Modern Bride & Formal Shop

This was the first place I visited to try on dresses for my upcoming wedding, and I am so glad I did. I was greeted warmly upon entering and the process was low pressure and fun – my mom, sister, and I picked out some dresses off the racks and once we had a few, they were put into a fitting room for me to try. I was nervous about dress shopping because I find a lot of the emphasis on weddings gets put in the wrong place – people get obsessive about dresses and details instead of celebrating the marriage that is about to begin! I am also a curvier bride at a street size 12, and worried about comments about dieting or fitting into a smaller dress. I am glad to say I had the exact opposite experience from what I feared at Modern Bride!
I worked with Ashley, who I cannot recommend highly enough. She was a perfect fit for me to work with, because she was low-​key and at no point put any pressure on me, which was so appreciated! Ashley let me get in and out of my dresses by myself unless I asked for her help, and gave me plenty of privacy. She settled my mom and sister out on a couch in the main room of the shop and I was able to walk out and stand in front of them on a platform when I found a dress that I liked.
I found a few dresses that were *nice* and had elements of what I was looking for, but when Ashley heard that I liked blush, she brought me the perfect gown, which I had somehow overlooked on the racks. It was beautiful – lace like I wanted, a little more fitted than I envisioned wanting (what do you know, curves look pretty great in fit and flare!), and with a beautiful blush color peeking out from under ivory lace. It was a home run! I brought it out for my mom and sister to see, and we all loved it. Ashley added a veil for me to try and I had that crying-​in-​my-​wedding-​dress experience I totally never thought I would have! I’m *so* glad I went here.
I was nervous about committing to a dress so quickly, so I asked Ashley to take my measurements and put down the style of the dress I liked. She did this and I was able to order over the phone a few days later when I made a final decision.
I went to visit another bridal salon that shall remain nameless later that day (it is well known in NH and does have a great selection, esp for plus size brides) and basically had the exact opposite experience. It was high-​pressure, scare tactics were used to try to get me to buy before leaving, and my consultant, while very knowledgable, talked over me in a way that made me feel uncomfortable. She refused to take my measurements without a deposit, and I was told I’d have to return for another full appointment if I wanted to order the dress. I was so annoyed, because I am a thoughtful person and never in my life have made an important decision without sleeping on it. I liked one dress there at least as much as the one I tried on at Modern Bride (after all, there are a lot of beautiful dresses out there!), but I was so turned off by the way I was treated that I made my final choice based on the service I received at Modern Bride. It honestly could have gone either way and I would have been happy with the dress itself, but I wanted to give my money to the business that treated me with respect!
The only downside to my experience was that there were a lot of sample size 8s that I simply could *not* get over my hips enough to get a sense of what they would actually look like. However, Ashley did a good job bringing me alternate options closer to my size.
All in all, a wonderful experience. Thank you times a million to Ashley and everyone at Modern Bride!

I came here after having major dress regret from another salon that I wont name, but it’s a pretty popular, well known bridal salon on the seacoast. That salon laid on the pressure and sales tactics and I completely caved. After trying to love the dress and stressing out over it for months — I ultimately decided to sell that dress.
That left me with 6 months to my wedding to find a new gown! I had Tayla as a consultant at Modern Bride and it was a great experience. The appointment was amazing, she was amazing, and everyone we worked with was amazing. I didn’t have to make an appointment for a Saturday — and unlike other salons that only give you one hour, I was able to hang around for 3 hours before deciding on the dress. I definitely needed that time to give me the peace of mind that I was making the right decision. Tayla actually ended up being the one who pulled the dress I bought, and there was absolutely ZERO pressure from the consultant or any of the people in the shop. I left feeling relieved and excited, unlike my other appointment, where I had almost immediate regret.
They have a massive selection of dresses, and actually let you browse around to look at them, but they’ll also pull dresses for you as you figure out what you like. I’m so grateful to Tayla and everyone who helped me find my dress and now I’m beyond excited for my wedding! And seriously — thank you to everyone there for tolerating my 3 hour long «appointment». That extra time made all the difference in the world!

