Prom at Ivy Marie works differently than most people expect. You can't book it. The boutique takes appointments for brides and bridesmaids, but prom and formal wear are walk-in only.
Fitting rooms and consultants work on a first-come, first-served basis. To snag the first pick, aim for an early visit!
That rule comes straight from the store's FAQ. So the trick for a Zanesville junior is simple. Go early in the day, go early in the season, and bring the friend whose opinion you actually trust. The shop's guidance on guests is that it fits about six people comfortably.
The boutique sits in Victorian Buchanan Square on Maple Avenue, and the site gives the kind of directions only a local shop would write: turn onto Locust, park in the square behind the building or on Locust or Lennox, and look for the pink front door. Owner Marisa Vaughn grew up in Zanesville, worked in formalwear while in college, then spent years in Charlotte, North Carolina, specializing in couture bridal before coming home to open Ivy Marie in 2023. When WHIZ covered the opening that March, she was candid about building inventory from scratch: "we are small but what we offer is the newest, and the best."
The prom racks and how buying works
The online shop is heavy on prom and homecoming. It has sections for prom ball gowns, fitted dresses, lace prom dresses, prom dresses under $250, homecoming and short cocktail styles. The labels that show up across those listings are Amarra, by far the largest presence, plus Primavera Couture, Ashley Lauren and Tiffany Designs. The FAQ says every gown is new, and the collection changes with the seasons. Browsing those listings before you walk in is the easiest way to arrive with a short list instead of starting cold.
The prom FAQ is unusually specific, and its main points fit in five entries.
Special orders
Any dress in the store, in a different size or color the designer has in stock, in 7 to 10 days, with rush options.
Overall turnaround
Anywhere from one week to six months, depending on style and designer.
Sizing
Get measured, check the designer's chart and order for your largest measurement, since formal wear runs small and gowns aren't custom made.
Payment
In-house layaway and Afterpay.
Returns
None. Once it's bought, it's yours. No gown rentals or buybacks.
Ivy Marie also stands behind its pricing. The store guarantees MSRP pricing on its designer dresses and warns that the same current style sold far cheaper online is likely a counterfeit. For a parent comparing a screenshot to a price tag, that is useful context.
Fittings, suits and the date's half of the bill
The alterations page describes on-site fitters and a free 30-minute consultation, and it publishes prices for special-occasion dresses.
Special-occasion dress alterations
Take-in
From $48
Neckline adjustment
$40 to $60
Strap adjustment
From $28
Cap sleeves
$38
A deposit is required before work begins. Wear your prom heels to the fitting, since the hem is set to their height.
The menswear side covers the prom date. Single prom rentals need no appointment: call to check the wait, pick a suit and tie color, and get measured on the spot.
Menswear
Suits to buy, rentals with shoes
Buy
Suits from $199, for prom and everything after
Rent
$153 to $250 for jacket, pants, shirt, vest, tie and shoes
Rental deposit
$80, non-refundable
Price match
Matches a better rental offer
Alterations
Free on suits or tuxedos bought at Ivy Marie
Brides get free champagne appointments and after-hours times. On a spring Saturday, though, the walk-in prom traffic is what fills the boutique.
That traffic comes from all over Muskingum County and beyond. Zanesville High School is right in town, and Maysville, West Muskingum, Tri-Valley in Dresden, Philo and John Glenn in New Concord fill out the Muskingum County list. For families across east-central Ohio, it means a new-gown boutique without the trip to a bigger city. Store hours shift from day to day, so check the site before you go.
Ivy Marie FAQ
Can I make an appointment for prom dress shopping at Ivy Marie?
No. Appointments are for bridal and bridesmaids only. Prom and formal shoppers walk in and are helped first come, first served.
Does Ivy Marie offer layaway on prom dresses?
Yes. The store offers in-house layaway as well as Afterpay.
Can my prom date get a suit or tux there too?
Yes. Suits start at $199 to purchase and rentals run $153 to $250, with measurements taken in the store and no appointment needed for single rentals.