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Considerable Savings And The Perfect Dress… It's Possible

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Considerable Savings And The Perfect Dress… It’s Possible

By Kaaren Valenta

Budget-conscious brides can find designer wedding gowns at discount prices in consignment bridal shops around the state. Many of these dresses haven’t been used; they are samples or discontinued styles and are now marked down to a fraction of their original prices.

  Brides To Be in Glastonbury, for example, gets gowns from shops like Julie Allen Bridal in Newtown. (Last year Julie Allen Bridal sent 50 dresses that were among 650 supplied by Brides To Be to Hollywood for a scene in the movie The Bachelor starring Chris O’Donnell.)

Located at 351 New London Turnpike, Brides To Be is a 16-year-old full-service bridal and formalwear consignment shop that draws customers from as far away as Boston and New York City. It offers new and used dresses on consignment and also has a selection of vintage dresses dating back to the 1930s and 40s that are especially popular with today’s brides.

“We have a relationship with a number of stores around the state to get their discontinued dresses,” said Brides To Be owner Phyllis Kelley. “A girl who fits in one of these, and falls in love with it, gets a really good deal.”

Dresses range from $75 for a simple informal gown to $2,200 for a Vera Wang, with most gowns in the $450 to $600 range. Sizes range from 2 to 28.

“A lot of [bridal shops] only carry sizes eight and ten, so it is a real advantage for a larger bride to be able to try on a style and see how she looks in it,” Ms Kelley said.

The store stocks matching bridesmaids dresses on consignment, too.

“It works if we have the right number of dresses in the right colors and the right sizes. It does happen.”

Brides To Be carries mother of the bride dresses and dresses for flower girls, plus accessories including up-to-date inexpensive headpieces, new and used shoes, jewelry and gloves. The hours are Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10 to 5, Tuesday and Thursday from 10 to 8. On the days that the shop is open later, there are seamstresses available to do alterations. Brides To Be accepts MasterCard and Visa. For more information, call 860/633-3639.

Rags to Riches, at 4133 Whitney Avenue in Hamden, has sample and discounted merchandise at prices up to 75 percent off retail including wedding, bridesmaid, mother of the bride, cocktail dresses, cruisewear, tuxedo rentals, and accessories. Among the gowns available are those by such designers as Alfred Angelo, Eve of Milady, Bianchi, and Jim Heom.

“Most of the gowns are new samples that come from bridal shops and boutiques,” said shop owner Lorraine Lapman. “We have more than 500 priced generally from $99 to $400, with original prices of up to $1,500 to $2,000.”

Sizes range from 4 to a selection of 34-40 for larger brides. The store also stocks shoes, pocketbooks, jewelry, headpieces and undergarments. Hours are Tuesday and Wednesday, 11 to 6; Thursday, 11 to 8; Friday, 11 to 4, and Saturday, 10 to 4. Call 203/248-7424 for more information.

Mariella’s Attic, at 2244 Silas Deane Highway in Rocky Hill, carries a wide selection of sample bridal gowns including one-of-a-kind, discounted samples from such designers as Eve of Milady, Pronovias of Barcelona, Priscilla of Boston, Scassi, Christo’s and others. The dresses are priced from $99 to $500, down from original prices that were as much as $4,000. Sizes are mostly 8-12, with a smaller selection of larger sizes. Headpieces, $25, and shoes, $10 to $20, also are available.

Mariella’s Attic also carries a large selection of mother-of-the-bride dresses and one-of-a-kind bridesmaid dresses at discounted prices. Hours are Monday and Thursday, 10 to 8:30; Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 to 6; and Saturday, 9 to 4. For more information, call 860/529-8558.

In Newtown, the Fashion Exchange at 109 South Main Street offers new and “very gently used” clothing. Although there are seldom traditional wedding gowns, there are “Designs by Margo,” Victorian-inspired lace dresses, plus others suitable for less formal weddings, non-traditional and “second time around,” plus many mother-of-the-bride dresses.  Most are consigned but the shop does have a manufacturer that brings in some new items. Sizes are generally 4-16.

The Fashion Exchange is well known for its large selection of jewelry, gloves, handbags and other bridal accessories. The shop is open Monday through Saturday from 10 to 5; and Sunday, noon to 4. Call 270-0354.

Past Performances in the Bart shopping plaza on Route 25 in Monroe has a small selection of new mother-of-the-bride dresses downstairs. Originally $299, they have been discounted to $45-$65.

Consignment stores usually offer all gowns as-is and final sale; no special orders. But for those who find the perfect dress, the savings is considerable. Some stores accept credit cards, debit cards and checks; others don’t, so it is a good idea to find out before you shop.

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