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Bridal Shop Tour - Reading Bridal District
This Cincinnati bridal district is now officially the largest bridal district in the United States. It is our featured tour for bridal gowns, bridesmaids dresses, tiaras, bridal veils, jewelry, and everything bridal!
 Our search for Lexington weddings actually begins in nearby Reading, Ohio, which many people consider the bridal capital of the world. One short stretch on Benson street has over 37 bridal businesses, including the largest bridal shop in the world--Bridal and Formal. It's less than a two hour drive from Lexington, and just five minutes north of Cincinnati, Ohio, on I-75. Here are just a few of the bridal shops in the Reading bridal district:
Official Site: www.readingbridaldistrict.com.
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European Bridal offers the finest of North American, European, and Canadian bridal gowns at surprisingly affordable prices. They have received Best of Cincinnati from Cincinnati Magazine, the city's most coveted award. This year, they topped even that by winning Best of Cincinnati from Vogue Magazine and Best Bridal Shop from The Knot!
European Bridal carries a line of couture wedding dresses, including Carolina Herrera, Lea-Ann Belter, La Sposa, and Eugenia, at surprisingly affordable prices!
This intimate boutique, tucked down an ivy covered walkway, is noted for it's service and selection. The interior was designed to resemble a famous Parisian salon, with spacious fitting rooms and wall-to-ceiling mirrors everywhere. Be sure and make an appointment before visiting. |
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Across the street is Bridal and Formal, the largest bridal shop in the world with an inventory of over 3000 gowns! What else can we say? Be sure to start your visit here!
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Next comes Cincinnati Bride, at 301 W. Benson, offering a selection of famous designer gowns in a bright, airy space. The simple, elegant layout makes it easy to choose from hundreds of gowns in styles ranging from contemporary to classic. A staff of courteous and knowledgeable salespeople is always on hand to help you find the gown that will make your wedding perfect. |
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All About Brides offers some very special things for the little ones in your wedding ceremony. In addition to their bridesmaids dresses and wedding gowns, you don't want to miss the tiny, adorable dresses and tuxedos for children. |
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On the corner of Reading Road and Benson Street, Benson Street Bridal offers great buys on bridal gowns, bridesmaids, and flowergirl dresses. |
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Don't miss Bare Necessities for lingerie and intimate apparel, bras, slips, and crinolins--a must-have and hard-to-find underskirt for that full gown. |
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Pats Bridal Alterations. Bridal alterations and more. |
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For fine, handmade Cincinnati wedding cakes, baked completely from scratch, choose Maribelle Cakery, LLC at 8921 Reading Road. Over the last five years, Maribelle has won more local and national awards than any other bakery, ioncluding "best of" from The Knot and others. Now offering Kosher and Pareve wedding cakes in Cincinnati. |
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Getting hungry? Stop at Foley's Irish Pub, a local legend in restaurants and one of Cincinnati's finest. Not just a great place for lunch, but a great place to relax from your shopping. |
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Perfect Wedding Accessories. The name says it all, but check them out at PerfectWeddingAccessories.com. They specialize in beautiful, affordable invitations and printed items for your wedding. |
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Lifetime Events Photography. Whether it's your daughter's dream wedding day, your baby's first formal photo, your son's senior portrait, or your golden anniversary you wish to celebrate, we at Lifetime Events Photography can capture this moment in the style and elegance. Located at 121 W. Benson Street. |
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Wellings Jewelers at 127 West Benson, carries on a tradition of fine jewelry for your special occasion. After 80 years in Lockland, Welling Jewelers moved its store to Reading to become the first jeweler in the area's world-famous bridal district. "Since the wedding ring is so important, we felt is was necessary for us to be where brides go to pick out everything else for their wedding," said owner Terry Welling. |
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Benson Street Tuxedo. Did you think we forgot about the groom? Our tuxedo shops on Benson street make this truly one stop shopping for your wedding! |
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Around the corner and several blocks up at 9188 Reading Road, Oasis Florist is ready to supply your floral needs. |
One of the things that makes this shopping district special is that you will encounter salespeople who have far more knowledge about their products and the requirements of a wedding than the typical salesclerk. They can offer some exciting insights about what will work in your wedding. Listen to what they have to say. Let them do their job. It's quite a pleasure to have a salesclerk speak with both experience and authority on what works best.
PLACES TO EAT: In addition to the many fast food restaurants, which good taste prohibits listing here, there are some fine eateries in the area: Foley's Irish Pub, Sorrentos (on Reading about 3 blocks South of Benson) is one of our favorites for old-fashioned Italian fare, Meier's Cafe on Benson, China Express Restaurant, also on Benson, and Angilo's Pizza, just 1/2 block from Benson. Bon Appetite!
DIRECTIONS: Take I-75 north to the Galbraith Road exit (oddly, the exit is on the left side of the freeway). Turn right off the exit and go 1/2 mile to Reading Road. Turn left on Reading Road and go 1 mile to Benson Street. Turn left on Benson and drive three blocks to the municipal parking lot, on the left. The lot is right behindBridesmaid's and More, where your adventure begins!
 PLENTY OF FREE PARKING!
There are 3 spacious municipal parking lots attached to Benson Street.
Please note: Some of the shops reviewed above may or may not know they were included on this site. lbrown web services and its affiliates have no connection with them. Please see the disclaimer for more information.
IMPORTANT LINKS FOR BRIDES
REAL WEDDING SITES WITH GOOD READABLE CONTENT — NOT JUST LINKS!
 Tiaras, veils, headbands, bridal jewelry, bridesmaids jewelry, bridal shawls, capes, handbags, and more. This is the best site we've seen, with some of the classiest bridal accessories around. But don't take our word for it. Go to Princess Bride Tiaras and check the prices.
Cincinnati Brides - A list of award-winning bridal businesses in Cincinnati, Ohio. This site also lists some interesting but little-known locations for weddings and receptions.
Tiaras - A pictorial history of the tiara. Tiaras "Do's and Dont's". Tiaras in Art, History, and Film. This site is really a lot of fun!
Columbus Bridal - A resource for brides in Columbus, Ohio.
Melanie Mauer - Melanie is quickly becoming Lexington's most sought-after wedding photographer. A happy little photo boutique firm in Lexington, Kentucky specializing in children & weddings. One look at her website will convince you!
Lexington House Banquets - The Lexington House offers a country club atmosphere with an air of exclusivity. Imagine the roominess of a single banquet hall that can comfortably seat over 1,000 people. Now imagine the singular experience of having all of that room available for you and your guests only! Yes, your wedding reception, fashion show, trade show, dinner dance, prom, anniversary, business convention, company party or other function will have the entire facility for your enjoyment!
Indianapolis Bridal - A resource for brides in Indianapolis, Indiana. Unlike too many websites, this valuable bridal resource is not cluttered with paid ads or with links to websites that are nothing but link farms.
 Dayton Bridal - A resource for brides in Dayton, Ohio. This is another of our favorite wedding websites. Clean, well=designed, and uncluttered! You can find valuable information here about your wedding, whether it be in Dayton, Columbus, Indianapolis, or Cincinnati, or any of the surrounding Ohio Kentucky Indiana areas.
Annettes Catering -For the finest wedding cakes in Lexington, or anywhere! At Annette’s, all of our cakes are made from scratch, with love. Our wedding specialists can help you create the cake of your dreams, inside and out.
Maribelle Cakery, LLC - Your source for the finest wedding cakes in Cincinnati. See why this shop has a 20-year reputation for the best in Cincinnati! They now offer Kosher Dairy and Kosher Pareve wedding cakes.
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