Wow! Joan's dresses are truly amazing. To be honest, I did not have a clear vision for what to expect with my wedding dress. Joan showed me one romantic, lace dress and a more sleek, modern dress. Both were LOVELY but I went with the modern dress. It was a tad bit out of my price range. She worked with me on ways to make the dress a bit less expensive. The dress took a bit longer to ship than I expected, but overall I am so happy with how it turned out. read more

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Joan is amazing! I spent countless hours looking online at wedding dresses and disliked most of them. When I stumbled upon Joan's website I loved the timeless classy European dresses she carries. These dresses are a work of art! My first visit with Joan was a great experience. It's an extremely individualized process. She let me bring my mom and best friend. The first dress Joan held up to me was the one. She gave me a veil and bouquet to put together the full effect. My Mom and best friend cried. You have to trust in the process because very likely the dresses will not be the right size to put on. The measurements are so precise and the dress fit perfectly. My experience was especially memorable because of Covid. The manufacturing process in Italy shut down right after the material was cut for my dress. I had several months of not knowing what would happen. Joan was in communication with me every step of the way and also assisted with slight alterations. I have a young cousin asking to borrow my dress already. These are dresses that will never go out of style. read more

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I'm 55 years old, was married for 32 years, divorced and planning my next marriage to a Tahoe mountain man. Looking for an appropriate dress for my age in the typical bridal stores left me very discouraged, so I turned to the internet and Pinterest. That's where I discovered the most beautiful gowns-unique and sophisticated by Le Spose di Gio. A year before my wedding the only place I saw in the US where they could be purchased was Kleinfelds in NYC. Only slim pickings from there, and living in Reno NV that wasn't an option. As most brides do...I kept up the search; however, I never found anything that I loved as much as the dresses from Spose di Gio. One day surprisingly, I somehow found Joan Gilbert bridal. I often travel to SF, so off I went with my soon to be sister-in-law and niece. The shop is located in a beautiful, SF neighborhood. Joan was warm and inviting. We loved every dress we tried on, but Joan was honest on what looked best. She took all the measurements, and it was made in Italy. I had many compliments on my wedding day-the dress fit perfectly. I highly recommend Joan Gilbert Bridal. She knows what she's doing, is highly professional and the results are perfection. read more

Joan Gilbert Bride - Bridal Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Joan is very knowledgable and so much fun to work with! She is very blunt and will give you her honest opinion- which is nice because she has great taste and knows what she is talking about. I absolutely love my dress! The Mikado silk fabric is stunning. She has a nice selection of Le Spose di Gio gowns. I had my dress altered by the seamstress Joan works with- she did a great job. Notes: Her business is a flat that doubles as her home in Presidio Heights. By appointment only. Street parking in neighborhood. Keep in mind the Price of the dress plus cost of alterations. Take off your shoes and leave them at the door. Would definitely recommend to a friend :) read more

I cannot recommend Joan enough. I spent countless hours trying on wedding dresses from other bridal stores and I always left feeling extremely discouraged. My last stop was Joan Gilbert Bride and it was by far the best experience I've had throughout this process. Not only does Joan carry the most beautifully made dresses, but her experience and entire demeanor made the appointment fun and enjoyable. The first dress she gave me to try on I fell in love with. It felt like a dress made for my body type. Joan has a chic, sophisticated and unique taste that is unparalleled. We played around with different veils, hair pieces, adding pieces to the dress to perhaps elongate my train, and so much more. She is a VISIONARY. She knows what she is doing and will give you her honest opinion. I absolutely loved this entire experience with Joan from start to finish. read more

Very strange customer experience - avoid to be safe especially with something so important as your wedding dress!

