Get to know The White Dress by the shore

As they say, to know us is to love us!  We realize that there may be few things you may not know about The White Dress by the shore. Get to know us a little better below! Why owner, Beth Chapman opened The White Dress by the shore: "I opened The White Dress as a result of my own wedding gown shopping experience.  When I got engaged in 1995, I was working in Ann Taylor's corporate office in New York and was shopping for my gown both in New York, where I lived, and in Connecticut, where my parents lived.  I found the experience to be lackluster.  I felt that gown shopping should be a memorable experience and almost all of my experiences were disappointing.  I wanted a unique gown, as I worked in the fashion industry. I liked the idea of customizing my gown, but found that was not an option in any of the stores that I visited.  Eventually, through my connections in the industry, I was able to work one on one with a fabulous designer and we created a customized gown. Finally, I had the experience that I felt that every bride deserved. That experience planted a seed with me.  I decided to open a bridal store in a unique environment with designers that would allow my brides to customize their gowns. My goal was to create an exceptional experience for every bride - one that created a memory.  For a bride, purchasing her gown is one of the first things that she does when she gets engaged.  It is such an exciting time for a bride!  I wanted to celebrate that time and make it even more special.  After 12 years in business, we continue to have the same goal! "

images: Abbey Scott

The year the house was built: The White Dress by the shore is situated in an old home that was built in 1763 A few of our favorite things: We love chocolate, coffee, and Mexican food!

image: Amy Trahant

We love giving back!: We think giving back is so important!  Each October, we donate a percentage of our bridal gown sales to The Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation in honor of our associates, family members, and brides who have been effected by breast cancer.  We also donate gowns to various charitable organizations throughout the year.  In addition, we align ourselves with designers that share our same charitable sensibility and believe in giving back to their communities and to charitable organizations that will make a difference. Accessory & Fur Rental Service: Did you know that we have a variety of new and vintage furs and statement jewelry pieces available to rent for your wedding day?

images: image: Carla Ten Eyck

Accessory Registry: We offer an accessory registry where brides can create a wishlist of accessory items and members of her family, friends, and bridesmaids can call and purchase them as gifts!   We believe in supporting local businesses and United States based designers: As a small business, we believe in supporting local businesses and designers who manufacturer in the United States. The majority of our designers, design and manufacture in the US and two of our designers are based right here in Connecticut Private Shopping Appointments: We feel that our shopping experience is very special, but for those brides who want an even more intimate and unique experience, we offer private shopping appointments. White Carpet Appointments -  Experiencing a White Carpet Appointment is experiencing luxury. Brides and their party have the boutique to themselves for a 3 hour private shopping experience accompanied by nibbles, champagne, and  bouquet in the colors of the wedding. A photographer is also on hand to capture every magical memory.

image: Tiffany Joyce

image: Abbey Scott

Bridesmaid Soirees: During a Bridesmaid Soiree, a bride and her party have 2 hours of exclusive access to chic by the shore, our bridesmaid atelier.  They enjoy nibbles, mimosas, and a 5% discount on their maids dresses. At the end of the appointment, each maid is gifted an ivory pashmina and a swag bag.

image: Steve DePino

Reinvent the Dress: With this service we allow brides to rethink , re-envision, and reinvent their dress.  Whether it is a sample gown or a family heirloom, our expert seamstress reinterprets the dress to customize and personalize it specifically for the bride! A convenient way for maids to shop: We wanted to make shopping for bridesmaids with us even more convenient and now our maids can purchase their dresses on our website!  After a bride shops with us in our bridesmaid atelier, she can create an account on our website.  She can then add all of the styles and colors that her maids will be wearing to her Wishlist as well as email a link to her bridesmaids! The maids can then log in, select the style, color and size that they will be wearing, complete our policy form, and pay! Now our brides and her maids can have the intimate experience of shopping in a specialized boutique that dedicate themselves to styling each and every party to make them unique, all with the convenience of online shopping! Style is our passion!: Owner, Beth Chapman is a stylist and she has trained our staff on the art of styling.  We don't just sell wedding gowns - we help every bride uncover their wedding day style and help to select the bridesmaid dresses, accessories and mother of the bride dresses to complete the bride's vision and compliment the aesthetic of the wedding.

Meet The White Dress by the Shore from steve depino on Vimeo.

    We can't wait to work with you!  For an appointment, ring 860.669.4596 or request one here.  

xoxo, TWD