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23rd St-6th Ave (F, V)
23rd Street (PATH)
23rd St-Broadway (R, W)
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I live in Phoenix and was out visiting my sister in NYC for the week. Since she is my matron of honor, we decided to hit the city and see what dresses we could find there. I went to the Bridal Garden after having been to several different boutiques and bridal salons. This place was totally different that all of those place for several reasons.
1. The sales girl did not give me a certain length of my appointment time. My appt was at 5:45 and she said I could stay as long as I wanted (until 8 pm when she left for the day) instead of the typical one hour appt. most places give you whether you are done or not.
2. I was allowed to try on as many dresses as I wanted instead of the typical 6 per appointment. This way, I was not left wondering what was still on the racks and what I was not seeing. Super bonus points for BG here!
3. I was allowed to look at the dresses on the racks myself. We were allowed to go through them all and pull as many as we wanted. It was not the standard, "Tell me what you are looking for and I will pull dresses for you." Instead, it was the "Go to town and let me know if you have any questions." I liked that approach as there was no pressure and I was able to see everything the store had to offer.
4. Another difference from the bridal salons that should be noted is how hands off the truely are. They do not help you in the dress, out of the dress, or help you put them away. This was fine for me but my sister was struggling to keep up trying to get all the gowns out of and back into their bags!
They had a pretty wide selection and this was good because what you see is what you get. There is no back room with hidden options. The good part is you see everything. The bad part is, if you don't see "the one", then they probably don't have it. I was lucky because I found "the one" and bought it right on the spot! The price was beyond reasonable and the staff was beyond helpful. The alterations lady and the sales girl helped us discuss what alterations would work and helped us get out a little stain that I was nervous about. Since the dress needs to be dry cleaned, they took that off of the price of the dress for me without me even asking!
I work for a nonprofit myself and was very happy to contribute to a great cause. This place was wonderful. The staff was great and the selection was wide and varied to fit all tastes. The prices ranged from $500 to $1200. I cannot say enough wonderful things about the Bridal Garden. They were a shining light in the dress shopping experience that can sometimes a hopeless experience.
Thank you Bridal Garden!
Researching for a dress isn't as much fun as you would think. Expectations, price, expectations, color, material, sanity? Then after a long day at work I took a cab home and saw the commercial. I almost dismissed it out of hand, places that advertise "reasonable" prices often aren't, especially when they're designer gowns. But they are reasonable, and not just that but they're personal, a rare gem in nyc. This is the kind of place where the sales lady know everything there is to know about bridal gowns, who are the latest designers and what kind of jewelry goes with what. This is the kind of place that doesn't lace their gowns in formaldehyde in order to preserve it, and keep it from wear.
Accurately set your expectations, this isn't Kleinfeld, but the dresses they have are stylish. The dresses you're trying on are the dresses you're buying, there's no "ordering out". But between their recommendations and Corinne's ability to seam the dream, you're in good hands.
Best of all, they're a non-profit who's proceeds go to disadvantaged children, I can't think of a better way to start the rest of my life, than sharing.
More bridal stuff on on: http://www.joshandmari.../
I sort of set out with the intention that I'd buy a gown here. I loved the whole concept of this place-- both getting a deal on a couture or high fashion designer and also not pumping money into what one reviewer keenly pointed out is such an opportunistic industry. Then add to that, proceeds go to disadvantaged children in New York.
OK. This is NOT one of those beautiful showrooms or salons with the cushy velvet chairs and women with straight pins dedicated to doting on you, the only bride that ever traipsed into the place.
But what they do provide is a well-edited collection of a range of designers (Badgely Mishka, Ulla Maija, Angel Sanchez, Lela Rose were among the ones I pulled), a super organized layout, and a well-run shop. I pulled about ten gowns -- and walked out with the second one I tried on. (The first one I tried on was a close second).
I also have to say that the sales lady, Corinne (sp?), was extraordinarily knowledgeable, frank, with just the right amount of attention. Although there were two other brides shopping, she managed to keep us all sane.
She can also make great recommendations for alterations.
Tips:
- Bring a (meaning ONE) friend/bridesmaid. You'll need someone to give you quick feedback, help you in and out of dresses and literally help you manage hanging them and putting them back.
- Wear a strapless bra or bring a stick on bra.
