Minervas Bridal

I am so happy I came here and decided to ignore some of the bad reviews for this place. There are a LOT of gorgeous dresses here! I am shopping for a wedding dress on a budget of about $ 1000 and I was able to find some stunning dresses that fit my price point and are even designer! Their sale rack is great! I was fortunate to have an appointment with Pilar who is the fashion director here. Highly recommend her! She is just a very fabulous woman and definitely knows her wedding dress stuff! She will steer you in the right direction if you are kind of unsure what you are looking for.
P. S. Ladies– MAKE AN APPOINTMENT! Duh! It’s common sense. You can’t expect to get exceptional service by just walking in a place like this. You need to call ahead and reserve a time. Will make your visit that much more special!

This place has a lot of dresses but to be quite frank I don’t think they carry many high quality gowns.
To give some background, I went here after going to a boutique in Miami (Opera D’arte). The Miami boutique advertised higher prices so I didn’t think I would find something there. But every single dress in that boutique was stunning. So much so that of course I fell in love with one over my price range. The owners were so nice and their customer service so great that they were willing to work with me to get the dress I loved in the price range I could manage ($ 2,000). If your interested you go can to my Opera D’arte review for more detail.
I went to Minerva after Opera D’arte because Minerva advertised reasonable prices and a large selection. I was pretty disappointed. All of the dresses looked like they had been tried on to excess some plain looked dirty. The lace looked like table cloth and was itchy. I gave the store three stars because the sales woman was very nice and there were a lot of dresses.

My sister found her wedding dress here. I wasn’t able to go the first time but it was time for the fitting and I was able to make it. The staff was very nice and helpful. My sister left really happy and I even bought a beautiful hairpiece for one of my friends. I definitely recommend checking it out.

When I planned my day of wedding dress shopping back in late January Minerva’s was the second of three stops on my list.
Some Tips:
1) Ladies, make an appointment! Make an appointment if you want good customer service at any and all bridal shops. This is big business and The Knot is not kidding when they suggest it. Just «stopping by» is a bad call because they will be busy with clients who have appointments. Even during the week. I worked with Camille and love her. Great lady who really makes you feel like family.
2) Be aware that there are 2 LOCATIONS that are VERY DIFFERENT. The address listed here on S. Orange Ave is for the regular original bridal shop with sample designer gowns to try on. When you say yes to the dress they then order a brand new gown in your choice of size just like anywhere else. (The other Orlando Minerva’s location on Sand Lake, however, is an outlet of previously tried on dresses, last seasons sample’s and such for up to 50% off standard retail. THIS Unilocal listing here is not for the outlet but the full bridal shop so don’t get the reviews confused from people who are combining them here.)
3) Visit the website so you have an idea of what styles interest you. Bring some pictures on your phone and a general budget in mind to better assist you in finding what you are looking for.
Anywho, I had been recommended this shop by my lovely coordinator (Kyle from Blush) but had also read some bad reviews on this page that had freaked me out about my upcoming appointment. I almost settled on a dress at David’s Bridal that I really did not love or get the warm fuzzies about because I was sure in my mind Minerva’s was a bust. I tell you all this because I want you to know I was SO GLAD I decided to come to Minerva’s once I was there.
Yes, David’s has a ton of selection. But that meant I tried on at least 10 dresses in an hour, all different styles, none of which were what I said I was looking for. I was feeling defeated, ready to settle and call it a day. I felt the sales pressure at David’s to just get something and then get out of their dressing room for the next girl.
But not at Minerva’s. The store is on the smaller side as they are local and not a mega warehouse chain. Yes, there are no photos allowed in the fitting room UNLESS you decided to purchase. I took quite a few photos with it on once I knew I had found the one and was ready to close the deal. They take the quality of the samples seriously (for use at the outlet) so kindly watch your excess deodorant, perfume, lotions, etc. on dress shopping day to maintain the quality for someone else. Camille understood what I wanted and found a few choices in no time.
I found my dress, picked my size based on my current measurements that day, and paid 50% down. They will give you a rough estimate of when the dress will arrive (months and months from the day you try it on) and tell you to expect a call. I placed my order late January and my dress came in sometime July. When they called to say it arrived I then scheduled my first fitting at Minerva’s and first alterations appoint at their seamstress next door.
Went to my fitting appointment this week in late July. The dress fit! (I was obsessing over the unknown prior to that zipper sliding up smoothly). Took it back off and went next door for my next appointment. My seamstress was helpful including recommending needed changes, adding the bustle for my train, and sewing in a bra/​padding since my dress has a unique front and back that makes it impossible to wear a normal/​comfortable bra. Going back again in a month to see the handy work on alterations.
Follow my tips, realize which Orlando location you are trying to go to, and you will have a great experience. Congrats on your big day!
(Also, they do have some bridesmaid, mother of the bride, formal dresses, and quinceanera ball gowns as well)

