The Bridal Secret

Monday December 3, 2012 : more

Judy is a bridal gown angel! My Mom and I had our first appointment ever to shop for a bridal gown in January of this year (2011). Our first stop, The Bridal Secret. I had never tried on a wedding gown before and was a bit apprehensive. I'm not a dress person to begin with, I'm more of a jeans and a t-shirt kind of gal. Once we arrived at the salon, Judy and her lovely staff greeted us and had us fill out a form and gave us number cards 1-5 to start shopping for dresses that I would like to try on as a starting point. Her shop is immaculate! Judy and her staff assisted us with a few of our selections, because it was hard for me to choose just 5 gowns to start with, they were all so amazing. The first 4 were beautiful, but the 5th dress was the one. I said, ""Yes to the dress"" on the 5th try, at the 1st shop we had ever been to, amazing!! I was beyond ecstatic. My Mom couldn't believe it. The dress was exactly what I had been dreaming of. My Mom and I thought the dress shopping would be the most time consuming and frustrating part of the wedding planning. From the moment I pur on that dress, Judy and I were like 2 peas in a pod! I love that lady! I had a little bit of a wedding crisis and had to bump my wedding date up 4 months, but she stayed completely calm, while I was going a mile a minute and losing my mind! I didn't think it was possible to love that dress more than I already did but every fitting I had, I grew more in love with my gown and with Judy!! She is so knowledgeable about eveything that has to do with wedding gowns and fashion. I felt so comfortable with her, that I completely put all my trust in her, and boy did it pay off. She made that gown fit like a glove, it was the most comfortable dress I have ever worn, she made it so easy for my MOH and BM to bustle me and she made me feel stunning! My wedding was in June (2011) and my Mom and I still say that the best part of the entire wedding process, besides the actual wedding day, was the day we bought the gown in January, because we had such a wonderful experience at The Bridal Secret. Not only did I leave the shop with the most incredible dress, I left with an incredible friend too.. Judy you rock! You made my wedding day perfect and I can't thank you enough for everything you did for me. more

Totally perfect! What a fun and rewarding and special experience! Judy and her staff were absolutely amazing, incredibly helpful, kind, genuine, and good listeners. She found the perfect gown for me...I feel like a million bucks but didn't have to pay that (they respected my budget and my tastes, absolutely)...I found a unique, one-of-a-kind, designer gown, without having to order it or deal with the hassles and costs of other stores. I have never written an online review before, but this was amazing and inspiring! Everyone should feel like a queen and be treated like one, and I was! A unique jewel! more

Just 2 weeks before my New Years Eve wedding last year, I was in a complete panic because I had purchased 2 wedding veils (NOT from the Bridal Secret) and hated both of them. I thought for sure I was out of time to try purchasing a third and would have to make the best of one of them. I decided to give it one last try and send a message to Judy, with my fingers crossed! Later that day she had messaged me back explaining that she thought that a calf length veil would be perfect and that she could make one for me in time for my big day! I wanted cathedral length, and wasn't sure about the calf length at first but she suggested I come in with my gown and I could try one on. So I did and she was so right! Not only did she make the veil in less than 2 weeks, she HAND DELIVERED it to me at work! I was so upset about not having the right veil, Judy totally saved the day! I wish I had known about her earlier and purchased my dress from her as well! I will refer every bride I know to her! She is a wonderful and professional business woman who really understands the needs of a bride. more

I highly recommend The Bridal Secret in Quincy to any future bride out there! more

Dear JJ123abc's, more

I liked the dresses. They had a nice selection and they were clean. But there are a lot of dress shops with nice dresses Judy has a big personality but can be brash. She will bowl you over even if you have a strong personality. I bought a dress and asked to have it shortened. When I tried it on, it wasnt short enough. I asked about it and was shot down very quickly. Despite my strong personality I could not stand up to Judy's attitude. My dress turned out to be way too long and I ended up carrying my train all evening at my wedding. I made do but was NOT pleased with myself for not pushing this issue and NOT PLEASED with Judy for not listening to me. My advice? Consider buying a dress there but definitely get the alterations done elsewhere. Once you hand over the money for alterations in advance (which is required) you have no power whatsoever. Good luck. more

