First class bridal salon. We were from out of town and they took care of my daughter's bridal gown and some tuxes as if I'd bought them there. A class act all the way. read more

SHE SAID YES TO THE DRESS!!! Came here with my best friend to find her the perfect wedding dress - AND WE FOUND IT! Taylor helped us out and was super nice. She pulled a ton of dresses to try and was super accommodating. It's a small location, but they separate the soon-to-be-brides in three different corners of the shop, so it was fun. (And I didn't post the picture of the dress she chose because I don't want to give it away yet!) read more

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Dominique was amazing! I came down to visit my bridesmaids who surprised me with trying on my dress and it was with a dress I never pictured myself wearing (as they always say). Dominique was patient, attentive, and listened to all the different opinions I had in regard to my wedding dress. She was so happy to hear that I found the dress of my dreams, but I would have to order from another store since I'm not from the area. I would highly recommend Ava Couture to any bride, they had a wide selection to choose from and if I could replay any moment before getting married, it would be when I tried dresses on for the first time read more

It was beautiful on the inside but the selection incredibly small compared to many other boutiques. The woman helping us was extremely hands off and we had to track her down whenever we had a question. She didn't offer to help the bride with alterations, set the dress, and she seemed as if she didn't have much to add to our appointment. It was the brides very first appointment ever trying on dresses and didn't set a good tone going forward. read more

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I had the best day yesterday at Ava Clara! It was my first-ever wedding dress shopping experience, and Taylre was friendly and knowledgeable from the start. My family and I loved the atmosphere and seating in the store, and I also thought the large dressing rooms were so amazing and special. I loved the first dress I tried on, and Taylre followed it up with win after win. She was very responsive to my preferences and found dresses that suited my style so perfectly. I honestly could have been happy in just about any of the dresses I tried on. Even though I ended up buying a dress from another store, I loved my experience at Ava Clara and couldn't recommend them highly enough. read more

My sister and I had an appointment here last weekend so she could try on some bridesmaid dresses. We got there, and Melinda said she was still busy with another client. Okay.... sure. She gave us a handful of clips so we could fit the dresses ourselves, and walked away. We needed input, because my sister needed a specific color. When we asked Melinda to help us pick out dresses that would come in our specific color, she just handed us the swatch book and left us to our own devices. We ended up trying on lots of dresses and leaving without Melinda ever helping us besides an occasional check in. Would not recommend. read more

This was the first store of many I went to for dress shopping and had an amazing experience. I made my appointment for a Sunday morning. I had the entire store to myself since they book only one bride at a time on only Sundays, which was a nice surprise but honestly not something I was seeking out. My consultant, Julia, was an absolute pleasure to deal with and made my first ever shopping experience so memorable and fun. They had a vast selection of beautiful dresses in my budget and could even waive the sales tax if they shipped it to me as I live out-of-state. The store is immaculate and the dressing rooms are huge. They let you take endless photos! After going back home and looking back at photos I took at the store, there was a dress I was seriously considering but wanted to make changes to, so I called and emailed with them for awhile discussing price and feasibility of the changes I wanted. I usually received very prompt responses. Unfortunately, Julia is no longer there and I didn't end up finding *the* dress here, but I wish I had. After going to so many other bridal gown stores after that, I can confidently say this place gave me a top notch experience. read more

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I had one day where my mom was going to be in town to shop for my dress, so we had no choice but to visit 5 different bridal shops. Ava Clara was my last appointment of the day, and I happened to find my dress at another shop appointment. I called Ava Clara as soon as I found my dress at the other store, let them know about the situation, and said I needed to cancel my appointment. They said they would still be charging me the cancellation fee. We called back later to question it, and the woman we spoke with on the phone was extremely rude the entire time. Don't get me wrong, I understand the concept of the cancellation fee completely, but think there should be some leeway when a bride calls to cancel because she found her dress (rather than just canceling for a generic reason). In my opinion, it would have been rude of me and a waste of THEIR time to show up for an 1.5 hour appointment knowing I would not be buying a dress from them. They absolutely could have opened that spot for a walk-in, or called another bride on their waiting list. Charging me a cancellation fee-seemingly as a punishment-- because I happened to find my dress that same day at another shop seems opportunistic. The owner of the other shop (Silk Bridal) where I did purchase my dress overheard what was happening, and offered to take the price of the cancellation fee from Ava Clara off the cost of the dress we were going to purchase. She even offered me a 10% discount because my Fiancé is in the Navy. THAT is good customer service. I understand every bridal shop has to run their business, but there needs to be some understanding and compassion considering how emotional of a choice this kind of thing is, especially when the customer does their part to be prompt about the cancellation, and be honest about the situation so as not to waste anyone's time. read more

