Best of Boston Weddings 2016
Best bridesmaid dresses: Flair Boston
Fashion & Shopping
Best Accessories
BHLDN
We found true love in the gold-dipped halos and lace-trimmed veils at Anthropologie’s Chestnut Hill bridal boutique. Embellished with crystals and glass beads, the brand’s handmade belts and sashes add a dose of glam to even the simplest of white dresses, while the ethereal hair combs and flower crowns turn heads in any setting, from dainty garden party to royal affair. There’s even an on-site stylist to help brides accessorize with authority.
220 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, 617-527-3081, bhldn.com.
Best Alterations
All Fit Tailoring
Handing your dream wedding gown over for a nip-tuck is an extreme exercise in letting go. The skilled needle workers at All Fit, however, will ensure a seamless transition from your hands to theirs and back again. Manager Binh Tran gets a special shout-out for her command of the most intricate details, from antique lacework to painstakingly handsewn beading. She usually requires 14 weeks to reconstruct a gown, but can work at lightning speeds should small alterations pop up at the last minute.
168 Newbury St., Boston, 617-236-1984, allfittailoring.com.
Best Bridesmaid Dresses
Flair Boston
You found it. The dress. Now it’s your bridesmaids’ turn. Choose a frock they’ll want to wear again (really) at Flair, where owner Stacey Kraft helps bridal parties sift through rack upon colorful rack of shifts, one-shoulders, and A-lines from top designers such as Jenny Yoo, Anna Elyse, and the Dessy Group. Beloved by wedding pros, the airy studio offers top-notch service and refreshingly honest advice.
140 Newbury St., Boston, 617-247-2828, flairbridesmaid.com.
Best accessories: BHLDN; Best engagement rings: Laura Preshong
Best Engagement Rings
Laura Preshong
Goldsmith/jewelry designer Laura Preshong and her team use eco-friendly, recycled metals and conflict-free diamonds from Botswana and Canada to handcraft every ring—which translates to less impact on the environment and mining industry, and an even greater impact on your sweetheart. Choose from the store’s existing collection of sparklers, bring in your own sketch, or let the skilled jewelers transform Grandma’s gems into a new heirloom.
558 Tremont St., Boston, 617-236-7660, laurapreshong.com.
Best accessories: BHLDN; Best lingerie: La Perla
Best Lingerie
La Perla
This ultraluxe lingerie boutique’s unmentionables deserve way more than a mention. Shape-defining bustiers, classic “night of” babydolls, and racier honeymoon ensembles are displayed like works of art in the Back Bay showroom, and bridal parties enjoy VIP closed-store shopping with champagne, chocolate, and finger foods. One look at the hand-embroidered frastaglio details of the Maison collection and you’ll wish every day was your big day.
250 Boylston St., Boston, 617-423-5709, laperla.com.
Best Local Dress Designer
Candice Wu Couture
Tiered lace trains, detachable skirts, and lots and lots of sparkle: Boston School of Fashion Design alum Candice Wu’s couture gowns are positively showstopping. Browse the sea of organza and tulle in her South End studio and workspace, then let her sketch a custom design just for you. Despite Wu’s penchant for intricate lace- and beadwork, dresses take just two months to stitch—but can be passed on for generations to come.
460-C Harrison Ave., Boston, 857-272-2840, candicewucouture.com.
Best Menswear
Alton Lane
With a mounted deer head and a sleek bar stocked with craft beer and liquor, Alton Lane’s showroom has all the trappings of a man cave—if said man cave also proffered bespoke suiting with thousands of fabric and design options. Be sure to take a spin in the 3-D body scanner; it captures more than 100 measurements in 30 seconds to ensure the perfect fit.
91 Newbury St., Boston, 888-800-8616, altonlane.com.
Best Registry
Simon Pearce
Draft your wish list at the Back Bay outpost of Vermont glassblowing and ceramics specialist Simon Pearce, and watch as your dinner guests gasp, “Where did you get that?” forevermore. Unlike at the big-box stores, here you’ll find a wide selection of artisanal housewares ranging from the purely ornamental (handblown glass elephants) to the downright essential (Vermont marble cutting boards).
103 Newbury St., Boston, 617-450-8388, simonpearce.com.
Best Wedding Bands
Shreve, Crump & Low
You’re not officially married until you put a ring on it—which makes Shreve, Crump & Low, in business since 1796, one of the most important stops on the prewedding shopping circuit. Whether you’re looking for his-and-hers engravable platinum rings, a ruby eternity band, or a double row of 30 brilliant-cut diamonds to really make your engagement ring pop, you’ll find it all nestled in the shop’s gleaming cases.
39 Newbury St., Boston, 617-267-9100; 232 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, 617-969-6262; shrevecrumpandlow.com.
Best Wedding Dresses, Classic
L’élite Bridal Boutique
Saying “yes” to the most important dress you’ll ever wear is harder than it looks on TV. Thankfully, L’élite’s light-filled showroom makes the process painless, with both classic silhouettes and dramatic runway looks from such bridal-design powerhouses as Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, and Monique Lhuillier. Bonus: L’élite keeps on-site tailors and even designers on staff, should you wish to create your gown from scratch.
14 Newbury St., Boston, 617-424-1010, lelite.com.
Best Wedding Dresses, Indie
Ceremony
Owner Alix Childs’s sun-drenched Beacon Hill studio has been called the quintessential store for unique gowns. Highly regarded by industry experts for her “breathtaking feminine style,” Childs curates hard-to-find dresses from fashion-world darlings such as Lela Rose and Temperley London as well as up-and-coming designers, from Project Runwa winner Leanne Marshall to Australian dressmaker Sarah Janks. The outcome: a complete all-eyes-on-you moment.
53 River St., Boston, 857-277-1669, ceremony-boston.com.
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