The Wedding Party

Everyone I interacted with at The Wedding Party was amazing. I went to a few other bridal stores and did not have nearly as great of an experience. I wasn’t looking to spend an arm and a leg on my dress so The Wedding Party was perfect. They have tons of dresses under $ 1,500. I highly recommend them and wish I had a reason to shop there again!

I had no idea what to really expect but I did have some apprehension. My budget was small and I wasn’t totally sure what I wanted or how to shop for a dress of this magnitude! Clair was very welcoming and guided me to a variety of dresses that all looked amazing. I felt like I was vague in my ideas but she read me so well! Ultimately I bought my dress here at an awesome price and never felt at all like I had to settle. Highly recommend.

Clara and the other women at The Wedding Party are so sweet and knowledgeable!
She made my entourage feel welcomed and created a perfect atmosphere for trying on beautiful gowns. I never felt rushed or pressured and found a beautiful dress within my price range! Even though I didn’t end up purchasing that dress, the customer service at The Wedding Party is beyond excellent!
I would highly recommend this store to any of my friends looking for beautiful gowns in affordable price ranges. They really made my wedding dress shopping experience a ¹⁰⁄₁₀!

Clara is absolutely amazing! From the very beginning I had a budget and she really stuck to it and she was very respectful. I never felt like I was out of my league or anything like at some of the other shops. She really helped me with deciding on color, buttons, etc. She’s also very knowledgeable about alterations, and she’s very positive and professional. I really can’t say enough nice things about this shop and my experience with Clara! I cannot wait to wear my dress in a few months!

The Wedding Party is exactly what you want out of a wedding dress appointment.
I was visiting over Thanksgiving Weekend, and I had to pick out a dress during my visit. The Wedding Party helped me accomplish that. They were able to fit me in during a very busy week for them. Before my appointment, I called them to check for a number of dresses I knew I needed to try on. Their selection is for the more casual, whimsical, and eclectic bride. They carry Nicole Miller, THEIA, WTOO, and Willowby to name a few. They also don’t have such a huge selection that it is overwhelming. Most of their dresses are fairly priced, ~$ 800‑2200 And I was happy they had a few of the dresses I needed ready when I arrived for my first appointment.
I loved that there really is only enough space for one bride at a time. So be sure to book your appointment. This ensures that you really can have a personalized experience and the ability to move around in the dresses during your appointment. I found both stylists to be extremely helpful. Their comments were specific and helpful, not the typical «you look good in everything», but «this neckline is more flattering because of this…», and «this silhouette works for you because…». I felt confident and reassured in my vision because of their comments and questions. Never once did I feel pressured or that I was taking up to much time.
On my first visit, I found the dress I loved but was not completely sure yet. There were a few more dresses I wanted to try on that were carried at other salons. However, after seeing those dresses I knew I had the one. The Wedding Party, again on a very busy holiday weekend was able to accommodate me again to allow me to try on the dress one last time. I spent the entire appointment in that dress to make myself feel completely at ease in choosing the dress I did («Lilia» by THEIA). I was concerned that the head-​to-​toe beading would be an issue, but they put me in touch with a fabulous seamstress I feel confident with.
I cannot say enough about the stylists at The Wedding Party. They clearly have a great sense of style in picking the unique dresses they do for their salon. And most importantly, they really do know what they are talking about and will help guide you to the right dress for you!

The Wedding Party is such a special place to look for your wedding dress! It’s super intimate and Clara is the absolute sweetest! She has the most beautiful dresses, I could not decide which I loved most! There are so many styles for each type of bride and price range — all gorgeous. Since I went by myself (my mom lives on the east coast), it was a bit of a challenge for me and Clara helped make it such an easy and positive experience. I HIGHLY recommend visiting The Wedding Party to look for your wedding dress. It’s truly a gem!!!

You don’t need to bother visiting any other bridal dress boutiques– the Wedding Party is the place! I bought a gorgeous strapless dress that was so simple, but extremely elegant. The price was amazing– only $ 900– and it needed only a couple of slight alterations. My younger sister who lives in Florida also ended up getting her wedding dress here as well. I highly recommend them!

