Aliber's was the second bridal boutique on my journey to find The Dress. Although I didn't purchase my wedding dress for Aliber's, I can recommend it as a very reasonable option to peruse and try on gowns.
This bridal salon was also represented at the Big E wedding expo, and even handed out envelopes for money-off a wedding gown purchase (sealed until you came for your appointment). It was a cold and icky evening in January when I walked through the doors. And I was rushing in from a long, hard day of work. Unfortunately, this meant that I looked quite a mess: my hair was thrown up in bun, I had on my warmest winter clothing, and generally didn't look like a bride-to-be. Since I work in Greenfield, but live in Springfield, there was really no way around it.
Cristen, the owner at Aliber's, greeted me warmly. The shop was inviting, well thought out, and quite beautiful. Yes, you are asked to remove your shoes, which yes, did kind of feel a bit pretentious, but understand that they are trying to protect the gorgeous gowns that fill the room. We took our time looking at a few dresses; I had seen some Justin Alexander gowns that I wanted to try on, and those were included in her list of designers.
The try-on room is tiny: only room for the bride and maybe one person can squeeze in to assist. Cristen actually waited outside while I stepped into the gown, and then she helped zip me into it. I loved the pedestal and 180 mirror (plus the mirrors on the wall behind the pedestal), it really helped me to get a full view of the dresses. Aliber's also has quite the selection of accessories. I asked to see a couple of bolero/sleeve options and she had several to choose from.
I was quite disappointed that I didn't look the part of a bride, with my hair a mess and my makeup half undone. Cristen politely (though it kind of stung when she said it), suggested that I make another appointment for when I had more time to primp. She was very helpful in helping get my mom on FaceTime to see the dress, and even took loads of pictures for me to look at when I got home. And she did this without the slightest complaint or hesitation. At the end of the evening, I had a very good idea of the style of dress that looked best on my body, and felt better about the direction these appointments were going.
Cristen continued to keep in contact with me in the months following my appointment. And though I ended up purchasing my wedding dress at another boutique, I can still say with some assurance that this is one of the better bridal salons in Western Mass. They have lots of accessories, beautiful gowns, and with their added history (since 1920), you know this is a shop you can trust. read more