Much like previous reviews, I too was having a hard time finding a wedding dress that fit my taste. I had pinned one that I really liked and found it was from a designer in Italy. I had two issues, one, I don't live in Italy and two, I am a full-sized woman and didn't even know if the dress would translate well with my figure if it would even come in my size. My fiance was actually the one that found Joan through the Le Spose di Gio website and I contacted her. She told me that any dress can be custom made so it was worth the drive to come see her. I did this and was not disappointed. Joan not only helped me zero in on the precise style that I not only loved but that would look flattering on my figure. She took my measurements, I left a deposit, and the dress was in the works. When it finally arrived from Italy and I tried it on for the first time I cried. Joan even remarked that it fit so perfectly there was very little to tailor (just the hem). Needless to say I found my dream dress and Joan made this dream a reality. She's a pleasure to work with and really knows what she's talking about. A great experience with her and so worth the drive (6 hours for me) to see her! I highly recommend. read more

I was desperate! Image an Italian in San Francisco looking for a dress for her dreamy wedding in Italy .. and image that my dream was to find a le spose di Gio' dress.. how many chances I could have? Very little.. but then I discovered Joan. She is just the person I needed, a stylist with an honest point of view and a frank prospective on things. She help me to find my dreamy dress and gave me awesome ideas to personalize it. I highly recommend Joan for the best moment of your life. read more

Well first, don't hesitate to contact Joan if you are wondering about that dress/brand that only she may carry. If you are a Spose di Gio admirer, there is a reason she sells it-- she has grand taste. And will make time for you, and your taste and budget. My story is similar, too, where one tries on dozens of dresses and hates them all, likely because of subconsciously being stuck on a Pinterest image of a flow, buttery, silky Spose di Gio dress. I had eyeballed her boutique once I found she sells them, and finally got the courage to contact her once I found myself in SF for a few days. Know that it is not your typical boutique you might imagine on a downtown city street. It's out of her home, so have an open schedule -- her availability might be sporadic. While most of the dresses there are well out of my budget, she found a few to pull from the bits of information I gave her. She is a designer herself, has amazing vision, and often alters some of the dresses. One of them caught my eye as it was a style I had just been imagining and considerably less than I feared it would be. I tried it on immediately, it fit perfectly, and I began crying. I didn't even try anything else on or look at another dress. It was a weird impulsive "this is it" moment. Search over. She helped me dress it up for a picture, since I would leave it with her to pick up in the coming months. The transaction was quick, saved me some money, which left time to chat on a more personal level: where she came from, her family, life in general. That was important to me. Fast forward several months. I now have the dress in hand, for which she had sent along some sweet accessory touches, but nobody local can alter the dress in a way that resembled what Joan and I had discussed. As if they had no vision. I contacted Joan saying I would need her help altering it after all. I made a special trip to SF, she made herself available on the day I was there. We came up with something that made the dress more versatile, brought her alterations lady in, and had it done by that evening, so I could drive the 4 hours back home. Not only that, she did for a totally reasonable price. Totally worth the drive. Don't be put off by her bluntness. It cuts to the chase, so you don't wonder or hem (pun intended) and haw. Many of you will have the same story leading up to finding Joan-- you can pick out those similar threads in these reviews. So if you have that "dream" dress, just pick up the phone and call her! She honestly made my day very magical without even being there... read more

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I absolutely loved Joan Gilbert! She was so fun to work with. I had been getting very depressed looking for a wedding dress in various places and not being very happy with what I found. I almost wanted to call off the wedding! Them someone told me about the website Le Spose de gio! When I looked at the website I knew that that was the kind of dress I wanted. So feminine and classic. A friend of mine did a bit of research and told me about Joan Gilbert Bride and that Joan sold their dresses in her atelier in San Francisco. I immediately booked an appointment. Joan was so fun and so helpful. I felt pampered! The first dress I tried on was IT!! It was just magical! Joan was a joy and very knowledgable. The dress, and Joan's personal attention really made me feel special for my big day! I highly recommend Joan Gilbert Bride! read more

Let me preface this by saying one thing - Joan's selection of dresses were beautiful. They were well-made, European gowns (French and Italian - Le Spose di Gio being one) and very unique. And also, very expensive. I found Joan through Craigslist when she was offering her samples at a discounted rate. In the ad she mentioned that they would be 30-50% off of the original prices of the gowns which ranged from $1k-$2500. This led me to believe that some of the gowns could be in the $800 range. Not quite .... as I soon found out. Joan has a room in her home that is set aside as a dressing room, and the living room is where the mirror is. As she was helping me into gowns, she made a comment on my posture -- and was very sarcastic and rude in her tone. I tried to ignore it, and tried to focus on finding a dress that I liked. But once we talked about my price range ... Joan immediately scoffed at me and told me that none of the dresses would work for me based on my budget. At that point she was done helping me find a dress. I was a bit aghast - her demeanor toward me had changed after she found out that I was a budget conscious bride. Truth be told, I probably would have splurged if I had been given the chance to find the one, since I wanted a unique gown. Later that week she called me and offered another resource that she thought might be better for me - Lily Helene gowns in Mill Valley. I thought that was very nice of her, but I was still disappointed in her overall service. So please be aware that Joan may be looking for a certain clientele to purchase her gowns - the Napa Valley or SF socialite with money to burn. read more

