Prom is half the name, and the store on Market Street in downtown Johnstown treats it that way. Celestial Brides & Prom lets prom, homecoming, pageant and formalwear shoppers walk in during regular hours with no appointment. Bridal shopping and fittings with the store's tailor are the only things that need to be booked. If you want a specific stylist, you can phone the store to request one, but nobody is turned away for showing up after school.
The shop has been a downtown fixture since 1998. Sharon Honkus founded it and ran it for 25 years, and in 2023 The Tribune-Democrat reported that she had sold the business to Angela Seifert, a longtime employee from Rockwood who had worked at the shop through high school and college. Seifert told the paper she planned to keep the store right where it is.
An owner who learned the trade in New York
Seifert's own path explains much of how the shop runs. The team page lists her as a Pennsylvania native, a University of Pittsburgh business graduate and a former Miss Pennsylvania International. After college she moved to New York City and worked full time at JOVANI Fashions for about three years. Celestial's Jovani selection is deep, covering prom, short and cocktail, evening, pageant and custom couture.
Her staff leans into fashion too. The store manager worked backstage at JOVANI's 2023 New York Fashion Week runway show, and the head of sales worked for Jovani at Atlanta Market. The store describes its staff as ranging in age from 16 to 67, with someone who can relate to every shopper who walks in. Several double as the models you see in the shop's photos and videos.
The prom and homecoming lineup
The store's own site lists these prom designers:
- Sherri Hill
- Jovani
- Portia and Scarlett
- Ashley Lauren, styled on the site as ASHLEYlauren
- Johnathan Kayne, plus Johnathan Kayne for Sydney's Closet
- Tarik Ediz
- CB&P Custom Prom, the store's own line
Homecoming draws on the same group, with short and cocktail styles from Ashley Lauren, Jovani, Portia and Scarlett, Sherri Hill, Sydney's Closet and Tarik Ediz. The website's size search runs from 000 through 32 in regular sizing and 14W through 32W in women's sizing, and Sydney's Closet gives plus-size shoppers a dedicated label.
The CB&P Custom Prom collection deserves a closer look. It is a newer line sold only at Celestial, built for shoppers who want a standout gown without designer pricing. Several styles are listed in stock at the Johnstown store.
Shopping from home is easy here as well. The website marks each dress as "In Stock!" at the storefront or "Special Order" from the maker's warehouse, and a tab on each product page shows exactly which colors and sizes are on the floor. Online orders ship free by ground anywhere in the continental US, usually within 24 to 48 hours. Check the stock before a long drive.
Pageants, influencers and a downtown address
Pageant is the shop's other big specialty. According to the store, Celestial has dressed winning contestants on local, state and national stages, with gowns from Portia and Scarlett, Jovani, Sherri Hill, Johnathan Kayne and Ashley Lauren. It also runs an Influencer Program each year, from fall through late summer, for young women who want to model gowns and create social content for the shop. Prom-age girls who love being on camera can apply through the store.
The store's head tailor has been with the business for more than 20 years, and fittings with her are booked by appointment. Bridal gowns come with basic alterations included, a nice perk for brides.
The shop's site places it in historic downtown Johnstown, about 75 miles east of Pittsburgh, and names Pittsburgh, State College, Harrisburg and beyond as its reach. The Tribune-Democrat put the shop's draw at a 150-mile radius for proms and weddings. Closer to home, students from Greater Johnstown, Westmont Hilltop, Ferndale Area, Conemaugh Township and Somerset Area all have this shop within reach, and the shop has been a prom stop for families across the Johnstown region of Pennsylvania.
The pitch for CB&P Custom Prom
If you want to stand out at prom and feel your absolute best, but you do not want to spend designer prices, check out our beautiful custom collection that will be sure to turn heads!
That pitch runs on the store's custom prom page, and it suits a house line built to sit below designer pricing.
Celestial prom answers on sizes and stock
What sizes does Celestial carry for prom?
Regular sizes go from 000 to 32 and women's sizes from 14W to 32W, and Sydney's Closet serves as a dedicated plus-size label.
Can I see whether a prom dress is at the store before I go?
Yes. Dresses marked "In Stock!" on the website are at the Johnstown storefront, and the "Items Available" tab shows the sizes and colors on hand.