I loved my experience here! Everything was so laid back and there is no pressure. You get to browse the racks yourself and there's no limit to the number of dresses you can try on (although #2 was my dress and I stopped there!). They will also help pull dresses based on what you are looking for. I had been to another studio prior and it felt so formal and there was so much pressure to buy a dress right then and there. Taylre at Ava Clara did an amazing job making the experience fun and relaxed and she was so helpful! read more

Ava Clara is the spot where I finally found my wedding gown! I purchased my gown in Nov 2017 and now that the wedding is over, I can finally share my full AC experience. I made an appointment quickly and easily online for a Sunday and was warmly welcomed by Jamie, who was my bridal consultant. She asked me a few questions about the styles of dress and price point that I was looking at and we dove in. I had a particular dress in mind that I wanted to try on but they didn't have it, so she was very helpful in helping me find similar ones. My budget wasn't sky high so she made a point to find dresses in my price range and did warn me if something was over. Never once was she pushy or made me feel like I was wasting her time. Luckily, I found the one and better yet.... the dress was part of a sample sale so I was able to get it under my budget! I paid 50% of the cost as my deposit and they told me 4-6 months for it to arrive. Just 3 months later, the dress arrived! I took it home and stored it in my closet for months until it was time for wedding prep to begin. It had gotten a little wrinkly after being stored in a closet for a while, so I asked if they could steam it for me. And they do! For free (for AC brides, that is.. haha)! I had last minute alteration issues so I didn't get my dress until 2 days before the wedding, but they were able to steam it for me in no time. Everyone was always super friendly and the shop itself is adorable and spacious! I had a great experience at AC and definitely recommend it to any bride looking for their dream gown! read more

What an awesome experience! All the dresses are beautiful. They have a great selection but I didn't feel overwhelmed. I've tried a few other shops and they simply didn't come close to the quality and experience at Ava Clara. The staff is so friendly and patient. We worked with Lauren and Dominique and are so grateful for their help! We found the perfect dress and would recommend this shop to anyone. Would give them 10/5 stars if it were an option read more

Had a wonderful experience here. For one the actual store is lovely. From the moment you walk in, it's great. The woman who assisted me (Jamie) was extremely helpful and polite. She was very conscious of the budget and worked around it to the best of her ability. She seemed to genuinely care about the happiness of the customer. The dresses are KIND of on the pricier side so try to catch them during a sample sale, but overall I couldn't recommend this place highly enough. read more

I cannot put into words how highly I recommend Ava Clara. My sister is getting married in June, so her and I (and 3 others girls) went into dress shopping without a clue. She was very nervous about trying on dresses and none of us knew what to expect. But I definitely did not expect Ava Clara. The store is beautiful, simple, elegant. The dresses are hand-picked by Karen and Alex. Karen helped us and listened very closely to what my sister wanted. Everything she chose and was tried on was absolutely perfect! She was very complimenting and gave my sister so much great advice. Her experience shows in her professionalism and warm personality. "THE" dress was the 6th one tried on and couldn't be more gorgeous. We toasted with champagne once we found the dress. After talking with Karen and Alex we learned that they had a vision for how each bride's dress shopping experience should be - and at Ava Clara they have succeeded in giving brides a calm, relaxed, comfortable, individual, and uplifting experience. I recommend Ava Clara to any bride looking for an A+ 5 star dress shopping experience. - A Maid of Honor who will go to Ava Clara herself, when the time comes :) read more

