When I got engaged, I was very excited about going to get my dress. I had no idea about what dress shopping would be like, or how complicated it was to get a dress, alterations, etc. for a reasonable price. The first shop I went to was Bridal by Lori--essentially the Rodeo Drive of wedding boutiques--where I came out discouraged and, frankly, insulted by their sales staff. I then went to David's Bridal where I was equally discouraged because all the dresses looked the same and none of them were anything like what I wanted. Needless to say, I saw both extremes of wedding boutiques and while it helped me get some perspective, I was totally disillusioned and discouraged...until I walked into A Formal Occasion. It isn't as glamorous as Bridal by Lori, and isn't as overwhelming as David's Bridal. It is a charming and tasteful little shop with a surprisingly large selection of dresses. The sales clerk was very attentive, enthusiastic and really helped me find the perfect dress. She encouraged me to try on different styles (even some I was convinced I wouldn't like). Sure enough I found the perfect dress, and it was one of the styles I didn't think I would like. Long story short, AFO has a great selection, reasonable prices, amazing service and made dress shopping a fun experience (like it should be).
Pros: Great selection, polite sales staff, reasonable prices
Cons: Location may be hard to find, no working website
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