- Photos are allowed so bring a digital camera.
- Go here second, or towards the latter end of your gown shopping, because by the time you get here you should have a clear idea of what you like/what looks good on. It'll make the try-on much easier.
- The dresses are either samples or previously warn--so Inspect every inch of the dress. The sales person should be able to tell you whether any imperfection will come out.
I do feel like this place was too good to be true...
I had a great experience at the Wedding Garden, although I didn't find anything.
The shop itself is an office space lined with dresses, and three makeshift dressing rooms. Nothing fancy at all, but clean and well organized. Dresses are color-coded by size, straps/strapless and poof.
Corinne is incredibly helpful- providing information on how dresses could be tailored, what is realistic, what would not be good for the integrity of the dress. She's hands on enough to help get you into dresses, navigate the trains in the small spot, offer feedback, but hands off to let you mull over your choices and think it through.
I arrived along with another bride and Corinne gave us an overview of the mission of the shop, how the shop was set up, how to go about finding dresses, etc. I had tried on some dresses, and wish I had tried more on to have a better idea of what I liked and what looks good on my body. I think this is a good place to go if you have been to other places. I will probably check back as the merchandise turns over pretty quickly.
uh ya... I liked the idea of giving to charity and paying less but... not my cup of tea
The dresses were all huge on my petite frame (I am 5 foot 1, at best), they were just plopped there in bags and frankly it was tiring plucking them out from the racks, trying them on without help and then putting them back. There were hardly any nice dresses - it was really draining sifting through all the garbage before I came to a semi-decent dress... It was just a lost cause from the moment I walked in.
Sorry, girls. If you have loads of patience, and you are lucky, its probably possible to find a dress. You are paying less and helping a charity, as previously stated, which is a plus. But you will have to get the dress altered, most likely... and be prepared to expend the energy.
To my fellow fashionistas who are shopping for a wedding dress with a budget in mind, The Bridal Garden is a must visit. Loads of designer (and I mean HIGH END designer) dresses are at least 50% off the original price and in great condition.
Now I ask you this...
With a deal like that, do you think you get a glass of wine, a gushy sales person and a plethora of fancy dressing rooms??
Of course not. There is Kleinfeld's around the corner for that sort of thing and it has a price tag to match. So get your shopper arm ready to push and pull through some hangers to find that perfect dress without breaking the bank.
After all, a little bit of effort can go a long way and feels so satisfying in the end. I know it did for me. I walked out of The Bridal Garden with a Vera Wang that fit like a glove at 70% off. Need I say more?
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I had a great experience at the bridal garden. It was a little overwhelming at first, but I had my mom and my sister there helping me out. They ran around picking out dresses for me. I found a $4000 Amsale dress that I got for $1275!! It was the first dress I tried on and the first store I went to. I really lucked out. And I had Gina helping me out and she was great. If you have patience, I would definitely try this place out! And bring people with you!
Yikes! I love the idea of this place, but in practice, it's a flop. I was lucky enough to get a dressing room, but once inside you are completely left to your own devices. Take it from me, when you are trying on gowns that is 2-3 sizes too large, it's very important to have someone pin it so that you can get a clear idea of the final result... do not expect this at Bridal Garden. It's each woman for herself.
Many of the gowns are damaged and dirty. You have to root through crammed racks and navigate a very tight space. They had almost nothing in my preferred style (mermaid, strapless, sweetheart neckline) I tried on about 4 dresses, all of which I hated, before calling it quits. If you have the patience and motivation to find something here that suits you, God bless you!
What a find! Not only for brides, but for help with ball gowns that need extra crinolines. It would be great for finding debutante dresses also.
My daughter and I went there at the last minute, after she realized her gown needed more support to be " fuller and floaty" enough to dance gracefully in that night. Although I believe the place works by appointment, we were lucky enough to be allowed to come in right after calling and they found her five possibilities as soon as we walked in. Twenty minutes later her dress was transformed into something fit for a grand duchess - for just $45.
It is crowded there, and the building is not glamorous, but I was amazed by the sheer variety and number of gowns on the racks. The girl nearest us was trying on a beautifully made and obviously high end, silk mermaid style dress which made her look like a bride from "Platinum Weddings".
