Helene RauchBrooklyn, New York
Bias-cut silk and crepe, cowl necks, low backs. Nothing to hide behind, which is exactly the point.
$2,400 to $4,800Sizes 0 to 32
Say yes in your own size.
Aster & Hem is an appointment-only bridal shop on Henderson Avenue. Gowns from five independent designers, sizes 0 to 32 hanging on the floor, a seamstress with 35 years in her hands, and veils we make upstairs.
Ninety minutes, one room, yours.
We book one bride at a time on each side of the arch, so nobody is waiting outside your curtain. Your stylist will have pulled gowns before you arrive, from the notes you leave when you book.
Sit, sip, talk it through
Sparkling water, coffee from Houndstooth down the street, or champagne if it is after eleven. We ask about the venue, the season, the budget, and what you are secretly hoping for.
Try on eight to twelve gowns
In your size, on the blush platform, in front of a mirror that does not lie. Your guests get the good sofa. We bring veils and belts out when a dress starts to feel like the one.
No pressure to decide today
We hold your favorites for seven days. If you do say yes, Mrs. Petty comes down to take measurements and talk alterations before you leave.
Or ask for the quiet hour
Tuesday to Thursday at ten, before we open. Lights soft, music off unless you want it, two guests at most, and the whole shop to yourself. For brides who would rather not be fussed over.
Five designers you won't find at the mall.
Camille Ortiz opened Aster & Hem in 2019 after a decade buying for bigger salons. She only carries small studios she has visited in person, and only ones willing to cut samples past a size 12.
FernhollowAustin, Texas
Soft floral lace, sheer sleeves, garden-party skirts. Our most requested label for Hill Country weddings.
$1,800 to $3,200Sizes 0 to 30
Marguerite AshMontreal, Quebec
Structured mikado and architectural bodices, boned and lined by hand. A cathedral train on almost everything.
$3,600 to $6,500Sizes 0 to 28
Tilda VaneLos Angeles, California
Big bows, detachable sleeves, a minidress for the reception. For the bride who wants a costume change.
$2,200 to $3,900Sizes 0 to 32
Annick SolToronto, Ontario
Deadstock silks and recycled tulle, sewn to order in a studio of six. Simple slips and wrap gowns.
$1,800 to $2,900Sizes 0 to 32
The other rack. Bridesmaids and mothers of the bride get their own corner, with chiffon, crepe and sequins from $180 to $640, sizes 0 to 32 there too.
Book a bridesmaid appointmentNobody gets clipped into a size 8 and told to imagine it.
Every designer on our floor sends us at least two samples of each style in sizes 18 to 32. If you love a gown we only have in one size, we order the right sample in before your appointment, at no cost to you.
- Samples from size 0 to 32 hang together, on the same rails
- Fitting rooms built for you plus a friend, with a real chair
- We never write down your size where anyone else can see it
Mrs. Petty does the rest.
Lorraine Petty has been altering wedding gowns in Dallas for 35 years, the last six of them in our upstairs workroom. She does every hem, bustle and take-in herself, and she will tell you, kindly, if a change is a bad idea.
"Bring the shoes to the first fitting, honey. I can't hem to a guess."
Most brides need three fittings, starting eight to ten weeks before the wedding.
Claire's cathedral veil.Three and a half meters of silk tulle, lace cut from her mother's 1989 gown. Made in eleven days.
From the sofa side.
"I have been a size 24 my whole adult life and this was the first bridal shop where every single dress zipped. I cried at dress four. My sister cried at dress five. We bought dress four."
Danielle, Oak Cliff
"I booked the quiet hour because big groups make me anxious. Camille had six gowns waiting and a tea already poured. I didn't feel rushed once."
Priya, Lakewood
"Mrs. Petty moved my bustle three times until I could dance in it. Then she showed my maid of honor how to do it in the hallway at the Adolphus."
Mariana, Bishop Arts
Good questions.
Anything else, text us at (214) 555-0148. Camille answers most of them herself.
When should I start shopping for my wedding dress?
Nine to twelve months before the wedding. Most of our designers need five to seven months to make a gown, and Mrs. Petty likes eight to ten weeks for alterations. Under six months is still very doable, see rush orders below.
How many guests can I bring to my appointment?
Up to four guests for a bridal appointment and up to two for a quiet hour. Brides who bring two or three people tend to have the clearest, happiest appointments.
What should I bring to a bridal appointment?
A nude or skin-tone strapless bra or a pair of nipple covers, seamless underwear, and shoes close to the height you plan to wear. Screenshots of dresses you love are welcome. We have shoes and shapewear in the fitting rooms if you forget.
Can you do rush orders?
Yes. Three of our designers offer rush production in eight to twelve weeks for a fee of $250 to $600, and every sample on the floor can be bought off the rack. With an off-the-rack gown we have dressed brides in under three weeks.
We'll be in touch by tomorrow.
In the meantime: comfortable shoes, a nude strapless bra, and screenshots if you have them.