The Bride's Closet

Fern was awesome, I had a great experience. I wound up buying the first dress she pulled for me to try on, she narrowed in on what I wanted so fast.
I like that the shop is set up so you can browse options on the floor, rather than relying on someone to grab them all from a supply room and not being able to see the dresses on the racks.
It's a really comfortable environment, and I liked the quiet, cozy atmosphere.

I felt like Fern also did a great job of pulling the most affordable options first, which I really appreciated, as some stores were putting me in dresses way above my budget right off the bat.

My parents live in Nanaimo and this was the first Bridal shop I went to as it was highly recommended and was lucky enough to “yes to the dress” with Fern’s help! She’s definitely a fairy godmother as she truly was so personal, helpful and amazing throughout the entire process. She put the extra time in adding a keyhole to my dress and really made sure I was heard and felt beautiful for my big day! My husband and I tied the knot in Italy and the dress was perfect. I was so thrilled to have a little piece of Nanaimo with me and support a local shop. Thank you so much Fern!

I really loved this experience! Fern was excellent. As a bridal size 16 I was impressed with the selection of dresses and styles she had in my size. She made me and my family feel comfortable, and her professionalism and personal touch was impeccable. Fern pulled the most amazing dresses for me to try that I would not have selected for myself. I’m so grateful for this amazing bridal experience. I highly recommend checking out the brides closet if you are a bride!

Thank you Fern for the amazing experience. Your knowledge, care for the wishes of the bride and understanding of design and fit made the decision process so easy.

Such a wonderful Bridal shop! I was looking for a specific dress to try on that I was struggling to find as it was from a few seasons ago. Fern told me about their “borrow program” with the designer where I could pay a small fee and have a sample size sent to the store. I went down this route and ended up purchasing the dress, however there was zero pressure at all from Fern.

As I was coming in from Vancouver, Fern and her husband Leory picked me up from the ferry terminal, which I really appreciated. My dress came in very quickly and Fern was also open and honest about alteration costs.

If you are looking for a dress, put this shop on your list! It is a beautiful space and is so worth visiting, even if it means travelling to get there!

Fern was lovely. She was patient and sooo helpful when finding my PERFECT DRESS! All the dresses I tried were absolutely gorgeous and such a selection. Fern also altered my dress which she did flawlessly

I found the perfect dress here! Fern was wonderful and very accommodating and I would reccomend this boutique to anyone!

Amazing place highly recommend, they where very respectful of my budget and very helpful, and such lovely staff too I found my dress and I am very happy.

I purchased my wedding gown from your boutique and wore it for my wedding November 20th 2021. It was absolutely incredible! Thank you for picking out the perfect dress for me, helping us design our own customizations and making the entire process easy and enjoyable. My dress is so special to me and I felt so beautiful.

The owner, I think her name is Fern, is wonderful. And Hailey her trusty assistant is very patient and also exceptional. I brought my youngest daughter here for a peek at dresses and now don't have to go ANYWHERE else. Fantastic selection, great prices, wonderful attention to detail and exceptional customer service. And Fern does all the alterations which young brides think is no big deal but it's crucial! She allows ample time for appointments anf when we went over our time Hailey took over and was awesome. The greatest experience a mom of the bride can have when the parents are paying and more so for the bride to be. My daughter has seen other shops and dresses and this shop is the one she wants with her "perfect" for her dress at a price parents want. Exceptional quality and selection at just the right price point. I spent 2.5 hours there and can't think of a SINGLE reason why this shop isn't the ONLY one you should go to if you're getting married.

I purchased my dream dress from Fern at the brides closet. Fern was amazing to deal with the whole way through!
From my large crazy group from AB to help pick the dress, to the postponement, to alterations. Fern always made me feel comfortable and welcome. She's extremely knowledgeable and easy to communicate with.

The brides closet is the cutest little shop with SO many dresses to choose from. I came in with somewhat of an idea of what i wanted, but Fern helped me find the perfect dress.

I highly recommend the brides closet! Thanks so much Fern, it was a pleasure:)

Loved all the dresses I tried on! She literally picked so many beautiful and diverse choices as I had NO idea what I wanted and they all fit me like a glove. I have not posted my number 1 choice of course, but I absolutely loved the selection and service I received from Fern. I went to other shops in Nanaimo and even Vancouver. Her energy was so relaxing compared to other shops, and she always said just the right thing so that I never felt pressured. I was so pressured at the other shops that I just was instantly turned off. I absolutely loved my experience here and will be telling all my friends and family that they MUST GO SEE FERN!

