Becker’s Bridal387 Danforth Ave. (at Chester Ave.), 416-463-6601A ancestors business aback 1944, this Danforth bazaar is reliable, safe and considerate—the aforementioned qualities as a acceptable marriage. Accompany and ancestors of the helpmate can achieve into colossal club chairs and watch as the advantageous adult tries on jewel-trimmed, beaded and applique styles from all-embracing labels like Pronovias from Barcelona, Sottero and Midgley from Australia and Cymbeline from France ($800–$5,000, additional alterations). Attending for dresses by Barbra Allin Couture, the centralized band accepted for customizable gowns in abreast silhouettes (tea length, authority waist). Some Swarovski crystal–encrusted combs and clips ($70–$250) can be angry into brooches afterwards the big day.
The Bride’s Project431 Broadview Ave. (at Victor Ave.), 416-469-6777Helen Sweet came up with the Brides’ Project one Friday night as she was advertent the balance of her accessible blast bash. It’s now run in her Broadview home, primarily by volunteers, and it sells new and acclaim acclimated gowns to accession money for blight charities. The alternative is huge (around 500 dresses), and prices about ambit from $300 to $1,250. A Vera Wang conception in cottony organza is gush-worthy ($1,250), while an ivory clothes spun from award and tulle is a abduct at $600. Beach brides can blooper on a adult nude dress with a chrism applique bury ($300). Those against to fuss may don a simple fair dress with a taupe hem ($400). Acceptable Eastern pieces—such as cottony cheongsams and intricately beaded lehengas—are additionally available. Gowns are aggregate in altered apartment by size, absolution brides-to-be try on dozens at a time.
Catherine Langlois416-652-9587Anyone attractive for the conjugal agnate of a bespoke clothing will acquisition a acceptable fit with Catherine Langlois, who creates timelessly affected dresses from the third attic of her clandestine studio. Her action is absolutely one on one, and her captivation from alpha to accomplishment is an aberrant luxury. Although Langlois recommends three to bristles fittings, she can about-face about a dress in as little as six weeks. Four-ply cottony charmeuse, silk, glassy organza and guipure French applique are amid the exceptional abstracts she uses, while befitting prices amid $1,500 and $3,000 (short dresses go for as little as $1,000). Couture applique starts at $3,200. By appointment.
Dina Alonzi Bridal3020 Bloor St. W. (at Royal York Rd.), 416-236-0270The acute makeover of her Kingsway bazaar in 2007 agency that adept conjugal banker Dina Alonzi has a amplitude that reflects the affection of her inventory. With 23 years of experience, she parses trends (fuller skirts, “tattered vintage”) and edits her alternative bottomward to bestselling brands, including Monique Lhuillier, Amsale, Rivini and Project Runway alum Austin Scarlett. Then she, or one of her consultants, oversees every aftermost stitch of the about-face process, acknowledgment to an in-store studio. An boilerplate clothes starts at about $4,000. Closed Sunday.
Felichia Bridal601 College St. (at Clinton St.), 647-350-5559Downtown brides attractive for modern, easy-to-wear gowns admire this Bathurst and College boutique. Such big-name designers as Pronovias Couture and Watters (of which Felichia has the bigger alternative in Toronto) allotment amplitude with new lines, like Alyne by Rivini (which offers Rivini affluence at added affordable, accepted prices, starting at $2,000), and advancing names, including Martina Liana, which is accepted for its use of French applique and aerial beadwork (as in a fun, floor-length apron with a beaded bodice and an colossal bow). With designs by Paloma Blanca and Wtoo (Watters’s lower-priced line) alignment from $1,800 to $1,500, your dream dress doesn’t accept to breach the budget. Closed Monday. By appointment.
Ferré Sposa924A Bloor St. W. (at Concord Ave.), 416-535-8999Ferré Sposa’s Bloordale bazaar offers alone account and accepted brands (Allure Bridals, Barcelona’s La Sposa and Pronovias and Aussie band Sottero and Midgley) at almost appropriate prices—most brides angle over as little as $800 to $1,500 for a gown. The bazaar leans against slimmer silhouettes (lace sheaths and adapted bogie styles), but additionally carries full-skirted brawl gowns. A aerial cap-sleeved applique apron has a keyhole aback ($1,150), while an edgier fit-and-flare cardinal is adorned with feathered accents and razor-cut organza ($1,900). The advanced of the abundance is adherent to bridesmaid dresses; a fleet floor-length chiffon advantage ($205) is basal but stunning.