Joan was fantastic! She facilitated and carried out a very timely, smooth selection, fitting and delivery processes in connection with a bespoke Italian designer gown- all during Covid and with moving to boot! Highly recommend Joan!! read more

I made an appointment at Joan Gilbert because she carries Le Spose de Gio dresses. The selection of dresses is not large, but is very well edited. She carries Le Spose and one other line. I tried on five or six dresses - two dresses that I would have purchased if my budget had allowed (both were the $4k++ range). The quality is incredible and they were both very elegant. Le Spose de Gio dresses are a bit different in that the focus is on the construction and fabric, rather than fouf or appliqués. They fit like a dream. Joan was great to work with - very creative and focused. I felt like I would be in great hands! This could have been a 5 star experience, but... I didn't walk out feeling amazing. Small things, like Joan calling down to ask me to take off my shoes before walking up the long flight of stairs, were a bit off-putting. (Perhaps this is picky, but with these prices, would greeting me at the door be too much to ask?) If you appreciate an understated, beautifully crafted wedding dress, make an appointment at Joan Gilbert. Just remember to take your shoes off at the door! read more

Even though my wedding was 2 1/2 years ago I still remember fondly my beautiful wedding gown. Joan was amazing and I wonder why all the wonderful 5 star reviews are filtered...... read more

Joan was my first stop when I began trying on gowns. Such a good decision - she is a true artist and a really interesting woman, with an incredible amount of experience in the industry. I came to her because she carries Le Spose de Gio, and as others have mentioned, her selection is small but represents a good range from this designer. I was a little disappointed that she didn't have the specific gowns I would have wanted to try (based on my internet research) but who knows if they would have looked right on me! The gowns themselves are extremely well-made with exceptionally beautiful fabrics. As others have mentioned, the location is part of Joan's home, so it's a more intimate ambiance than the big salons in the city. Thank you, Joan, for a great experience! read more

Im so saddened to give this review because I thought I had found the dress here but multiple reasons prevented me from going through with it. First off, the location was strange, to be going up into an apartment suite in a retirement complex instead of a store front, changing in the apartment hallway instead of a change room. She's definitely an interesting person with a quirky personality, while she didn't have much selection of dresses, her selection was very nice and great quality. I had told her my budget was $4000 and she said "oh you have a lot of choices in that range". We had decided on two dresses that I loved and explained my mom lives in Canada and wanted to take pictures to show her. She said she was burned in the past and now doesn't allow photos. I politely explained that I'd like to show my mom and also just to see how it photographs and to see different angles aside from looking at the mirror because the dress I liked had most of the detailing on the back and she refused. I even asked if I could take a picture with her permission, look at it then delete it in store and still no. Disappointed as I knew I needed to review at the end of the day with multiple appointments. In the end it took me a few follow ups to confirm the prices of the dresses cause she couldn't find them while there, the dress that was my favorite was over $6000 (way over my budget). Overall, while she had nice quality dresses, the fact that I couldn't take pictures of the dress to show my mom in Canada and also finding out my favorite dress was way over my indicated budget, I had to sadly let go and move on. I hope she reconsiders the picture aspect because that lost her a sale in this circumstance. read more

My daughter had a short engagement, she also had a particular di Gio dress in mind that she "just wanted to try". She tracked it down and we went to see Joan in San Francisco, we live in Southern Californina. Joan's boutique is so charming and Joan is charming. She was so patient with my daughter and my daughter loved the experience. Joan has beautiful taste, is sweet, calm and full of creative ideas. Joan is a very knowledgeable designer. Her ideas were fun and she made the entire experience a very fun adventure for my daughter and I. My daughter flew up to S.F. for her final fitting and I was disappointed to not go along and visit with Joan. I seriously can not praise Joan enough. read more