If you are thinking of purchasing your dress from Ava Clara stop now and find another store that has better customer service. One of the owners, Alex argued with me regarding the alterations that were done on my daughter's wedding dress. The bustle completely fell apart leaving the small loops unraveled and the buttons pulled off. So the dress was dragged around the reception. When I spoke with Alex she told me that the seamstress, which they contract, is responsible and I would need to take it up with her. All I requested was to have either the alterations reimbursed or the dress to be cleaned and preserved at no cost. She would not listen to my complaints , told me I was threatening her and I hung up the phone. Obviously, I was not going to get anywhere with her and her awful customer service. My only recourse is to leave reviews everywhere I can. read more

When i first walked in i told them my name & they got me all settled in. Alex helped me pull dresses that i liked & then we narrowed it down to "the one." Alex was very attentive, welcoming, & made me feel like a queen. I found my dress, veil, flower crown, & even sleeves there that can be added to my wedding dress. Ava Clara was the first wedding dress store i went to & i knew i had found the one. I'm so thankful i met alex & she is truly amazing. Alex - thank you so much for all of your help & for making this special day so perfect! read more

You don't need to look any further for the perfect bridal salon than Ava Clara! A friend of mine suggested I go here after they helped her cousin out so much when Maya closed. I figured I'd give them a shot and let me tell you it was the best bridal experience I had. Jamie was such a great match for me! She too care to listen to what I was looking for and pulled dressed what looked great on me regardless if I loved them. Nothing looked bad but needless to say she found my dress and I couldn't be happier!! And best of all, even with a couple hundred dollars of customizations later it's still under budget! You can't beat that! They have a great selection for curvier and budget brides. I'd go here 100 times over just for the fun of it if I could. I can't wait until it comes in! read more

Absolutely impressed by Melinda and everything about this boutique. This is my second wedding dress shop within a week, and if I didn't have another appointment scheduled with my girls, then Ava Clara would've been my final stop! Service: From start to finish, Melinda was just wonderful! I honestly couldn't give her a description of what I was looking for. All I could tell her was what I didn't want as well as the budget I'd like to stay within. And she worked her magic. She pulled about six to seven dresses, all within budget and just unique in style, which is a plus for me. She was so patient and so genuine, and I can see why she's their Floor Manager. Dress selection: Ava Clara has such a huge variety of dresses, all styles and shapes, materials and textures... I love it. I've had a handful of friends recommend this place to me, and said it's one of the few shops in the area that they really enjoyed. Store overall: Cute, classy and inviting. The shop didn't give me that "department store" feel. You can tell they spend time in the details. From the dressing rooms (oh my goodness, super cute!) to the area rugs to the dressing room curtains. I loved it. Although I didn't purchase anything yet, I left feeling confident in the two I narrowed down and comfortable with the price. This store is wonderful! Well worth the experience! read more

I am seeing mixed reviews and am just curious if it is even worth going to this boutique. I am looking to have an amazing experience from day one of this process at the way til my wedding date. just seeing the responses from the boutique makes me questions their customer service. Has anyone gone there recently and can share their experience. Thanks in advance. read more

As a bride, I strongly urge others to approach Ava Clara with caution. And here's why. Ava Clara has a small collection of beautiful gowns, but our experience with their customer service was ATROCIOUS. Please be mindful of this if you decide to go here for your wedding dress - I don't want any bride having to experience what my family and I have! PLEASE - all brides out there- if you come here, make sure that all your details are correct with them (double check!), that the information they need is in their system, and that you know who is responsible for your dress. My family and I experienced several miscommunications with Ava Clara employees, ranging from small mistakes to rather large ones. Throughout the process we found their customer service to be horrible. I think the largest mistake we had with them was concerning my veil. When my mother tried to surprise me by purchasing my veil, Ava Clara ruined this surprise by calling me and asking me to pay for the veil. My mother was devastated - Ava Clara's poor note-taking and miscommunication ruined a moment for her that can never be repeated. They repeated the EXACT same mistake a few months later when they called me to pick up the veil, rather than calling my mother. They then proceeded to ask me for my mother's name and contact information so they could call her. I was disgusted - I am not even sure if they had her information on file to begin with! To our knowledge, we paid full price for the veil and we were offered no compensation for their repeated mistakes. Frankly, I think it's embarrassing that this is how Ava Clara treats their customers. I cannot recommend this shop to anyone. I love my dress and veil - they're terrific quality and I feel beautiful in them. But I'm upset they came from Ava Clara - I wish I had gotten them from somewhere else. Maybe then I wouldn't have such negative memories associated with items I'm supposed to wear on the happiest day of my life. read more

