The Persnickety Bride

On 8/7/21 I went to the Persnickety Bride to begin my wedding dress search. I traveled over 4 hours from northern New Hampshire to come to this store because of the phenomenal reviews on The Knot. This was one of the best wedding-related decisions I have made thus far! The five top reasons I loved this bridal salon: 1) Denise is enthusiastic, knowledgeable, a fantastic listener, and a skilled stylist. 2) She worked within my budget. 3) She had me try on several different dresses styles, which allowed me to experiment with different fabrics, cuts, and other details. 4) The experience was personalized, intimate, and comfortable. 5) The store itself was clean, well organized, and had plenty of inventory to select from! I did NOT plan on purchasing my dress on the first day of wedding dress shopping. I typically don't make quick decisions, and I like to think about big purchases. I had selected two other bridal salons in southern CT to visit that day, as well, under the assumption I would keep looking. That was just not necessary! Before meeting with Denise, she sent me a link where I could "favorite" several dresses in my price-point. This allowed me to show her what I was looking for, but also get an idea of what I could expect to find within my budget. She selected dresses from this list as well as others she thought I would like. I wasn't entirely sure what style I wanted, and so it was helpful to have a stylist that could envision what the dress looks like. Each dress she selected had qualities and characteristics I loved. As I tried on each dress, she talked with me to understand what I liked and what I disliked about them. She was able to narrow down my style and eliminate/add elements of the dresses I loved. At other salons I went to, I was inundated with trying too many dresses. One salon had put me in dresses that all greatly exceeded my budget. Wedding dresses are naturally beautiful, and so it can be difficult to decide between gorgeous dresses. At the Persnickety Bride, Denise gave me several well-thought-out options to start with. She had me try on a decent selection, but just the right amount so they didn't all blur together. I didn't feel rushed, or that I was trying to repetitive dresses. Each style was different enough that I could reflect on the overall look and consider it as a unique option. My one recommendation is this: Be open to trying on different styles. Before shopping, my only criteria was that I wanted a dress with sleeves or some semblance of sleeves. As I tried on dresses, Denise's daughter found a gorgeous strapless dress for me to try on. Looking at it on the hanger, it had every quality I loved about the dresses I tried on. There you go. That was the dress. I knew as soon as I stepped into it that it was coming home with me that day! Denise (and her daughter!) has a vision. Because she LISTENS to you and understands you, she's able to make phenomenal selections. In the end, that's what made it a great experience. Everyone wants to feel heard, and especially brides trying to find the perfect dress for their day. I just did not know much about wedding dresses. Denise listened to what I liked and didn't like. I felt like in the short time I spent with her, she began to understand my personality. As a result, I walked away with a gorgeous dress that I ADORE well within my budget. My one piece of advice for brides: START your wedding dress shopping experience here. You won't regret it!