(this post written by my wife) I had a wonderful experience finding a wedding gown at The Wedding Party. Appointments were easy to schedule, everyone was super friendly and the staff was low-​key and understood that you needed to take time make a decision. There were plenty of interesting and different dresses. I’m not a lacy girl and there were so many more options here. Once I’d picked a dress, the order process was easy and quick! Would totally go to them again and again and again. Loved my dress and loved my experience with The Wedding Party.

This place is amazing! I had a mishap with my original dress purchased on-​line and needed a new gown ASAP. This is something a bride does NOT want to happen, right? After a desperate email, Jennifer emailed me back right away and I met with Clara the next day. She immediately put me at ease. Geez, she knows here stuff! I found a ton of wonderful gowns in my price range that made me feel beautiful. If I ever need another fancy dress, I will surely go back there first.
I highly recommend The Wedding Party to any bride. Dress shopping should be fun and exciting, not nerve-​racking or stressful. Thanks Clara!

This is where I purchased my wedding dress. I had a reception a week after our private ceremony, so I was looking for something more like a ‘reception dress’ than a gown. I got a shorter dress, the design was very classic and simple. If you are familiar with Watters, Wtoo, Encore, etc, they have those, and this brand is mainly to the trade only! I didn’t realize it till much later but I’d saved a flyer from Watters back when I was working in floral design and went to a bridal show. It was a premonition! I guess I knew my desired stye better than I thought I did.
They had a ton of dresses that were in sample sizes for me to choose from and I bought mine off the rack on deep discount. I’m a size 8 – 10, so it worked out that they had many dresses in my size. The dress I chose had been tried on a number of times and needed to be altered/​mended a bit, but they had suggestions and vetted seamstresses for that, too.
It was overall an awesome experience in a private fitting area with good lighting, lots of shoes, dress options, and no nonsense down-​to-​earth dress shopping advice. You must make an appointment to come here. It’s somewhat inconveniently located and parking can be a pain, so I just tried to park in the residential area nearby.

The Wedding Party is a true gem.
After going wedding dress shopping at several locations in San Francisco and the East Bay, I’m so glad I landed at The Wedding Party! I worked with Jennifer, who was incredibly patient, knowledgeable, and warm. She guided me through the process of trying many dresses, until I tried on «the one». I ended up buying a gorgeous San Patrick dress that was an exception to The Wedding Party’s «no ballgown» norm because they loved it so much (and so did I)! Their prices are reasonable for beautiful, high quality dresses and the service is excellent – I never felt rushed or pressured to buy, and Jennifer did a great job of reading how I was feeling about each dress I tried. The ambiance of The Wedding Party is lovely and I had a private space that my bridesmaids, mother, and grandmother got to enjoy as well. The Wedding Party’s selection is a bit smaller than some, but they choose their dresses very intentionally and have a great selection.
After I bought my dress, they continually updated me on the shipping status and referred me to a great seamstress for altering. I also bought a beautiful and reasonably priced veil at The Wedding Party. For a comfortable and relaxed dress shopping experience, where you still get treated like a princess, I highly recommend making an appointment at The Wedding Party!

I went to The Wedding Party on the recommendation of a friend/​Yelp, and I’m so glad I got my dress there! Clara helped me at my appointment to look at dresses as well as my pick up appointment, and she was great both times. She was incredibly thorough and answered all of my questions, and gave tons of useful tips. She was also super nice and didn’t pressure me at all. When I first went in she picked out a few dresses that I had requested or that she thought I’d like, and then she let me and my mom browse through all their dresses so we could pick some.
The dress selection at The Wedding Party is great! I was looking for something a bit simpler and comfortable/​easy to move in (i.e. not a huge, blinged-​out ball gown), and since that’s what they specialize in, they had a bunch of different styles at different price points. They have a really well-​curated selection. I tried on around 6 dresses, and Clara was great at getting me in and out of them quickly, but without rushing me. The dress I ended up picking was far and away the best one I tried on, and I tried it on a second time at the end to be sure. I didn’t want to take it off! It was also under my budget, which was excellent.
The staff at The Wedding Party was super accommodating and reasonable when I panicked a couple of days after ordering the dress and thought I had decided too quickly (damn wedding neuroses!)… I’m sure I was a royal pain! The dress came way earlier than I expected (they said 4 months, it came in 1… doesn’t matter as much for me since my wedding is next year, but if I had been in a time crunch I would have been pretty happy). When I went in to pick it up I still wasn’t sure if I had made the right choice, but I tried it on again and knew immediately that it was THE dress. I’m totally satisfied now! Clara helped me try on a few different belts and a veil to see what they looked like, and gave advice on how to stay within a reasonable budget on accessories.
All around this was a great experience! The only issues I had were parking (but that’s Berkeley for you) and the lighting in the dressing room area upstairs. The lighting upstairs is natural light from windows on one side, so it looks nice in person, but if you take pictures they might have some weird shadows or the color might be a little different than real life. Not a big deal, but something to keep in mind. Overall this place and the staff are AWESOME!

