I have referred many friends and family members to Emily and she and her employees are so amazing! I cannot say enough great things about this store. She has a gift with helping brides find the perfect dress. read more

I didn't end up getting my gown from here, but it felt like such a comfortable and positive shopping experience that I came back twice (strongly considered both times!) and followed them on Instagram. They have some truly unique selections and a wide, inclusive array. I absolutely love that they seem fair to brides reselling on consignment, as well as helpful to brides that are on a budget. My first visit was with Emilie, who took a great deal of time asking about my wedding, vibe, vision, etc. - then taking note of what I liked and disliked to make thoughtful "pulls". Aliyah was also sweet and not pushy on my second visit. It was just a little tough that the ones that were the "right" size numerically had been altered (understandably) by the bride that wore it before you. So it becomes sort of an esoteric search and hopefully right find for something that fits both the style and sizing you want - otherwise you're looking at lots of alterations costs tacked on, which frankly to me, felt like I should go for new instead. Ultimately, I just found a dress elsewhere that I couldn't pass up, but Emerald City definitely is worth a look or two. read more

My first visit here, I didn't find a dress I liked. However, after seeing a dress at another store I liked that that was too large, I contacted Emerald City and fortunately they were able to find one in my size. Emilie was able to order it for me at a discounted price too since it had been discontinued-which I really appreciated! As an aside, I had a very negative experience with the tailor here, Young. It was a frustrating experience with Young due to poor communication and incomplete work. I ended up paying more for alterations due to her since I ended up taking my dress elsewhere- where luckily the seamstress was able to salvage things. Emerald City was great, but I would recommend considering taking your alterations elsewhere. read more

This by far was the worst experience/service my sister (the bride) and the rest of the family have received. The owner, Emily, is racist, classist, and body-shamed the bride. On Thursday, I made the appointment for my sister. I was told there would be a fee of $35 since it was the weekend. The person on the phone asked me if I wanted to book the appointment online or over the phone. I thought it would be easier over the phone. I gave her all the information and set the appointment for Saturday, April 11, at 12:00 pm. We got to the appointment; however, we were late due to the weather. It was pouring rain, and as soon as my sister (the bride) and my mom walked in, Emily (the owner) said, "Oh, you're late." She goes on to talk to the bride about what type of dress she wants and what her budget is. My sister lets her know it's a short courtroom wedding and has a certain budget under $1000, and her size is bigger. As soon as she said that, her whole demeanor changed. She guided her to a dress that was in her price range, but my sister didn't gravitate towards it, mind you this was the very first time my sister ever tried on a wedding dress. The rest of the family there tried showing different styles, but Emily kept saying it was not in the price range. She would walk away while the bride would look at dresses, and then come back later, very interested. She didn't try to reassure the bride about the dresses or try to talk about different styles. She was very short, and by her body language, it was obvious she did not want to help at all. My sister ended up picking a few dresses, and one family member asked if she could get champage, and Emily rudely said: "No, that's for VIP appointments only." The family member asked, "Are we not for a VIP appointment? Emily replied, "No, you are a normal 30-minute appointment". I was very confused since the lady on the phone never specified that there were different types of appointments or the length. In the end, my sister insisted on leaving after trying on a dress; she left the store crying! The bride was crying! She felt very uncomfortable around Emily. She felt that she was being judged because she needed a bigger dress, and her budget was on the lower side. As we were leaving, Emily stayed behind the register and didn't even talk to the bride; she offered a pathetic goodbye. We all stood outside the store as my sister cried, saying she felt bad and just wanted to go home. Can you imagine how we all felt? This person made the bride feel uncomfortable and many other emotions on a day that should have been filled with happiness That is when we (my two other sisters and I) went inside and asked for a refund. She was very rude giving the refund, we tried to tell her that my sister was crying and that she did not like the service she provided at all. Emily just looked at us and gave a pathetic "I'm sorry that she feels that way." Then we continued to let her know that she could have reassured the bride, and that what she was saying about appointments was never communicated to me over the phone. She then said people make appointments online and read before choosing. To which I replied, "Then why offer to make the appointment over the phone? You should let people know to check the website for an appointment," She then replied, "When people make appointments over the phone, we assume they want the basic one." What of business assumes the customer wants, they should be transparent whether it's online or over the phone. She then rudely interrupted, put her hand in my face, and asked if I still wanted the refund. At that point, my other sister got upset and told her that we wanted the refund and that she should not be rude to customers and provide better service. We asked for the manager, and she said she was the manager, then she said that she was the owner. My sister said that if she could get her card, Emily declined to give her any information. We then said we would be leaving a negative review of our experience, and she said, "Go ahead." She then kicked us out of the store. All of this was happening while another employee was sitting at the register, seeing it all, and remained quiet the whole time. Don't come here, it's very unprofessional, and as people of color, we felt very targeted and unwelcome. Emily, the owner, needs to work on being inclusive of every color, shape, and size, regardless of income. She also needs to work on accepting critical feedback. read more