If you are looking for the Vera Wang experience - Perrier water in stemmed glasses, spacious salesrooms and cushy seating, this will not be it. But, if you are looking for a genuine Vera Wang gown, you just might find it here. I highly recommend this place.
I went in there yesterday for a veil and, despite not buying one, had a very pleasant experience. The woman who helped me was very nice and helpful and understanding that I had no idea what I wanted. Upgrade to 4 stars!
Good charity concept but messy, disorganized store with below average service.
Didn't buy my dress here...but I might in the future (going back for another appt. this weekend). On first visit a few months ago, there was a nice selection of more couture gowns at 50% or less of the price, but it changes weekly depending on when designers are donating to them. They donate to NY children's charity... see more info on their website.
I found a few dresses that were a little shopworn (they are samples in many cases), but the majority of their stock was in excellent shape.
Staff was very nice & because they are appt. only, there was not the chaos of other bridal sample sale events. My friend and I were the only customers during 1/2 of my appt. time. there were only 2 or 3 dressing rooms, so I am guessing that would be the max of brides shopping at the same time.
They have a no male & no children policy which they mention when you call to make an appt. They are in a small space, so I completely understand why they have this policy.
If you want a $1500 to $6000 dress, but want to pay 50% of that (or less occasionally)...this place is definitely worth an appointment (plus you are helping contribute to NY Children's charity as a bonus!)
Yes a great place to visit especially if you are looking to spend less than $5000 on a gown or feel like supporting a fantastic charity. A lot of respectable designers donate their samples here and there are some lovely gowns to select from. Corrine, the associate who helped me was very kind, knowledgeable and efficient and did not hesitate to offer her opinion about what worked and what didn't. Prices are marked on each gown but there is a little bit of wiggle room to negotiate a lower price. They also have a special rack for gowns $500 or lower. Sure this is not a place where they serve up free refreshments or are doted upon by phonies but it's a worth a stop if you're on a budget.
Yeah... not my favorite place. It is super tiny, very crowded, dresses stuffed in so tight that they don't move, and no one is there to help you find anything or carry a dress, etc. So you really don't know what they have available. Also, pretty much everything is a size 10. If you need a bigger wedding dress (which, for those of you who haven't started the shopping process or don't know how it works, a size 10 is pretty much a street size 4 or 6). They only had a handful of dresses that were a 12 or 14. I needed a 12... I tried on a handful of really ugly dresses and then left. Sometimes things are on sale - or in this case donated - because they are so fantastic that they are just in excess. Sometimes there is another reason why things are on sale or given away. Almost everytihng here falls into the latter category. I think the idea of this place is fantastic. The 3 stars goes to that. If you are a tiny girl or a girl with a perfect body who looks good in anything then by all means, make an appointment here.
Here's a review: I got my dress at the Bridal Garden. And isn't that basically all you need to know? I'll go on: Didn't find it overwhelming at all -- it's organized very thoughtfully, so once they explain the system, if you know what you want, you know right where to start. And it's a manageable size. I tried on a bunch of interesting dresses, none of which were quite right, and then the very helpful saleswoman, Corinne, asked me if I was "up for fun" (well, yes!) and brought out a dress she loved, this gorgeous, whimsical, PERFECT Anne Barge dress. It was a trunk-show sample and fit me like a glove. At about $1000, it was about 65% off = a great price. And I'd be supporting a charity for NYC kids instead of the money-grubbing wedding industry? I put it on hold for a nonrefundable $100 deposit (which turns into a donation if you decide not to get the dress) and came back the next week to get it. Now I have a wedding dress hanging in my closet. Yay! Sure, I'll have to get it hemmed and cleaned (though there no stains or anything, just a little surface dirt on the straps), but I'll deal. Anyone wanna recommend a tailor/cleaner?
