Helping you find the dress of your dreams
$999 starting price
Ohio, Western PA, West Virginia
Service area
Discover your dream wedding gown at Universe Bridal & Prom, conveniently located in West Lafayette, Ohio, near major cities like Columbus, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, PA, and Charleston, WV. With over 30 years of serving brides from across the Midwest, our huge store boasts a welcoming small-town atmosphere and a friendly, laid-back vibe that thousands of satisfied customers have cherished.
Our dedicated consultants offer an honest, straightforward approach to help you find the perfect dress from our vast collection of bridal gowns, organized by style and available in all sizes, including hundreds of plus sizes up to size 34. Explore various price ranges to suit most budgets, including the exclusive Bridgerton Bridal Line from Allure Bridals.
Our wedding dresses suit a range of budgets, with layaway and build-to-order options available. Keep in mind that special-order bridal gowns may take up to 5 months to arrive, so plan ahead.
Universe is open by appointment, so call or message us to schedule your visit. At Universe Bridal and Prom, we encourage you and your guests to actively participate in the dress selection process.
In our store, you'll have the freedom to browse our extensive dress collection, choose the ones you'd like to try on, and even have assistance from your guests in the fitting room. We're here to support you every step of the way, whether it's helping you zip up, clip, or fluff the trains while trying on dresses.
Please note that if you're seeking a bridal salon where consultants select dresses for you and manage all aspects of the fitting process, that's not us. We want to ensure you have the experience you're expecting and deserve.
Woman-owned Business
+28 years in business
Speaks English
10 team members
Prices & packages
Couples usually spend $2,999
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Details
Accessories
Veils
Dresses
Bridesmaid Dresses
Flower Girl Dresses
Shower & Party Dresses
Wedding Dresses
Fashion Services
Plus Size Available
Any questions?
Availability
Reviews
4.1
out of 5.042 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
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Meg H
Highlighted review.
5.0
7/01/2020
I found and LOVE my dress from Universe!! Penny was a wonderful consultant - pleasant, knowledgeable and no pressure at all. I was able to shop all of the racks by myself, which was super helpful, as other boutiques picked only a small handful of dresses for me to try. Universe has an excellent selection of dresses for every taste and at great prices. A true hidden gem!!
Mindy B
5.0
7/05/2024
Friendly and ready to be helpful!
Any questions?
Rachelle R
1.0
7/18/2022
The manager brought my dress out, and as I opened the bag, I knew immediately it wasn’t my dress. I let her know there had been a mistake.
She explained that they ordered the wrong style. I agreed to try the dress on anyway in hopes I would love it as much as MY dress and we could make it work. That’s when I realized it was too small as well….
I was so heart broken. I paid over $2000 for a dress and waited 5 months with the expectation that they would do their part and provide the service I paid for.
I called my mother in-law to get her advice, and she asked to speak with the manager. She proceeded to argue with my mother in law and then HUNG UP on her. Then she gave me my phone and said she would only speak to me; the bride.
I called my aunt to let her know the situation, since she was the one that helped me buy the gown. Her and I agreed that I would not be buying a dress from them. We would just take our business elsewhere.
I went to the manager and asked for a refund. She told me that wasn’t possible.
I said ”so you’re telling me that I only have 2 options? When you made the mistake? I either buy a floor model for 150 off, or hope my dress comes in on time?”
She said “yes, or you can just not get a dress at all and be out $1000 dollars.” She then proceeded to tell me I was making it a “big deal”, that she bought a floor model for her wedding day. She told me that I was putting her in a bad place already because she was even willing to sell me the floor model since they don’t usually do that…
I could not believe this was real life…
A day that should have been a happy memory, quickly turned into a nightmare. I was in tears. I felt bullied into taking a used dress that I didn’t order. I just wanted the dress I paid for. The dress I felt beautiful in, to wear on my wedding day… after thinking about it, I went to tell the woman I would just take the floor model since I had to have a dress to wear.
That’s when my mom got mad…
She told the manager she was at fault and that they needed to make the situation right for the customer! We were paying a lot of money for a product they didn’t provide, and a traumatic experience!