This store is a true gem. I can't thank Emilie enough - so thoughtful, kind, and wise when it came to finding a wedding dress! I was extremely excited to know I could find a previously loved dress. The price was extremely reasonable and affordable and the first dress I tried on, ended up being the perfect one for my wedding. All around a really special and sweet experience! I cannot recommend emerald city gowns enough. As someone who was very committed to finding a used dress, it was so exciting to find such a thoughtfully crafted store with so many special options across styles and sizes. read more

Emerald City Gowns - Bridal Near Me - Berkeley, California

This was my first time dress shopping, so I was really hoping for a fun and memorable experience with plenty of guidance. While I appreciated the opportunity to try on dresses, I found myself having to ask questions to get information, and I wish there had been more helpful insight shared during the process. I had filled out the appointment form in advance, including a Pinterest link with my preferences, so I was expecting the stylist to have a few options ready or to guide me toward dresses that fit my style. Being asked what I was looking for felt a bit repetitive since I had already provided those details ahead of time. It also happened to be an especially hot day, and without AC, the appointment felt a little uncomfortable. Although I didn't find my dress here, I'm still glad I visited as a first stop and got to see some options in person. read more

We had a terrible experience with this shop and the owner Emily. My sister is getting married and this was supposed to be such an exciting experience and time for us in our family. As soon as we told her Emily our budget her whole demeanor changed and was very short and didn't really want to help or engage with my sister to find a dress for her. She would just stare at us and then walk away and come back. This made my sister feel bad and she started crying and we decided to leave and asked for a refund for the appointment. When asking Emily for a refund she became hostile. Overall a terrible experience. read more

Just had a fabulous experience at Emerald City Gowns and highly recommend making an appointment if you're in the market for a wedding gown. There is a huge selection of gowns and the staff are so knowledgeable. I was concerned that budget would impact my options but there is such a large variety and plenty of inventory. Thank you to Emilie and Jana for the special experience. Highly recommend! read more

After having a poor experience from trying to book a wedding dress appointment from another shop. We ended up coming to Berkeley and trying on dresses here! Had such a great time and ended up finding my dress, first try on. We did the hour appointment and I was able to try on 6 dresses. They have a great selection with amazing pricing. Not to mention everyone here was very nice and very helpful in helping me find my perfect dress! Thank you for making this experience amazing. read more

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Selection was great and they had some really beautiful non-traditional gowns (along with more traditional ones). The owner (& staff) were wonderful and so helpful and enthusiastic! I got my dream dress here. Would highly recommend this shop to anyone. Love that this shop focuses on sustainability too! read more

I made a VIP appt and had Emilie as my stylist. She warmly greeted us at the door. I described what I wanted and she picked a few dresses out that were exactly what I was looking for! My wedding is in October so I preferred to buy off the rack. I tried on 5 dresses and the first dress she actually picked out for me was the one! The shop is gorgeous with a lot of unique dresses. Price point was within my range and she found a perfect veil to match my dress. I highly recommend this store to any bride looking for a dress ! read more

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I read good reviews online about Emerald City so I thought it would be worth the drive from Santa Cruz. The entire experience was fun, emotional, and exciting. I felt like a beautiful bride by the end of it! The dress fit perfectly and was within my budget range. Emilie was professional, patient, encouraging and polite. I appreciated all her help with the dresses and veils. Thank you for making it an unforgettable experience for me and my party! Highlights: Great selection of dresses to choose from, clean and modern space, attentive service, efficient process, budget-friendly dresses. read more

