It’s the dress every girl dreams of wearing one day, and when it’s time to select that perfect gown, the experts at The Wedding Salon of Manhasset are ready to help.
Owners Nancy Aucone and Susan Finale opened The Wedding Salon of Manhasset in 1996 after working for the renowned Kleinfeld family for over 20 years (whose New York City shop is the setting for the TLC series “Say Yes to the Dress”). They offer bridal wear from popular high end designers such as Monique Lhuillier, Carolina Herrera and Rivini, and they also run the only Vera Wang bridal boutique on Long Island, situated next door to the salon.
Aucone and Finale chose Manhasset as the location for their 10,000 square-foot shop because it’s close to Manhattan but far enough to give brides a little space from the city’s hustle and bustle.
“We put them in a more tranquil environment,” Aucone says. “The city is crazy and hectic — I think for bridal you need a little bit of the serenity.”
Brides interested in The Wedding Salon’s couture can make a two-part appointment that takes them first to the Vera Wang shop and then to the wedding salon. Aucone recommends that brides schedule their first appointment shortly after becoming engaged. The betrothed can expect to spend roughly $2,500 up to $20,000 on their dress.
Aucone attributes their shop’s success to not only the selection of bridal wear and their meticulous alteration staff, but also to the hospitable consultants.
“It’s not like buying shoes or a coat,” Aucone says. “Everyone is first made to feel welcome and comfortable. The dress will follow.”