This is a huge waste of time. If you want professional service, then this is not the place for you. I went here about three months ago and was so turned off that the idea of wedding dress shopping became daunting. My «consultant» was Tayla, who when speaking to us didn’t bother finishing whole sentences. She really had no suggestions, and did not help me try on any of the dresses. Instead she would occasionally stand outside the dressing room and listen in on what my sister and I were saying (my sister had to help me put on dresses, as Tayla did not feel that was part of her job). The service was not the only disappointment, as almost all of the dresses were ripped or torn in some way. It is quite clear that the samples they had are realistically way to small for the majority of people to try on… Or they don’t take care of their merchandise, which says something all in itself. I would not recommend this place to anyone, as service, maintenance, and selection are terrible. I don’t understand why the reviews are so high because this place is truly awful. Please, save your money and time and go elsewhere!

I visited this bridal shop on a recommendation from a colleague and visited with my family and friends. I was very nervous to go dress shopping to begin with but after reading the reviews I finally decided to go. The shop feels almost like a warehouse and they have several dressing rooms. I was greeted right away at the front desk area, and then spoke with Debbie who was one of the most knowledgeable and experienced people I have ever met in the service area. I have never met someone in a service type of environment that anticipates what I want, is helpful, and makes you feel so comfortable. We tried on what felt like 35 dresses and although she was helping others I never felt like I was alone for longer than a few minutes, which was spent gawking at the mirror and talking to my friends and family! She knew the store very well and was absolutely talented in her ability to quickly find the right belt, jewel, veil, you name it — to go with the dress you have. They had sizes going up to 28 I think, because of course, wedding dresses are 1 – 2 sizes bigger than your regular dress size. who the heck thought of that, terrible! They have a clearance rack too. I told Debbie my budget, showed her some pictures of dresses I liked. She was able to find dresses similar but if I could give advice to brides it would be to try on different styles, dresses look so different on you than the picture and I ended up getting something totally different than what I thought I wanted.
Overall, I am very happy I chose to go here, it was the first place I visited and the last. My only suggestion would be to have bigger dressing rooms.

From my first appointment to my dress pick-​up just a few days before my big day, my experience at Modern Bride was outstanding! I never felt rushed, intimidated, uncomfortable or any other negative feeling. In fact, it was the exact opposite. I found my dress on the first appointment, which I did not expect (dress #6 to be exact:)).
The prices are very reasonable. At the end of the day though, this is your wedding dress, don’t cheap it out! I originally had a vision in my head of what I wanted in a dress. I wanted it to be simple and «flowy,» nothing to it whatsoever. I then tried on a «fit and flare» all lace per my MOH suggestion. I instantly fell in love. My advice, try on everything in your budget. Don’t be quick to judge by how it looks on the hanger. Because, it might be the dress that fits you perfectly and makes you look like a princess, which is exactly how you are supposed to look on your big day. I sure know that I felt like one. I didn’t want to take the dress off I loved it so much :)
Overall, Modern Bride is amazing and I’m beyond glad I chose them to be a huge part of my wedding.

I was becoming desperate looking for a MOG dress. It doesn’t help that I hate to shop, plus I have elevated procrastination to an art form. Since time was ticking, my sister insisted we just pop in for a quick look-​see at Modern Bride. This was on a Saturday morning and there were a lot brides-​to-​be in there. We browsed around on our own a bit with little success. OK, I admit it, I was overwhelmed by the number of dresses, but still nothing was speaking to me or my sister, who is a shopper extraordinaire and has real fashion smarts .
After about 20 minutes or so (just as we were thinking we could slip out the door), a young woman asked if she could help us. I was certain she was going to usher us over to the traditional bead and sequin MOB/​MOG dresses and gowns. Surprise – she did not. Instead, she asked about the event, time of day and what styles I was interested in. I showed her some pictures I had and within three minutes, she was back with a style of dress that was so perfect. Yeah, it was speaking to me and my sister.
Despite the number of brides-​to-​be trying on gowns, my sales associate never rushed us. I wish I had written down her name because she was fantastic. The rest of the process – payment, ordering, alterations – was just as smooth and easy as finding that perfect dress. And, that would be because the whole staff is very friendly, professional and efficient. Another big plus is that there was absolutely no pressure to purchase accessories.
I received so many compliments on this dress that I was almost becoming a little embarrassed. «Almost» being the operative word because, let’s face it, can we really ever have too many compliments?
Modern Bride deserves the five stars I gave and more. It was a wonderful experience and for a non-​shopper to say that, it’s high praise indeed!