I just went to Joan Gilbert Bride to look at wedding dresses and had a wonderful experience! Her dresses are classy, elegant, unique... simply gorgeous. And yes - if you are looking for a poofy, ballroom type dress, this isn't the place for you. Joan was very kind and helpful. I told her my budget ($1,500-$1,700) and she picked out three sample sale dresses that she thought would look good on me and that were in my price range. All three were beautiful, but I really loved the first one. I still need to go back and show one of my best friends the dress to get approval... Joan Gilbert Bride is a hidden gem here in the Bay Area. Check it out. read more

I had a really fantastic experience with Joan Gilbert. I echo what everyone else said about her dresses, I really did get loads of sincere compliments - even my kind-of-crazy DJ went out of his way to tell me it was the best dress he had ever seen. Pictures turned out fabulous, and I felt good all day. What else matters? Joan works out of her lovely Presidio Heights flat, by appointment only. I had visited plenty of boutiques and larger stores that offered good service, but Joan puts them to shame. It was really nice to have a private session with no competition for mirrors or anything, and she was happy to see me a second time when my mom came to town. Also, unless she's changed in the past few months, she charges a flat rate for her dresses, which includes the custom tailoring by the dress makers and any alterations that she has to make herself. This is just a nice benefit of working with her. She asks for half the payment when you order, half on dress pick up, checks only. Joan works with two lovely designers, be sure to check her website before setting up an appointment to make sure it's what you're looking for. The style was exactly what I was looking for - slim, understated, elegant - but it is a distinct style. No big poufy gowns or crazy embroidery here (a good thing in my opinion). Joan is a character. She has lots of experience in the fashion industry, and she is clearly doing this because she loves it. She will take good care of you, and make sure you look and feel fantastic. I feel lucky to have found her. read more

A very strange experience with this store. As I hail from London I was looking for the select European brands this bridal store offers and was excited to make an appointment. At first I rang a few times with no response, then a lady picked up asking who I wanted to speak to and that her name was Joan. Well obviously I wanted to speak to Joan to make an appointment! I asked if this was the bridal store and the phone was put down on me. I rang back later and left a voicemail asking about the sample sale or if the 2018 collection was in store with my number thinking perhaps someone who should not have picked up the phone. I never heard back. I am slightly sad as my mother was visiting a few days to wedding dress shop with me and I really wanted to have my first pick of the designers I was familiar with. I used to live a few doors away from the Le Spose de Gio store in London. I am sure the dresses in this boutique are lovely, but this store does not offer a service I am accustomed to and simply rude. read more

I tried on dresses at all the high end shops, but none of them compared to the quality and service Joan provides! She listens to what you want (even if you don't really know what you want) and gives you honest opinions while making you feel like the most special bride on the earth. Her dresses are made to fit your measurements ~ mine fit perfectly without a single alteration at the first fitting. It is the most beautifully crafted garment I have ever had on my body. When we arrived back to our honeymoon cottage after the reception, my husband and I drank champagne and ate grilled cheese sandwiches in our wedding attire because it was so comfortable and too beautiful to take off! Everyone tells a bride she looks beautiful, but I still get calls a year later from people asking about my dress because it was so classic, yet one of a kind original. Last - Joan's service doesn't end when she delivers the dress. Afterwards, she will direct you to the best place to have your keepsake cleaned, boxed, and cared for! read more

In my search for a Le Spose do Gio wedding dress, I found Joan Gilbert. She is a dream to work with. Joan is personable, funny and most importantly, knowledgeable about putting you in the perfect dress. Her dresses are gorgeous! I had trouble deciding and I had not found even one contender elsewhere. After meeting her, I looked forward to our appointments. She creates such a relaxed pretty atmosphere. She got the fit so perfect, I never looked better. I received more compliments on my dress than imaginable. If you need a wedding dress, you need Joan Gilbert. She is delightful. I highly recommend her read more