Can’t wait for my August wedding, thanks to Fern for helping me find the most important piece of the puzzle!

Fern was able to accommodate me and my crazy schedule and most importantly make my wedding dress fit me to perfection. Thanks again Fern!

The ladies here are wonderful! Fern was super patient and assured me of any alterations I needed. These ladies take the time to make sure you get a real feel for what you want, and grab suggestions for you. Honestly, every dress I tried on was wonderful. Great variety in styles.

I had a very disappointing experience at the Brides Closet as a whole. The worst part of the service was that before my appointment was even over the service came to a complete stop. The young girl who was helping me in and out of dresses disappeared and the owner went up to her desk in the front lobby. Nobody came to help get the last dress on and instead my sister helped with zipping it up. When we went to the front to leave we were completely ignored by the owner and she only acknowledged us leaving when one of my party said thank you. This was not an oversight as they had brought one last dress for me to try on.

We all agreed the whole appointment was very strange and uncomfortable. I will not be recommending the Brides Closet to anyone, and based on reviews I read from the past my experience is not the first. Even if I had found "the dress" here I would choose to buy it somewhere else simply based on the poor service.

Extremely happy with my experience at The Bride's Closet. Very welcoming, great service and my dress is stunning! If you are looking for an amazing selection of dresses and a positive experience, this is the place to go, thank you Bride's Closet!

Found the most beautiful wedding dress at the Brides Closet in Nanaimo and had the best service ever, for a great price and very reasonable alteration prices. Beyond that I bought the dress a month before the wedding and a week and a half before I wanted alternations to have the dress taken out because of my growing belly due to baby! Fern was so helpful and worked some magic and had it fitting perfectly in no time at all. Highly recommended buying your dresses from here the selection is so beautiful. 10/10

They did an absolutely lovely job of altering my wedding dress and I felt no stress or worry whatsoever leaving it with them. Everything was done perfectly, thank you Fern and all the other ladies!

Fern was incredible! When she found out I needed a dress within one week, she opened the store for me on her day off. She picked out dresses that were exactly what I imagined. She was so helpful and intuitive. I would highly recommend this store!

Absolutely wonderful service. I came to the Bridal Closet a week before my wedding because the dress I had purchased else where did not fit event after measuring. The staff made a speedy rescue and adjusted my dress in time for my wedding. After seeing their shop I wish I had done my wedding dress shopping there!

I went down with my daughter to help her pick a wedding dress. Lots of beautiful dresses, and Fern was so knowledgeable! Also, being from out of town, we really appreciated how accommodating she was with squeezing us in to have the dress altered when my daughter found her shoes. I highly recommend her. Oh, and the house is beautiful in the old quarter in Nanaimo.

This shop has an amazing selection! Every dress I tried on was beautiful! Fern is kind, helpful, and so knowledgeable about alterations! I ended up finding my perfect dress and I couldn't be happier with my experience at the Bride's Closet!

Bride's Closet saved the day! My daughter was in tears after her experience at a bridal shop in Victoria last year. She was so upset about her dress and the fit, that she said she wanted no pictures taken of her at the wedding. I convinced her to try the Bride's Closet (one month before her wedding) to see if they might have something. Fern and her husband were very accommodating! My daughter's vision of Jessica Rabbit/ Morticia Adams in a champagne corset dress with tattoo lace sleeves, was realized! Thank you to Fern and her amazing seamstress who made it possible! My daughter looked like a goddess on the 'Big Day' and many commented it was the "most beautiful wedding dress" they had ever seen! We are so grateful to Fern and team for making this wonderful experience possible!

This was my first time wedding dress shopping. I had my eye on a dress that Fern did not have in store, but she ordered it in so I would be able to try it on. I decided to book an appointment before the dress came in to try on styles and dresses from a designer I have been following. I ended up falling in love with a dress that she had in store already, and I was able to purchase and take it home that day. Fern was very helpful in advising me of alternations and different options for making the dress work for me on my big day. I am unbelievably happy, and I can not express how thankful I am to have such as easy and positive experience.