She threw her hands in the air, walked away, and said she was “done” with us. She said we were making her look bad.
Finally, another manager came out of the back and tried to help. They eventually gave me $400 off of the used dress.
I will NEVER recommend this store to anyone! Planning a wedding is hard enough, and we all know we pay a LOT of money to hire competent people to help make the day go smoothly. I could have bought a used dress 5 months ago and saved all this drama!
People like this should not have a job in customer service.
0 ⭐️ stars.
Kelli L
5.0
4/17/2022
Great service, lots of choices, discontinued dress room with great deals available!
Mikaela B
4.0
7/30/2019
I visited the store twice in search for bridesmaids dresses. The first time I only went with my MOH and it was not crowded at all. We were able to try on tons of dresses and look through the racks easily. We found three dresses we really loved and an employee wrote down the style numbers in my file. When we came back with the rest of the bridal party it was extremely crowded and very difficult to find things. Even though we had the style numbers on file no-one was able to help us find them. All of us just went digging through the racks which took a bit of time. Luckily we had our own area to try on the dress which was super helpful. They only have 1 or 2 samples of each dress so it is tricky to get a good visual of what the dress would look like on different body types. The dresses did get in much earlier than expected which was great! Although the dresses are difficult to sort through and there are not multiple samples of one dress they have a great variety. We drove from Columbus & Cleveland and it was definitely worth the drive! We found the same dresses in downtown shops that were significantly more expensive. I would highly recommend trying to plan your shopping trip to avoid prom time because I think that is what made the store so crazy. The dresses we got were gorgeous and overall I am very happy with our experience!
Samm R
5.0
10/18/2018
So many beautiful options to choose from! It’s almost overwhelming but the staff helps you to narrow things down and are patient :) puts you in contact with very honest and professional seamstresses for alterations that can be done at the shop.
Nichole C
1.0
2/26/2018
I drove over an hour to get to this bridal store. It was one of the worst experiences in life and a very negative start to my dress journey. The staff was very unfriendly and acted as if they didn't want my business. The dress I called about was not the dress they had waiting for me. The tag and price was quoted different 2 times and the actual price when I got there was wrong too. I left with my feelings hurt that I wasn't treated as well as the other to be brides were.
Nichole C
1.0
2/26/2018
Buying a wedding dress was suppose to be a very exciting day for me. I'm disappointed that I drove over an hour for the dress that I loved just to be greeted with an unfriendly bridal rep. I decided to look past it and kept a positive attitude. I had called ahead the day before so my info. My experience was very disappointing, there was very little attention given to me and I felt as though I was not important enough to have been give. the same bubbly and happy service that was being given to others. I was advised at the beginning that I could only try on 6 gowns though I already advised the dress I came for. The tag had a different order#, the dress was not what I asked about and the price was different what I had been told previously. After about 30 min I decided to leave. My money and time are valuable and I expect t the same treatment as any other paying customer especially when I drove out o f my way to shop there. Very unfortunate
5.0
3/15/2017
Thank you ladies for a wonderful experience I had two weeks ago with my daughter looking for her prom dress. All of you were extremely helpful with great attitudes as busy as you all were. I would highly recommend your store to any and all friends. Keep up the great work.
And we said yes to the dress!! Thanks again.
Amanda W
5.0
10/12/2016
Living around an hour away it was an event to make sure everyone got there and we took care of business. we showed up just when they opened and we were always greeted with warm smiles and helping hands. I had the perfect idea in my head and just could not capture the exact look. They were there to help me and have me other options. A dress I might not have looked at ended up being THEE dress and I would have never found it if it wasn't for their expertise.
caci c
5.0
7/28/2015
Charlotte helped me find the perfect dress! Love her!!
