White Swan Bridal Boutique

the dress will look on to get a better idea rather than just seeing the dress on a rack! They helped me find all the dresses in stock that fit in the vision I was looking for. The dress I fell in love with was one I had to buy off the rack because ordering took over a year for that company unfortunately. The dress had not been in stock long, so there were no flaws, except that it was a size 10 and I was a size ~2. You would never be able to tell that after the alterations! They did amazing taking the dress down to my size and making all the small changes I wanted to make my dress absolutely perfect. I also purchased my veil there, which was a custom creation by the owner. It was gorgeous!! Highly recommend!!

ng different styles, they told me they had the perfect dress, and it was indeed perfect! They were also so great about matching my limited budget, and they added a lace jacket to my strapless dress within a couple of days. I cannot thank the staff and the owner enough for being fun and accommodating!

g through a rack.

e was so knowledgeable of all her inventory as well as the designers themselves. My alterations (that I got done there) were absolutely perfect! I felt so taken care of there. Highly recommend this place to any Northern Virginia bride!

ly give this one a pass when looking for your dress, not a happy place.

ke. Megan was incredible, really listened to me and made me feel comfortable. I have heard some reviews that the owner isn't "nice" but I think it's just a cultural thing. She was so helpful and willing to help with my budget restrictions.

counts. I ended up finding a beautiful dress that was absolutely prefect and about 60% of the original cost!

d a bit during my fittings and looking for accessories, I felt like they became very pushy. Their prices were a little high, but worth it for the designs that they carry.

rs prior, so perhaps my experience was just a fluke. My mother, sister and I were a little taken aback as to how curt and generally unfriendly the sales people were. It was almost as if we had inconvenienced them by walking in the door. It seemed like there were some beautiful dresses on display, but the ones I most wanted to try on were in use by someone else at the time and it was so unpleasant we decided to leave instead of waiting. The ones I did try on felt a little scratchy and overpriced for what it was. There might be a gem in there, but I suggest you look elsewhere.

e silhouette. And she did! I had a tight budget, and they worked to keep the dress and alterations within that budget, they listened to all my nit-picky edits to the dress during my 7 (or so) fittings. In the end, the delivered my DREAM dress and within my budget! I would absolutely recommend WSB to every bride. Find something you like and they can make it your dream. They know how important this day is for brides and they will take care in their work to make you feel beautiful on your wedding day.

e... don't leave anything on the table. Here are my tips: 1. White Swan has a fabulous selection of dresses, lots of price ranges, and all the dresses are on mannequins, which makes it very easy to see the dress and decide if you want to try it on. Also, once the sales staff gets an idea of your style, they will bring you more dresses to try on. I found this very helpful. 2. They tell you that you can alter you the dress anyway you want. Want it made strapless? They can do it. Want the back lower? They can do it? Want neckline changed? They can do it. This seems like a great idea to a bride who has a vision but I do NOT recommend altering the dress. First of all, a professional designer made it that way for a reason. I made the mistake of making the back of my dress more illusion lace, what I didn't account for is that without any stronger material to hold the dress up, it bulged on the sides. I heard two other brides in the store during my fitting, who had made custom alterations, complaining about how the dress didn't fit the same and the response from the staff was, "Well, you customized it and fundamentally changed the dress." 3. The owner claims the dresses are slightly more expensive than what you would find online but that's because it includes all of your alterations. This is not true. Make sure you get the following items included in the price: hemming, bustle (these run $150 to $350 extra), ANY size changes. 4. My wedding was in September so I bought my dress in January. After I selected the dress, the staff told me to put my clothes back on and then they would measure me. I was wearing a bulky winter sweater and asked if I should take it off. They said no, they're professionals, they know how to measure. Well, surprise, surprise, my dress was 2 sizes too big when it came in. They tried to tell me I had lost weight and it would be an extra $100 to alter the dress. I said no way! First of all, I hadn't lost any weight and secondly they measured me (very loosely) in a bulky sweater and then in June they pull the measuring tape tightly around my t-shirt and try to tell me I'm so skinny and lost two sizes (aka inches). I wasn't happy. 5. My best friend also bought her dress from this shop and she didn't yet have the shoes she was planning to wear with the dress. But she told the staff that she would definitely be wearing flats. When her dress arrived it was 4 inches too long and the staff told her they made a note in her file that she was wearing 4" heels with the dress and they charged her extra for the hemming and for her bustle. Overall, great selection of dresses, just be prepared to ask all the right questions and get everything in writing.