I had the most wonderful experience at The Bridal Secret - From the minute I called to make the appointment Judy was so AWESOME - she is warm, welcoming and ready to get right down to business- It is amazing how she just knows what you will look good in and picks it ! I was so lucky to not only get to work with Judy , but her amazing staff Donna and Jill were there to help me along the way - The dresses are absolutely GORGEOUS - I picked out dresses with the help of my mom, aunt and mother in law to be - and then Judy came in with the ONE ! Something I would have never thought to try myself but she is the DRESS WHISPERER - It is a beautiful ballgown that is flattering to my figure - and the cost was unbelievable for the quality and style of gown - so reasonable ! - I lucked out so much by going to the Bridal Secret - it was my first and last stop and I would reccomend this store to anyone - I cant wait for my February fitting ! more

I would love to share my great experience at Bridal Secret. From the moment I walked in I was enchanted by the gorgeous gowns and the ambiance of this store. I knew I will find the gown of my dream here. Judy, the owner and her assistant Jill were very helpful and knowledgeable. They help me find the perfect dress for MY figure! All of the dresses that I tried on were beautiful, and they offered to make any custom changes to the dress until it was just perfect for me. The dresses are high quality and the prices on the gowns are AMAZING! I did my alteration there and it was just perfect. Every time I went to the salon for my fitting I was very exited and full of positive emotions for the entire day. I am very happy I purchased my gorgeous dress at Bridal Secret and would highly recommend it to all bride! Amazing dresses, and customer service!!! more

What can be a gruesome experience becomes fun and productive if you go to The Bridal Secret. The gowns are gorgeous, and the prices are fabulous. Whether you want to be a princess for a day, or you just want a rockin' party, Judy will have the gown for you. Judy's staff will help you in and out of your selected gowns, and they will do so patiently. Even though they may have seen this very scene a thousand times, they behave as though there is no where they would rather be than helping you. Judy is a sensitive, caring individual who wants every prospective bride who walks into her shop to walk out happy and excited. My daughters and I are not the easiest trio to please, but our time at Judy's shop was an experience we will all remember with great fondness. Pros: welcoming, great selection (of gowns), great prices Cons: Driving through Quincy Square, so find another route. more

I wish I could give more than 5 stars ! Pros: Beautiful gown, huge selection, very friendly sales staff more

First off, I'm an older bride with a few extra pounds on me and I was open to any style of dress and really appreciated the attention and advice that Judy and her staff (Donna) were able to give me. Judy had a great selection of dresses for my size (14 - 18) and I must have tried on a dozen before coming around again to the one I first tried on. Judy's shop is just my style. It's a small, independent shop where you're not a number. In this economy, I'd much rather give my business to a local shop. My MOH and I had a blast. Judy had great ideas for modifications to the dress I eventually bought. It could have been a stressful occasion, but we rolled out of there relaxed, laughing and with one less thing to do... find a dress. -Joan Pros: Nice shop, great staff, good selection of dresses. more

I visited this lovely shop with my two daughters this past weekend and I can only say I wish we started here looking for my engaged daughter's gown. The shop is lovely and the staff was very attentive to my daughter. The owner Judy is wonderful, patient and absolutely knows this business. Pros: wonderful girls, beautiful gowns and great customer service Cons: none I can think of ! more