Heather M
2.0
9/13/2014
I felt very disconnected at this shop. I am a full time worker, student and bride along with having the stress of moving across the country and having a wedding here. For this reason I am having a longer engagement and giving myself 2 years to plan. I walked into the store to try on dresses and was met by a pleasant woman so I felt excited however that quickly left. As soon as she heard that I had a long engagement instead of making me feel like a beautiful bride she constantly reminded me that dresses discontinue I am aware of that and kept reminding her that I planned on getting the dress soon and working on smaller details closer to the date. This continued the entire time I was there. When I asked if she could write down the dresses I liked so I could come back and show my mom she snipped at me about how she could put them in her system but not write them down for me. Long story short I don't care if I found the perfect dress there I would NOT buy from them and I do not recommend them for a bridal service let them stick to prom dresses.
Lindsay S
4.0
8/28/2014
We went to Universe Bride & Prom for bridesmaid dresses. I had already found my dress online, and had it with us because I wanted to look at a veil to go with it. We got there about 15 minutes before the store opened. And when it was time for them to open we went inside. We left my dress in the car, and I said something. We asked the person at the front door if it was okay if I brought it in to try on to look for a veil and maybe some accessories. The gentleman said yes. I went back out to the car and grabbed the dress, and brought it back inside. I put it on, and we walked over to the veils. My bridesmaids and I were trying to pick some out, and my then soon-to-be mother-in-law asked the sales lady for some help. She was rude, and just pointed to the veils saying that those were the ones they had. We asked her about a long bra to go under the dress. She told us she didn't have any, and then 10 minutes later we saw her grab one for another lady trying on bridal gowns. My then soon-to-be mother-in-law asked her if we upset her by bringing in the gown. She said normally they don't do that, but since the owner said it was okay she let us. We then moved along to bridesmaid dresses. We went to a different room for those. And the lady that helped us in that room was much nicer. All in all the place is huge and has a lot to offer. But if you're trying to find something to go with something you already have they might not be so kind. We ended up buying a veil, and a really pretty belt for my dress. And purchased all 3 bridesmaid dresses from them as well. They have the product. I think some people just need to work on their customer service skills.
Tracy R
5.0
6/01/2014
I found Universe Bridal online while I was searching for a purple wedding dress. After many hours of searching shady foreign websites and with mounting frustration in prices I decided to make a road trip to Universe Bridal. I was very pleased with my Universe Bridal shopping experience and it was completely worth the 2 hour drive. They had thousands of wedding dresses to choose from, 3 of which were purple! Here, I managed to find a classy purple gown that truly was a wedding dress. To make it better, it was very reasonably priced and fit perfectly (just a little long). I was also able to pick out my bridesmaids dresses at the same time. The lady helping me was very helpful and did a nice job of helping me and another customer at the same time. The store called me a couple months in advance to let me know that some of my bridesmaids had not placed their dress order. They also shipped my dress to me for a reasonable shipping fee. My only complaint is that it is sometimes difficult to get a live person on the phone, but trying a different time of day was usually enough. Very pleased with my shopping experience and highly recommend for all brides!
Stephanie B
5.0
4/24/2014
The lady who worked with me on day 1 of my wedding dress shopping was excellent! They were very busy and she had more than me that she was helping, but she did a great job to help me feel special and really look at a lot of great options. The prices were also really good, and though I didn't purchase my dress here, I did purchase one that I tried on, just at a store closer to home. Day 1 was draining, but the associate could not have wowed me more- she just kept coming back with idea after idea. She made the day enjoyable and overall successful.
emily w
5.0
3/03/2014
We decided on a very short engagement (only about 60 days) so ordering a traditional wedding dress wasn't in the timeline. Universe had hundreds (if not thousands) of dresses to choose from that could be taken home that day. This place is no frills, they don't take appointments and the same day sales are final, as is. However, if you want a straightforward experience and a great value, this fits the bill. I got to choose from a huge selection and ended up with a beautiful dress at a great price.