Initially my experience with Ava Clara was great, until my wedding day. I had paid an extra $250 to add bustles to my already $3,000 dress. They did a trial run on the bustles in the store however it seems that the bustles were made just strong enough to use once because when my mother and wedding coordinator went to use the bustles after the ceremony every single one of them completely fell out. It looked like they were held on with just 1 string for a dress that was pretty bottom heavy. We tried to makeshift the bustles but I ended up having to carry the end of my dress the rest of the evening and/or let it drag all over the floor. Unfortunately the dress got stepped on and filthy on the bottom. When we reached out to Ava Clara to see if they would clean/preserve my dress instead of asking for a refund they refused and said it was not their problem, even though I never took my dress anywhere else and the alterations were done in their store. I would not recommend due to their lack of customer service and they do not care about you, your dress or your wedding once they have sold you a gown. read more

I had such an amazing experience here! Melinda deserves a trophy! She was absolutely wonderful!!!! She made me feel so comfortable and beautiful, and made sure to show me dresses that were all in my budget. We had a lot of fun with her! read more

My mom and I stopped into Ava Clara one Saturday afternoon to see what their selection was like for my upcoming wedding in NYC. Even though we didn't have an appointment, Karen graciously worked me in to try on a few dresses and I was instantly drawn to her calm and pleasant manner. She listened carefully to what I thought I wanted (or didn't) and guided me towards dresses she thought I would like. After finding Modern Trousseau options, she suggested I come back for an appointment in a few weeks for their trunk show. I made an appointment and again came down from NYC to check out Ava Clara. I ended up choosing a MT dress from the group Karen had pulled for me, and couldn't have been happier with the overall experience. I did visit a few other salons in VB, and in NYC, and felt so much more comfortable and at home at Ava Clara than anywhere else. (I actually went to another salon the same day, then came back to Ava Clara after receiving sub-par service from them, and realizing just how special Karen and AC are). Thank you for the gentle guidance, flexibility, and lots of listening -- I've felt sort of overwhelmed by all of the wedding planning details, but this was a low-key and perfect way for me, my mom, and my grandmother to choose a beautiful dress together. My highest recommendation! read more

I had an appointment to look at bridesmaid dresses. I had very specific ones I was interested and tried to call ahead to get information but was unimpressed with the lack of assistance over the phone. So then I decided to just try my luck and go in. The girl helping me was very nice but very uninformed and really couldn't answer any of my questions- even when I showed her pics from online of the dresses I was interested in. She really was no help. Plus the selection of bridesmaid dresses was SO LIMITED. Then during Covid they let in a party of three others in who apparently had an appointment later in the day but were at least an hour early. They proceeded to take over the tiny space where the bridesmaid dresses were so that it was impossible for me to even look through the dresses without standing right to them and pushing through. I paid $15 just to try on dresses here (which is ridiculous in and of itself- and no one told me about that fee until the very end of the "appointment") but then the experience was awful to the point where I left with the decision to just order a few dresses and do a try on at my own house because it seemed useless to spend any more time there, especially with the discomfort of my party being crowded and no social distancing during COVID. read more

I had a great experience at Ava Clara a couple of weeks ago. I live in NYC but am getting married at the beach so I had tried on literally hundreds of dresses by the time I walked into AC and met with Karen. Karen was so nice and understanding about my dilemma and trouble finding dresses that had all of the details (lace, sparkles, A-Line) I wanted but also looked flattering on me. She soon came back with a handful of dresses and we found two that were everything I wanted in a dress. She let my mom take pictures and we tried different options with belts and accessories, but what I really loved about this appointment was how sincere Karen was. I could really tell that she understood where I was coming from and did everything possible to help me find the perfect dress. I had a great time at the appointment and would highly recommend this place! read more