I had high hopes for this place, but left disappointed and a bit annoyed. They definitely overbooked (I went on a weekday) & the woman there did not seem to care about helping us at all. She asked what size I wear normally, then sent me to a much larger size than I needed (I'd had 2 other appointments already that day, so I knew what basic size I was in bridal). The dresses were so tightly packed it was hard to get to them, much less see what they looked like. And there were so many people in the small space, you could barely move. I almost walked out without trying anything on. I picked a few dresses out & waited for a dressing room. The woman in charge never tried to help us, never asked how things were going. I know they were busy & it was hard for her to keep track of everyone, but it's their responsibility to schedule people adequately. They also labeled one dress I tried on incorrectly, which I found frustrating. I picked it out by the designer on the tag, but the dress label didn't match. I really wanted this place to work out. I love the idea of the money going to charity, & my photographer's assistant said his wife found her dress here. But I think it is hugely a matter of luck. If you are there when they aren't busy, so the staff can help you out & you have room to move around, AND you happen to be there when a great dress has come in (most of the dresses I saw here were pretty blah), then it's great. As for me, I'll be going back to RK Bridal. I had an amazing experience there (Sheryl rocks!) & found a dress I absolutely loved, at a surprisingly very reasonable price.
I had a pretty bad experience here. First of all, they overbooked the appointments and none of the dressing rooms were available, so I, too, got the screen treatment. But, they neglected to mention that they really only have a certain size of dress. If you normally wear clothes bigger than a size 10, there is not much there for you. Once the saleswoman realized I was above a size 10, she ceased helping at all. I wound up trying on a bunch of really awful dresses and even the Bridal Garden prices would not have motivated me to buy them.
I am proud to say that I did not throw a grand into the already ridiculous wedding industry giant's pockets. I was referred to Bridal Gardens by a friend and I was not disaappointed. All the gowns are donated and all the proceeds go to children's charities. With that said-there are a frenzy of women coming in to try these gowns on so there is some wear HOWEVER I got my Anne Barge gown that normally retails for 4000 for 1000 and it is stunning. From dry cleaning to alterations they are fair and professional. I had already done the salons where they give you a glass of champagne and tell you you look amazing in everything. At Bridal Gardens my friend and I came across the one I loved and admired it quietly to ourselves. When I went out to the big mirror outside it was all of the other brides exclaiming "that's it! that's it! ...you'd be crazy not to buy that dress!". I was still l little sticker shy so the owner actually knocked 500 bucks off (it was supposed to be 1500- I got it for 1000).
If you have your own style, you know what you like, but you don't want to pay the price of a used car to get it...go to the Bridal Gardens with an open mind and you will walk out with your dream dress AND the money goes to kids? I feel happily ever after already.
Gina was awesome and very nice. Tried to help when she could. I understood though there were alot of people there. When i first walked in i didnt think i was going to find anything because it was very hard to find dresses on the racks. I lucked out and found my ultimate dress here by La Sposa. I was lucky because it just came in that day and it was pretty new. It was about 1295 which really isnt too bad for a high end designer gown. i think that if you can call ahead make several appts so that you can come at different times then do it! and if you are lucky they might get a shipment that day.
The idea is fantastic... not so good in reality. I went in on a Saturday. They were very busy, which is understandable. The selection of dresses was ok but not great. Once I made my way in to the dressing room I was extremely disappointed! Not one dress was in reasonable condition! They were disgustingly dirty and damaged. I went to RK Bridal right before this and had a great experience. I would recomend RK Bridal over Bridal Garden 100%!!!
The worst experience I've had so far. I love the charity concept of this store, but that's about it. I was late for my appt. as I got lost getting there, but the saleslady (whose name I've forgotten) was not friendly and not helpful at all. The dresses were horrible (I don't care if the brand name is big, in my opinion, the dresses were tacky and old fashioned) The space was very small and that made me feel rushed. I tried on 2 dresses and couldn't take it. I left ASAP.
Very helpful staff. Ambience is certainly not Kleinfeld's, but you're not here for that. This place has donated designer gowns for charity (Sheltering Arms Childrens Service) at a fraction of the retail price. It's hit/miss size-wise, (they don't carry multiple sizes in stock obviously) but if you find the right thing, you're saving tons. Alterations here are also much more reasonable than anywhere else.
Before you schedule an appt at the Bridal Garden, just a few things to keep in mind: the overwhelming majority of the dresses are ivory tending toward beige. There just a few white dresses, though you might get lucky.
The other problem is that many of the dresses look like they were tried on a hundred times too many and look dirty and just plain unpleasant to even look at. Of course, I didn't expect Kleinfeld's when I walked in, but I was hoping to find a larger variety of gowns and a better standard of care for the gowns.
Of course, if you have a very good idea of exactly the kind of gown you're looking for, are looking for a non-white gown, and don't mind paying a dry-cleaning bill, you might do OK.