I wasn't terribly impressed with The Bridal Secret. I walked over to tell her that we were going to be a few minutes late, and the staff weren't very receptive; their only response was ""well, we'll have to cut your appointment short."" Which, duh, I expected but there are much nicer and friendlier ways to say this. And shouldn't you greet people when they come in the door? I think this store is for diva brides. Not being a diva, it was not the experience for me (or the ladies that came with me that day). There was a lot of primping and priming if it looked like you liked one of the dresses, but if you are just starting out and having difficulty finding something you like, the level of attention goes way down. The whole time it felt very fake -- the kind of salesmanship where it feels like the profit is #1, not the customer. I didn't find anything I really liked, the dresses are largely the sparkly kind, and the owner basically gave up and dropped me after she figured that out (instead of maybe encouraging me to come back sometime when they have different stock?). A friend of mine who found something she liked (but wasn't ready to buy, her mother wasn't there) was told her appointment was over 15 minutes before it was actually over. It didn't really help the overall feeling that if you're not buying **today**, you're not worth the effort. I don't know if it's due to being a small store, or simply the kinds of dresses they carry, but I didn't really try that many on in comparison to other places I've been. I was surprised when I went to another store and they brought out a dozen gowns for me -- I only tried 5 at the Bridal Secret. The one good thing is that they did have good prices on mid-range designers like Maggie Sottero, so if you're looking for a decent price on those names it might be worth checking out. Pros: ok prices Cons: not many styles, a lot of pressure to buy more

The owner, Judy, is absolutely wonderful! She is efficient, honest, and knows her business extremely well. She did the alterations on my floor length bridesmaid dress, and it was a difficult and complicated alterations, but she did an amazing job on it, and gave me the best deal!! Judy is such a nice person and her store has a huge selection. I highly recommend Judy and her store for anyone looking for a great deal on wedding dresses, alterations, etc...her store is like a hidden diamond in the rough! The best on the South Shore. Pros: great location, easy to find, beautiful gowns! more

I would recommend Judy and The Bridal Secret without hesitation, unless you are a very sensitive person. Judy is very unique in that she will tell you how she feels in no uncertain terms. Thus, if she doesn't think the dress you're wearing looks good, she's going to let you know! I absolutely loved that aspect of her personality, but if you are expecting to be told that every dress you try is perfect and The One, then you shouldn't visit this store. Pros: Great, straightforward advice more

I cannot say enough about this Salon and the owner, Judy. My daughter and I visited in the Fall after we had visited a few other shops. more

There are so many positive things to say about Judy and the Bridal Secret in Quincy. Judy is the absolute best. After speaking with her on the phone, I knew she was the right person to help me find my gown. I had a terrible experience with a store on Newbury Street, and was headed to Judy's store to find a new gown. She immediately put me at ease, which was not easy to do because I was so emotional about my last experience. She listened so carefully and pulled dresses out for me, one after another.. I couldn't decide on a dress that first day, and Judy was so understanding!! I ended up going back a second time to try on more dresses, and she pulled one out that was absolutely perfect. She took such good care of me (and my mom) throughout the fittings and alterations, and the dress was perfect on the wedding day. She even sewed my mom's veil to a new comb for me at the last minute. Judy could not have been better, more personable or more understanding during a very stressful time. She offers honest opinions (she is always right), great service and a fun, friendly atmosphere. And her selection of dresses is amazing! I would highly recommend Judy and the Bridal Secret to any bride. Pros: Everything! more

I went to Bridal Secrets based on my cousins experience and success here. I am miffed to read Josies post below, you must be someone who needs their behind massaged, your post makes no sense at all ! Pros: Great gowns, great service, great store and people more

I could not disagree more with the last review. My experience at the Bridal Secret was second to none. I cannot say enough about how great Judy was in helping me choose a wedding dress. After watching me try on 3 gowns, she picked one for me to try......and I bought it! It was perfect and I cannot wait to wear it on my big day. She was so accommodating throughout the whole process from beginning to end?.which included an extra ?try-on? to calm my nerves after I had purchased the dress and a last minute alteration on my dress due to weight loss. Her boutique is very well-kept and clean. The gowns are gorgeous. I would send any bride-to-be there for the experience of a life-time! more