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In May 2000, Bridget Brown created a shop for the modern bridesmaid in San Francisco, stocking designers like Vera Wang, Priscilla of Boston, and Jenny Yoo. The boutique franchise has since expanded to more than 40 locations throughout the country, including this one in New York, which features pastel-blue walls, gold-framed mirrors, and huge teal dressing rooms. Dress consultants take clients through racks of dresses arranged by designer, all focusing on simple silhouettes meant to be worn again after the wedding. Brides-to-be range from corporate career women to Broadway singers looking for dresses to fit anything from an outdoor wedding in a vineyard to a high-society Manhattan loft affair. For more individualized looks, many of the collections allow for group dresses to be mixed and matched following a specific theme,  from varied sash ties (Two Birds) to different necklines (Lula Kate) and assorted skirt styles (Anna Elyse). More traditional options of the velvet and ball-gown variety are also available. Bridesmaid dresses and bridal alternatives by designers Alix & Kelly are sold exclusively here, and the boutique also carries a small selection of dresses for flower girls or junior bridesmaids. All dresses are made to order within three months minimum, though rush productions are possible for a fee. — Yelena Shuster