Florida-Central Florida

Where would you send me????

So I've been putting off dress shopping because 6 months ago I had a beautiful Baby Girl and gained 55 pounds. Now that I am in 5 pounds of my pre pregnancy weight I am ready to go shopping for a bridal gown!!! Very excited about it!!!

Where would you send me? I went shopping once with a friend at David's Bridal for her wedding and that realy isn't that type of shop I'm looking for I want something a little more intimate and where I feel special. I'm looking up reviews of Bridal shops and so many have such bad reviews so I am confused!!!

I am willing to drive a little too for a great experience with the perfect person! Especially since I will be going with just my mother and we just lost my grandmother her mother and we always talked about her being there.

Re: Where would you send me????

  • krcardinkrcardin member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    The place I liked best when shopping for my gown was Fashions and Flowers in Orlando. They were so friendly and would bend over backwards to help me! You should definitely check them out.


  • edited December 2011
    I actually bought mine over in Port Richey on the west coast so my recommendation isn't much help. Here in Orlando I went to both Lily's and Minerva's. Lily's is kind of hands-off-ish, which is a nice no pressure atmosphere. Minerva's is hands-on but I if I remember correctly they don't have designer names in their dresses and they don't let you take pictures, which I wasn't a big fan of.
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  • edited December 2011
    Your budget for a gown may help you determine which shoppes to visit. For a great experience, I recommend Solutions Bridal or Priscilla of Boston. The girls at both of these salons are just wonderful. Check to see if they have any trunk shows or sample sales coming up, and you can get a great deal. I got my gown at a POB sample sale for about 15% of the original retail price. Congrats on losing the baby weight, too! I remember how excited I was when I finally lost all of mine. Have fun shopping!
  • jln555jln555 member
    Fourth Anniversary 10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Thanks guys . Yes I don't mind shopping. My budget for my dress is about $1500-2000 with alterations veil shoes ect.
  • edited December 2011
    You may or may not be able to find something in that price range at Solutions or POB, but you may have to do some bargaining to get it. I think you'd have more options in that price range at Solutions. Also, you'll probably need to use an outside seamstress, not theirs. (I can recommend a great one!) You can get veils for next to nothing on Etsy and ebay, so don't get those at the bridal shoppes unless you fall in love with something you can't get anywhere else. 
  • edited December 2011
    congrats on losing the baby weight! I can't help much on places to go since I am in DC currently. But I work at a bridal boutique and if you want that intamite feel you will probably need to find a dress that is under the 1000 range to get cost of shoes, veil, and alterations.  Mainly alterations is the biggie since veil and shoes you can buy somewhere else.  Alterations at my store (where there is a magic of semestress) starts at 200 for a wedding dress and can go up to 500 depending on what is going to happen with the dress in alterations.  Just a thought as you search.

    As for negative reviews.  It is noted that most people will tell friends about bad experiences before good ones with retailers. Just how the industry works. So for reviews online take them with a grain of salt unless they are all very specific about one or two things becuase garunteed someone didn't get a price they demanded or felt they were treated unfairly when the boutique didn't go around company policy for them.  Just a thought.
  • jmucheech21jmucheech21 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I'v heard good things about Alfred Angelo's.  =)  Haven't been shopping myself yet, so I can't give a personal review.  
  • edited December 2011
    I give two thumbs up to Demetrios (in Altamonte) and two thumbs down to Alfred Angelo.  At least in terms of overall experience ... hope that helps!
  • jln555jln555 member
    Fourth Anniversary 10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Thanks Guys! I appreciate all the tips especially about using an outside seamstress! Guess I will just have to throw myself out there and search search search.
  • edited December 2011
    I ended up going to DB but Casa di Bella in Celebration is really nice and small. It's by appointment only so it's so intimate and all of her attention is on you! GL!
    Anniversary
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