Ania Bridal is one of the more popular bridal shops in Portland, and we understand why. They carry multiple designers in their store and offer sizes all the way up to size 30.

We admire their commitment to inclusivity, and that goes beyond the sizes they offer. They carry various kinds of styles and silhouettes from their designers, and they’re proud to be LGBTQ+-friendly!

If you plan to give them a visit, you must set an appointment in advance, as they don’t take in walk-in clients. You can only take four guests with you, which is enough for your closest friends and family.

They’ve got a wide price range too with their usual starting price at $1,500. But if this is out of your budget, they do offer off-the-rack gowns that are below this amount, although sizes may be limited.

The brides who’d been their clients were mostly pleased with the service they received and were appreciative of their consultants, but we heard some complaints about the altered gowns and tailors.

Some brides claimed that the altered gowns they tried on looked different from the sample dress they tried and failed to meet their expectations. However, these brides were quick to report it to the staff and requested to have it realtered.

The complaints about Ania Bridal’s tailors came from a few brides claiming they were unprofessional and came off as judgmental. Luckily, the consultants were quick to take the bride’s side, and this saved the appointment.

True Society by the White Society welcomes each bride with a luxurious experience in their store. Each bride is given a glass of champagne upon their arrival and will have her own bridal suite exclusive for her party.

The display also makes it really easy to find a gown in your preferred style. The dresses are separated by silhouettes, which saves you time if you know which silhouette you prefer.

They only carry eight designers, but they make up for it with the diversity in sizes. Their sample sizes in-store go up to size 26, but they can take orders up to a size 34.

We heard mixed reviews on their consultants, which can ultimately make or break your experience.

Some brides have said the consultants they had were helpful, but others claimed their consultants were poor communicators and they felt that the consultants cared more about selling the gown than their preference.

There were also a few instances of delays in the arrival of the final gown, with some brides having to constantly call the store to make sure their dresses arrive in time for their wedding.

Another downside to True Society is that they don’t have in-house alterations. They offer recommendations to independent tailors, but this has been inconvenient to brides who would have to account for additional fees and more time for alterations. 

Should you plan to visit them, we suggest that you set your appointment as early as you can and constantly follow up on the status of your gown.

Once you enter A&Bé Bridal Shop, you’ll immediately feel comfortable with the large space and lots of natural light.

There’s a lot of space for you to browse through their gowns, and they carry more than 20 designers! But you don’t have to feel overwhelmed, as their consultants will ask you the right questions to help you get started.

Brides also appreciate the long appointment times, which we think is great because you certainly don’t want to feel rushed as you choose your wedding dress.

We also like their wide price range with the starting price usually at $1,200. The majority of their gowns are in the $1,500–$2,000 price range, so you know there are a lot of affordable options.

A downside to A&Bé is that they don’t have a lot of plus sizes available for their sample dresses. Given this, we encourage you to call them ahead to ask if they carry your size before you set your appointment.

They also don’t have in-store alterations, and while some brides have said they didn’t need alterations to their dresses, this is certainly not the case for everyone. 

There were also minor instances of delays, with one bride reporting the dress couldn’t arrive in time for her wedding day! Luckily, A&Bé was understanding of her situation and gave a full refund.

However, they do have a good track record of being considerate to their brides’ needs, which is why they get a recommendation from us.

Blue Sky Bridal is a go-to for the bride on a budget. Their full price range is from $500 to $3,500, but if you’re lucky, you can find dresses that are at a lower price.

All their dresses are on consignment, which means they had a past owner, but hey, most wedding gowns are worn just once! They dry-clean and inspect every gown before it gets on their shelves for your browsing.

They’re a favorite among plus-size brides for their range of sizes. However, they don’t have as many options as traditional bridal shops when it comes to designers and silhouettes.

Their consultants are familiar with each dress they have on display, so you don’t need to look at each dress they have. You won’t have the time to do that, as their appointments are only limited to an hour.

This has led to some brides feeling rushed during their appointments and having to try on as many dresses as they could. You can, however, book the whole boutique for 90 minutes at a higher price.

Given the scope of their shop, they don’t have in-house alterations or customizations, and you have to arrange for those services yourself. But this does mean that you can take home a dress the same day you try it.

We advise you to try dresses that aren’t more than three sizes different from yours, as this is usually the limit for tailors to make their alterations. But other than that, we do think Blue Sky Bridal is worth a visit especially if you’re on a tight budget.

Charlotte’s Weddings has everything you and your bridal party will need—from your wedding dress and accessories to your bridesmaids’ and your flower girls’ dresses.

They’ve got a lot of different styles and silhouettes from different designers, and their average price range is $1,600–$2,000. You may find dresses that are under $1,500, but there won’t be a lot.

You won’t have to worry about their sample sizes either, as their sample dresses are up until size 32! But you can order your dresses up to a size 38.

Brides were also happy with how their appointments went, as they had sufficient time to choose and fit into different gowns. Additionally, their consultants were helpful in trimming down their options to their preferred styles.

However, the bridal suite isn’t that large, and you won’t have a private changing area all to yourself unless you request another room or have your party go out. This has left some brides uncomfortable, so we thought it best to warn you beforehand.

They also don’t have in-house alterations, and a couple of brides reported that the tailors recommended to them by Charlotte’s were a bit too expensive for their liking. Some even said that the alterations cost them more than the gown itself!

It doesn’t seem like Charlotte’s has a lot of off-the-rack options either, and it’s still best for you to come in several months before your wedding day, as they can’t accommodate rush orders.

However, if you’ve got time on your side, then they’re definitely worth a visit.

Elle Heavin Couture is a dressmaking shop that provides its clients with quality and timeless gowns and dresses specifically to accommodate particular styles and events for all sorts of individuals.

We like that all of her products are very sustainable and are of top-notch quality since each one is hand-sewn and customized to the specific size and preference of the client to ensure an overall magical experience each gown at a time.

Past clients who have experienced working with Elle have commended her for the friendly and highly professional standards implemented in her works along with impressive dress alterations and tailoring that ensured each deliverable was a perfect fit.

Note though that rates of their services aren’t readily available on their website so clients may need to book in advance her services beforehand since she is a one-man team and may entail slot limitations.

Overall, with her diverse experience and styles accommodated, incredible client rapport and dress deliverables, and customizable alterations among other services offered, we highly recommend interested clients to check her out.

Crown Bridal opened its doors in late 2019, and has since been recognized by The Best of Clark County, The Downtown Vancouver Association, Wedding Wire and The Knot.

This boutique and its staff take the time to curate every aspect of details, which includes formal wear, accessories, alteration specialists, and expedited 5 Star service.

We love how they feature MoriLee by Madeline Gardner, Randy Fenoli Bridal, Full Service Formal Wear for Him by Jim’s Formal Wear, as well as how they have their own Crown Bridal Couture Private Label Gown Collection for unique gowns!

We absolutely like how they have a wide range of selections and collections that one can choose from. We’re sure there’s a gown for any bride with the variety of styles they have!

Another reason why we can’t help but recommend them is because of how sweet and friendly their staff is. They will really go above and beyond to help anyone and may sure the find the dress.

Other brides have also vouched for this boutique and highly recommend them as well!