#Middlebury
Ballantyne Brides is tucked in the lower level corner of the Village Square Mall near the stairs to the upper level. The view through the windows shows some of the stock they offer. (Amy Reed photo)
By MARJORIE NEEDHAM
Ballantyne Brides in Middlebury offers brides savings on their wedding gowns, veils, and accessories, including hair ornaments and vintage jewelry for the bride, bridesmaids and groomsmen. It also has flower girl dresses. Brides save money there because it’s a bridal consignment shop.
Owner Amy Reed said she dreamed of opening a shop like this for a long time. “Weddings are so expensive,” she said. “This is one way for brides to save some money on the cost of their wedding.”
She said prices for the gowns in her shop generally range from $200 to $1,000, with an occasional more expensive gown. The gowns come from a variety of sources and all are no more than 4 years old. Reed describes the gowns as once-wed and never-wed. Roughly 75 percent of her stock is never-wed.
Brides sometimes purchase two gowns, use one and then sell the unused gown. Brides may sell a gown because it no longer fits, or because the wedding venue changed and the gown style no longer fit the venue. And sometimes the time of the year for the wedding changes, and the style no longer fits the time of the year.
Bridal boutiques move out their sample gowns each spring and fall as new samples come in, and Reed acquires some of their gowns. The gowns may have been tried on several times or not at all. Gowns from bridal boutiques include those by Allure and Maggie Sottero.
Gowns that have been worn are priced 50 percent off retail; never-wed gowns are priced 30 percent off retail. All flower girl dresses are priced 50 percent off retail. Reed expects to add First Communion dresses.
Find Ballantyne Brides in the Village Square mall at 530 Middlebury Road in Middlebury. Hours are Wednesday and Thursday, 12 to 7 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The shop is closed Monday and Tuesday. Private appointments can be booked for Sunday. The website is ballantynebrides.com. Call the shop at 860-946-3221.
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