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In a word: yes.
In a few more words: I work in NYC, so was not a big deal to go after work one weekday. I went primarily as a fact-finding mission, but thinking that if I found the dress, then great. I liked the charity aspect of their operation, not to mention the deep discounts. I was trying to stick to a budget of about $1000. Alas, I did not find my dress there. BG is no Kleinfeld's or Wedding Atelier - it's located in a rather nondescript office building; the dressing rooms are separated by curtains; the seamstress (owner?) that was there when I was there was no-nonsense and matter-of-fact, but not unkind.
Prices are good if you're set on a designer dress. When I was there a few weeks ago, they didn't have racks and racks of Vera Wang or Badgley Mischka, but other designers that I've seen on wedding websites. They had a better selection of dresses the smaller your size, but I'm a street size 8 or 10 and I tried on over 10 dresses (and could have tried on way more). For me, it was useful as a fact-finding mission; I was in and out within an hour.
I'm not sure if I had had to travel, fight through traffic etc, that I would feel the same way about it being worth it, so take that into consideration.
(ps - ended up getting my dress through the Wedding Alternatives collection at Jenny Yoo, on 35th Street)
They have sample size dresses so if you're a bigger bride NO if you're a sample size dress bride then YES
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I went to Bridal Garden. While I did not find my dress there, I saw some women try on some beautiful dresses. I think it can be hit or miss depending on your size and what's available that day, but definitely worth a shot.
Thx james47 for this post. I hadn't even heard of the Bridal Garden until now. I live in Spain, but return to NYC every summer to be with my family. I'll def make an appt. and check it out! 
I also LOVE the idea of my money going towards a good cause.
I think its well worth going. I've been there as well and had a positive experience even though I did not buy my dress there. Just don't go with too high expectations.
I think it's worth going... my friend got a BEAUTIFUL maggie sottero for about $600, I think.
I'm not sample size, and while the selection in my size was pretty limited, there were a couple of things worth looking at. (There were also some monstrosities.)
If you live in NYC and have time to stretch your dress-search process for a while, I'd do a few, spaced-out trips to BG... they have pretty rapid turnover, so you'll find different things from one week to the next.
I didn't care for the experience, but I can see how it would be totally worth it to some brides. They had a ton of Ulla Maija dresses when I went (the woman told me Ulla Maija donates a lot of dresses regularly, BTW, if you like the designer) -- and lots of other designers. Some dresses were really worn (straps falling off, etc.) and dirty -- some were in a great condition. It's really a hit and miss so if you have time and energy to look through racks of dresses, try them on without much help (not even pins/clamps! bring them if you're small) AND really want a designer dress, it's your kind of place. The discount IS pretty huge... almost everything was at least half-off, a lot of them more.
Bex, I also got my dress from Jenny Yoo's Wedding Alternative line -- love that store!
definitely. did not get my dress there but there were one or two i considered.
one thing in bridal garden's favor is that it's good if you need a wedding dress on short notice.
Not sure if you've already gone to BG or not but to those other brides out there wondering about the experience...
I went to Bridal Garden with a friend to help pick out her dress. It's budget friendly and worth checking out if you're not super particular on what types of dresses you try on since you can't be 100% sure on their selection. It's in a suite in a large building, they are by appointment only, and allow you to bring only 1 person to help you out. There were about 4 1/2 long rows of dresses when I was there in different sizes (both smaller and larger sizes), we ended up looking at only 1-2 rows within my friend's size range. There's only 2-3 ladies there overseeing the operation (at least when I was there on a weekend), so you basically help yourself. You pick out as many dresses you want to try on but you have to put them back on the racks at the same place (after doing that a couple times, it got heavy so we were more particular about what to try on). The lighting in the dressing room is not great and there isn't a lot of space to share the outside mirrors w/the other 3 dressing rooms.
Their seamstress is there to give an estimate on alterations. The prices are also negotiable - all you have to do is ask. My friend knocked $200 off her dress. Since they are samples, you have to include the potential cost of dry cleaning ($2-300) b/c some of the dresses do have stains / have been stepped on by other brides trying them on.
I did not enjoy my experience there. If you can afford to go elsewhere, I would recommend skipping the Bridal Garden. I didn't find anything that was what I was looking for, and a few of the maybes I tried on had rips or stains. You have to sift through the cramped racks of dresses yourself, bring them yourself to your fitting room, etc.
The bridal garden helped me find my dream dress when i was in a rut. I had bought a maggie dress and ended up not liking it because it was so simple so i decided to go to bridal garden for a try. I tried on a bunch of dresses and then tried on THE ONE a La Sposa gown that luckily had just shipped in that day and brand new. I honestly think u need to go back a couple of times. I just got lucky. BUt its well worth the experience. The original price on the dress was like 2500 i got it for 1300 and alterations were 500 elsewhere. not bad. Here is my dress. Just be patient and u can find something there :D I am a size 4 and the dress sample was an 8 but it wasnt a big deal to take it in the chest area. Remember that the sizes run small.
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I'm sorry if my question seems stupid but what are the typical sample sizes for dresses? I am a size 4 typically in street clothing. Is it worth it for me to check out the Bridal Salon? Not sure how wedding dresses sizes run.
I'd say go. You might not get lucky on your first try, but many people go back several times, since the inventory changes so often and find amazing deals!
Some of the dresses there are truly amazing, it was my first shop, I saw about 12-15 dresses and one I nearly bought--a gorgeous lace gown about $695 alterations about $100, the quality is much higher than David's bridal; they are worn because they are samples but you can easily have it cleaned--but the craftsmanship is easily recognizably superior compared to bargain basement dressshops; the stitching is topnotch and designer; if you are after quality and price this is a great place to go; if you are after being catered to and being treated like a princess then skip it; the lady was a little gruff when we were too early, but warmed up as I started trying on dresses, you can see she loves beautiful dresses and enjoys the experience as much as the brides do
however, my next shop was at Kleinfled and I felt treated like a princess, the atmosphere was very pro-bride-to-be; my consultant was helpful and supportive; she actually encouraged me to get the less expensive dress with embroidery because I cried and she saw that I loved it while my mom liked the other lacy pricier one, I got my gown there for only $600 butpaid dearly in alterations $700 whew size 22 down to a size 2; so if you buy sample be sure its as close to your size as possible
so depends on what you are after
it's definitely worth a visit
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Is the Bridal Garden worth checking out?