~e~,
This may be a long post...
These are my personal opinions and I hope I don't offend anyone.
+Silhouette
I was quite impressed by their advertisements in bridal magazines and they've been around for a long time. But I didn't think very much of their gowns when I visited them. The designs are too flamboyant for me, and not in an artistic or appealing way. If this makes sense at all, it's flamboyant but also old fashioned. I think a gown from them would look dated if one were to look back 10 years from now. I also felt the designer that I met was not knowledgeable enough. When I visit bridal studios, I wear clothes that outline my body shape so that the designer has a good idea of my body shape. I asked him to select some gowns that he thought would flatter me, based on my preferences, and I didn't like his selection. For example, he chose an empire cut for me which is wrong cos I'm already top-heavy. Still I tried it on and it didn't look nice and it made me look shapeless. Service is okay. But I didn't feel there would be much refreshing design ideas forthcoming from the designer.
+The Wedding Present
I think you should visit them. They have a good and pretty selection of gowns. I think in the recent year and a half, this BS has done very well in terms of delivering on design and service. The TWP thread on the forum is very active and they have many satisfied customers. I think the designers there have good opinions so I was able to engage them meaningfully when discussing fabric, details, and design. The staff also picked out gowns that looked good on me. Their designs are also quite unique. You won't get the feeling that the gown is run-of-the-mill. I would suggest that you make an appointment with Patrick specifically, the boss and main designer. He has competent and friendly staff, but speak with him cos he has more experience. My personal feeling though is that with greater business volume, TWP will need to work harder at distinguishing itself and maintain personalised service. Call it a hunch, but I can see little signs that they are growing a little too big too quickly. But I hope I'm wrong and wish them every success
+Ted Wu
A recognised name in the market. You are assured of a relatively high service standard. He is well known for his beading work, so if you like beading on your gown, you should really visit his studio. I felt his current collection was okay, but it didn't make me go "wow". The colour scheme was muted, tending toward grey and off white. And I want a gown to look alive and vibrant, so to speak. I'm also not terribly fond of beading work. The two times that I went there, I was attended to by his staff. Nice pleasant girls, who are knowlegeable enough. But because they don't design, I can't get an immediate response on design suggestions. I'm not sure if you can call and specifically ask if Ted will see you at the first meeting. He does have themes for his collections, so it could be just that his current collection doesn't appeal to me. Yes, I would say, pay his BS a visit.
+Bridal Veil
I didn't visit them. I read the thread on Bridal Veil and rightly or wrongly, I got the impression that service standards weren't consistent enough and I didn't want to take a risk.
I think it's very important that I can click with the personalities at the BS that I ultimately choose. A wedding is a happy occasion. I want it to be as stress-free and pleasant as possible, and I want to be able to trust the designer. That's why where possible, I want to speak with the designer/owner directly.
Others...
+I would recommend that you visit Margaret Brides, especially if you like lace. Margaret is definitely very knowlegeable and can give you suggestions on design and cut. She expresses her opinion with conviction, but that's just because she knows what she's talking about. I learnt a lot about fabric and lace from her and she was helpful.
+If avant-garde, statement dresses are what you are looking for, you can visit Frederick Lee's bridal studio cos he's very daring in design. But I don't like such designs cos I'm not a loud person. And I could tell straightoff that I did not click with the service assistant, so I didn't stay long nor try any dresses.
Other boutiques that seem popular are Dang, Divine Couture, Amanda Lee... but I have not been to them yet.
I've learnt several things about wedding gown shopping. I must really go and try the gowns in person and get a good feel of the place. Don't trust adverts too much. And I must go with some idea of what looks good on me and what I like. But always ask the designer for his/her inputs too. It helps to narrow down the options. It also helps to go with a friend who can give you an honest opinion.
Gosh, that was long. I hope it's helpful.
~e~
Do you have an idea as to what you're looking for in a gown? I can keep it in mind as I go about my shopping