This is going to be lengthy but worth it. Everyone has different needs and expectations of their experience purchasing a wedding dress. Prior to visiting Antonetta I had already visited a "boutique" style shop as well as David's Bridal. While the boutique offered a different experience when it came to lighting and mirrors (making you feel super glamorous for an hour), Antonetta was able to create a completely unique and individual experience for me. Compared to some other shops, there was no time limit set on my fitting and when I asked how many dresses I could pull to try on she was clear that I was allowed to try on as many as my heart desired for as long as I wanted. And THAT I DID. I probably put the gown I purchased on about 13 times before finally making the decision, and that is on top of the at least 20 other dresses we pulled and tried on. Each dress is listed WITH IT'S SIZE, so you know what you're about to try on and the reality of whether it will fit in the moment. Instead of clipping me into each dress, Antonetta spent time showing different ways in which the dresses could be shaped to fit me based on my desired look and body shape. When she could not alter something to my desired style she was honest and we moved on from that dress. For me, the knowledge in the moment from the seamstress who would be doing all of the alterations on my dress was super helpful and important. I did not like the experience at other boutiques knowing I was clipped into the dress perfectly with the responsibility of then going and searching for a seamstress to make the dress actually fit that way. Antonetta KNOWS the dresses she carries and almost seems to have a personal relationship with each one. (Quick side note at this point, Antonetta was in my dressing room with me as I dressed and undressed based on MY comfort and was a GEM. In NO WAY was I made uncomfortable about my body. Even on the contrary she specifically had me getting into dresses to show me how I could achieve certain looks without the worry of spanx or shapewear. I was so enamored by Antonetta's genuine kindness toward me and my body. If a dress did not look good based on the style or the fit of my body, she was honest and I preferred that.) It is so clear from the beginning of working with Antonetta that she is going to be completely honest with you about EVERYTHING. From ordering timelines to honest realities of alterations and final looks, she will tell you yes when she can do something and no when she cannot envision or cannot execute what you're envisioning (even though I have not yet come to find a single thing that her skills are not capable of. Just look at the pictures of these dresses pasted all over her shop...). Since purchasing my dress I have gone in for two fittings to see and discuss the alterations she is making. From the beginning Antonetta wanted to schedule frequent appointments since we are completely altering the neck and backline of the dress. I am blown away by Antonetta's willingness to make adjustments and work with me on my vision. She truly wants to utilize her skills and alter the dresses she sells to make your gown individual to you. read more

Antonetta helped my mom to pick her perfect dress. She was always there to fix my mom needs and made sure that the dress fitted her perfectly. Antonetta also has a section of jewelry and she took the time to show us all of her pieces, which I bought one for myself since everything is gorgeous. I totally recommend her, don't judge a book by its cover! Her dresses are beautiful! The price is very reasonable compared to other designer shops that charges you 10x more for the same dresses. read more

Do not overlook special occasions when you're on the hunt for your wedding dress! Antonetta is an incredibly knowledgeable and talented seamstress and will do everything she can to make your wedding dress dreams a reality. read more

Antonetta. Of special occasions in Fishkill is a life saver I was screw by a bridals shop in Poughkeepsie and Antonetta was so great and caring I love my beautiful dress and she did everything to make me happy and beautiful So lady go to her she will make your day Beautiful person she is. Thank you so much so happy for my wedding husband love it Rita may 11/19 read more

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My experience at Special Occasions by Antonetta was exceptional. Antonetta found the perfect dress for me as "mother of the groom. Antonetta is a talented seamstress. She can make any dress unique to you. She has a great selection of dresses for any special occasion. Her expertise in the bridal business is amazing. She knows what looks best on you before you do. I would recommend this store and Antonetta. read more