My bridesmaids and I had a great experience at Modern Bride. They had excellent service, even on a busy Saturday. They also have a huge selection!
Tip: on Saturdays, they don’t take appointments so get there early if you want a fitting room.

I recommend Modern Bride if you are looking for a wedding dress. I had an appointment with Arianna and she was wonderful! Arianna is the best! She let me choose some dresses and she recommended some dresses for me. They have many beautiful dresses. They did not pressure me to buy. I enjoyed my experience there and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a wedding dress. They have onsite storage and seamstress, not every store has that. You will enjoy this beautiful store and their large selection of dresses. Their prices are reasonable too. My coworker bought her dress there too.

Ashley WAS FABULOUS!
Not sure why they don’t take appointments, but I think they should start. It allows the bride to feel as thought they have a consultant all to themselves, undivided attention throughout the whole appointment, that a block of time has been reserved just for her. But… I went on a weekday, and the place was empty (lucky for me!). Ashely was extremely knowledgable, friendly, and helpful! She was attentive to both me and my entourage. I did not end up finding «the one», but my experience there was lovely and I would recommend them to ANYONE! They also have a large array of bridesmaid and mother-​of-​the-​bride options.
Its a large warehouse type of building, very roomy, lighting was great! They offered free bustle and pressing for many (not all) of their dresses. Seamstress on site for any alterations, which is HUGE! Really a great place!

Go see Debbie at Modern Bride if you want a great experience with finding your perfect gown. I walked into Modern Bride and was instantly greeted by Debbie who got right to work with me. She asked me all the right questions, found about 6 or 7 gowns for me to try on… all of which were amazing. She made me feel comfortable and at ease with this task of finding a dress. Most importantly though she could tell which dresses I fell in love with and which ones I didn’t like. It was the most amazing effortless process I think anyone could have with finding their dream wedding dress. I really could not say more wonderful things about her, it was the best experience I could have had. Thanks Debbie!

Honestly, this Bridal Shoppe deserves the 5 stars I’m giving it. Second time here for a wedding dress (once for me once for my daughter) and it was a GREAT experience. Debbie helped us and she was so kind, patient, & knowledgeable. She and another woman helped me my first time there and she helped my daughter this time. I could tell by the laughing in the room that they were hitting it off perfectly! And she really asked the RIGHT questions to help my daughter figure out which dress was perfect for her. I would highly recommend this store with NO reservations. And because I’m biased because of our great experience. …ask for Debbie. We did take photos, but obviously I’m not allowed to post until after the wedding ;)

This review is long overdue! Like most brides, I was super excited but also extremely nervous to try on dresses. I am a curvy woman and the bridal industry doesn’t exactly love us. I found a gorgeous Maggie Sottero online worn by a curvy woman and it lead me to Modern Bride. I brought a few close family and friends to the shop one Saturday afternoon, no appointment. I was immediately greeted by a really sweet girl who was able to help me right away. It was like she was meant to help me because I didn’t mention a designer, just the style and shape I was looking for and she pulled the exact dress that I was eyeing. They have a whole long rack of plus size show gowns for you to try so you don’t feel bad about yourself. The girls working there were so encouraging and honest. I tried on a few dresses that day, and they truly gave me their opinions and didn’t try to sell me on anything which I really appreciated. I ultimately did get the Maggie dress. The only thing I was unhappy about was that the seamstress flat out refused to alter the neckline to a sweetheart because she felt that it would ruin the dress. She said that they never alter necklines. So I decided to get it altered elsewhere, which I was extremely happy with. Overall, I would highly recommend this place (and I do, to everyone!).

Came here twice and was amazed at the friendly and over the top service from the ladies who helped me! I found my wedding gown here and was helped by Debbie the second time around. I cannot say enough good things about her! She is an absolute sweetheart and did not pressure me in the slightest, and had some great suggestions and advice. I’ve been to other shops and got a bad vibe from the salespeople, but not this place! They definitely have your best interests in mind and listen to what you have to say. I drove an hour from Massachusetts because they were the only shop close enough to me with the gown that I wanted, and I am so glad I did! I highly recommend this shop! ⁵⁄₅ hands down.

