One location, a lot of graduating classes
The Castle Prom and Bridal has worked from the same spot on W.O. Ezell Boulevard, just off I-26 on Spartanburg's west side, since 1985. The family-owned boutique has been there longer than many of the area's high schools.
We've been in the same Spartanburg location since long before half the high schools in the area existed. We've dressed mothers and now their daughters.
The store names the staff who run the floor, Christy and Robin, and it says the team knows the brands, the schools and the way prom shopping actually goes in the Upstate. It also quotes rough prices for every prom label, explains how the dress registry works, and gives shopping advice.
Prom is a walk-in affair here. No appointment is needed for prom shopping on any day the store is open.
Prom labels, priced in the open
The Castle holds authorized-retailer status with each of its prom designers, with no knockoffs and no "inspired by" gowns. It takes part in every designer verification program available, so a buyer can confirm the store on each label's own site. Prom sizes run from 00 through 34.
| Designer | Price range the store quotes | How the store describes it |
|---|---|---|
| Sherri Hill | $400 to $1,200 | Corseted ball gowns, beaded mermaids, high-slit columns and structured satins |
| Ashley Lauren | $400 to $900 | Sheer mesh corsets, two-piece sets and pageant-ready looks |
| La Femme | $350 to $700 | Stretch satin, clean lines and back details for shoppers who want less sparkle |
| Alyce Paris | $300 to $650 | Bold colors, prints, two-piece sets and fashion-forward cuts |
| Faviana | $250 to $500 | Soft stretch fabrics and flattering cuts, with a smaller selection in store |
Ashley Lauren gets extra attention from the store as a favorite among Miss Dorman and regional pageant contestants.
Shorter prom styles double as homecoming dresses, and fresh short styles arrive in late summer.
Registry and alterations, both in the building
When a prom dress is sold, The Castle registers that style in that color to the buyer's high school. That way, no one else from the same school leaves this store with the same style in the same color. The store's advice is about timing. Designers release their main collections in August, the floor is fullest then, and every school's registry is still wide open, so late summer through early fall is the best time to shop for a spring prom.
Alterations are done in-house by a team that works on site. The same people who fit the gown at purchase handle hems, take-ins at the waist, strap adjustments and bust work through to pickup. Dresses bought elsewhere can sometimes be altered too, depending on the gown and the team's schedule.
The store also spells out what to have with you.
Bring
- Your school name and graduation year, so the dress can be logged on the spot
- A strapless bra
- Shoes near the heel height you plan on
- For alterations, the shoes that will be worn on prom night, so the hem lands at the right length
- Nude undergarments, worn to the try-on
Its other tips are about how to shop rather than what to pack.
From the store
- Bring two or three people whose opinions you trust, not eight
- Check the designer size chart before arriving, since a designer 6 rarely matches a mall 6
- Tell the stylist your budget at the start
Nearby schools include Dorman High, Boiling Springs High, Spartanburg High, James F. Byrnes High in Duncan and Chapman High in Inman, and the store lists Greer and Boiling Springs among its closest draws. More prom shops are in our Upstate South Carolina listings.
Allure, Madison James and Wilderly Bride for Spartanburg brides
Bridal gowns, bridesmaids and flower girl dresses fill the other side of the store. Weddings are by appointment, so each bride gets one-on-one time with a stylist. The store says Morilee is the biggest collection on its floor, including Julietta, Morilee's curve-focused line for sizes 14 and up. Allure Bridals comes with its Romance, Couture and Modest lines, alongside Madison James, Disney Fairy Tale and Wilderly Bride. Bridal gowns run sizes 4 through 32, with a layaway plan for paying over time. The store says two or three guests is the right number, and it suggests booking the first appointment six to twelve months before the wedding. Designer gowns typically take three to four months to arrive.
For the bridal party, the store carries Morilee, Allure Bridesmaids and Kanali K, including junior bridesmaids and maternity sizing. The bride books one appointment for the whole party, and the store blocks off a stylist and a private area for the group. Most bridesmaid dresses take twelve to sixteen weeks to come in. The store's standard recommendation is to order four to six months before the wedding.
What Spartanburg shoppers ask The Castle
How does The Castle's school registry work?
Each prom dress is registered by style and color to the buyer's high school, so the store keeps that combination yours, and will not sell it to another student from the same school.
Can The Castle alter a dress bought somewhere else?
Sometimes. Its in-house team mainly alters dresses sold at the store, but it will consider outside gowns depending on the dress and the schedule.
What sizes does the prom floor carry?
Prom dresses run from size 00 through 34.