Antonetta is the best of the best. When I first walked into the dress shop I picked out several wedding gowns to try on. They were all beautiful dresses, but there was something about each of them that didn't feel right when I tried them on and I had trouble finding the right one. Antonetta asked me a lot of questions about what I liked and didn't like about each dress and ended up picking out a gown for me to try on - it was the perfect Maggie Sottero lace dress and I fell in love with it immediately. She has an expert eye and though she definitely has her own opinions, she really listens to what you're interested in and helps you find a dress that you'll look and feel amazing in. I received so many compliments at my wedding for the dress and I owe it all to Antonetta! She is an absolute master of alterations and made my delicate lace dress fit like a glove. The bustle was perfect too - I danced ALL NIGHT and it never came close to coming loose, I have no idea what these other reviewers are talking about. If you want a more custom look for a dress, she can do practically anything you ask for and really make the dress your own too. Unlike the other dress shops in the area that boast a trendy atmosphere (and jack up their prices), Special Occasions is packed with quality gowns at the right price and most importantly Antonetta has years and years of experience. This is the place to go! read more

I had a really terrible experience here. Beware! And absolutely do not get your wedding dress altered here. I regret using them for mine. The owner is rude, argumentative, and charged me $180 more than she originally quoted for work we had discussed prior. I wish i can say the dress still came out nice but there were so many issues there. The bustle repeatedly fell out the whole night so my bridesmaids were constantly having to pin me back up, and the dress was cut unevenly so i constantly stepped on the longer uneven parts. I came here because the price was competitive and even after i was treated poorly i stayed because of cost. If i knew I'd pay more than i would have paid with another tailor I would have brought my business elsewhere. Don't make the same mistake i made. read more

It's a small shop, but it has ample space in the dressing rooms, and lots of mirrors. There are samples in many sizes, and they are all in a binder that you can flip through to select the ones you want to try. The ladies are very nice and helpful. It was very nice for a bride who isn't a bridezilla. I'd been to a few shops before and after coming to this one, and they had the nicest dresses at the best prices. I went to David's Bridal, and their dresses looked like costumes compared to the ones here, but cost very nearly the same. I didn't look at the bridesmaids dresses or the mothers dresses. They had a good selection of veils, accessories, and shoes. I definitely recommend visiting them if you're looking for your wedding dress! read more

I called on a Monday for an appointment on Saturday to bring my bridesmaids in. I asked if the woman who answered if they had a specific dress I was admiring from the dress company's website, and she told me she thought they had that one in the store. Fast-forward to Saturday. My sister arrived before I did and called me in a panic, asking if I made an appointment. Whoever offered my appointment time apparently did not write it down. Disappointing, but okay... not the end of the world. Even so, the entire time I was there, I didn't feel like the woman believed I actually made an appointment. We were an afterthought. They didn't have the dress we drove all the way there to see, even though I was told that they did. And then when two other women came in, we were pretty much ignored. After I stepped outside to find out when my other bridesmaid would be arriving, my sister asked about pricing information on a dress. She was told she'd "have to wait". I totally understand that the woman was busy with something, but I worked in the service industry for a long time... isn't there a better way of saying you're busy at the moment? Worst yet, as she was looking at a book of dresses, the other customer literally came over and took it from her hands. Nothing was said. I guess their one dress was more important than the four dresses we would have ordered with more friendly service. I hate giving bad reviews, but this experience made our day a lot more complicated than it had to be. read more

Weddings are stress filled occasions with every choice holding potential for disaster. My daughter lives in California and had only 5 days to come and find her gown in Feb for a wedding in June. The "you are sooo late" that we were greeted with most places did nothing to ease our angst. Antonetta is a professional. She helped get the perfect dress, and was wonderful with her craft and calming with the bride as she worked her magic. She is so easy in her work that we would think " she didn't remember to do this or that" but for every fitting she was ready with everything we'd discussed. The front of the store is a bit crowded because there are lots of choices. The back is spacious and the walls are covered with glowing thank you's from years of brides. I have only one daughter and only one wedding dress to buy. I couldn't be happier that we got it from Antonetta. read more