The dresses weren't that impressive and the ones on sale had major damages! Many of the sales dresses were dirty, and the manager said she would clean them, but for an added fee. I recommend staying away from this shop, but if you do go, thoroughly inspect anything you buy from here!

able to find anywhere. It is a Sophia Tolli sheath gown. I tried on the dress and was not sold--as I am about to take it off and leave the owner comes up to me and pulls the dress tight to be fitted as it would be in her words once it was my size. I liked the way it looked and she told me since I was the first person to buy the dress she would give me a discount and personalize the dress to be so I would not have to pay for or get alterations. On my order form the size says "custom" and she sketched the gown exactly as the designer has the gown pictured (moncheribridals.com/brow…) and she told me it would be custom fit to my body when it came in 6 months later. When the dress came in it was MUCH too large for me. No one was available to help me even though I made an appointment. I could fit both my arms inside the dress folded against my chest and held down by my hips--it was almost comical. I left without receiving any help. I returned--showed the seamstress the sketch they gave me and the photo on the designer's website that they also gave me and told her the dress needs to fit like that. Herself and the owner scolded me saying that I was trying to change the nature of the dress and that it would cost upwards of 950$ to get the dress to be "fitted" because it is not supposed to be a fitted gown. They then redid my measurements and had a 1/2" change in my hips and said it was only so big because I lost weight. Then the owner told me "all you brides come in here and expect to look like the model but you are not a model". After arguing for a while they eventually conceded to giving me the alterations for only $250 because I still "lost so much weight". The owner pinned the dress for me. They had to cut new armholes in the all lace gown because they ordered it so large!! While she was pinning the dress she pricked herself and bled all over the right breast area and a few spots on the right hip. Had to go back twice before they even attempted to remove the blood and then it all wouldn't come out. Dress was supposed to be one smooth layer of lace and they just folded the lace over and sewed it up sloppy everywhere. Bunched up and messy. Beads were ripped off. Dress looked shredded up close. In conclusion, they lied to me and told me I would get a custom gown when they just plainly ordered a dress much too large for me, after researching I found they charged $700 more dollars for the dress than 2 other boutiques in the area, they charged me $250 for alterations because my hips changed 1/2" although the dress was reduced in size several inches on every side from shoulder to knee, they were rude and did not seem to even honor their "appointments". I would beg any bride I know not go here even if this is the only boutique with the dress you want. It isn't worth the pain and suffering. I'm not sure where the good reviews are coming from because I saw at least 2 other brides there on my visits that were crying over their alteration issues. A couple of the girls were nice but the seamstress and owner have some serious attitude and are so rude to their customers. I'm SHOCKED that there is a single good review...really. The Knot and Wedding Wire and everyone needs to beware of this shop.

ach time I tried them on. I am not very good at making decisions on my own, but she really helped me eliminate dresses and choose the dress of my dreams. They were great with alterations and steaming the dress before the big day! They have a wonderful selection, and it is very convenient, because a lot of their dresses are on manicans, which makes them easy to see.

riendly, engaging, and understood NOT to put me in a dress over my budget. The great thing about this bridal salon is that many of their dresses are on mannequins so you can see them in natural light, feel the fabric and observe the silhouette. They also have a collection of discounted dresses on their second floor. They handled all my questions professionally and honestly from possible alterations, to timeline of fittings, cleaning, structure of the dresses, fabric, etc. I put 'intimate' in my review title because every time I went there it was me and another bride - the shop only has (2) mirrors. They make sure that your time with them is YOUR time, and no one else's. It creates a relationship with your consultant.