Minervasbridal is a very nice place to go.
I went to that shop to look around for my bridal dress one year before my wedding. As my wedding is in France I had to be well organize.
Minerva is the first place I went to check out dresses after doing my homework at home by looking at magazines and online.
So I arrived at minerva without an appointment and been well welcome.
The lady who took care of me was Jacky. I showed her pictures of the kind of dress I was looking for, and she showed me was she had for me. After trying couple of dresses I liked one very much but was $ 400 more than my budget. Jacky didn’t push me to buy a dress right away and she suggest me to check out other shops as well like their outlet. After visiting couple of places I went back to minerva to look again at the dress I loved. Jacky was there and she remembered me. I was decided to buy that dress and she suggest me to come back on a special truckshow and to buy it on that day like that I could save 10%. I really did appreciate her advice and honesty. I came back on that day and bought my dress with 10% discount plus extra discount on my accessories. Jacky really help me out to save money and to find my dress. But my experience with Minerva is not done yet.
So here I am having my wedding dress 6 months before my wedding, so I wonder how I’m gonna do for bring it with me in France as its a big dress.
Jacky, award of my situation did some homework for me and offered me couple of possibilities. She check out all the rates for ship my dress directly to France or I could bring back my dress later on with a suitcase and they would pack it for me. I decided that I will bring back the dress.
So I went today after a long time and I have been very well welcome, Jacky was on break so I spoke to an other lady who been very nice too and packed my dress right away for me. I was about to leave when that lady asked me nicely to send them pictures of the wedding.
I really do recommend that shop, and specially Jacky she will be a great help for you to find your dream dress without pressuring you to buy anything right now which is really nice and is not the case everywhere.
So thanks to Jacky for everything and will definitely recommend that place.

Jim the owner is friendly and it was great meeting with the staff. Dresses are nicely organized and categorized for different needs! Jewelry is also conveniently sold at the store to compliment your dress! Get all you need here. No photography is allowed in the store… So I can’t share any dress images.

I got married in the perfect dress I found at Minervas. Patricia a sales associate helped me find my dream dress on the first try. Patricia’s expertise directed her to the exact dress that would fit my body style when I gave her just a few ideas regarding what I was looking for. It was as though it was made especially for me. Patricia’s costumer service went above and beyond anything I had ever experienced at a store. I recently moved from California to Orlando and did not have anyone to help me get dressed on my wedding day. Patricia’s kind heart offered to dress me at the store the day of my wedding. I was so overjoyed!!! I recommend Minervas Bridal to find your perfect dream dress! Oh and Yes my Groom got his tux at their other store Uptown Tux where Jorge helped us rent the perfect suit to match my Dream wedding dress;)

So disappointed!!!
Not a friendly staff. I’m sorry but a bride wants to like the people she’ll be working with for the next few months up to her wedding day!
I walked in with a list of styles that they are supposed to carry… they had 1 out of 10.
They only allow 3 – 4 dresses at a time and it was as if they were freaking out because suddenly there were 6.
Absolutely NO PHOTOGRAPHY! Signs on the windows and throughout the stores.
And the number 1 issue… Designer tags on the dresses have been removed and replaced with Minerva’s name brand. This is extremely off and not normal. I was not comfortable at this shop because of that. And the person assisting could not tell me which designer was which.