Antoinette is fabulous. I recently brought and altered my wedding dress with her! I would recommend her 100% although I wouldn't recommend her shop for the "trying on and looking experience" it's tiny and doesn't have the bride boutique feel. I shopped around found my perfect dress and went to Antonetta who ordered it for me and altered it perfectly. She's a pleasure to work with laid back and easy going. She does an awesome job and doesn't charge an arm and a leg for alterations. read more

Best family run bridal shop. And the alterations are the best. Recommend it to anyone looking for dresses for their own wedding, bridesmaid, flower girls or mothers of the bride/groom. They also can take a dress that you like into one that you absolutely love with the alterations they offer!! read more

I had such an amazing experience! I knew the wedding dress I wanted and I've been looking at it for years! When I found I can buy it right down the street from me I was so excited! My sister, my mom and I went to try dresses to get ideas and the third dress I tried on was the one! I said yes to the dress! They are right on the ball when they say don't judge a book by its cover. Special Occasions may look like a small place but Antonette was very patient and spent all her time helping me find the. dress of my dreams!! I can't wait to see it again and where it down the aisle on May 1!! -Christina read more

The shop isn't much to look at, but the process of working with Antonetta was 100% stress free. She a calm, good-natured woman who never once made me feel worried or anxious. I was coming in from out of town for fittings, and was taken aback by how easy the process was - i never needed appointments months in advance, and she happily did my alterations the week of the wedding. Not to mention the fact that her prices were the BEST out of all the other shops I visited - by several hundred dollars. I could not recommend this shop more, if you are looking for a relaxed and fun experience. read more

I really hate giving a family-run, small business a bad review, BUT my experience was so dreadful that I just can't rate Special Occasions anything other than poor (two stars is being quite generous) which sucks because I had heard such great things about them and even had close family friends recommending them. I went in looking for my wedding dress, a day I had been dreaming about for years, and I left the store in tears, certain I no longer even wanted a wedding dress. To begin with, we were extremely rushed. Like, VERY rushed. They hustled me back into a teeny, tiny dressing room and began thrusting dresses at me, most of which were much too small. Now, I am not an overly large woman; I wear a size 10/12 in jeans, and I know that wedding dresses tend to run small, so being stuffed into a size 10 dress was just absurd, and I am confused as to why they only carry samples in such small sizes. The average woman is a size 14/16, so wouldn't it makes sense to carry larger sizes as well? And when/if a dress didn't fit me at all, they would hold it up in front of me and ask, "What do you think? Do you like it?" Well..no, because I am not wearing it, so how can I possibly know what I think of it or whether or not I like the way it looks on me? And they would rush me out into the tiny cramped hallway for my friends to see again regardless of whether or not I was actually wearing the dress and often just holding the dress up to me. The shop itself was tiny and cramped, and the dressing room setup is not suited for others to view the different dresses. After about half an hour of this, the lady finally seemed to give up and said, "Oh well maybe we get in more dresses you like later. Goodbye." It's not that I didn't like any of the dresses I tried on, it's HOW I tried them on and the size I tried on. Had I tried on the correct size, maybe I would have loved one or two of them. Like I said, I don't enjoy giving bad reviews, especially to a family run business, but my experience here overall was not a good one, and I don't think I will ever be going back. I ended up finding a perfect dress the next day at a different shop up the street and would recommend that one over Special Occasions. That's just my personal opinion/experience though. read more

Antonetta is absolutely WONDERFUL to work with!!! I bought my bridal gown through her shop. She has a great collection of gowns and makes the experience so stress-free and easy. She listens to what you're looking for and provides options and gives helpful suggestions, and does beautiful work. I highly recommend buying from her shop! read more

my entire experience has been nothing but a nightmare with antonetta! not only is she extremely rude but her work is horrible it toke almost 4 months for my dresses to come in and the colors were messed up she attempted to "fix" it and only ruined it 6 out of 7 dresses either have a hole in it or the sash isn't attached their is thread coming from everywhere id be surprised if the dresses lasted through cocktail hour! i do no recommend anyone to this nightmare! read more