Victoria T
4.0
2/18/2014
My dress shopping experience had its ups and downs. After trying dresses on all day here my lady brought one out for me that I hadn't picked out. I thought it looked nice so decided to try it on. My family all cried when I came out of the dressing room! She knew exactly what would look good on my body type and went with my style. The dress was a size to big (an 8). They took my measurements and decided I was a size 6 for the dress. So it was ordered. It came in and I went to try it on... it wasn't even close to zipping. Of course the original dress I tried on was sold, so I ordered an 8. It came in and still didn't even come close to zipping and I hadn't gained any weight. So finally we ordered a size 10 and 12 just in case. Luckily the 10 fit and needed no alterations. As lucky that I started this process far far in advance so I wasn't in a rush. Keep that in mind though ;)
Kourtney R
5.0
12/10/2013
LOVE this shop! They have many styles to choose from for brides, bridal party, and prom!
I recommend going during the week though, they are pretty packed on Saturday and sunday.
There are a variety of prices.
Amy R
1.0
10/30/2013
I went Universe Bridal one year prior to my wedding to find my dress. I went on a weekday morning so they were not very busy. I had a great experience trying on dresses and then finally purchasing the perfect one. I got a decent deal and also bought a veil and a belt to accent my dress. Overall, it was a great experience and service.
Four months later, I got the call that my dress and belt had arrived. So I got my mom and bridesmaids together the next weekend to make the two hour trip to get my dress. However, it was NOT my dress. Upon arrival we waited about twenty minutes to be waited on. The clerk went to the back and got "my" dress and escorted me to a dressing room. As soon as she unzipped the dress bag three inches I said, "that is not my dress." She gave me a disbelieving look and continued to unzip the back. I restated, “that is NOT my dress..” The response I got was, “well that is the dress that was ordered for you.” After some convincing accompanied by a picture of me in my dress (and a few tears), the associate went to look for my dress. Thirty minutes later, I tracked down the associate and she told me, “the wrong dress was ordered for you and we do not know the designer or style number of your dress or how to go about finding it.” My bridesmaids, mom, and I searched through the store looking for the sample that had obviously been sold, because it was no where to be found. Then the sales associates gave my bridesmaids, mom, and I a stack of books to look through to find my dress..yes, WE had to try to find the dress. My dress was not pictured in any of the books. They were at a complete loss, and suggested that we “get creative with what we had” about a million times. I didn’t pay them a bunch of money to “be creative” with a dress that was not mine. Finally, hours later they got the log book out and starting typing in every size six until they found my dress. So that was a relief. Then we asked to see the belt, which was similar but not exact. Plus, the beading was on a satin material instead of organza like the material of my dress. We, once again, were told to “be creative”. They then assured me they could get the right dress and belt, and that we would receive compensation.
The following Monday, I called and explained the whole situation again, and they had my dress rush shipped. I also asked to talk to the manager/owner about the situation. Did not hear from anyone until Friday, which is when they called to say my dress was in and I could come get it. I asked to speak to the manager/owner again without much luck. Saturday morning I took off to get the dress. On our way, the manager finally called. She was extremely rude and disrespectful. She made comments like “we’ve jumped through a lot of hoops for you”, “we do not offer compensation and the person who told you that can pay for that out of her commission”, and “we ordered you multiple belts to try to make you feel warm and fuzzy”. She also told us she would be there when we arrived, but she was not. Luckily the dress was right. The belt still was not. I took it anyways to avoid going back, driving two hours one way, and mainly dealing with them. We had paid in full when ordering the items.
Not all of the associates were hard to deal with (some were actually very pleasant), but the ones that were not very polite made the whole experience awful. I know mistakes happen, but the way this was handle was not impressive.
Jacquelyn B
4.0
8/29/2013
Universe Bridal is located in Coschocton, Ohio. Although kind of a drive from Columbus, I highly recommend! The prices are great and so is the selection! Found my dress during my first trip! There is a winery across the street too, so you and your ladies can go there afterwards for a little celebration!
Candace F
5.0
7/24/2013
Everything went perfect when it came to purchasing the dress from The Universe. The selection is more than any other store I have seen. The staff was by to ask questions but did not intrude. We ordered my dress and it arrived 9 weeks later, perfect fit. Absolutely no alterations needed. My experience was just like say yes to the dress!