I traveled over 2 ½ hours to get my gown here and am SO glad I did! They have a huge selection and lots of big designers like Maggie Sottero and some of their dresses you can buy right off the rack. They don’t require appointments AND offer evening hours, which is very convenient.
All the staff was great– personable and helpful. I had 2 – 3 women helping me throughout my time there. They were very patient and got me laced up in dress, after dress, after dress…
They also have an EXCELLENT selection of bridal accessories from belts and hair clips to veils and shoes. I had a lot of fun play «dress up»!
I would recommend Modern Bride and Formal Shop to anyone who can make it there– thanks for an awesome wedding gown shopping experience!

Dress came in as ordered, I had gained some weight (eep!) but they really did an excellent jobs with alterations. It looked wonderful on and I even got compliments on the bustle! Very pleased.

I had a very good experience at Modern Bride in Bedford. I found my wedding dress there with LOTS of help from Odessa. She knew me by name, and remembered small details about me. I had just gave birth to twin boys when I first went in and she helped me with them when I was trying on gowns. She took what I said about what I was looking for and helped me pick out a beautiful gown and bridesmaid dresses. I really appreciate everything she has done for me throughout this journey! You can tell she truly loves what she does!
–Andrea

Modern Bride was one of 3 bridal shops I visited in looking for a wedding gown. I went with my mother, aunt, and sister on a Saturday morning for an early appointment. I think the salewoman we worked with was named Val or Valerie. She was excellent — helpful but no too pushy or overbearing. When she couyld tell I was getting overwhelmed after an hour or so of trying on dresses she was very understanding and not too pushy to make a sale that day.
The shop itself is pleasant inside, clear with large enough fitting rooms and nice mirror spaces.
I have to deduct one star because of their selection — while it was pretty big, I was looking for something without sequins or shimmer or lots of adornments like big silk flowers — I just couldn’t find exactly what I was looking for here. That being said, I think it’s well worth a visit. I would definitely recommend.

Walked in on a whim without appointment looking for a bridal gown. Only had an hour as well. Saleswoman was great, helpful, nice, honest, grabbed dresses for me and helped me in and out of them. Even told me to get my veil on Etsy cuz it’s cheaper. Much better selection of bride and bridesmaid dresses. Even dyeable shoes that weren’t hideous!

Looking at the store from a mother of the bride perspective: Facilities were DARK — lighting inside the store is terrible! It’s very difficult to see colors or styles without adequate lighting. The MOB dresses were on four racks by the side of the store and arranged by color. I know it’s difficult to find a dress that doesn’t make the poor MOB look ancient or chasing old age, but PLEASE — how many of us are still a size 6? Having more realistic choices in sizes so that we could actually try on a dress would be very helpful.

Despite some negative reviews of Modern Bride, I have to say I may be one of the few exceptions here.
I had a fantastic time at MB. Its is big and I only got through 2 full racks when I had chosen 6 dresses I wanted to try on. Courtney was my bridal consultant and she was excellent. She was by far the best one I had out of all the places I have gone. She was engaging and really knew which dresses wold work for me. She has a great eye and perfectly arranged the order of the dresses I would try on making me falling in love and having a really difficult time deciding. She was so patient with me when I was to try on the same 2 dresses 4 times.
I absolutely fell in love with the first dress I tried on, it was different from all the ones I had my eye on before. But as we went down the line, the first dress was not the dress i bought.
MB has a huge selection and like I said before, I didn’t even have a chance to go through all of them when I found «the one».
Courtney took my measurements and had another lady take them to make sure and she allowed me to make the final decision on what size I should order. I did go with her recommendation on sizing. You put half down and then when your dress comes in, you paid the rest.
It takes about 4 months for the dress to come in and this is pretty quick compared to other places who told me it would take close to 8 months. We’ll see.
You are not obligated to have your alterations done there which is a good thing for brides who come to NH to buy their dress to save on the sales tax.
Overall, a great time, lots of dresses to choose from and nice staff. And they don’t do appointments which is a bit odd since I am not quite sure how busy they are on weekends but on this Wednesday afternoon I went, it was just me and someone else looking for a prom dress.