Emerald City Gowns - Wedding dress - Bridal Near Me - Berkeley, California

Emilie is a miracle worker! She helped me find my wedding gown in April 2024 for a January 2025 wedding. When my first gown was damaged 9 days before the wedding, she rescued me with a stunning new gown that fit like a glove and only needed a bustle added (thank you Young!) to be perfect for my wedding. The guests couldn't believe that I had found such a perfect gown only days before the wedding. Even if you aren't looking for a consignment gown, come to ECG. Their selection is top notch and Emilie's attention to customer service can't be beat. read more

Emerald City Gowns - @vivianchenweddings @emeraldcitygowns - Bridal Near Me - Berkeley, California

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My family needed last minute items for a funeral and Emerald City Gowns came in clutch. From the phone call to the visiting the store, the customer service was top tier. Emily went above and beyond to make sure we had what we needed. We will never forget the generosity and human kindness we experienced. It feels going knowing that genuine, loving people still exist. We pray that the blessing of God overtake this business! read more

I purchased this stunning designer dress from Emerald City - a one of a kind, and everyone raved about it. Fit me perfectly, and got it at a great price too. read more

Emerald City Gowns - Bridal Near Me - Berkeley, California

This was my first time accompanying a friend to a fitting (SUPER humbled - thank you Cheriz!) and I had the best experience here at Emerald City Gowns. My friend had booked a weekend appointment with Emilie, the owner and our host of ECG. They were super friendly and helpful through each step of the fitting. She helped my friend pick out a couple of samples based on what she liked aesthetically and was continuing to pull out more as she was doing her fitting. Emilie did not hesitate to ask my friend if they needed help inside with getting into the dress or zipping up. They have an incredible selection of consignment dresses. There were so many that I had to revamp my own ideas of what a traditional white wedding dress was supposed to look like. When it came to the actual viewing, Emilie helped guide me as resident photographer on where to capture the best shots to show off the dress with the natural lighting in the shop. She would help show off the chain and really give her input when asked, and pulled back to take into account what my friend liked. Our hour session flew by and I'm really glad that I got to experience my first fitting with not only a wonderful friend, but at a wonderful gown shop. I'd recommend anyone seeking a wedding dress to consider doing a fitting or seeing the selection here. read more

AMAZING selection of dresses for VERY reasonable prices. I got my dream dress here for honestly a quarter of the price I'd pay at other stores. I loved that they had plentiful dresses in my size (Size 6) and I was able to see them on my body. Most other bridal shops I went to only had limited sizes as samples and it is just not the same to see a dress 5 sizes bigger on you vs one that is truly your size. The ambient was very relaxed and I really enjoyed my experience with Claudia. I locked down the dress in just one visit and didn't have a single regret! read more

Emerald City Gowns was the fifth and final wedding boutique I visited for my wedding dress. I originally found then on Instagram, fell in love with one dress, made an appointment and left with another dress that I'm pretty obsessed with. Vicki helped at my first fitting. She is easy going and made me feel comfortable during the process. Definitely appreciated her patience bc I'm indecisive. The owner Emilie helped me at my return visit. Again, very welcoming and I didn't feel pushed to make a purchase. Emilie made sure I was able to see the gown in its full glory, including how it looks bustled and with a veil. Thank you Emilie for putting up with me and my bridal party, post-brunch giggles and all . - A gem in the East Bay for browsing wedding dresses, extra points for sustainability - Make an appointment, you'll get the attention and support you need when making a big purchase - Ask to see the gown with a veil and bustled, maybe bring your own flowers if you need help envisioning - Parking available on street and in plaza next to the building - Follow them on IG, sometimes they do sidewalk sales/ will post new arrivals read more

Emerald City Gowns - My new fav white dress - Bridal Near Me - Berkeley, California

