If you picture a wedding salon when you hear the name, you're half right. Bridal Garden has been a full-service bridal shop in Marlton since 1990, and a second-generation owner runs it today. Its prom department, though, works on its own set of rules, published on a separate prom FAQ: appointments are required, gowns sell first come, first served, and the new prom collection starts arriving in November.
Circle that November date. For Cherokee High School students, along with their Lenape Regional classmates at Lenape, Shawnee and Seneca, it means the new styles land well before prom season. The store's own advice is to give yourself enough time to choose and to get alterations done, which in practice means shopping in the winter for a May or June prom.
Who's on the prom racks
The prom section of the store's site lists Sherri Hill, Jovani, Ellie Wilde, Ashley Lauren, La Femme, Rachel Allan, Amarra, Jessica Angel, Alyce Paris and Ava Presley, with JVN, Sophia Thomas, Atria, Chandalier and Colors Dress alongside them. Sizes run 00 to 24 across those designers, and the store reminds shoppers that sizing varies from one label to the next. Prom gowns typically cost $400 to $1,000.
The prom page sounds like advice from someone who has watched a lot of girls try on a lot of dresses. Stretch jersey moves easily. Satin looks polished. Tulle adds volume. Sequins and beading make a statement but feel heavier.
It also tells you how to test a dress, and it goes further for shoppers who want a defined waist but still need to move.
From the prom page
- Sit down, raise your arms and take a few steps in a dress during your appointment, so you know it will still feel secure after hours of photos and dancing.
- Start with an A-line, a fit-and-flare with stretch, or a softly structured corset bodice over a skirt with movement.
- Ruching, a basque or dropped waist and strategic boning add shape, while a slit, stretch lining or lighter skirt fabric makes a long night easier.
That's the kind of guidance you can bring into the fitting room and test for yourself.
Bridal Garden's staff tend to stay for years. The consultants page introduces Iryna, who has spent 19 years at Bridal Garden and 28 in the industry, and it describes her this way:
Iryna also has the best eye for fashion to help all our prom girls find their perfect dress.
Nia, the store's alterations coordinator, also lends a hand in the prom and mother-of-the-bride department. Stylists work the fitting rooms during prom appointments, pinning or clamping dresses as needed and suggesting styles from what's in stock.
The prom rules, laid out
Booking, guests, holds, payment, returns and alterations each get a line on the prom FAQ.
Appointments
Required for prom shopping. New appointments can be booked online. Try-on and "Be Back" return visits are booked by calling the store, and cancelling with less than 24 hours' notice carries a $50 fee.
Your party
No more than two guests. In peak season the store often reaches capacity on weekends, so you may wait a little for a dressing room.
Holds
A dress can be held for 48 hours for a $75 non-refundable fee, which is applied to the dress if you come back to buy it.
Paying
Full payment is required to take a prom dress home.
Returns
Every prom sale is final, with no returns, exchanges or refunds.
Alterations
Not offered for prom dresses. The in-house seamstresses handle bridal only, and staff will recommend local options for prom.
See a dress you love online? Move quickly. Because everything sells first come, first served, the store suggests visiting promptly and calling to confirm a style is still available before you come in. If you need a second look before deciding, that is what the "Be Back" appointment is for, and a paid hold can bridge the gap while you talk it over at home.
Bridal Garden sits on West Route 70 in the Marlton section of Evesham Township, the main east-west road across the northern part of town. That keeps it close for Cherokee families, and neighboring towns round out the map: Cherry Hill East and Eastern Regional in Voorhees, plus the Medford and Tabernacle schools further out. For prom shoppers across Burlington County, New Jersey, it's a central, easy-to-find stop on a road everyone already drives.
Prom questions for Bridal Garden
Can I walk in to shop for prom at Bridal Garden?
No. Prom shopping is by appointment, and new appointments can be booked online.
Will Bridal Garden alter my prom dress?
No. On-site alterations are for bridal gowns only, but the staff will recommend local seamstresses for prom.
Can the store hold a prom dress while I think it over?
Yes, for 48 hours with a $75 non-refundable fee that goes toward the dress if you buy it.