The Bridal Garden

07/16/2008 Posted by yerkes77

My mom, sister and I had a wonderful experience. The service, although not one-on-one, was exceptional. Having been to other designer dress shops, such as Mark Ingram, you should be prepared to pick out your own dresses rather than have someone bring them to you. However, that is a small price to pay for the designer gowns and the helpful friendly service. I found the most amazing Christina Wu dress, so unique, so beautiful for $600! I would definitely recommend this place to any bride...

Pros: beautiful couture dresses for pennies

Cons: small space to try on dresses

03/26/2008 Posted by MomSue

What a wonderful sconcept to have the proceeds go towards children etc. W e decided to visit this store first since it was a nonprofit and like the fact proceeds go to children's educational services. My daughters and I arrived at 11:00 with an appointment and were greeted by Gina who had just a wonderful customer service manner. The place was small but gowns were clearly marked by size covered in plastic bags with very reasonable price tags. The dressing rooms are very small but enough room for bride and one person to assist in helping. My daughter was very fortunate and had about five gowns fit her with no alterations needed. She had a wide variety of styles to choose from and they were top quality! My daughter was so pleased the dresses were not just the typical styles you see at a wedding store. Gina was very helpful with suggestions and helped my daughter numerous times. She clearly loved her job and it showed. My daughter wanted something that was a little vintage looking and not the typical white strapless white dress. She found a beautiful cream colored dress with drop sleeve cap and fitted bodice with jewels. The price was $1,100. and normally was over over $4,000! It fit perfect and only needed to have the train cut and be hemmed. ( outdoor wedding!)The seamstress was very professional and knew her stuff. She suggested a bustle on the back and it definatly made the dress complete being hemmed. Gina was very helpful selecting a simple short veil and made sure the color of lace matched the cream color of dress. I don't usually write reviews BUT I want others to know they too can support the cause for children and have a wonderful shopping experience. This place deserves five stars!

Pros: Great customer service and for a good cause

Cons: no men allowed

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

03/08/2008 Posted by DisappointedMother

Very disappointing experience. My daughter was so excited about getting her dress from the Bridal Garden. This website is beautiful. The idea of giving a gift to a charity and getting her dress for her wedding at the same time made this her only choice of where to buy her wedding dress in NYC. She made the appointment weeks ahead of time. I flew into NY from out of state, she had an appointment to have her hair and makeup done; and we anxiously kept our appointment at the designated time at the Bridal Garden. Only to enter a room jammed with not only an overwhelming supply of wedding dresses but several other brides and their entire wedding parties (all trying on dresses). When my daughter made her appointment she was asked her size and told there would be dresses ready for her to try on. Not only were there no dresses waiting for her, she was told there was no dressing room and she could try on anything we could find in the back corner among many storage boxes. Not a mirror in site. After helping my daughter into only one dress, we both were about in tears. There was no way we could even spread the dress out to look at it in the cramped space. This mother/daughter trip to buy her wedding dress was quickly turning into a disaster. Luckily my daughter noticed the name of one of the designers on the tag of a dress. We had walked past their showroom earlier in the day. We called them from the Bridal Garden and arranged an appointment that afternoon. She was treated like a princess at the designer's showroom. There were three attendents who helped her along with the designer himself. I again found myself in tears; but this time because of how beautiful she looked in her wedding gown. If price is what is important, The Bridal Garden may be the place for you -- but even that worked out in our favor, the designer was having a sample sale!

02/21/2008 Posted by PearlRodgers

Gina is amazing and helped me find the dress of my dreams. I didn't know what to expect and walked out the happiest girl alive. I would recommend to anyone who wants a designer one of a kind dress at an affordable price.