My mother, sister and I came to Ava Clara a few weeks ago to look for bridesmaid dresses for my wedding in May and I could not of had a better experience. Karen was so helpful and friendly it made it a real pleasure to work with her. I highly recommend Ava Clara to anyone looking for a beautiful gown, bridesmaid dress or accessories! read more

My wife Lauren and I were in the area looking for bridesmaid dresses. She wanted to include me in the process. The staff at Ava Clara was thorough and was extremely professional. I actually never imagined how stressful the entire process of dress buying could be for the shop themselves, the brides are often very stressed out and these gals did a great job helping my wife. Keep up the great work. read more

Ava Clara has beautiful dresses! Very intimate and a very well taken care of boutique. I came from out of state and went dress shopping with my sister, and Gina had already been helping my sister a couple times when she went to try on dresses before. Gina was so patient and so helpful when trying on dresses it made the experience so wonderful, we truly appreciate the wonderful customer service, it truly led to my sister making her major decision on purchasing her wedding dress from here. In the end my sister decided on a beautiful Tara Keely dress! Thanks so much Ava Clara Boutique and Gina for a wonderful wedding dress shopping experience! read more

Ended up purchasing my dress through Ava Clara and enjoyed my time in the store. What I didn't like was when my dress was shipped to me, it arrived on a rainy day. FedEx did NOT ring the door or get a signature on my $2K dress. It was left in the rain. I made sure that they would require a signature but they did not. Ava Clara basically told me it wasn't their problem it was FedEx's problem. I believe if it is your shop you are responsible for the dress until it gets to the owner. Do not recommend. read more

I absolutely love the ladies at Ava Clara Couture Bridal! They were amazing in helping pick out the perfect dress for my big day. They also have great customer service in getting it cleaned afterwards. Highly recommend!!! read more

My first experience with Ava Clara was over the phone when scheduling my appointment. The lady was very upbeat and extremely nice, making me feel welcome from that moment. Fortunately, the great service did not stop there. I was not disappointed upon entering their business. The women I met were very kind and professional. Melinda SERVED me the day I came in. I don't write that in any type of demeaning or condescending tone. What I mean is that she made sure I felt at home and listened intently as I described what I wanted for my gown. She remained fully engaged in our conversation and asked relevant questions so she could get a full grasp on my vision. Using our conversation and her intuition, she picked some amazing gowns that literally brought our conversation to life. She made me feel SO comfortable and was incredibly patient and sweet as she helped me with each dress, giving me honest and useful feedback. I was so blessed to meet a soul like hers. Aside from the dress, she explained to me payment options and other services they offered, including alterations and assistance with finding inexpensive venues and other wedding day needs. My experience was amazing and I can't thank them enough for the wonderful experience. I'm happy to have met people who find satisfaction in their job of serving others. read more

The most HORRIBLE experience for a bride! I wouldn't have even given this shop a single star, but I had to choose to leave my comments. I hope that this review will save another poor bride from the lack of consideration that this "bridal salon" carries. Not only did the consultant go over 30 minutes on the appointment before mine, no one came over to let me know what was going on. I went to just peek at the gowns, and was not asked, but TOLD to not touch them. This is not an experience that a just engaged, excited bride wants to have! The aura was very cold and impolite! If you go to Ava Clara, good luck... you will need it! read more

ALL BRIDES BEWARE OF Ava Clara and June's Alterations!!!! After spending 3,000.00 on my wedding gown, my family and I were treated poorly by both parties and with disregard at my fitting Saturday. Both she and the salon owners lack integrity and customer service. i was not fully informed about important details regarding my dress by the salon owner prior to my purchase. The owners of the bridal salon attempted to cover up their own liability by accusing me of horrid things and lying to absolve themselves of any responsibility. Then June Porter took my gown from the salon, but refused to answer the phone, knowing I had no idea how to contact her or where my gown was. All I wanted was to know where my gown was and to get it back, but she was no where to be found. They were not interested in how they could accommodate or resolve this matter with me, only attempting to force me to sign a piece of paper, then when i refused, trying to snatch MY PAID FOR GOWN out of my hands. Just a warning out there to all future brides. I can thankfully say my gown is now back in my hands and I will NEVER do business with these individuals again! Once they have your money, its a wrap, they lack any warmth or compassion. Thank God for BBB! read more