Working with Joan Gilbert Bride on my wedding dress was such an incredible experience. As someone under the age of 30, I read multiple articles detailing new bridal start-ups that promised inclusive sizing and quick turn-arounds. I was getting married in an intimate ceremony just over four months from the time I started reaching out to these companies. There was always some reason why they couldn't create my dream dress. I saw a photo online of my "dream dress" inspiration, but I didn't know who the designer was. It was only after I was having such bad luck with these other companies that I did a deep-dive to find the source. I learned that the dress was a Le Spose di Gio and that Joan Gilbert Bride is the only atelier on the west coast who works with the Italian designer. Joan quickly heeded my concerns about size and time, telling me that it would be close but not impossible to design the dress in three months, and that each gown is bespoke so the size and coverage I sought were not an issue. I flew to San Francisco for our first meeting and we looked at the "dream dress" sample and discussed my inspiration photos and design ideas. Joan sketched my perfect silk and organza dress (based on a different sample than the one I initially wanted), adding a new bodice, a chapel train, covered buttons, and a large bow. The possibilities were endless, but Joan is an expert, so she was also able to persuade me against a longer-than-necessary train and in favor of a veil--both excellent decisions. We met once more for a fitting a month before the wedding and because I had lost some weight, Joan handled the alterations with a local seamstress she trusted. I was sent the dress with plenty of time before the big day, along with a gorgeous vintage bracelet based on an earlier conversation Joan and I had in her atelier. Joan gave me the "perfect bridal dress" moment I had written off as unlikely. If you're a bride with classic taste, my advice is to go directly to Joan Gilbert Bride. read more

Joan Gilbert Bride is the place to go if you are looking for a bespoke dress buying experience. Joan, a design *expert* herself, is a delight. She only carries a limited selection of the absolute best brands you cannot get anywhere else. I am from New Orleans but was getting married in California. I fell in love with Le Spose di Gio, dresses made for women by women in Milan, but felt with the timing of the wedding there was no way I could get the dress made in time. However, my mother and I decided to go for it- we found Joan, and well, the rest was history. She is a true professional and class act. Her tailor is the best I've seen, and if she says they can get it done, they will get it done. She even was able to find my mom a dress (also Le Spose di Gio!)! If you are looking for a calm, collected, well-curated, wedding dress memory, then please go here. It is not flashy nor loud, but personal, warm, and incredibly high quality. I just cannot say enough. My experience at Joan Gilbert was one of the best of my whole wedding-- when everything else was a bit up in the air, I knew my dress would be to die for. And it was. Thank you Joan! read more

Joan is amazing! She helped me find the perfect dress and has a great eye for fashion and what modifications will work. Fair prices and great, nice accessories as well. She has le spose de Gio and great collection. Her shop is part of her home and in a gorgeous neighborhood. I flew in just to go to her and she didn't let me down! read more

We found Joan because she was the only one near us who carried a specific dress by Le Spose di Gio that I fell in love with. Joan was lovely to interact with and flexible about setting up appointment times. I first tried on the dress I specifically went in for, and she also made several suggestions of other dresses that might suit me, and gave her honest opinions. All of the dresses I tried on felt very well-made and had beautiful details. Joan was the first (and only) dress place I visited. The whole process was very smooth, and Joan even added a few very thoughtful and sweet details at the very end. read more

What can I say? Joan is the best in the Bay Area. She had an innate sense for the dress that was right for me. I tried on nearly 40 dresses in other salons. When I finally went to Joan, I was so glad I did. It was effortless and fun. She knows her stuff, is not shy about sharing her knowledge and fantastic judgment, and I love that about her. I walked in, tried the dress she had in mind for me, and the search was over. As simple as that. She's a gem. Thanks, Joan! read more

If you are looking for an incredibly gorgeous wedding dress and an equally exceptional experience then look no further than Joan Gilbert Bride! Joan had the exact dress I had my eye on, and it was the only one I tried on at her atelier. I love the quality and design of the dresses Joan has selected to have, they are only the best. Furthermore Joan is such a joy to work with. She knows how to dress women, and knows what will and what will not look good. She isn't afraid to give her opinion and she is often if not always correct. (I thought I wanted my dress a bit tighter but she suggested I shouldn't do that so I could maneuver in it, she was right!) You do have to take your shoes off upon arrival, but I thought that just contributed to the whole atmosphere of her atelier. I loved coming over, kicking my shoes off, and gabbing about weddings and dresses. It was really fun. It's so important that the process is enjoyable and fun, and Joan made it that way! I will forever be grateful to her for opening up her home and her heart to me and my mom and sharing in the oh-so-special occasion. Thank you, Joan! read more