ses in any price" and essentially hung up on me. Yet I still ignored that warning sign and made an appointment. When I walked into the store, the consultant, a young woman around 25, was not very welcoming. At other stores I had been to, they had you sit down, fill out a form about yourself, and asked you what kind of things you were looking for. Instead, we stood in the middle of the store while she awkwardly grilled me on my preferences; it was just uncomfortable. When she asked a price I was trying to stay under, I said around $1000, and she said that the dresses in there START at $1500. She suggested I look at their sample sale instead. I told her that I had called and specifically asked about price before driving all the way over (it was not close). She insisted that they must have been referring to the sample sale. If someone asks if you have dresses in a price range, they do NOT necessarily mean they want a dress that someone else has worn! If you don't sell them, you don't sell them! Then she (and the owner/manager who decided to butt in) started arguing with me about the definition of "sample sale" saying that some were new/not tried on yet. They pressured me into looking around at the cheaper dresses. I felt like they were trying to push me into something I didn't want to do, so I politely said the price was too high and I would leave. And to top it off, the consultant suggested that I go to David's Bridal instead, because they have $300 dresses. Just because someone doesn't want to spend $2000+ doesn't mean they only have $300! I was so insulted and felt like they were judging me for not having enough money to be in their store. Instead I bought a gorgeous dress from Alfred Angelo (Springfield VA) for $1050 where the people were NICE! This store might be a good match for some people, but definitely not if you have a budget!

ems a little unlikely. Two things are true: the gowns are displayed nicely and the owner is pushy and rude. I ordered a bridal gown in a color (champagne). It was one of the options the manufacturer offered for my dress. I was assured that the dress would be made custom-tailored to my measurements. It certainly wasn't. It was huge! The bodice was adjusted multiple times. The length was adjusted multiple times. I was told I needed to wear even more layers underneath it (not true, ladies!) (I actually wore my bridal undergarments and shoes to each fitting to ensure no variation there) The dress came with a size tag on it. I highly doubt it was actually custom made. Also, the fabric had an odd sheen to it; it seemed much cheaper and rather "crunchy" - like fabric one would use for decorating, not for making a dress. I'm actually not sure that the dress was even really from the designer or a knock-off. The owner was pushy, and even though she assured me when I ordered the dress that it would be tailored to my specifications, it took multiple trips to accomplish this. The seamstress eventually told me that I just didn't want to pay for the dress!!!! I couldn't believe it. The dress had already been paid for- at that point, the money was hardly an issue. Leaving with the dress I ordered was! I ended up with the dress - it will always be a somewhat bittersweet event. But, I will not recommend this shop, and I made sure that my bridesmaid's dresses came from elsewhere!

d to have a a beautiful dress that I fell in love with that I was able to afford because of the sale, and was fortunately in my size! The whole team was professional and helpful every step of the way. The alterations turned out beautifully and I was able to buy a custom made veil that matched the lace on my dress which really brought everything together in a way that I could have only dreamed of. The only thing I would mention is that I didn't realize exactly how high the cost would climb with alterations. Having never bought a wedding dress before we didn't know how to ask good questions about how much alterations would eventually cost. While everything worked out, make sure to budget a solid $400-500 just for alterations.

, it was perfect. They were able to sew on a belt. As an added bonus, my dress was on clearance. I couldn't have been happier!

th dresses starting at about $300-400! They will do any alterations on site and they will put rush a rush on it if needed. Very attentive and friendly staff. They did everything I asked them for and the result surpassed my expectations. I could not ask for better service and quality for a very reasonable price! I would recommend White Swan boutique to all my friends!

rtain style that I had been looking at in magazines and online. ONE THING THAT REALLY STANDS OUT ABOUT THIS SHOP IS THAT THEY HAVE TONS OF DRESSES ON DISPLAY ON MANIKINS so you can actually see how the dresses fall when on a body, instead of digging through hangers and hangers of dresses. This was a big help. I ended up trying on the style I THOUGHT I was going to get, and didn't like the style at all! I loved a different kind, that was way more 'me.' So keep an open mind! I ended up finding mine on the sale rack, too! Then I ordered beautiful, beaded cap-sleeves from White Swan. They also have veils, which I bought there, and beautiful (but very expensive) hair pieces, which I also bought there because I fell in love with one. IT WAS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL STATEMENT PIECE IN THE PHOTOS, I would definitely recommend considering them. After the wedding, I got my dress cleaned by them, and packaged in a big, beautiful box that will help it stay beautiful over the years. There are large mirrors where you could group together with your wedding party if you'd like to, or you can just go on your own. The women working there were SO very sweet and helpful. We ended up leaving with hugs!