Ines Di Santo168 Davenport Rd. (at Avenue Rd.), 416-925-0002This Yorkville amplitude feels added like a salon than a showroom, and the dresses action big-time brawl from artist Ines Di Santo. She’s not abashed to comedy up the changeable form, accentuating the apprehension and waistline while acclimation a bound fit on top with her signature abounding skirts. She generally deviates from archetypal off-white, creating gowns in bloom pink, aged ivory and champagne. Duke beading, Swarovski crystals, French lace, aerial bolt flowers and accoutrement can account prices to edge upwards of $5,000, but these absolutely are Costume Institute–calibre designs, fabricated from scratch. There is no bigger allowance of approval than that of socialite Suzanne Rogers, who chose one of Di Santo’s designs aback she affiliated her media begat husband, Edward, in 2006. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Jealous Bridesmaids2479 Bloor St. W. (at South Kingsway), 416-915-1654Owner Charmaine Mendyk consistently tells audience to accumulate an accessible apperception while aggravating on bells dresses. She carries a huge array of styles, so alpha actuality if you appetite article added agitative than the all-over strapless dress. A adventurous Casablanca clothes has a sweetheart-necked sheath topped by a arduous applique bury with a scalloped hemline; added curve accommodate Maggie Sottero and Dejected by Enzoani. Along with contemporary apparition necklines and tea-length hems, there are affluence of acceptable mermaid- and brawl gown–style dresses. The boilerplate amount is $1,500, and turnaround is about bristles months. Mendyk additionally stocks a alternative of veils, tiaras and custom jewellery, and there’s a abstracted bridesmaid and mother-of-the-bride bazaar in the basement. Closed Monday.
Jolie Bridal1158 St. Clair Ave. W. (at Dufferin St.), 416-651-6777For 30 years, Jolie Conjugal has akin brides and their dream gowns in a charming, no-pressure atmosphere. The dresses ambit from aerial abstract sheers to abounding chiffon numbers, and are purchased from a array of all-embracing suppliers. Abounding styles and prices ($99–$3,000) accomplish it accessible to acquisition the absolute piece. A clothes with a aerial beaded bodice and annoyed hemline is on trend for 2013.
Lea-Ann Belter Bridal238 Broadview Ave. (at Dundas St. E.), 416-778-6868Owner Lea-Ann Belter has been bathrobe brides for 22 years and knows how to accord them absolutely what they appetite while still actual accurate to her archetypal aesthetic. All gowns are silk—whether adult glassy ache or stiffer, added academic dupioni—and all are alluringly feminine after actuality frou-frou. Shorter, accidental frocks are in this season; we spotted one with a ruffly crinoline peeking out the back. Draped bodices, aberration and accoutrement are additionally on trend, as are intricate applique gowns. Feathery fascinators and added accessories can be fabricated to match. Six to eight months of advance time is required. Appointments are preferred. From $2,500. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Lowon Pope117 Jefferson Ave. (at King St. W.), 416-504-8150Lana Lowon and her husband, Jim Pope, booty an ancient access to conjugal fashion. Generally fabricated with aged applique or brocade, the dresses approach old Hollywood glamour. For this reason, Lowon attracts the blazon of helpmate who wants bias-cut Jean Harlow gowns or structured, full-skirted Grace Kelly styles. Dresses in aged ivories and applique are accessible for acquirement off the arbor ($1,000–$2,500), but Lowon is additionally able to body a attending from the arena up—if you appetite a custom corset, she’s added than blessed to accomplish it happen. Made-to-measure gowns abatement amid $2,300 and $4,500; that’s afore abacus a amphitheater blind ($200), an able swath of arduous chiffon that can be beat in dozens of styles. Closed Sunday and Monday, except by appointment.
Mrs. Conjugal Boutique164 Davenport Rd. (at Avenue Rd.), 416-925-1674An urn abounding with beginning flowers greets visitors as they access this three-storey space, and tasteful sofas are dotted throughout so accompany and families can relax while the helpmate picks her dress. Owners Kelly Power and Michelle Teslia tend to shy abroad from brawl clothes styles, instead opting for simple but beauteous silhouettes: a cottony cardinal with an chaste cockle that apprehension its way about the anatomy ($3,890), or a admiration in French applique with three-quarter-length sleeves and airy applique epaulettes ($4,589). A Nicole Miller cavalcade dress offers a avant-garde booty on Grecian draping, with beaded straps bridge over in the aback and a cockle falling from one accept ($1,125).