I absolutely love the Wedding Party and would highly recommend it to the brides-​to-​be. Here are the reasons:
1) Selection is just amazing!
If you’re looking for a variety of styles and are willing to explore, the selection here will satisfy that! There are so many different styles of wedding dresses, every single one hand-​picked by the wonderful Clara and her colleagues (more on them later)! I have always been a fan of the WTOO collection (dreamy, romantic and comfortable dresses) and was pleasantly surprised to find many of the dresses I found on Pinterest here. Along with an amazing selection of dresses, there are beautiful belts, veils and hair decorations to go with the gowns.
2) Reasonable prices
It was very important for me to stick to my budget. But I didn’t want to compromise the dress materials either! However, the moment I jumped into the first dress I tried on, I was immediately impressed with the material (soft and flowy) and was at a price point lower than I have anticipated. Having visited a few name brands in the wedding gown industry, I was thoroughly surprised by the prices here given how wonderful and high quality the garments are. Again this goes to show the extent that Clara and team went to only showcase the best dresses.
3) The most amazing stylist will spoil you like none-​other!
Now here comes the most important reason for loving the Wedding Party — the wonderful wedding consultants! I worked with Clara. She listened to all my criteria and used her magic to find me my dream dress! When we first started, she lined up all the dresses that she and I picked out, by price point, so I can be a better judge on how to stick to my budget. Then once I was in a dress, she tirelessly helped me try on different color belts and hair pins to get to a stage that I was myself and happy! Clara is deeply caring, creative, and easy to work with. I could not have asked for a better wedding gown adviser!
Long story short, I said yes to my wedding gown at the Wedding Party and I am grateful for all the advice and services that Clara and team provided!

This store and everything about it just elegant, warm, and beautiful.
We (my mom and I) found this store on Unilocal,and called right away to book an appointment. Yes, you need an appointment. (510−420−1338)
Arriving, parking was somewhat of a challenge. It wasn’t until we realized they have their own parking lot in the back of the building. So, if you can squeeze in, you’re golden. You must ring yourself into the building.
The store is in a rustic, old building that is charming in and of itself. The ladies who work here are pleasant and warm, they make you feel right at home. You’ll be guided upstairs into their main bridal room where you will be free to roam and select gowns to try on.
Take your time, nobody is rushing you!
I personally chose about 6 dresses to try on, and the young lady who helped me was positive, upbeat, supportive and so helpful. She found some dresses that I never would have considered, but they all looked lovely and were exactly in my taste. She truly knows what she is doing, and helped me beyond words. Such a gifted little lady.
Every dress I tried on made me feel happy. I felt so at home. I received positive feedback from the staff and from my mother. They complimented me and my unique figure and any insecurity I could have had never had a standing chance. I felt truly beautiful; just as every one of us deserves to.
Enjoy these moments. You will always remember them.
They provided me with a typed out list of the gowns I tried on as well as details about them (buttons, materials, accessories, etc.) and their prices. I was able to take the information home to think about it, and had their card at hand to call when I was ready.
This store is simply lovely, and I would encourage all brides to stop by and try some dresses on. I have a strong feeling you will find «the one.»

I had the most wonderful experience with The Wedding Party. Clara and Jennifer were so great at helping me find my wedding dress. After trying on only a few wedding dresses I was able to find the perfect one for me. They made the process so easy and effortless. Not only were they great at helping me with my dress and veil, they also have beautiful bridesmaid dresses and I was able to get the perfect bridesmaid dress for my cousins wedding.
I cannot recommend The Wedding Party enough.

