Prepping for Prom Starts Right Here
42 APRIL 2020 | TheJournalNJ.com
in Monmouth County
With prom season quickly approaching
and the pressure to nd the perfect
gown heightening each day, local high
school senior Amanda DeFalco takes you on a
shopping trip through Monmouth County. Here
are her top ve picks when searching for the
dream dress:
As you step into Diane & Company, you are
taken aback by the beautiful store and layout.
Right away, an employee is there to welcome
and accommodate you, nothing but helpful. The
showroom is gorgeous and lled with chandeliers
hanging all around. There is even a lovely
ower wall to take your I-said-yes-to-the-dress
picture. Some of the more common designers
featured and sold are Sherri Hill, Portia and Scarlett,
and Jessica Angel. Diane & Company offers
accessories such as jewelry, tiaras and bags. The
staff gives exceptional service and maintains a
clean store, and there is even an in-house tailor.
Diane & Company is located at 3440 Route 9 in
Freehold and is closed on Mondays. You do not
need an appointment to shop; just come with a
parent or guardian over 21. Appointments are
mandatory for alterations.
As soon as you walk into Castle Couture,
you are welcomed by the beautiful, two-story
foyer and a gorgeous chandelier. An employee
is always quick to assist you, and they are extremely
helpful and guide you upstairs to the
evening department. There you nd even more
help and dozens of racks of beautiful dresses. No
appointments are necessary, but you could book
a reservation on their website. To shop, you must
attend with a parent or guardian over 21. Some
of the more popular designers featured and sold
are Jovani, Sherri Hill, Portia and Scarlett, Favianna,
and Jessica Angel. Castle Couture has a
mock runway to see how you look in your dress.
You can ring a bell once you say yes to the dress,
then you can take pictures in front of the oral
wall. They do offer in-house tailoring after you
purchase a dress which is super convenient! Castle
Couture also carries tons of accessories like
hairpieces, crowns, bags and jewelry. Not many
stores offer trunk shows every weekend, so this
is an exclusive offer for Castle Couture! The store
is closed Mondays and offer long business hours
three nights a week and weekends. Castle Couture
is located at 335 Route 9 in Manalapan.
BY AMANDA DEFALCO
As you enter David’s Bridal, you step into a
massive open oor plan with countless racks of
dream dresses. David’s Bridal has several helpful
consultants and a range of dresses perfect
for any budget. The store offers its own David
Bridal Line and outside designers like City Triangles,
Jump apparel and Xscape. The store carries
shoes, bags and jewelry, and offers in-house
tailoring. Everything is neat, organized and color
coordinated. You can book your appointment
online or over the phone. David’s Bridal is located
at 3633 Route 9 in Freehold.
Belle Bridals is a smaller store in Middletown.
The shop still carries some of the more
popular brands like Jovani, Faviana and Alyce
Paris. The staff offers tailoring and sells different
accessories including jewelry, bags, headpieces
and shoes. Belle Bridals is closed Sundays and
Tuesdays. This is a great place to go to if you are
looking for a more personalized experience with
one of the knowledgeable consultants. Belle
Bridals is located at 749 Route 35 in Middletown.
Azaria Bridal is found inside the Freehold
Mall, between Nordstrom and Lord & Taylor.
There are hundreds of dress options and the
store can get busy, but luckily the showroom is
spacious. The shop is open every day and has
late business hours. Some of the more popular
designers on display are Favianna, Alyce Paris,
Portia and Scarlet, Jessica Angel, and Jovani.
Azaria Bridal offers an in-house tailor. Also available
is a wide range of accessories including
necklaces, earrings, bracelets, shoes and bags.
Because the show room is larger, there are options
for every style and it’s easy to browse freely.
Prom season can be stressful for teens and
their parents. You need to nd a date or group
of friends, purchase a dress, reserve a limo, and
pick out shoes, a bag and jewelry. You may nd
yourself searching through thousands of dresses
online and not being able to nd your perfect
dress because you don’t know what size and
color to order. Hopefully these ve Monmouth
County prom locations ease your search for the
perfect dress. Cheers to prom season!
David’s Bridal
Castle Couture
Diane & Company
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