Jackie J's Bridal

Size 000 at one end and size 30 at the other. That spread, printed on the prom page at Jackie J's Bridal and Formal Wear, is the detail that sets the tone for this family-owned shop on Broadway. A group of friends from Alexandria Area High School can walk in together and shop the same racks, with no one sent to a separate corner or told to order online and hope. The prom stock runs past 900 dresses, and the store has been in business since 1990.

At Jackie J's Bridal and Formal Wear, we celebrate your individuality and promise to help you stand out at your prom.

That promise opens the store's prom page, and everything else about the operation backs it up with numbers and policies rather than adjectives. It is a locally and family-owned business, and it treats prom as a full season of its own, not an afterthought wedged between bridal appointments.

Nine hundred gowns and the labels behind them

The prom collection is large for a town the size of Alexandria. Over 900 dresses hang in the store, and the size range of 000 through 30 covers petite frames and full figures alike. The designer lineup on the prom page includes Tiffany Designs, Panoply, Sydney's Closet, Primavera, Amarra, Terani Couture and Faviana. Seven labels on one floor means two girls from the same class rarely end up choosing between the same handful of gowns.

Shoes and jewelry are stocked to match, so a necklace and heels can be chosen while the gown is still on. The store pitches the prom visit as part of the fun rather than a chore, and the pricing policy is the part parents tend to notice.

Several standing offers apply to prom shoppers as well as brides.

Who shops Broadway for prom

Alexandria is the Douglas County seat and the retail hub for the lake country between Fergus Falls and St. Cloud, so the prom customer base reaches well past city limits. Alexandria Area High School is the largest school in town, and smaller districts within reach include Osakis, Brandon-Evansville, Parkers Prairie, West Central Area in Barrett and Minnewaska Area in Glenwood. Interstate 94 and Highway 29 both feed into town, which makes Broadway an easy place to meet for a group coming from two or three different school districts.

The other departments explain why the shop has lasted. Bridal gowns, bridesmaids and a large selection of mothers' dresses fill another part of the floor, and that year-round business keeps the doors open between prom seasons. For a high school shopper, the benefit is a staff that fits formalwear every week of the year, not only in spring.

The menswear counter

Couples can settle both outfits here. The store describes its menswear selection as the largest in central Minnesota.

For a prom date who wants a vest or tie matched to a gown's exact shade, having the dress and the tux fitted by the same people simplifies a lot.

A sensible plan for a family coming from out of town is to shop the dress and the tux on the same visit in late winter, when the new season's styles have arrived and there is still time for any special orders. Seasonal stock moves quickly once spring arrives across west central Minnesota, and the most popular colors in common sizes go first.

Jackie J's prom questions, answered

Will Jackie J's match a price I found online?

The store states that its prices meet or beat online listings. Bring the listing for the exact style so staff can compare it, and you get to try the gown on before paying.

What sizes does the prom collection cover?

The prom page lists sizes 000 through 30 across more than 900 dresses, so most shoppers can try styles in or near their own size in the store.

Does a prom tux rental come with shoes?

Yes. The tuxedo page says prom rentals include free shoes, vest and tie without extra charges.