Joan is a one-of-a-kind character; and so is her rarefied bridal atelier in a gracious Pacific Heights home. If you have a huge party with you and seek a "Say Yes to the Dress!" style experience, then by all means, get thee to Kleinfelds. If, however, you have set your sights on one of the (I believe) three unique, sophisticated, couture brands she carries--which are hard to find on the West Coast, much less the United States--and having a one-on-one appointment is the goal, then you're in the right place and possibly one of the only places where such an intimate and personal experience can still be had. I went in with a specific Le Spose de Gio in mind, and Joan was the only person in the United States outside of Dallas who had a sample I could try on. I visited her three times (twice to make the decision and once for a fitting of my made-to-measure dress) and in total, only ever tried on five gowns before choosing the one I'd originally fallen in love. Choosing this special dress was one of the easiest and loveliest parts of the wedding planning process, thanks in large part to Joan and her rare expertise. read more

I agree that the gowns Ms. Gilbert carries in her home-run boutique are beautiful, but the quality of the gowns means little to nothing if the service is poor. Ms. Gilbert, as stated in the previous review, was rude, impatient and insensitive. After being told several times that my concerns were silly, she proceeded to belittle the opinions of the friend I brought with me for advice and support. I also asked that the door to the changing room be closed because her husband was in the house and had walked by the open door earlier, and that I be able to change privately as I am modest . I was chided for my requests. Finally, even though I was genuinely uncertain what to do with the options I had, Ms. Gilbert was supposed to contact me to let me know the cost of what I did have interest in. After two and a half weeks of hearing nothing, I contacted her to tell her I was going to work with someone else. Any bride knows how difficult choosing a gown can be - the process needn't be made more difficult by insensitive, thoughtless, and unprofessional atelier's. Joan Gilbert has apparently been in this business for many years, but that is a wonder given how poor her customer service skills are. Beautiful gowns or not, le sposa di Gio should find another rep in this area - I will not ever recommend this woman or her business to anyone. read more

Joan is a dream to work with. She has an eye for finding the perfect wedding dress! I immediately fell in love with the first gown I tried on and never looked anywhere else. Her attention to detail and honesty about what suits you, made for the absolute perfect fit. I had numerous guests say that it was the most breathtaking wedding dress they had ever seen. I whole heartedly recommend Joan Gilbert to any bride searching for their dream gown. She is kind and wonderful! read more

Exquisite wedding gowns! Joan Gilbert is the place to go! Her gowns are feminine and lovely and ethereal. And her showroom-home is light, bright and welcoming--the perfect backdrop to any bridal experience. Joan is delightful...been in the business for years and knows her stuff. I highly recommend her services. read more

Joan Gilbert custom made my wedding gown for me 25 years ago - it was the most beautiful gown and my friends are still talking about it. I hope that Joan is still making gowns when my daughter gets married! Glad to see that she is still in the wedding gown business. To this day, I can still look at my pictures, knowing that the gown was perfect! Thank you Joan, for all of the great memories. Sincerely, Martha Miroyan read more

I found Joan Gilbert Bride because I had found a Le Spose de Gio dress in a magazine that I really liked. I made an appointment and met with Joan and showed her a picture of the dress that I liked. She told me that it was beautiful, however, she thought another Le Spose de Gio dress would be better for me...she was right. Since, my husband was purchasing the dress for me, I was able to pick which ever dress I wanted. I found the most amazing wedding dress that was perfect. I had a very elegant and intimate wedding at Merryvale Vineyards in the Cask room in St. Helena so I needed a dress that was very elegant and I found it at Joan Gilbert Bride. The dress was so comfortable. Thank you Joan for everything!! I recommend Joan to any bride who wants a unique dress that you will cherish!! read more

