The Special Event

Prom gowns at a full-service bridal shop

Out on Highway 29 South, where the road runs from town toward Interstate 94, The Special Event Boutique & Bridal works the way a good small-town formalwear shop should. A certified consultant pulls dresses, listens to what you like and what you don't, and keeps pulling until something clicks. Owner Jackie Lanoue runs it as a family business, and the store's homepage counts more than 450 dresses available to try on across every department.

Wedding gowns are the anchor here. Prom has its own section, stocked with recognizable labels and cut in current shapes, and the same consultants bring their fitting habits to a sophomore trying on her first long gown.

The prom page lists the lines on hand: Alyce Paris, Ellie Wilde, Colette, Faviana, Portia & Scarlett and Stella. Its description of the styles is short and to the point.

The Special Event Boutique and Bridal offers prom dresses in the latest styles featuring the most contemporary colors & designs including two-piece dresses, fit to flair dresses, ballgowns and more!

Two-piece sets and fit-and-flare gowns read well in photos, and a ballgown suits the grand march, the small-town central Minnesota tradition where each couple is announced and walks out in front of parents and grandparents before the dance. A dress that looks right on a hanger can behave differently on a stage or a set of stairs, which is a good reason to try it on with a consultant rather than order blind.

The tuxedo side

The other reason couples come here is the menswear counter, and in the shop's own description, its tuxedo and suit rental selection is the widest in Alexandria.

The March and April specials line up with the spring calendar for Alexandria Area High School and the smaller schools nearby, such as Osakis, Brandon-Evansville and Minnewaska Area in Glenwood. A gown and a tux fitted by the same consultants tend to look like they belong together in the photos.

Appointments are booked through a request form on the site, and the store notes a $50 fee for cancellations made with less than 24 hours' notice.

The About page sets out the shop's mission in a short list, and two lines on it describe the prom visit well: putting people first, and always listening to the desires and needs of customers. The homepage adds that its certified consultants pay attention to the customer and the details, which is the right instinct for a first formal gown, when a shopper often knows the color she wants long before she knows the shape. First communion dresses and mothers' gowns share the floor too, so a younger sister or a parent can sometimes be fitted on the same afternoon.

Questions about prom at The Special Event

Which prom designers does The Special Event carry?

The current prom page names Alyce, Ellie Wilde, Colette, Faviana, Portia & Scarlett and Stella. Stock varies by season, so ask about a specific style when you call.

Can a prom group shop after hours?

The appointments page invites customers to request a private appointment after hours, and staff confirm the time once they review the request.

When are the prom tux deals?

The tuxedo page lists prom tux specials in March and April, so a date can be measured in the same weeks the gown is chosen.