Nicole L
4.0
7/01/2013
I got a beautiful dress from the sales room. I had it altered and it turned out perfect.
Tanisha M
4.0
6/25/2013
They have great prices and tons of dresses to choose from. Friendly and helpful service
Amelia H
4.0
6/10/2013
Nothing but good things. I loved this place. The first dress I tried on was the one I purchased. I actually like the hands off approach they have there. I don't really like sales people down my throat all the time. The only hiccup we had was trying to pay I think our second payment the phone kept going to voicemail or no one would pick up so my mom finally sent a check and I had to send an email explaining the issue. But other than that I had a great experience with Universe Bridal and Prom.
Sarah B
3.0
6/05/2013
I went here on a recommendation from a friend who said they had tons of designer gowns super cheap. While they did have tons of gowns, I didn't really find them to be much cheaper than David's Bridal. They have 40 fitting rooms (small ones with curtains for doors) but only a few platforms to stand in front of the mirror. The girl that helped me was really nice, and heavyset like myself, so she was able to understand my wants/needs. Their prices on veils and tiaras is pretty ridiculous, I ended up buying my veil on ebay for $30 and it was perfect. The issues I had with this place was that it was an hour and a half away, they can order the dress, but it won't come to your exact measurements. They measure you and pick a size according to your largest measurement basically. They also do not do alterations. Now because I bought my dress there, my bridesmaids could buy their dresses there for I think 20-30% off, which I thought would be great. However, their selection is pretty limited and I actually found their bridesmaids dresses to be more expensive than some other places (after they had already been ordered of course). So they pick bridesmaids sizes the same way as the bridal gown....which did not work out very well. One of my girls actually ended up not being able to zip her dress at all, thank God I had found a wonderful seamstress! Right after we ordered, my MOH found out she was pregnant, so she had to call and order a larger size, which they charged her a fee for and she said the man she talked to a few times was very rude. In all, I'm not sure the savings is worth the trouble.
Melissa L
5.0
7/25/2012
The employess were kind and suggested THE dress!
Rebekah S
5.0
12/01/2011
So I made this trip about 7 times. Each time was with my mom and one of my bridesmaids, Sarah. I had a ballpark idea of what I wanted. Something fitted but flattering through the torso, but then a huge princess ball gown - just like Cinderella. I bade to have lace and strapless. Those were a must! I looked through all the discontinued racks about 4 times because of the unbelievable deals. I found a white gown that was strapless and could easily be made with a corset back. I decided on that one. But my mother was rummaging through the racks and picked out one that I had picked out on EVERY trip but always discarded because of the sheer lace "turtle neck" neck line. My mom begged me to try it on. And with a simple tool of the neck line... I fell in love. It was what I had wanted from the beginning. No, it wasn't a Cinderella dress, but it was MY dress. It was adorned with lace appliqués along the bodice and the whole train. A chiffon overlay gave it the dreamy flow, and the corset sealed the deal. I give dull credit to my mom. Without her I would have been settling for something less than perfect. And Universe Bridal gave us the deal of the century. $300 for my dress. And it was PERFECT.
Emily P
5.0
10/25/2011
This is such a unique shop!!! It is attached to a small, 50's style diner, and it is really kitschy (if you like that kind of thing, this is the place for you!) The women running the shop (even though they were insanely busy with homecoming approaching) took the time to help me pick out dresses, find my size- it was a true full service salon without the high pressure sales of places such as David's Bridal...
The dress I bought was a floor sample- and had a few imperfections- but they came clean when the dress was cleaned, and I bought a $5000 for less than $500. :) Can't complain about that!
Allison A
4.0
9/20/2011
I found the exact dress I was looking for. They have a wide selection and as long as you do not go during prom season, they have enough dressing rooms and staff to help you.
Kasi R
4.0
9/08/2011
I found the most amazing gown for a least 1/2 of what I would have paid for it in Columbus.
Abbie B
4.0
8/23/2011
I bought my dress from Universe Bride and fell in love with it immediately. The staff at this store were very nice, however the first time they ordered my dress it came in with no train so it had to be re-ordered. Luckily, I had plenty of time. That is the only bad thing I have against them, I adored my dress!