BEWARE AVA CLARA HAS HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE. If your looking for that wonderful bridal experience YOU WILL NOT FIND IT HERE. I gave a 0/5 rating as i feel the initial session to final fitting should be an enjoying experience as mine unfortunately was not. The first appointment was decent i should have known then not to go any further. They seemed helpful and nice until they had my money and then after that point of purchase was when the nightmare started. I actually purchased two dresses from them for my wedding. One shortly after i became unhappy with and spoke to both owners in regards to my concerns. They were very unhelpful and kept stating all sales are final and they can not do anything for me. The dress i will add was neither altered or left their possession at any point in time. So you will be STUCK with no other options and thousands of dollars wasted and guess who will not care neither of the owners Alex or Karen or any of their unhelpful and royal rude staff. SAVE YOURSELF A TRIP AND GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE. I would have left 0/5 stars if thAt was an option. read more

Although I ended up purchasing at another Virginia Beach boutique, my experience at Ava Clara was absolutely lovely. I was home for the holidays, and my mother made an appointment for me at Ava Clara. I'm not sure if this is the normal experience, but we did have to wait at least 15 minutes past our appointment, since it seemed the person in front of me went over her time. I honestly don't know how people choose gowns so decisively, because there were so many lovely ones! The prices here range from about $850 to $4,500. Ladies, note that there are two podiums at the front of the store, so if someone else has an appointment it's not private at all. I had to walk past the other appointment multiple times, and I felt a little bad :/ Although I ultimately didn't buy my dress here, my consultant was wonderful. She wrote down the designer and style for each dress I was considering, so if I decided to return I would be able to try those dresses again. She completely understood that I needed time to think about dresses, and did not push at all. read more

Buyer Beware! Our experience with Ava Clara went well until the dress came in five months later and, of course, was already paid for. Before we had ordered the dress, my daughter asked if some pleating could be added to the front of the dress to give it more detail. If not, she would look for another dress. However, we were assured, more than once, that the added detail could easily be done, "no problem". We were trusting Ana Clara's expertise in this matter and their word. However, when the dress was shipped to my daughter who lived out of town, there was a BIG problem. There was not enough material added to the front of the dress for the extra pleating. Somehow, the communication between Ava Clara and the dressmaker was lacking. To add the pleating would entail a major remake of the front of the dress which, of course, meant a substantial added expense. Ava Clara was not willing to compensate us in any way even though they were the ones who wrote up the order and intimated to us that the change we were wanting to make to the dress was minor. We were soon to learn that their exact words: "It could be done, no problem" really meant it was not problem for them. They already had our money. They did not seem to care that it was a major problem for the customer. We were very disappointed in the lack of integrity and the insensitivity we received by Ava Clara and regret having supported this business. read more

I feel the need to write a review and give Ava Clara the 5 stars they deserve. I am a firm believer in customer service and if you come here, you'll get nothing short of exceptional service. I got my dress about nine months ago and have since referred my sister and any other friends that had gotten engaged (three to be exact). And every bride-to-be is grateful for the recommendation and were just as excited about their experience here as I was. I worked with Julia; she was attentive, so friendly, and knew EXACTLY what I wanted with the budget I had and brief description I provided. She was truly a delight. My sister also asked with Julia during her appointment a few months after mine and once again, she hit it out of the park! Pulled a dress (the first one) perfect for her beach wedding all because she was able to read and meet her client's expectations for her gown. One of my best friends just got their dress from Gina yesterday and shared the same opinion I have. Everyone that works at Ava Clara was made for that job. They're amazing! read more

well what can i say? ................ The owner and employees are snotty and rude! I believe you should treat your cutomer like gold and this WAS NOT THE CASE!!!!!!!!! I truely was so dissapointed ! And never felt more emmbarrassed! So i left and went to another shop in va beach! I decided to visit other shops in va beach since im from out of town ...."all the rage"...."le star".........."pure English" .. i went with pure english ...hands down THE best service i ever could imagine and so clean and not snotty,,, so friendly and so helpful i ended up getting my wedding dress and bridesmiad dresses too so resonable on prices too! read more