Athena's Bridal

I literally went to every place in Tampa, St. Pete, Bradenton before finding a dress. It really wasn’t any of the shop’s or salesperson’s faults, it was that I couldn’t find a dress I loved with all the elements I wanted. I ended up going to Joann – who is a super sweet lady from New York – and she helped me find this dress. It was a Maggie Sottero, and my mom and I just fell in love with the classic, simple, design. I ended up getting my dress, 2 veils, a tiara, and earrings for under $1500 (holler!). I’ve heard nightmares about this place, especially with the alterations, but the alterations lady was great. She’s not overly outgoing, but I know she has trouble with English. I really liked her and I thought she did a good job. The only thing was that I was unsatisfied with was the price I paid to have my bustle snap not even halfway through the night. I thought the alterations were pricey to begin with, only to have my bustle not work for the whole night. Overall, however, I was satisfied with my experience.