Emerald City Gowns was the first place I checked out to start the wedding dress shopping experience. I went there without much expectations, but I have to say I was blown away by the experience. The boutique was very nice and organized, and Emilie had the best customer service. I told her that I was getting married in Cancun, shared my budget, and described my ideal dress without showing her any pictures. Emilie let me and my friends browse around the boutique and select dresses for me to try on before she made her suggestion for me. The whole time, she was observant at a distance, taking in which dresses caught my eye. All the dresses I selected were OK on me, but not what I was looking for. The moment Emilie pulled out the dress she suggested for me, all of mine and my friends' faces immediately lit up and we were like, "That's the one!" We all fell in love with the dress as soon as I put it on. It had all the details that I described to Emilie and it fell within my budget. I decided to try on dresses at another bridal boutique before making my decision, and I had a terrible experience with that place. The whole time I kept thinking, "I can't wait to leave so that I can go back to ECG and get my dress and have better customer service!" I'm petite, but have a larger chest size than average, and Emilie knew what dress size would be the most appropriate for me. Once I received my dress, one of the buttons on the train had a slight smudge, but they agreed to replace the button at no additional cost. Great experience. Highly recommend for brides! read more

Emerald City Gowns - Bridal Near Me - Berkeley, California

I loved everything about this store - an amazing selection of unique dresses, fantastic price point, and literally the best customer experience I've had in a store, maybe ever. I came in not really knowing what I wanted, but had been to a store and had ideas what I didn't want. I tried on a few of what I thought I wanted and the goddess helping me could tell it wasn't working. She asked me about my original vision and brought me some dresses that matched what I originally thought I wanted. She was a genius. She brought me multiple that I really really liked, then helped me narrow it down, eliminating them to 3. While I wasn't ready to say yes to the dress today, she really helped build my confidence. I'm still deciding since the 3 were so different, and I will definitely be returning and would recommend this store to everyone I know. They also have an awesome holding policy if you want to keep a dress on hold for a week. This is great for indecisive brides (like me!). read more

The selection of wedding gowns is incredible, service is exceptional, and prices very reasonable. Emily was extremely helpful and very patient. Somehow (with all of the hundreds of gowns) she managed to find my daughter, the most most perfect one to wear on her special day. I don't know how she did it, but truly, this gown is definitely the one! read more

I got my wedding gown on consignment from Emerald City Gowns. The appointment booking system is very easy, and they have a great selection. I got an amazing Jenny Yoo for less than $800. Highly recommend for budget and environmentally conscious brides! read more

This was the first bridal store I went to on the big shopping day with my friends and my future mother-in-law. Yvette was the main stylist who helped me try everything on. She was the best! She was very comfortable and helpful with getting me in and out of the dresses. She seemed to be a very positive person. I ended up choosing the second dress I tried on! I weighed the decision for a while, before I came back for a follow-up visit to try it on again one more time with a veil. That time, Emilie the owner was the one to help me. I cannot believe what a deal I got on my dress, and it's so beautiful! I was really happily surprised overall how many dresses they have in the less than $1300 range. I will recommend this place to any brides who are looking into consignment options. read more

I loved my experience here and hope to come back! I went to ECG on a whim, for my first dress appointment ever. Emilie was super kind and helpful, even though i was unlikely to buy something my first time. I also went by myself (personal preference), and she was super engaging and helped take photos for me. I was also pleasantly surprised at the available options for my target budget. Everything looked SO good! The shop is beautiful and spacious. I felt very safe covid-wise. I have since taken a pause because wedding stuff is overwhelming, but I plan to go back to ECG soon! read more

I have never shopped for a wedding dress before but Emilie made it very easy and comfortable. Upon entering, Emilie asked me questions about the wedding and my dress inspirations and she immediately pulled out several dresses that were absolutely gorgeous. All of the dresses she picked out for me were amazing and exactly what I wanted and she even let me try dresses that were not what I initially thought would like but I ended up loving them too. She stuck within my budget and the dress that I ended up buying was one that she picked out for me at the very beginning. It was beautiful and it was essentially my dream dress. I was the only customer in the store so I had all of Emilie's attention and she was very attentive to my needs. I needed a lot of help with getting in and out of the dresses and she was always ready to help. She was also very patient with me and my guest as we took our time discussing what we did/did not like about a specific dress. In terms of the store itself, it looked clean and very organized. I went here with my best friend and I will definitely recommend this store to all of my future engaged friends as well. If I remember, I'll upload a picture of my dress after the wedding. For now, I will upload pictures of some dresses that I LOVED but ended up not choosing. read more