I did not feel she was invested in helping me find the dress. We felt very rushed. It was my first dress shopping experience and the excitement just wasn’t there.

Fern is an absolute Genius! The bounty of beautiful dresses available in store and by designer online is impressive, but she will find a way to make any chosen dress your own. With over 20 years experience of all the tricky details one can run up against in the process of alterations, she doesn’t break a sweat! I gave her such a short time frame and a request for a feature that wasn’t in stock so it needed to be ordered and she came through on time with a Stunning creation that is unique to me and I am so grateful. I love my dress and I felt cared for while it was being altered to fit me perfectly. I recommend Bride’s Closet to all of my friends and family as a must try first. Thank you Fern! ️

The staff were awesome and the service was above and beyond. As a plus sized women, I didn't think I would find anything in my price range or shape to feel beautiful. They did alterations to fit me exactly, unfortunately I lost so much weight before my wedding that I had to go back. When I went for my fitting, I could put my hands in my top and pull - so seeing my distress, they came up with a plan. They re-altered my dress 2 days before my wedding so there would be no issue and fit. Thanks for making my day awesome.

Our experience at the Bride's Closet was fantastic. All the staff are friendly and relaxed, helpful and informed. We found the perfect bridal dress and then came back for all the bridal party wear. After the first visit and choosing the wedding dress, we loved this shop so much that we knew it was a one-stop shop for everything we need. Highly recommended!

I worked with the Brides Closet on a styled shoot - their dresses are stunning, and they are generally such nice people!

As a plus size Mother of the Bride, I was sure I would not be able to find anything to wear at my daughters wedding. I had looked in various stores in the lower mainland and grew more and more frustrated. I was visiting my friend in Nanaimo and sensing my frustration she suggested we try The Brides closet. She literally had to force me out the door! However we walked in, looked around and I saw mainly gorgeous wedding dresses. I looked at my friend and said let’s go there’s nothing for me. That was when we met Fern. I told her what I was looking for and she went right to a closet that had some of the most gorgeous dresses that were all my size. It was as if they magically appeared. I found the perfect dress. Fern is a delight! The bridal store/house is so comfortable with a lovely rich
History. I would definitely recommend The Bride’s Closet for your wedding dress, grad dress, Mother of The Bride or any special event you have coming up. Thank You Fern!

Could not be happier with the service I received from Fern and her team. I purchased my dress in Ontario and left the alterations until the very last minute, they were able to beautifully alter my dress just in time for my wedding day! I highly recommend!

I had an amazing experience over the weekend picking out my dress for my wedding next summer! Fern and her co-workers were patient, kind, and provided a comfortable environment for trying on bridal gowns. I highly recommend The Bride's Closet:)

Fern, the owner, is an absolute gem. Bought my dress on the first visit! Fern was very patient and kind throughout the process - from selection to pick up and all the appointments in between. There was flexibility and all deadlines were met and kept - helping me to relax and trust! Fern really knows her stuff, she cares and is passionate about ensuring that the experience is amazing. Not only in the boutique, but in the dress on the special day. The boutique is lovely for the Bride-to Be and her guests - it has a lot of character and the atmosphere is inviting and comfortable so you can focus and enjoy the experience! Highly recommend!

Fourteen years ago our daughter was part of the Miss Ladysmith Program, now known as the Ladysmith Ambassador Program. The Bride's Closet was the supplier for the candidate gowns back then as they still are to this day. Fern has generously allowed candidates to model her beautiful prom and bridesmaid dresses in the annual Fashion Show and also allows the outgoing Royalty to pick a gown to borrow when giving up their crown at the annual Coronation. The Ambassador Program relies on the expertise of staff at the Bride's Closet when we are choosing the style of gown to order each year. One of the highlights for our candidates is when they come into the Bride's Closet and try on gowns for the Fashion Show and they are all treated like Royalty by Fern and her staff.

As a committee member I have made many visits to the Bride's Closet and am always amazed at the huge selection of beautiful bridal gowns and on many occasions have been fortunate to witness the pride Fern takes in accommodating brides, their Mom's and or bridal parties. The Bride's Closet is unique as it's in a beautiful heritage home with a bright room with magnificent high ceilings and huge wall mirrors so anyone trying on a dress can see front, back and side views. I must say, it's amazing to happen on a bride saying "Yes to the Dress" with tears in her eyes. I had dropped in one day and a bride had come from Powell River to find her dream wedding gown and she did. Oh yes, there is a photo of Fern and Randy from the famous "Say Yes to the Dress Show" on the display shelf.

