Photograph courtesy of Reading Bridal District
As summer swelters on, wedding season continues to heat up. While wedding planning can be an anxiety-inducing experience—from planning to ordering rentals to finding the dress and more—the Reading Bridal District hopes to ease the tension.
Nestled in the quaint city of Reading, Ohio, lies North America’s largest collection of wedding shops and bridal boutiques. Within three square blocks there are more than 40 unique shops offering every imaginable wedding service, from gowns and formal wear, to catering, event planning, entertainment services, and more.
Known as the Wedding Boutique Capital of the Midwest, the majority of businesses run along Benson Street, which alone is home to more than 30 wedding professionals across 12 gown stores. Each with its own distinct vibe and style, there are more than 10,000 wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses up for sale, at varying price ranges for every couple.
Throughout the remainder of this wedding season, family-owned bridal boutique Bridal and Formal will be holding a number of exclusive designer events, featuring the latest styles from notable wedding collections and designers, including Watters, Nicole + Felicia, and the Eddy K Sky collection.
Grooms can join in the fun in Reading as well, with the ability to get fitted for suits and tuxes at such menswear boutiques as KINGME, GENO’s TUX Plus, and the Dino Company.
Further, the bridal blocks of Reading offer consultations with wedding planners and florists, stationary and décor shops, DJs and party services, and local photographers. It even hosts weddings from time to time—the Reading Community Arts Center Hall of Grace on Benson Street, a 100-year-old restored building featuring gallery windows, artisan bricks walls, and a double grand staircase, can hold up to 200 guests.
In addition to its varied services, the Reading Bridal District also schedules special events throughout the wedding season, including designer trunk shows and White Friday sales. The annual “Fall in Love” bridal show, however, is the premier event of the year. Typically held in September, this outdoor bridal expo takes over the entire district, with various wedding vendors occupying Benson Street for shopping, drinks, and live music.
Since its incorporation in 1851, historic Reading’s primary business was clothing manufacturing. However, the bridal district, as it is known today, had a later inception. Bridal shops began to pop up on Benson Street in the early 1980’s, and many more wedding-themed businesses have opened up in the years since.
Today, couples and their families travel across the Midwest to visit the premier bridal outlet, journeying from places such as Indianapolis, Louisville, Cleveland, and West Virginia. While other major bridal markets exist throughout the United States, such as in Chicago and Los Angeles, none compared to the variety or charm of Reading.
Free, four-hour parking in the bridal district is available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Sunday.
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