The Best Bridal Shops in Connecticut
CT Bridal Salons and Wedding Dress Shops
You just got engaged and you’re starting to plan your wedding. Some Connecticut couples start off by looking at venues. Others search for photographers for engagement pictures. Many brides start off with finding the dress. You might already have a Pinterest board with hundreds of images but have no idea where to turn next. That’s where this article comes in. It has all the best wedding dress shops in Connecticut.
WHAT TO KNOW WHEN BUYING OR GETTING A WEDDING DRESS DESIGNED from scratch
The number one thing you need to know is to plan and start early. Supply chain issues are real and that goes for wedding dresses too! Spring and fall are popular for wedding planning. Your favorite salon might not have an appointment available for weeks or even months, so plan accordingly. An important question to ask is “What is the timeline for this dress?” Ask your salesperson how long it will take and what will be needed along the way — and get it in writing. You should also ask about their must-order date and allow at least a few weeks of bumper time before your wedding date.
HOW EARLY SHOULD I GET MY WEDDING DRESS?
If you are doing any sort of customization or getting a dress designed from scratch you’ll ideally want to start 12 months before the wedding. If you are considering an off-the-rack dress with alterations 6-9 months are ideal, but it can vary greatly.
WHAT ARE OTHER WEDDING DRESS OPTIONS?
Non-white wedding dresses are more popular now than ever. If you need eco-friendly options, you can look into buying 2nd hand or up-cycled wedding dresses. Etsy has plenty of small businesses dedicated to eco-friendly wedding planning.
Related: The Best Rhode Island Wedding Venues
Hartford, CT Bridal Shops
Bridal Bells Boutique
Bridal Bells Boutique in Berlin, CT, is just a few minutes south of Hartford. Appointments are highly encouraged in this bridal shop that offers both off the rack dresses as well as customizations.
The Wedding dress
Here’s another excellent one, just a few minutes outside of Hartford. The Wedding Dress is a by-appointment-only wedding dress shop in Portland, CT. They’ve been winning awards since 2009 and offer a brides an intimate setting to select the dress.
Mariella Creations
This bridal shop that’s been around for decades, offers off-the-rack dresses, alterations, and wedding dress preservation. In addition to wedding dresses, they have a large collection of bridesmaids dresses and dresses for the mother of the bride.
Looking for wedding photography? Check out my portfolio and get in touch to book your day!
New Haven, CT Bridal Shops
Bridal Trousseau
Located in downtown New Haven, Bridal Trousseau is easily one of the best and highest rated bridal salons in Connecticut. Their 25+ year alteration experience, beautiful store, and insane inventory of dress make this a shop worth driving for.
Bridal Affection
Just north of New Haven, in Hamden, CT, is Bridal Affection. Wedding dresses start at $1000 in their flagship store and range from $600-$2500 in the sample salon. Brides are required to make an appointment but can visit both sections in the same visit.
Stamford, CT Bridal Shops
A little something white
Arguably my favorite name on this list. This bridal shop in Darien, CT, caters to the mid to luxury market. The average spend for dresses and alterations is about $4500-$7000. The store is pretty big and they also have tuxedos and fitting sessions.
The Plumed Serpent
Another fantastic and original name! The Plumed Serpent offers mostly luxury wedding dresses with prices starting at $2500. This bright and airy salon in Westport is by appointment only, and I’d recommend getting one sooner rather than later if you’re looking for dresses by Anne Barge or Mark Ingram.
Get in touch to learn more about my wedding photography collections. Prices start in the low $3000s