I believe Fern and her husband Leroy have operated the Bride's Closet for around 22 years and have received the Best Bridal Boutique Experience Award at the Vancouver Island Wedding Awards and were recognized by their peers with the Excellence in The Industry Award. They also offer in-house alterations and a great selection of accessories to accentuate all formal occasions. Hard work and passion for the industry is definitely what the Bride's Closet represents.

The Brides closet is a great! I am planning my wedding from out of town, and when I saw that the Brides Closet was hosting a Sophia Toli Trunk show, I called them to see whether or not it would be worth it for me to fly in and try on the dresses. I love Sophia Toli dresses, so the idea that there would be even more dresses, not normally available in the ship was tempting! When I called, Lori was absolutely fabulous! She was so helpful in explaining the whole trunk show process and also offered to extend an appointment for me to try on dresses. When I arrived at the Brides Closet, both Lori and Fern, the owner were great! They listened to what I liked and didn't like, my price range, and were attentive and professional. Both Fern and Lori made the experience so fun! They offered advice and information when asked, and were very respectful towards me, my mom, and my MOH.
I am SO happy that I found my wedding dress at the Brides Closet! Fern and Lori were so helpful, and because I was from out of town, Fern suggested that I come back with my bridesmaids the next day to look at bridesmaids dresses. Not only that but after hearing how excited I was about my dress and that I couldn't wait to have and wear it, Fern actually found my wedding dress already made in my size at one of the warehouses in the States and offered to order it, so that I would get it sooner! Overall, it was a great experience shopping at the Brides Closet!

My shopping experience was different in that I didn't really shop around at all. I found a picture of the dream dress, and Fern found me the exact dress in a WAY more affordable designer.   Her shop also did the alterations, and did such an incredible job. That dress fit PERFECTLY, and I recieved endless complements. It was a work of art!
I also found the perfect dress for my Mom online, from a designer I was pretty sure The Brides Closet carried, and sure enough, Fern took my mom's measurements and we also ordered her dress for me.
And lastly my bridesmaids skirts were also ordered by Fern. My ladies loved their skirts, they flatter any shape and flow really elegantly. She has so many colours to choose from its a classy way to play with your colour palette, and my girls are excited to wear these skirts again with different tops!
The brides closet is the best place to go if you have a specific vision and need someone to help you find your perfect looks! Thanks so much Fern!

We have 2 weddings coming up soon and one of our brides has purchased her gown from The Bride's Closet, our other bride is currently working with Fern to find her dream gown. Fern listens to each bride and puts her expertise and experience to work. There is a large selection, a lovely atmosphere and a genuine concern for the happiness of each bride. I am more than confident that both our brides are in very capable, caring hands. Thank you Fern so very much.your gentle, patient and genuine approach has meant so much.

Was a little disappointed at the lack of dresses and lack of enthusiasm. Also no platform to stand on and see the full effect of the dress. No clamps to make bigger dresses fit properly so difficult to get the right idea of the dress. Unfortunate when you’re so excited for an amazing experience.

The crew at The Brides Closet was absolutely fantastic through my whole experience! I went in about a year ago and they squeezed us in last minute. I was so greatful, as I found the perfect dress there! They made the whole experience amazing, right down to the day I picked up my wedding dress. Thank you so much for everything, you are all wonderful

Best bridal shop and helpful owner! Staff was receptive and patient while guiding me through their gorgeous selection of dresses and styles. I recommend The Bride's Closet!

Fern made my daughter's wedding dress shopping a beautiful experience. We were made to feel so comfortable and at ease, never feeling at all rushed. My daughter will look glorious on her special day. I can't recommend The Bride's Closet enough.

I bought my dress here today. Super happy with it. Fern & her colleague did a good job of choosing styles I liked & knew my size without even measuring me. They were happy to store my dress for the next yr till the wedding too.