Oh Minervas, I really wanted to like you.
I’m a short engagement bride looking for short dresses, I know walking into any bridal store my options are limited, so my expectations are super high.
Upon walking in (without an appointment), I had a new sales associate try to help me and when I mentioned the short dress hunt she looked like a deer in headlights, claimed she was going to get someone else, and never showed up again. I saw her a few other times in the store and she avoided eye contact. Poor little lamb, I know I scared you, but your lack of customer service ticked me off.
A second associate eventually helped me and showed me the only 4 dresses the entire store had in stock… in the Prom section. This associate was helpful and even set the dresses aside until a fitting room opened up, I tried on the dresses, all of which were drastically different in look, and left with nothing.
I can say when I called them, it was offered that I could be put in a long dress and have it be altered into a short dress. This was the only time someone offered that option.
I strongly believe Minervas is designed for the 12-​month and longer engagement plan. They had a variety of long dresses, but as for price points and alteration costs, I don’t know. I didnt have the time for an associate to present those options to me like when I was on the phone.
Also, whats up with the no photo thing? I did appreciate the hand wipes everywhere!

Positives:
I was looking forward to Minerva’s. They had a great stock of full lace dresses (which I adore). The prices were pretty good as well. The girl who assisted me for the most part was friendly and helpful.
Negatives:
You are not allowed to take any pictures. WHAT?! This is my future wedding dress, hello! I didn’t trust that they wouldn’t let my mother or I take a picture. It made me feel uncomfortable that they are probably overpriced. They also take all of the tags and labels off of each dress so you don’t know who made the dress or how much it SHOULD be priced at. I also wanted to try on a specific dress and the woman who helped me told me I couldn’t try it on because the shoulders on it were too ugly and I wouldn’t like it. I’m pretty sure that it’s MY decision but I wasn’t allowed to try it on.
Overall, if you don’t need any pictures and price isn’t a worry, then they are wonderful and great assistance. If you would like a picture so you can leave and make sure you like the dress and want to make sure you’re not paying hundreds more than you should, try somewhere else.

Overall huge disappointment and complete waste of mine and my friends’ time.
1. The items in the store do not match what they carry on their website. At all. Period.
2. They rip the tags out of all dresses and give all styles a new number, so you don’t know which dress is by which designer. Coming for a specific dress or designer? Good luck. You’re going to need it.
3. No pictures allowed. Why? «Because, like, people just came in to try on dresses and basically used them just to try on dresses, and everything…» umm… okay…
4. Staff was present. They were present to take dresses to the dressing room and present to remove them.
If you’re just engaged and have no idea what you’re looking for, then maybe they will (and can?) be happy to help you.
But I got the impression that if, like me, you walk in with a list of dresses that they *show on their website* and request specific styles, they’ll give you the brush off.
Because being prepared, doing research, and having a good idea of what you want will throw them off guard. The business practices listed above just weren’t made to accommodate you.
The designer hiding, style re-​naming, no-​picture-​taking policies made me feel like this business is extremely shady and is trying to hide significant mark-​ups.
And I’m sorry, but with the age of technology and comparison shopping available at our fingertips, these policies may keep the non-​serious shoppers away, but they’ll also offend and keep the SERIOUS shoppers away.

The store is larger inside than it appears when you get into the parking lot. Minerva’s has a pretty good selection, although I am not sure which dresses were which, since all seemed to have the Minerva’s label sewn in and not whatever designer the gowns were. I was there shopping for a bridal gown. The prices varied, but many I noticed were below $ 1,500, and they had a section of sale bridal gowns that were 50% off in the store.
The saleswoman who helped me was prompt, I was taken on time for my appointment. I gave her the style numbers of dresses I’d seen on their website that I liked, and what they did have, they pulled for me to try on. The problem was their website featured gowns that were not in the store. (Note that I wasn’t on the designer of the dresses’ website, but Minerva’s website.) The main complaint I had is that they like to stick to the one hour appointment time. I was there on a weekday and no one was waiting for a fitting room, etc. but once I’d tried on about 4 dresses, the saleswoman quickly (but politely) told me I could come back for another appointment to try again.
If you are a bride who isn’t entirely sure what you want, or what style of gown you like, you will be making A LOT of appointments at this place. An hour just isn’t enough time and they don’t seem keen on lengthening that appointment time, even during non-​peak hours.

Friendly staff, great selection, and all around pleasant prom dress shopping experience! found exactly what I wanted and for a reasonable price. highly recommend:)