Cornering the Market

A one-of-a-kind bridal shopping experience

Posted

Wedding Dresser Couture by Vassa
1044 Broadway, Woodmere
(516) 792-5955
www.weddingdressercouture.com

What sparked Vassa Halatas’ passion for dressing brides was a part-time job she had in a small bridal salon, 20 years ago. That experience led her to become a bridal coordinator for a synagogue. Over the years, her career took off and she learned from some of the world’s top designers. As director of Wholesale for Reem Acra, general manager for Vera Wang, and sales/alterations specialist for Amsale, her career became fast paced, involved a lot of hard work, and gave her the opportunity to meet creative, unique people, including celebrities. International travel was part of it. She visited different salons, planned runway shows and worked with event planners.

Now, she has incorporated all that background into her own bridal boutique, offering what she refers to as, ‘The Vassa Experience.’

“First experiences are the most important,” she said. “From the moment you walk into Wedding Dresser Couture by Vassa, every experience will feel the same as the first. This is an important and exciting time.

The Vassa Experience is a unique kind of bridal shopping venture. When Vassa takes a bride under her wing, she wants her to have fun! Appointments are exclusively for that bride only, although she can bring along whomever she wants. Wine is offered in a relaxing atmosphere, and the showroom is the bride’s to look through. All the wedding gowns are designer ones, and time should be taken to choose the perfect fit.  

Vassa will be with the bride for all her appointments. Each alternation appointment, which will include her seamstress, is about an hour and a half long. At the final fitting, Vassa will discuss the details of how to get into the gown. She suggests that a bride brings along someone who will assist her with it on her special day. Vassa will see everything through from beginning to end, and even put the finished gown in the car.

An extra service she can offer is at-the-venue personal assistance on the bride’s wedding day. This can mean last minute hand-pressing and preparation of the gown. Assistance is given for photographs, entering the reception, and making sure the gown is flawless for the first dance.

When shopping at Wedding Dresser Couture by Vassa, you’ll enter an elegant, fully stocked showroom filled with designer wedding gowns, bridal accessories like headpieces, veils, jewelry, and shrugs, and evening gowns.  Items can be found at a variety of price points.

Appointments are always suggested. The store is open six days a week and is closed on Tuesday. Photographs of the magnificent showroom and a number of the gowns can be seen on the website: www.weddingdressercouture.com.