Pearl Conjugal House76 Lakeshore Rd. E., Mississauga, 905-278-5407Pearl Conjugal House lures Toronto brides to Port Credit with luxe gowns by hard-to-find designers. If you’re gluttonous Christos’s feminine white dresses, Pearl has the Toronto-area exclusive. The shop’s focus is on high-end couture gowns, so this isn’t the abode for a helpmate on a budget; best gowns run from $4,000 to $6,000. But if you appetite a showstopper, such as a affecting glassy brawl gown, or amusing details, like a tea-length brim covered in bags of hand-sewn bows, it’s account a visit. Appointments are encouraged. Closed Sunday and Monday.
PowderMarket Lane, 140 Woodbridge Ave., Woodbridge, 905-605-1750It’s a continued drive arctic of the city, but this affectionate atelier in Woodbridge has been a advantage for style-savvy brides in chase of a non-traditional, statement-making clothes aback it opened in 2010. The attending is avant-garde sophistication, as begin in couture-worthy gowns by Lebanese artist Zuhair Murad and red carpet–inspired numbers by Reem Acra, not to acknowledgment the country’s best all-encompassing alternative of Jenny Packham dresses. Renowned for her intricate beading and clear work, Packham’s designs amalgamate ’20s breeding with Hollywood glamour—actress Elizabeth Hurley was affiliated in one of her gowns—for the helpmate who cares added about cutting-edge appearance than indulging her close princess.
Sarah Houston24 Hazelton Ave. (at Yorkville Ave.), 416-921-8882At her Yorkville boutique, Sarah Houston designs adult gowns whose artlessness belies their accurate craftsmanship. One conception has a hand-tufted peplum bottomward over a cottony brawl clothes silhouette; addition appearance pairs a cloud-like tulle brim with a beaded lavender bodice. A bias-cut Chantilly applique trumpet dress with a cottony cape looks like article out of a 1940s noir film. Gowns from $3,700.
Sash and Bustle233 Carlaw Ave. (at Queen St. E.), Unit 2, 416-414-3617A ground-floor amplitude in a Leslieville attic is the ideal area for this three-year-old conjugal shop: it’s advisedly burghal and confidently beautiful after actuality too showy. Buyer Cynthia Martyn got into gowns as an acknowledgment to some of the complaints she heard from brides-to-be—too abounding barter in the abundance at once, or abrupt staff. “If you’re attractive for a abundant brawl gown, we’re apparently not activity to accept article for you,” says Martyn. Instead, accede a accidental dress by Saja or a cottony aperture clothes by Toronto’s Catherine Langlois. Best arena in beneath $2,000. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Valencienne1104 Eglinton Ave. W. (at Glenarden Rd.), 416-781-6885When flush Toronto brides appetite custom couture, they arch to Kim Ironmonger’s 28-year-old Eglinton West shop. Amid the confections are three gowns in a august icy blue, the aboriginal adumbration that Ironmonger isn’t abashed to colour alfresco the lines. She expertly merges assorted inspirations into the bespoke dress of your dreams. Incorporating bolt from a mother’s best clothes is a accepted request. Attic models angular against full-skirted absurd fantasies of peau de soie or dupioni in the ever-popular trumpet shape. Swarovski clear beading and adornment are done by hand, which is why advance time is six months and dresses alpha at $2,500.
Vintage Bride588 Markham St. (at Bloor St. W.), 416-818-1104“Right now we’re seeing a lot of tea-length frocks, aged applique and draped Grecian gowns,” says buyer Cher Thornton. If the bells demands a ’50s apron aloof out with a crinoline, alpha here; the aforementioned goes for a mod miniskirt or a ’20s dress with a low cottony plissé back. Prices alter based on era and quality. Best items are second-hand—people accompany Grandma’s dress actuality acquisitive a abstract almost-Mrs. will acquisition it—but Thornton finds never-worn asleep stock, too. By appointment.
White Toronto19 Hazelton Ave. (at Yorkville Ave.), 416-849-9196This Yorkville atelier is the ne additional ultra aback it comes to statement-making dresses. Buyer Andrea Anastasiou has created an acquaintance aces of a Parisian boutique, complete with ample and beautiful bathrobe apartment and a albino acknowledgment aback a chump has called a dress. She leans against bells annual mainstays: Monique Lhuillier, Carolina Herrera, Rivini, Oscar de la Renta and Reem Acra. Not all items will abet sticker shock, admitting some run as aerial as $15,000. You can account a Nicole Miller for $750, but best dresses ambit from $5,500 to $6,000. Closed Sunday and Monday.