THANK GOD FOR JOAN GILBERT!!! I looked for the right dress for what seemed like an eternity. When I was at my wit's end I walked through Joan's door (her business is in her house). What an amazing selection. Previous to my visit with Joan I hadn't found anything remotely close to what I had in my mind. Then I found two dresses at Joan's and I couldn't decided between the them (one was French brand and the other was Italian)! My only complaint is that she doesn't sell shoes! She gave great advice about my hair and earrings. Joan is personable and maternal, which I appreciated because I had some bad experiences with younger, arrogant salesgirls. I feel so lucky that I found Joan! read more

I highly recommend Joan Gilbert. She carries lovely, elegant and sexy wedding dresses. She's got very refined taste so her entire collection of dresses feels very special and eye-catching. My friends have great taste, and everyone thought my dress was stunning. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting Joan for all my fittings - she has such warm, fun and spirited energy and really knows her stuff. read more

The dress I bought from Joan was unbelievable, and she was great to work with. I was looking for something beautiful, and interesting, but not overdone - no sequins, or poofiness. I found the perfect dress there - flowy and light and comfortable-- and she made it fit me like a glove after just one fitting. The dresses she sells are not cheap, nor is the alteration. Mine was a sample that was half off and it was still more than I planned to spend -but it was 110% worth it. I have never heard the word "stunning" so many times in my life as I did on my wedding day. The other nice thing about Joan is that she was very easy to make appointments with, even on evenings and weekends. And it's nice to go to someone's home rather than a hoity-toity bridal salon. read more

I recently got married. The process of trying to find that perfect dress seemed daunting. I had gone to all of the other high end bridal shops around San Francisco but couldn't find the right dress. After a long and disappointing day of looking but not finding the right dress with my mother (who had come from the East Coast), we finally arrived at Joan Gilbert Bride. Each and every dress she had was that sought-after design of classic yet unique. And Joan was able to tailor spectacular dresses into the exact dream dress I knew that I was looking for but could never describe, never mind find. I had tried on at least 30 dresses at 6 other shops in the bay area and was about to "settle" for a bridal dress. Joan had at least 6 dresses that I would have loved to wear for my wedding. Her gowns are all Italian and French designed. While the French dresses are all made to fit exact body measurements, the Italian ones do require a significant additional alteration fee. As I fell in love with an Italian design, I had 3 fittings to cut the dress down to fit perfectly. Joan expertly restructured my dress to fit me perfectly and so comfortably. And her little touches, including sewing in a tiny blue flower to the inside of the dress (for my "something blue") and shipping my dress cross-country back to the East Coast flawlessly, can not be replicated at the big factory bridal shops. read more

When I started getting ready for my wedding, I never thought finding a wedding dress would be as stressful as it was. But that was partly my fault because I only gave myself 3 months. I visited several of the large wedding boutiques in the city, and while many of the dresses were nice, they didn't feel right. Especially given the price tag. I was close to settling, but then decided to give Joan a call. And I'm so glad I did Because the only problem I had at her boutique was, which dress to go with. There were too many dresses that I would have been more then happy to wear on my wedding day. The dress was simple, classic, and elegant. Exactly what I was looking for. Even though my mom initially thought it was too much for a wedding gown, after seeing me trying it on she said definitely buy it without any hesitation. Joan was also very helpful throughout the process giving me feedback on what style worked and didn't work for me. And she was able to work with my timeline. Since she only carries 3 brands it might not be a place for everyone, but for a discerning bride I think it's definitley worthwhile to stop by and have a look at her collection. Its simply beautiful. And even after the wedding I had a tear in my dress which was very upsetting but she told me to bring it in. And she fixed it...for free! Thank you again for everything Joan! read more

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Joan is amazing! I only had less than 2 months to my wedding day when I decided to fly over to SF from LA. She expedited my custom made wedding dress order from Spose di Gio in Italy just in time! She is very experienced, knowledgeable, talented, efficient, personable, and cares so much about her work....for all brides to have their dream wedding gowns! My maid of honor and I were extremely impressed with the beautiful selections at her salon, chosen personally by her in Italy and France. She is so passionate about design as a form of art and a way to express ourselves, and I just love talking to her like a friend! If you are serious about finding a wedding gown that shows who you are, she is the person who can make that dream come true. Thank you so much Joan. P.S. I wish I could have another wedding:D read more