01/21/2008 Posted by coolchics

My daughter and I went to The Bridal Garden for her dress. The sales people are friendly and let you have a lot of freedom. We went during the week and were the only people in the shop. We went back on the weekend and it was much busier. We got a Jasmine couture dress sample, never worn and a beautiful veil. She looked great for the wedding. The total cost was less than 700 dollars and everyone has told me that the dress and veil were very special. Pros: You have given a gift to a great charity and may get a one of a kind dress Cons: limited selections in larger sizes. She was a 10 but the selection in smaller sizes was even better.

01/10/2008 Posted by daphnad

I hated the idea of bridal shops full of expensive dresses that you wear once and then put away for the rest of your life. This store was the ideal compromise for me. What made it even better is that I found the most amazing dress for a fraction of its real price. It was a simple slip dress with incredible lace and crystal detailing that came with really elegant sleeves that my amazing wedding photographer (Roberto Falck who, by the way, took the best wedding pictures I - or any of my married friends - have ever seen!) drooled over. It looked like an antique, and people at the wedding thought it was a family heirloom. So definitely check this place out.

Pros: Cost, range of options, incredible designers

Cons: Can be iffy, I just happened to find the perfect thing in my size

03/12/2007 Posted by judymoong

With 50% off designer prices, the Bridal Garden offers great value. However, because the gowns are donated, there are limited sizes and designs. If you're looking for some simpler designs, there are quite a few that look great. Sales consultants are very nice and helpful, not pushy at all.

Pros: Great value

Cons: Gowns require cleaning, alterations, limited selection

09/13/2006 Posted by loveheaven

I have nothing but good things to say- my sister and I just got back from our appointment (yes, you must make one!), and what a wonderful experience. Most who work there are volunteers as every penny of dress sales benefits the Sheltering Arms Children's Service charity, and they are pleasant and helpful without ever being pushy- they aren't making commission, they are there because they LOVE the charity and love helping women find the dress of their dreams. I absolutely agree with the other reviewers who said they don't hover, but if you need them, they are more than up to teh task of helping. Oh, and the The Dresses? We're talking Vera Wang, Anne Barge, and so many others- I found a beautiful Anne Barge with the most exquisite beading- and it fit like a glove. We have it on hold (with a $100 deposit, which, if I choose not to buy the dress, can go towards the purchase of any dress at the store). Be aware- all the dresses are donated by the designers themselves, or women who wore them once and wanted to give something back by donating. They are in EXCELLENT condition- if I didn't know better, I would think they were all brand new- except for the price. The best part besides the fact that I can feel good knowing my money is going to a great charity? THE PRICE. I did my research- I know what my gown would go for (around 6000-8000), and I paid 1300. Incredible. A few of these reveiws ARE several years old- from some of the research I did on Bridal Garden prior to going there, I found that they moved in the last few years- the space now is a great loft on 21st street, it's clean, neat, and the rows of dresses are pretty well organized. And the staff that I dealt with, again, was fantastic. A great overall experience- I would recommend this place to everyone!!!

Pros: great cause, VERY LOW prices, gorgeous designer dresses

Cons: not a HUGE selection, but more than enough beautiful gowns to choose from!

07/29/2006 Posted by jbean880

I was not expecting to even buy a wedding dress when I decided to look at the Bridal Garden it was more for a first glance but I ended up finding the perfect dress for under $500 dollars and it does not need any alterations. The lady working there was great and it wasn't very crowded when I went but you have to have an appointment. You won't be waited on hand and foot so don't expect that. I don't mean it in a bad way I like it better I was able to wander pick out my own dresses without someone hovering over me. The staff was helpful when you asked them for it otherwise they just let you do your own thing. They have a great variety of dresses. I would definately recommend it. The other brides to be there also seemed very happy. Additionally the money goes to a great cause. In closing it was a great surprise and I was happy I went there.

Pros: prices, get to look at dresses on your own, strict appts so doesn't get too crowded

09/26/2005 Posted by bluestreak9

Really, there's no need to go anywhere else... these folks have tons of beautiful dresses and the proceeds go to help kids. Unless you really want the total fairy princess thing, Bridal Garden will take care of you and do good in the world.