to. We walked into the store about 45 minutes before it was to close, and the shop manager (I assume) expressed her excitement that we were there. She said the previous appointment had cancelled, so we were welcome to take a look around while she get a consultant to help us. My mom and I walked around and found the layout chaotic. The dresses were on mannequins on the first floor, but were hard to see because they were so closing jammed together. There were bridal parties blocking the walkway, and it was near impossible to look at the dresses. My mom and I went to the second floor and all of the dresses were crammed on racks throughout the floor. A young consultant came up to us and seemed annoyed that we were there. Since the store was going to close in 20 minutes, she was clearly checked out. After expressing her annoyance that I wanted to try on a dress, she gave a huge huff and grabbed the dress I was interested in. She then took me to a small closet with a curtain, put the dress on the hanger hook in the closet, and walked out saying if I need help with the dress to let her know. Gee, thanks. I tried the dress on without her help, and ended up not liking it. I didn't feel comfortable trying on another dress, so I left. All they had to do was tell me to schedule an appointment to try on dresses - I completely understand that. If they didn't want to help me, they shouldn't have tried. It seems that the shop manager isn't in tune with her consultants, and the shop in general seems uncared for.

ids joined me), and Marie greeted us as soon as I walked in. She was lovely to work with, not pushy, very honest about the costs of everything, and let me try on the dresses at the pace that I wanted to. I ended up buying a custom gown by the owner of the shop, Milla, and I am so pleased I went that route. I originally came in for one dress I knew they had by another, well known designer, and after putting it on, I went in a completely different direction (as so many brides do). White Swan made me feel like family, and I am so happy I worked with them.

liked and completely recreate the top of another dress that I loved. In the end they created my dream dress and worked hard to make in within my budget. They were not pushy and made sure I was fully aware of prices before trying things on to abate a fear I had of falling in love with something outside of my price range. Overall, a wonderful experience!

the regular retail price because it was a display. The staff is very knowledgeable and did great alterations for a reasonable price.

nother gown, I would no hesitate and go straight there!

e in for fittings (or just to try on shoes). Most of all, they were really nice people. (That was not true of some of the other shops we went to.) I didn't buy one of the dresses that needed to be ordered but I love the way they display them all on mannequins for you to see too.

n someone else.

love that their dresses are custom made to fit YOUR body, so the dress is made just for you. When it came time for the final alterations, they were patient and kind (I needed three alterations within two weeks of the wedding). I recommend White Swan to EVERY bride. It's expensive, but worth every penny!

only. They happily accepted and the shop owner's suggestions of fixes to be made were excellent. It fit 1000 times better when I tried it on for the first time after the first alterations. They were even able to correct an uneven shortening of the dress that the seamstresses in the shop I bought it from in Spain had made. From the bodice to the bustle, everything was lovely and stayed where it should have all night. I got a little nervous 1 week before the wedding because I hadn't heard if the dress was ready or not, but I called and everything was fine for it to be picked up. I loved my dress and am so thankful that White Swan was able to make it look so good on me!

y after work and had two consultants at our disposal as we worked our way through their very large selection of sample gowns. When I found the one I loved (two sizes too small!) they assured me they could make it fit like it was made for me and they weren't kidding. I had two subsequent fittings just to get all the details right and in the end it was fit perfectly! If you read other reviews, people complain about the owner being too harsh or aggressive. I guess I could see how people might perceive her that way. She's straightforward and to the point and she'll tell you if she thinks something won't look right. That might rub some people the wrong way, but I really appreciated it. She's been doing this for years and that experience made me feel like I'd get the dress I wanted in the end and I did.

ety of price ranges. I liked the fact that the dresses were on manaquins which made it easier to see the selections. You are actually asked to look at all there dresses. Some places I went to I wasnt able to; at one store i was asked to sit and describe my ideal dress as they pulled options with me never looking at what they had. At another they were very snobby about price ranges while this place was not. Nor did the ladies push me to find or decide right away. I went passed the time allotted. I liked the fact the dress was ordered to fit me exactly. I didn't have to pay any extra in alterations (there is a disclaimer that you will have to pay if you gain or loose more than one dress size). The One issue I had was when the dress came in I was forced to pay a 100 extra (it was higher but I negotiated it down) because I added a sweetheart neckline. It wasn't the price that bothered me but the fact I wasnt told when I ordered the dress and asked for the sweetheart neckline that it would be extra. Nor was it in my contract. If you find a head piece or veil you like there, buy it when you buy the dress. They gave me 50% off by doing so. At fittings that my parents didn't attend, I didn't feel like their main priority which bothered me. My bridesmaids who went with me were put off a little by this. Overall I would definitely recommend this stote especially if you find your dream dress.