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Not what I was expecting from a consignment bridal gown store. It was a great experience and my family members had no idea that I was trying on once worn dresses. I love the idea of purchasing once worn dresses to help support sustainability. They have a great selection and even better staff. Yvette was great & efficient. read more

In short: I had no idea what I was looking for, but Emilie helped me find my PERFECT dress. Consignment gowns were beautiful and buying "used" saved me time and money. Highly recommend to other brides-to-be! Longer version: We decided to get married exactly 3 months after getting engaged. Since it was meant to be a simple City Hall Wedding, I tried to find an inexpensive dress online but felt like everything reminded me of prom or was outrageously expensive. I yelped wedding shops in the Bay Area and Emerald City Gowns ("for the eco-conscious bride") caught my eye so I made an appointment for the next day. When I walked in, I was greeted by Emilie, my wedding dress guide and, as it turns out, owner of the store. She asked me what I was looking for and I drew a blank. I've never really been a "wedding" person and I haven't spent years dreaming of my "perfect dress." Instead, all I could think of were some vague descriptions of what I *didn't* want. Emilie took these minimal directions and brought me 5 lovely dresses to try on leaving no doubt she's an expert! Although I was nervous (and a little awkward) during my appointment she continued to put me at ease, making it feel much more like time spent with a friend than a salesperson. Much to my surprise, the dress that ended up being "my dress" gave me an emotional reaction as soon as I put it on. Since it was a consignment dress, it was almost exactly my size right off the hanger and fit like a glove. The bride before me was a little more busty but we agreed it would be an easy alteration fix. The dress even came with a bustle (which, I later found out, was a huge money saver)! Emilie even helped me complete the look with a stunning hair piece and veil. While the dress was a little outside my initial budget, it meant so much to me to feel like an absolute goddess on my wedding day. I know this feeling started with my experience at Emerald City Gowns. Thanks Emilie! read more

Emerald City Gowns - Perfect for our City Hall Wedding - Bridal Near Me - Berkeley, California

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My cousin suggested I try a bridal consignment store and Emerald City Gowns was the closest to me. I made an appointment online and though I did not buy my dress here, I wish I could have! The owner greeted my mom and myself -- she is super nice, she did not make us feel pressured at all, and she found several flattering dresses for me. There are a wide range of off the shelf dresses, but there will be different dresses available depending on the inventory. There are a host of accessories as well. I recommend coming here if you are looking for something unique. COVID restrictions seemed to be in place and there's a parking lot you can easily pull into! read more

Loved my experience at this shop! I went on a weekend & was helped by Yvette. She was super sweet & attentive. The selection is amazing & Yvette was very patient with me & my sisters while we came to our final decision & tried on veils etc. 5 stars! read more

Emerald City Gowns - Bridal Near Me - Berkeley, California

My daughter was very invested in finding a secondhand wedding gown, and found Emerald City Gowns online. We (bride, mom, three sisters) went in for our appointment in December. Emilie was super helpful, no pressure, but really great service. We left with "the one" after about 45 minutes! Highly recommend. read more

I couldn't have had a better experience at Emerald City Gowns this past weekend. From the second my two best friends and I stepped into the store, we had an amazing, as-seen-on-TV time. We instantly felt comfortable, and then, after stepping further into the store, totally giddy. Emilie understood ~the vision~ right off the bat and I ended up purchasing the very first dress she put me in. The practical things - size, price, the COVID precautions - were taken in stride and never questioned. I felt safe the entire time, I liked and fit well into every dress she put me in, and she never presented me with anything out of my price range. The size 12 dress I ended up getting was $1,100 and will require only minimal alterations. Even after pretty insurmountable evidence that I should juuuuuust effing pick the dress, she still gave us the time and space to twirl, take several dozen (should I really say hundreds?? probably) pictures, and figure out the perfect veil to complete the look. Wedding planning amidst a pandemic is NNNNNNN stressful! to say the least, but my time at ECG with my best friends was a much needed bright spot. I really can't recommend this place enough. read more

Emerald City Gowns - Bridal Near Me - Berkeley, California

I was in dire need of a dress with my wedding approaching this month. I was able to book an appointment the same day with Emilie. I didn't have a specific style in mind but Emilie nailed it! I tried a couple of beautiful dresses that she thought would suit me best and I walked out with my dress that same day. I highly recommend Emerald City and Emilie! read more

