No appointment necessary. Those three words on Honeybee's Visit Us page are the first thing a Richmond County prom shopper should know. You can pull in on a Saturday, walk the racks and try on what catches your eye, without a booking form or a deposit just to get in the door. In a part of the state where the next formalwear shop can be a long drive away, that kind of easy access counts.
The boutique sits on US Highway 74 West in Rockingham, on the road locals use every day. It carries prom, pageant, homecoming and gala dresses, plus tuxedos, shoes and jewelry, so the gown and the date's tux can both come from Honeybee.
The prom lineup
Honeybee keeps a dedicated Prom Designers page, and it names six labels: Ava Presley, Rachel Allan, Alyce Paris, Tiffany Designs, Sophia Thomas and Jasz Couture. Several of those are big names in pageant circles as well as at prom, which fits a store that stocks both. The online prom collection is deep, too, with more than two hundred styles listed online, including pieces from Aerie Couture, House of Wu and Studio 17.
Sizing stands out. The store's Our Story page lists an inclusive range from 000 to 32, so every shopper can find a formalwear look that works for them. That range is wider than most, and it means a group of friends with very different builds can shop the same racks together.
Honeybee's site lists party dresses next to the prom and pageant gowns, and it covers the other prom-season basics too.
Tuxedos and suits
Rent or buy through Jim's Formal Wear, with styles from Michael Kors, Allure Men and Kenneth Cole
Finishing touches
A large in-stock shoe selection, plus jewelry and accessories
Fit
Experienced tailors for alterations
The mood inside is small-town Carolina, and the store's own description of how it treats guests leans into that.
We strive to serve our guests with small-town warmth and the elegance of larger bridal salons. You will always be greeted with a smile and a southern “Hey, how can we help y’all today?” and hopefully, you'll leave with a hug!
Plan your purchase carefully
Honeybee is clear about its policies, so read them before you buy. All sales are final, and deposits are nonrefundable. The store does not order gowns just for try-on. In other words, try it on, sit down in it, and be sure before you pay. The two ways to get a dress here carry different terms.
In the store
Regular-price, off-the-rack items
- An exchange may be considered case by case, if the dress has not left the store and you ask within seven days
Not on the racks
A special order from one of the prom designers
- The shop may be able to order a style you love, according to its site
- Come in first to try similar styles and settle on a size
- Cannot be canceled or exchanged once placed
The store also mentions payment plans, which can help a family spread out the cost of a spring dress.
Richmond Senior High School is right here in Rockingham, and the shop is a reasonable drive for Scotland High families in Laurinburg and Anson High families in Wadesboro. For shoppers across the Sandhills of North Carolina, walk-in access makes it an easy add-on to a Saturday errand run. Brides and mothers shop here too, but in spring it is the prom racks that stay busy.
If your date needs a tux, or you change your mind
Does Honeybee handle prom tuxedos?
Yes. Tuxedos and suits rent or sell through Jim's Formal Wear, with styles from Michael Kors, Allure Men and Kenneth Cole.
What if I change my mind after buying a prom dress?
Sales at Honeybee are final and deposits are nonrefundable, though the store may consider an exchange within seven days on a regular-price, off-the-rack dress that never left the building.