You've said "YES!", now it's time to find your perfect wedding dress.
But where to begin? Remember, the first thing you need to do once you become engaged is 1) Find a venue and 2) get your wedding dress!
Wedding dresses should be ordered approximately 9 months before your wedding, though some designers will do rush orders.
My own wedding dress search spanned 8 bridal salons in two cities. I had to find the perfect dress on an extremely tight deadline when my husband and I decided to move up our wedding date. What an adventure, but certainly not ideal.
I want to make sure all my brides have the very best wedding dress shopping experiences, so I've used my experiences and the experiences of my previous clients to highlight the very best of the best locally owned wedding dress shops in Toronto.
******All boutiques featured here offer full/curvy sizes*******
This store boast a huge selection of dresses, including couture. In addition to a wide selection of gowns in every silouette and price range, with most between $2,000 and $10,000+, they also boast over 150 curvy figure flattering dresses from sizes 16-26. There's a dress for everybody at Avenue 22. They also have an extensive collection of bridesmaids dresses and have an absolutely fantastic alterations team (ask for Illona.)
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This Toronto staple has been around for over 25 years. For brides looking for a bespoke experience, this is the place for you. From the website: "Completely customizable and available in all sizes, each Lea-Ann Belter Bridal wedding dress is handmade in our Toronto atelier using traditional couture techniques. Designed to enhance your natural beauty and be a dream to wear, these gowns enable you to be free to dance, love, and laugh your way through your wedding day. "
Who could want more?
Tragically, Becker's suffered some damage and had to close when the restaurant next door caught fire in early 2019. Open again as of February 7th 2020, the Toronto staple is looking forward to helping brides find their perfect dresses once more!
They have an entire section dedicated to curvy brides with sample sizes in this section ranging from 18-22. The majority of these gowns are available for re-order up to size 32. Prices range from $1000 to $3500; with the majority priced between $1500 and $2500. They also carry a wide selection of off-the-rack gowns that range between $600 and $1500.
This St-Clair West Staple is a boutique with lots of personality. Check out their online shop to preview the dresses you'll see in store and save yourself some time.
Prices range from $1100-$4500. The friendly staff and great selection make for a fun trip to the Corso Italia shop.
What this small Bloorcourt village boutique lacks in size, it makes up for in personality. The team at Ferra Sposa can only be described as young, metropolitan and stylish, modern brides will enjoy the one on one experience and the young and focused team. Prices range from $1500 to $6500, average wedding dress ranges between $2000 to $3000.
Good luck on your dress search....and remember to enjoy every moment! Even if you try on a dress that is a definite "no", just remember that it is guiding you closer to your definite "yes"!
Did we miss any? Send us a message or comment below.
Stacey Watson Earle