Elegant Bridal Btq

Prom time, by the shop's own count

The prom page at Elegant Bridal Boutique doesn't bother with subtlety. "Ladies, it is that time of year again, PROM TIME!!" it announces, and then it gets to the point Poconos shoppers care about most: the shop registers every school and every gown, one dress style per school, so you won't see your twin at the prom. According to its FAQ, thirteen schools are on that list right now.

Thirteen schools means a lot of gyms and ballrooms to keep straight. Stroudsburg High School, East Stroudsburg South and North, Pocono Mountain East and West, and Pleasant Valley are all Monroe County schools in the shop's orbit. With that many schools sending girls to the same racks, a registry is what keeps a popular style from turning up twice in one gym.

The staff pay attention to more than duplicates. Asked about the most popular prom styles, the shop's answer is sparkling sequins and bold colors, with lots of interest in cutouts, open backs and slits. It also keeps track of each school's dress restrictions, whether a school wants an A-line or allows a fitted gown, and helps each girl find something that fits inside those lines. That's a quietly useful service. Nobody wants to fall in love with a dress the principal won't allow.

Prom shoppers and the sweet sixteen crowd each get their own lines on the shop's site.

There's also a rack of discontinued clearance gowns marked 30% to 75% off, a good place to start on a tight budget.

Mattie's shop, from Ann Street to Plaza 611

The business began with Mattie, who spent years as an accountant in New York City and always dreamed of opening her own boutique. She moved to the Poconos in Pennsylvania in 1990, and the dream came true that year as Elegant Boutique, inside the Pocono Outlet on Ann Street in Stroudsburg. It sold top designer sportswear and career suits. Then a repeat customer asked the shop to dress her for her wedding, more requests followed, and Elegant Boutique became Elegant Bridal & Boutique.

After about six years on Ann Street the shop moved to Route 611 in the Tannersville area, then to Fountain Court in Bartonsville, where it stayed for nearly two decades. When a fire destroyed that building in June 2023, the family started over from scratch and reopened six months later at its current home on Plaza 611 Lane. The store sits minutes from The Crossings Premium Outlets in Tannersville, by its own description.

It's still a family operation. Mattie runs it with her daughters, Lydia Schultz and Tamara Williams-Hood, and her husband, Alvin Williams. The shop says word of mouth and repeat customers have brought in brides from as far as England, Germany, Africa and Ireland. Closer to home, the loyalty runs through generations. Some customers have been fitted here for a first communion dress, then a sweet sixteen gown, then prom, and then, eventually, their wedding.

“If we don’t take care of our customers, someone else will”

The family's slogan comes from its FAQ, which calls it the shop's daily motivation, and it explains the feel of the place. The atmosphere is open and relaxed, and the stylists stay with you until the decision is made. Mothers shopping alongside their daughters will find their own racks too, including Terani, in sizes up to 44. For a family with a lot going on, that range is the draw, and it carries over to the tuxedo side.

Prom questions for Elegant Bridal

How does the prom registry work?

The shop registers each school and each gown it sells, allowing one dress style per school. Thirteen schools are currently on the list, so tell your stylist where you're going to prom.

Which tux companies can my date pick from on Plaza 611 Lane?

Three of them. Elegant Bridal offers tuxedo packages for any occasion, with Bell Tuxedo, Jim's Formal Wear and Rondinelli styles and vests that can be matched to your dress.