The prices there don't seem that great, by the way. It's wonderful if you're looking for a way to donate to charity by shopping for your wedding dress. But if you're on a very low budget, this is not the place for you. You'll do better at David's Bridal.
why bother paying retail for a wedding dress when there's stores like this one? it's not froufrou fancy inside - you have to find your own dresses and the saleswomen ask that you put the dresses back yourselves. i went with two of my bridesmaids. they took turns staying in the fitting room to help me get into the dresses while the other put the dresses away and brought new dresses back to me. i ended up trying to choose between three different judd waddell dresses and ended up going one that cost me about $800, which was $700 below my budget. i was thrilled!
definitely check this place out if you're looking for a dress. they have a great selection of designer gowns, veils and other accessories at sample sale prices. some of the dresses are a few years old, but most of them are in great condition. the staff is very helpful too!
I didn't have a great experience here. I went on a Sunday afternoon. The three dressing rooms were full. A salesperson told me to change behind a screen that really didn't give me much privacy. I know it was a weekend, so of course the salespeople would be busy. But I really didn't get any service at all, and I made an appointment. Another bride tried on 30 dresses, didn't have an appointment and got a lot more service than me. I tried on several dresses. A few dresses were OK. I'm not into the princess ball gowns or the poofy dresses, and that's what was there.
Great cause. However, the dresses all had something wrong with them. Broken zippers, ripped lace/fabrics, stains.
They made me try on dresses near the windows in the back of the store because the dressing rooms were full. There were construction workers near the window..why would I try dresses on where men could watch? They gave me a japanese screen to dress behind..walked away empty handed and went to Saks fifth ave...would rather pay a fortune than wear ripped, used dresses.
Sorry to all who thinks it's great, but the ONLY thing that is great is the cause.
I love the bridal garden. I got my Christo's dress there for more than half the price I would've paid at the Amsale salon. I also bought an embroidered Henry Roth veil there that was more than 2/3 off the price that matched my dress perfectly. AND all the profits go to charity rather than the salon's pockets! How much more could you want? I had been disgusted with the attitude and high prices at all of the big salons but wanted a beautiful gorgeous dress. I got it all at the bridal garden - great service and THE dress. You admittedly will have to dig around in order to find your dress - there isn't a lot of hand holding and you'll have to know pretty much your tastes otherwise it would be difficult to wade through the racks and racks of dresses. Some of them are samples and are a little shopworn, but my Christos was in perfect condition and needed little cleaning and fixing up. I also went during the day on weekdays, and I can imagine that this place could end up a mob scene on weekends, but I had a wonderful leisurely experience.
this was the first and only wedding dress shop that i went to -- cozy, unintimidating,and a non-profit to benefit children. my mother and i had a great experience there and i ended up buying the second dress that i tried on.
they explain to you the layout of the store and you have to pick out and bring the dresses to your room yourself. they do give you guidance on what looks good and advice on how to approach trying on a dress, as it can be intimidating. they're all very friendly and the woman working there helped me rip the store apart trying to locate a dress i had mistakenly put back on the rack.
i'm really pleased i avoided the experience of wedding dress factory and pressure to buy that seems to be prevelant at kleinfeld's. my wedding isn't for another month but those who have seen it can't stop marveling at how unique and gorgeous the dress is (joanna mastroianni). they are really good with pricing and if you have a smaller budget, they provide a range of dresses for every price point (even if you only want to spend a few hundred). i bargained hard to get my dress down to 1600, including the veil (dress was originally over $4000 and listed for over $2200).
i didn't buy my dress here... wish i had! but the people at bridal garden were so wonderful to deal with that i decided to leave them a little review. they are very very friendly, pleasant to work with and so prompt with returning my calls and inquiries. i really felt they meant every word when they said: we want our brides happy! the other reason why i wish i had bought my bridal gown here is because they are a non-profit bridal boutique! (that's such an oxymoron!!) their dresses are donated and the proceeds go to children's charities in nyc! and this is something i found out later, the next best thing for me, is that they accept donations from brides! so basically, i can donate my wedding dress and get a tax write-off for the full amount that i paid for! better than the dress sitting in my closet taking up space and collecting dust. and i'd LOVE to donate my dress here after my wedding next year and do my part!
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