Bridget R
5.0
8/14/2011
It was around the 3rd dress I tried on, and I absolutely fell in love with it. The workers were helpful, but didn't stand over you the whole time bugging you. Was definitely great value, and my dress only took around 2 months to come in!
Heather
5.0
8/07/2011
Universe Bride made my dream come true. They had every type of dress possible from european trumpet to antique lace, and princess ball gown. They helped me find that perfect dress that not only fit me perfectly, but fit my personality perfectly as well. My husband thought I was the most beautiful ever and I have Universe Bride to thank for that.
Amanda M
5.0
3/22/2011
If you're looking for a posh experience where you get pampered by a consultant, then Universe Brides isn't for you. But, if you want to try on a LOT of dresses and get a good deal, check them out! They let you look through all the racks yourself and try on the dresses without a salesperson, so there's no pressure and you can try on a lot more dresses than in a typical appointment. I got through about 25 dresses in 3 hours, and found the perfect dress! And it came in way ahead of schedule, with great service!
Darci U
5.0
11/13/2010
Universe has a very vast expansion of dresses and options for people of all budgets, time lines and sizes. The workers work hard to make sure that you look your best on the day of your wedding. They are very friendly and remember your face, your dress, your wedding date, they are great!
Amy S
3.0
10/23/2010
I got my dress on the first visit. The consultant I worked with was amazing! She was able to make recommendations and was very attentive. I was told my dress would be ready in April. Mid-April I called to check and they said end of May. When I went back to get my dress and look for bridesmaids dresses, the service was LOUSY (and I found out the woman that sold me the dress no longer woked there)! It was prom season, they wouldn't give us a dressing room and we couldn't even get someone to help us. Had that been my first visit I never would have bought my dress there.
The sizing was wrong on one of the bridesmaids dresses and we had to re-order the flowergirl dress because it was stitched wrong.
Courtenay G
5.0
10/19/2010
My wife visited Universe Bridal at the advice of one of her good friends because she had purchased her wedding dress there and found the staff to be wonderful and the selection of dresses to be impressive. My wife went with her mother and sister and had the same kind of experience and praised the shop for having staff that appreciated her wanting to look and try different dresses and not constantly have someone on her at all times. I went with her to pick it up and found everything I'd heard to be true too.
The dress that she found and purchased is beautiful and we both agree that the experience was better than any other bridal shop.
Leslie F
5.0
10/14/2010
Universe was wonderful! Great selection with great prices! The staff is spectacular! Ask for Charolette!
STEFANIE C
4.0
10/11/2010
Universe had a great selection of dresses, unlike most of the dress shops in Columbus Ohio. They carry every designer you can think of and can order any dress for you to try even if they don't have it. They have the best bridal consultants. They were never pushy, like most of the consultants we came across were and always offered an honest opinion. My only complaint is that I ended up ordering a dress that was too small. We made it work in the end, but they should have told me I needed the next size up instead of letting me decide. They also have the best prices. I dress I bought was $400 more at a shop near my home in Columbus. The local shop couldn't even match the price!
Leslie C
4.0
9/24/2010
I had found my dress at another bridal store, but was able to buy my dress from Universe at a more affordable price. They even borrowed a dress from another store, so I could see and try it on in the color (ivory) that I wanted. I ended up ordering the dress that day! This place can pretty much order any dress at a better price. I also ordered my bridesmaids' dresses here as well. Everything ordered came in at a timely fashion (about 3 months), and all the correct sizes.
Ashley P
5.0
9/20/2010
My experience at Universe was sooo much fun. They had a ton of different dresses to choose from. It didn't take long at all to find exactly what I was looking for. The staff is so friendly and eager to help!
Heather M
3.0
5/10/2010
Prices were great. Ask for Charlotte - she is the best salesperson. She helped us with getting a replacement bridesmaid dress for one that came in defective.;Location was in the middle of nowhere. Customer service by the younger girls working there was horrible.
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