I had an outstanding experience with The Wedding Party
They really helped make me feel special by only seeing one bride at a time and the attention that they gave while I was there.
Cat who helped me in the store did an amazing job of listening to what I wanted both in what I said and the more subtle things that I might not have said. She convinced me to try on a dress that I thought look terrible on the rack because she knew that this dress actually met exactly the fit and style that I wanted. That dress (Dakota by Nicole Miller) ended up being my dress.
Beyond the help in the store, Jennifer was amazing afterwards. The Wedding Party was the first place that I tried on dresses so I wanted to go to more places to be sure that this dress was the one. A couple weeks later when I called back she was so nice and helpful about helping me find a seamstress that she recommends in Chicago where I live. She was flexible and went out of her way to help me.
I would absolutely recommend The Wedding Party to anyone looking for a wedding dress.

I will always remember The Wedding Party — it’s where I had my «YES TO THE DRESS» moment!
I stumbled across The Wedding Party online when I was looking for places that carried the Watters line, which I love! After unsuccessfully trying on dresses at two other bridal shops, I had a feeling that I would find my dress here…
My hour-​long appointment was on November 22^nd and I brought along my mom, sister, and BFF. After meeting with Kat, she allowed us to choose dresses for me to try on. All in all, we gathered about 10 or less dresses. I told her my budget so she arranged the dresses in price order, putting the ones within my budget first. I didn’t even get to all of the dresses because I found the perfect one after trying on about 3 or 4. I instantly knew it was the dress as soon as I put it on!
Kat was awesome!!! She was so patient and not once did I feel pressured to buy the dress. She gave me the option to think about it and come back or call if I was ready to purchase it. Not that I needed it — I knew I had to get it right then and there! She was so thrilled! Kat definitely made my Wedding Party experience worthwhile and memorable.
Thank you Kat! And thank you Wedding Party! :)

I can’t say enough great things about The Wedding Party! I bought my wedding dress here for my September 2014 wedding. I came in looking for a lace dress with a romantic and vintage feel, and I walked out with EXACTLY what I always dreamed of! My bridal consultant was Rosie, who was just a joy and pleasure to work with. She was so sweet and helpful!
As soon as I tried on the dress, my sisters and I knew it was the ONE. Rosie helped me order it in the right size, and gave me all of the information I would need to know about how alterations work, when and how to pick up, etc. Super easy. And it even arrived a few weeks earlier than expected, which was a nice surprise.
I visited a few other bridal shops during my dress shopping experience, and The Wedding Party was the best atmosphere of any of them: exactly what you want from a bridal boutique– small, intimate, sort of like you’re in your grandmother’s attic! It is just such a charming place, and I couldn’t be happier that I ended up finding my dream dress there!
Brides, look no further than The Wedding Party for your dress!

I’ve had a few hiccups with finding the perfect wedding dress. As much as I tried to tell myself I was pretty calm and stress free, I found myself visiting every bridal store in the Bay Area including two separate trips to LA. With the help from Clara at wedding party I finally said yes to the dress today! I know it’s «the one» bc i daydream my big day and it’s perfect. Let me just say that my search was crazy and I am happy to say that I am now fully in love with my gown.
It’s no wonder they have all positive reviews!!!
prices
sheath style gowns
great customer service

My sister is getting married so my mom and I came here with her yesterday. It is reservation only and you have to make a separate reservation for bridesmaids dresses if you are interested in those as well. It is in a cute area of Oakland/​Berkeley — easy to grab some food and drinks in the neighborhood and call it a day. All wedding dresses here are in the $ 2,000 and under range.
The lady who helped us was extremely knowledgable and friendly. She made us all feel comfortable and the trying on of dresses was seamless. She informed us of the styles, the cuts, fabrics, colors, etc. although we never felt overwhelmed by all the unfamiliar verbiage.
She will email notes and pictures and follow up on dresses that we were considering. We never felt pressured into buying anything and she was very generous with recommendations and pricing for other places and options.
Our only negative was the atmosphere. We were never offered water or anything to drink, there was no music, the whole thing was a little stale. If we were to do it again, a bottle of champagne and a JamBox would be in tow!