well organized. Only issue was my dress hadn't been cleaned on the date that I was given to pick it up, so I had to wait around for over 30 mins until it was done.

made an appointment and felt that i could take as much time as i wanted and try on as many dresses as it took. When i finally selected my dress they were very excited. White Swan is also great because many of their dresses are custom fitted to your body - so they take your measurements and then the dress is made for your form. No ordering a a huge size if you have a big chest or hips and then need significant alterations. Because of the custom order, only minimal alterations are needed after, AND all alterations are included - which can turn into a HUGE cost savings depending on your body type! I am busty and didn't want a strapless dress. Of course that is what i ended up selecting, but they assured me they could add on removable straps if needed. They did! They matched the material perfectly and unless you knew it was originally strapless, you couldn't tell. They are pricier than a David's Bridal or Alfred Angelo, but nowhere near the cost of some of the other local boutiques. So i'd say they are affordable to slightly pricey. I couldn't be happier with my dress, the customer service and their friendly demeanor. It was worth the slightly extra expense. I highly recommend White Swan!

bought my dress, veil, hair piece, and mermaid underskirt from White Swan. A tip for a bride to be: Remember to factor in everything you will be wearing on your big day in your budget.

s to try and work with the younger employees as much as possible.

ed their advice on some of the modifications I wanted made to the dress (remove the train, take out layers of crinoline). You can't put back what you cut off! However, they missed the mark a bit even after my second fitting. The dress was still a little large on me (tough problem I know) and they insisted that's how it should look. It needed to be taken in about another 4 inches and it would have been perfect. The flip side, it wasn't strapless, so didn't fall down and I was comfortable. The dress was just too big on me, and it shows in several of the photos.

boning added, we took out the pockets, added a bustle and a few other odds and ends. It transformed a beautiful dress into a gorgeous, put together wedding dress that accented my best features. Am a big fan. You will not be disappointed.

owner was very nice to rush it to bring it to VA but I think she overcharged me by a lot, I later saw the dress in a website for $600 less (not including the rush fee which I paid on top of that)

ting a very good price on my dress and it fit perfectly since it was ordered to my custom measurements (which was perfect since I'm really tiny and would have needed hundreds of dollars in alterations had I bought a predetermined size elsewhere). The dresses being on mannequins is helpful.

ntelligent and "above the call of duty, helpful". Mila, the store owner is wise and wonderful. She will find the perfect dress for any occasion. My daughter was very particular and undecided on what she was looking for before visiting White Swan Bridal. She had been too many shops in the D.C. area but without luck. I live 6 hours away so getting to visit the local shops with my daughter was limited to 3 shops. The 3 shops we visited had dresses that were either over priced or had limited selection and staff was unattentive. The dresses that my daughter and I found at White Swan are beautiful and will compliment her perfect day, her wedding! We love you and your shop Mila!

k there know what looks good on you. They are very friendly and eager to help. I found many amazing dresses there and bought one for my BIG day. I absolutely loved it! Everyone complimented on the dress. I would recommend this place. However, you should make sure what is included in the price of the gown! I had an issue with the cost of the alteration. The owner told me that alteration was included in the price of the gown. So, I didn't pay attention to the contract. Then, when I came back to try my gown on after the alteration, the hemming and the top bra area were not done. She told me that the hemming and the bra area alteration would cost me extra. Go figure. It left me a bitter taste in my mouth. In addition, the owner will try to sell you all the accessories as well. The prices are a little on the higher end.

an hourglass shape and to make my waist look really tiny. Also, I loved how the salon has all of their gowns on mannequins and not in bags so you can see how they look on a body. I highly recommend this salon! Thank you again!!!

them to shave a couple hundred off just by being polite. I busted my dress budget by $300, but it fit perfectly and was beautiful and it was "the one," so I have no regrets.

this shop to any bride in the Norther VA/DC area.

lities. My dress was beautiful and every alteration I wanted was done, and done quickly. Not only that, but alterations were included in the price of the dress. Overall, I'm really happy I chose White Swan.

e done, it was pricey and the owner was a bit pushy, but overall good experience and great results.

s with me. My dress was a casa blanca and was over the top beautiful. All the dress are reasonably priced and they also have a in house seamstress that alters your dress for you if needed.

