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Not wanting to pay full price for a wedding dress doesn’t have to mean braving the frenzied crowds at discount bridal stores. A more civilized (not to mention charitable) option awaits at the Bridal Garden, a non-profit atelier with hundreds of designer dresses to choose from. Over sixty designers, including big names like Angel Sanchez, Carolina Herrera, and Vera Wang, donate samples and overstock dresses in sizes 2 to 14; prices are anywhere from 50 to 75% off the original retail price, and 100% of the proceeds benefit children’s education programs in New York. The staff are all trained in dress design and alteration, so they can nip and tuck a must-have design that doesn’t quite fit into a gown made for your body. The shop, located in a decidedly un-bridal office building in Chelsea, also offers a one-week hold policy for $100 down; if you don’t chose the dress, the deposit goes to the charity. A small selection of tiaras, veils, combs and headpieces are also for sale. Open by appointment only. — Chrissy Persico