Excellent service and selection! I highly recommend ECG! It was a fun experience and low key environment. Pressure free and helpful services read more

Emerald City Gowns - Bridal Near Me - Berkeley, California

Highly recommend ECG, especially if you can manage to book an appointment with Emilie the owner. I am not a conventional bride, but I found a dress that I LOVE. ECG was the first store I went looking for a wedding dress. During my appointment, I showed Emilie some dress photos I liked for reference, told Emilie about my outdoorsy wedding venue, and we ended up finding the ONE in a single appointment! Emilie did not pressure me to buy or make me feel bad about any of the dresses I tried on (some did not look great on me). She even pulled some of the same dresses I showed her photos of, which was super helpful for crossing them off of my list. I think Emilie pulled maybe 8-10 dresses total during the appointment. I ended up picking something by the same bridal designer called Saja that I found ECG through, only in a different style. It happened to be made-to-order so I ended up with a brand NEW dress within my budget. :) Only strange thing was when my dress in my size arrived at the store 10 weeks later, I got a weird email telling me that they found my dress while organizing and I could pick it up now. It would have been nice to get a call as soon as they received my dress in. Also, they don't do dress alterations. I repeatedly tried contacting the tailor they recommended to no avail. I ended up going to a local tailor so things worked out. In the end, I can overlook these small details because I am extremely happy with the dress I found! It is different, very ME, and all within my smaller budget! Definitely check out ECG! read more

Emerald City Gowns - Gown by Saja - Bridal Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I came alone in the morning during the middle of the week. I had been to a few dress appointments prior to this one and had a friend recommend this place to me as a spot I could peruse on my own. The shop is gorgeous! There is an excellent selection of gowns at great prices. Unfortunately, the woman working at the time seemed extremely annoyed that I was there. Each time I asked her to take photos of me in dresses I felt like nuisance. It was very uncomfortable. When I was at the shop, I found a dress I really liked, but the whole experience trying it on was really awkward. I wanted to spend more time in it but I couldn't get out of there fast enough. If you come to this shop, I would recommend booking a paid appointment on the weekend. Perhaps you will not feel like you are wasting someone's time. read more

Love this little shop!! My roommate recommended it for me before I started dress shopping during the pandemic. Her niece was able to find a beautiful gown here for her wedding. I was able to book an appointment fast and bring someone with me. The owner was really pleasant, she greeted us and made us feel at home. I brought some pictures of few styles that I liked but was surprised to find a style that was completely unlike anything I thought I would like- that blew me away. My roommate and I had such a blast. I tried on many dresses. They have a great variety of dresses, different styles and colors. Our experience was stress free and fun! read more

I have to say, after giving this place a second chance, I was disappointed again. The first time going pre-covid, I had an unpleasant experience. I was shocked at the lack of friendliness and basic common courtesy from the sales staff. I even wrote a review, but for some reason it has disappeared. Having my wedding put on hold because of covid, I still needed to find a dress. I thought, well, maybe staff has changed and I may have a better experience. They had even moved locations. The employee who was meant to help me was Shannon. From the first step in, I felt she couldn't be bothered. I was the only one in there and half the time she was busy doing other things. I was looking for a particular vintage style with certain characteristics. After trying on a few that were not quite right, she pulled a few gowns she thought might work. She asks me what I think and won't be offended if I don't like them. None of those were what I was looking for. She then tells me I don't really know what vintage is. She was so unfriendly and condescending, I just wanted to get back into my clothes and leave as soon as possible. I couldn't get out of there fast enough. Looking for a wedding dress should be a very special and positive experience. I can honestly say this is not the place to go for that. As a comparison, the 3 other bridal shops I visited were absolutely lovely. read more

I had a wonderful experience at Emerald City Gowns. I came in not knowing what I wanted and left having picked out my dress! They were super helpful and friendly. read more

Dresses are in amazing condition and it's nice trying on things that actually fit. My gf got super lucky that a dress that was tailored to her height and size. I didn't find my dress here but definitely enjoyed my fitting. read more

FOUND MY GOWN! this place was my 3rd place and gave me the best experience, I'm over the moon happy. I believe Victoria was my girls name and she made me feel special and attentive. Great selection on sizes and styles. My heart is still melting writing this review. read more