. Excellent seamstresses, and kind, understanding owner.

e sales rack was crucial. She persuaded me to try a dress that turned out to be perfect AND within my budget (unlike some other dresses I was checking out). The alterations are somewhat pricey, but Mila (the owner) gave me a discount. After the first alteration the dress was too tight, but that was resolved very quickly. Mila also recommended a beautiful veil, which matched the dress wonderfully. The salon isn't all warm & fuzzy, or uppety for that matter - but really down to earth and with a good selection of dresses. It worked out great for me!

d was able to turn it around in just 10 days. While they really did make the gown look as great as possible, I only give them 4 stars on value because my bride spent about twice her budget.

th a woman who ultimately found my dress and was not afraid to help me accent my best attributes... and let me know what looked bad. This boutique includes alterations with the cost of your dress, a real bargain. My dress arrived earlier than expected, fit like a glove, and was safe in the boutique until we could pick it up. Highly recommended for a great experience and superb customer service.

my mom and my MIL, and Anna was so patient with all of us asking questions and having different ideas! The dresses are beautifully displayed on mannequin busts, which made it so much easier to acually see the lines and details of the dress. I was able to try on everything that I even remotely liked until I narrowed it down to a few finalists. Anna helped me the entire time and made me feel like I was the only bride-to-be in the busy store. There was no pressure to buy, the only focus was making sure I found the dress that made me happiest. I still kept my second appt at another shop, and was blown away at the difference in service and product display at the second store. We left before our appt was over, and rushed back to White Swan to purchase the dream dress that Anna helped me find! There are dresses in every budget and style, jewelry, shoes, hair pieces and vails, bridesmaid dresses, MOB and MOG dresses, and alterations...it's a one stop shop!!

r custom measurement so you aren't stuck in pricey alterations for months, AND all dresses include alterations in the base price, which is unheard of elsewhere. (The dress I purchased was $600 less here than the exact same dress at a different store, BEFORE alterations). My favorite thing about this salon is that all of the sample gowns on the main floor are on mannequins, not stuffed into bags. It is much easier to see what a dress looks like on a human shape, and it really helps you in the process of finding something you like. The young lady who helped me brought me a dress I wouldn't necessarily have picked out on my own, and when I tried it on, I knew I'd found my dress. They were also great about making sure I came in for fittings on time, and they helped me find a beautiful veil that I also loved. This shop should definitely be on your list of stops as you shop for your wedding dress.

alter my dress and they were very nice and helpful. They were truly committed to getting your dress just how you want it and were very nice and accomodating.

s associate working with us was very helpful and patient. I ended up buying my dress there on clearance, but did take it elsewhere for alterations since their alterations are extremely expensive.

was exactly what I envisioned in both fit and style. You made the experience of realizing my custom design a delightful and effortless one. I will never forget how helpful and patient you were. White Swan is not only a very professionally run bridal boutique, but Mila, Anna, and their staff are very caring, dear ladies who really listen to your heart’s desire. It was the gown of my dreams, for our intimate wedding in Colonial Williamsburg. I received many compliments on my lovely dress, throughout the day. The style of the gown coordinated beautifully with the surroundings and made the look of the whole event that much more special. Thank you for everything you did to make our wedding day so pleasurable and beautiful. I will highly recommend your boutique to everyone I know who is planning a wedding. Thank you again for a most enjoyable experience: one that I will never forget. Jill N

rough racks and racks of squished-in gowns), there's an odd vibe. The saleslady lurked outside the dressing cubicle, which was like a Macy's dressing room with grungy floors and horrible lighting. They played house/techno music, which I guess speaks to a certain clientele! The one thing I said to my mom as we were there is: if ever I have a friend who needs to buy a dress and take it home THAT day, this is the place to go. Their upstairs (at least in the spring of 2011) was all sale/clearance, organized by size. The gowns weren't the best quality, but on par with David's. It's nice to have more than one option when you're buying in a (relative) hurry.

w the shop displayed the dresses on mannequins.