresses I still loved the online one and bought it.

Since then I have been back to look for bridesmaid dresses and even tried on my dress for a few other people. They have known me by name every time and are smiling from ear to ear. They were even waiting hand and foot on my bridesmaids!!  

Moral of the story? If you're looking for a personal bridal experience, please go to The Wishing Well in Rumford, RI (just on the border of MA) yes a little hike but WELL worth it. It's such an important experience to enjoy trying on dresses and these girls just have it down. I know for a fact that I wouldn't have gotten better experience if I went anywhere else.

Pesapenny

just fyi, I had a horrible experience at the Bridal Secret. I found Judy to be crass, and most of the dresses to be out of fashion- not to mention the whole place smelled of old cigarettes. The website makes it look nicer than it actually is- the store is dated and covered in gross pink carpet, and the dressing rooms are cramped (bigger ones in Macys) and have no lights in them and they have this inane system of placing index cards on dresses you want to try on- it's limited to a number, by the way. I'd imagine that sometimes you get lucky, but it was just a terrible experience.