It was an awful experience start to finish for my bridesmaids dress shopping. Nobody introduced themselves, it felt dirty inside and the woman helping us was rude and dismissive. There was no help in and out of dresses, and the dresses were in very rough shape, straps were broken and she was stepping all over the dresses. To be expected not all the dresses fit but they didn’t have clips or anything to help us. She was openly bashing another bridal store and when I showed her my wedding dress she made me feel very insecure and like it looked bad because it came from another store. My girls felt so uncomfortable and we couldn’t wait to get out of there. Will not be purchasing or returning.

Just a very bad, odd experience. Walked in and immediately it felt dirty. No one introduced themselves and were basically just sitting around chatting. She barely let us look through the dresses and just pulled the ones she liked then hung them up and left. Most didn’t fit which was to be expected but there wasn’t even clips to hold them up and was no assistance getting into or doing up the dresses. The changing rooms were very uncomfortable as well. And to top it off she was openly bad mouthing another bridal store. Will not be purchasing a dress or returning.

We drove over and hour that’s why we stayed you shouldn’t be questioning why we stayed you guys were rude and not helpful at all. Who are you to try and argue back and not apologize for the bad experience. Every single other bad review has said the same thing I’ve said you’re clearly doing something wrong and should fix it. You did bash another store stop trying to justify yourself and make up excuses your store was a disappointment and so is the attitude you have towards people who didn’t have a wonderful experience. No one had on name tags you just have excuse after excuse hahaha grow up and deal with the complaints to make your store more enjoyable for other customers because it was awful. I still don’t know your name.

Fern & Lori were very helpful and atmosphere was mellow in which I really appreciate they took me in without an appointment and were very accommodating, I walked out with a dress

This is a gem wedding boutique. Fern has been extremely accommodating. She was available to help me whenever I needed, gave me lots of recommendations as to what would look good on my body type. They are all very friendly and Fern is extremely experienced with wedding dresses and alterations. There are so many options and Fern was even able to borrow a dress from the designer, Sophia Tolli, to let me try it. The dress was perfect and thanks to Fern, I have found my wedding dress. I went into multiple stores in nanaimo and Victoria and just loved the designers that Brides closet has.
Thank you girls for helping me with my dress.

Fern made my whole wedding dress experience easy and entertaining. She was always willing to do anything to make me feel comfortable and have fun with my dress! She pointed me in the right direction and had great recommendations when it came to other vendors. I enjoyed working with Fern very much!

Amazing shop so helpful, The Bride's provide service Bridal shop, wedding bridal dresses are beautiful and staff is awesome!

Amazing shop so helpful the owner SAVED us all money on out bridesmaids dresses by suggesting a less expensive dress in a similar style, so appreciated! The dresses are beautiful and staff is awesome

I shopped New Westminster, Vancouver, Langley and all of Nanaimo and it was Fern who found my dress for me by really listening to what I wanted and going out of her way to find it in her archives. I love my dress SOOOO much! And I am so thrilled with the price and service.

The Bride's Closet isn't like a lot of the bridal stores, it is intimate and Fern isn't going to gush over you and be fake and over the top like most wedding dress shops, she is down to earth and there to help, not to push. I really appreciated that and I also loved that it is in an old heritage house, so much character, not cookie cutter. If you want big fancy, fake and phony, this isn't the spot for you but if you want something really special at a fair price sold by someone with years of bridal experience, don't miss out on this little gem in the old city!

I’ve been to all the bridal stores in Nanaimo now and I’d highly recommend Brides Closet. The owners are so knowledgeable on all aspects of bridal and design! Myself and my seamstress mother were very impressed! Fern (one of the owners) picked a few gowns for me that were just stunning. She had so many tips regarding accessorizing, and even things to do with your wedding decor to compliment your dress. Her husband—I assume? —was also extremely helpful waiting just behind the scenes looking up info, prices, pictures, etc while we went on trying on gowns. The designers they carry are amazing, they have so many different looks and theyve even met some of them. If you have no idea what you’re after—like me—or are picky Fern and her husband seem like they can handle any bride

I love dresses and nothing say more than I love it than a wedding dress great for everyday and also for special occasions wonderful assistence great deals and more the best being offered to that crazy single or to the more serious couple to being or at their heed. Whatever floats you're boat

Horrible customer service, no personality, ugh!
Fern kept leaving me, unzipped, to take phone calls, etc. THAT is why is was not happy. I booked an appt and Fern just kept disappearing. Check out my other reviews. I review FAIRLY.