I ended up visiting Cameo & Cufflinks while looking for a bridal gown for my wedding. I had read on the bridal forums that they were good with larger sizes as I wanted more from my experience than holding up a dress I could never try on.
They had a wide variety of samples in different sizes and carry a line call Callista which was designed for and on curvier women - hurray! They know larger busted women can't get strapless bras past a certain size and some of the dresses could work with a good fitting and supportive bra which is something I didn't see a lot of out there in bridal land while staying chic and sexy. I found the line very well fitted except styles fitted in the hips (where I don't have the curves personally but I'm sure it would nice on women that are gifted there).
Before wedding shopping I had watched a lot of "Say Yes To The Dress" and related shows. Although I knew service was a key feature to why brides flew into the city for the store in the show for dresses and the price tags were a lot larger than I hoped to spend so I had a bit of realism about what I was getting into. Yet I was a bit taken back in my first visits out for dresses to other places. Other places, I have gotten better service in a regular clothing store trying on $40 shirts than I was getting with wedding dresses. Consultants with little knowledge, that ran off to help others and weren't able to translate what I liked/didn't into the next sample or were they just confusing me with someone else?
C&C was a little bit more like the shows picture the experience. I was there on a weeknight and it wasn't that busy so it might be different on a Saturday. I had a personalized consultant. She really knew her dresses. She listened to me. She took her time. She told me later she wasn't commission and I could see that looking back. The atmosphere was nice and elegant. I felt special being there. The lighting was terrible halogens but my consultant even lead me to another area with different lighting and angles to look at my favorite. She let me sit down in the dress to check it for comfort and she stood by while I took pictures to send my mom because I didn't have her with me that night and was ready to buy by the end of my session and did want her input first. I had given a budget and said I'd prefer to pay less - which she totally got when others constantly provided top 80% of my budget dresses. She brought me some dresses in the upper part of my budget but even after I was really loving one, she still brought me some cheaper dresses just encase I felt amourous and could save a bit. Another consultant stepped in and helped a couple times - gave some advice which was very honest. When I came up with a wacky alteration that would have been bad that was shut down - they weren't just in it for the sale from my opinion and I think many other places don't share that. Obviously they are still a business... but one I felt good purchasing a high ticket item from.
I did buy my dress here and will be going back for some of the other clothing and accessory needs for the wedding