Last week, Alfred Angelo abruptly shuttered all of its more than 50 nationwide locations (including the ones in Springfield, Virginia and Glen Burnie, Maryland), stopped the delivery of dresses to independent boutiques, and yanked its website as it filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. In the wake, hundreds of brides (and their ‘maids) are without wedding dresses that were paid for, ordered, and, in many cases, left inside now-vacant stores, causing sheer nuptial panic, anxiety, and—we’re guessing—a lot of tears. To help, newlyweds across the country are offering up their gowns on loan through social media, David’s Bridal has extended deep discounts to Alfred Angelo customers, and, most recently, new online retailer Floravere, has stepped up to offer 50 free sample gowns to brides left without wedding gowns.
Which gives us the perfect cue to introduce unfamiliar readers to Floravere. A relatively new online bridal retailer, Floravere offers a collection of sample gowns that can be shipped direct, so brides can then try them on in the comfort (and—hallelujah—lighting) of their own homes, return the samples (in a pre-paid box), and then request tailoring/design tweaks/full customization of their made-to-order gown, beginning at $945. To help in the midst of the Alfred Angelo debacle, Floravere is now offering 50 Alfred Angelo brides free sample dresses from the retailer’s first two collections. Beyond the first 50 sample dresses, which include the six designs pictured here, in sizes 2, 4, and 10, Floravere is offering 30 percent off any new dress to brides interested in designing their own from the current collection—with guaranteed delivery in five weeks or less.
Amy leads Washingtonian Weddings and writes Style Setters for Washingtonian. Prior to joining Washingtonian in March 2016, she was the editor of Capitol File magazine in DC and before that, editor of What’s Up? Weddings in Annapolis.
