In 1945, Priscilla Kidder realized her longtime passion for fashion design when she opened The Bride's Shop on Newbury Street, offering unique handmade wedding dresses. Soon Priscilla of Boston became synonymous with the highest level of individualized service and impeccable quality and design. Her name has stood the test of time and remains the hallmark of bridal elegance.

Luxury department stores began carrying handcrafted Priscilla of Boston wedding gowns, made from the most exquisite fabrics and embellished with intricate bead and lacework. National popularity grew to such heights that everyone wanted to be a Priscilla bride.

Priscilla's international distinction was clearly established in 1956 when she was chosen to design the exquisite bridesmaid gowns for the wedding of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier of Monaco.

Legendary weddings from European royalty to American aristocracy… As an estimated 55 million people watched on television, President Johnson's daughter, Luci, married Pat Nugent in a beautiful Priscilla of Boston gown in 1965. The bridesmaids wore Priscilla pink chiffon dresses, and the much-publicized nuptials went off without a hitch thanks to the hands-on assistance and watchful eyes of Priscilla herself.

The same attention to detail produced beautiful results in 1968 when Julie Nixon married David Eisenhower in a Belgian lace Priscilla of Boston gown.

In 1968, Newsweek dubbed Priscilla "Queen of the Aisle"
In 1969, McCall's called her "The Lady Who Marries the Best People"

The tradition of White House Weddings continued with Tricia Nixon's marriage to Eddie Cox in 1971. Priscilla Kidder designed the bridal gown and personally delivered the gown from Boston to Washington in its very own first class seat.

Priscilla took special care to choose bridesmaid dresses in a look suitable for Tricia's bridal party range of ages from 11 to 25. The mother of the bride, First Lady Pat Nixon, chose a lovely tea length ensemble from her vast personal wardrobe of Priscilla dresses. Once again, Priscilla Kidder was on the scene every step of the way to make certain that the wedding day was nothing short of perfect.

The Priscilla retail concept is born with handmade gowns now available in exclusive Priscilla of Boston salons around the U.S.

Believing that the bride should wear a gown that fits her in every way, Priscilla launched a special collection of Petite gowns for women 5 feet 4 and under.

Priscilla Kidder received the first Bride's Magazine Designer Award in 1988.

Priscilla of Boston celebrates 50 years as a leader in the bridal industry.

"Cheers," Boston's very own pop cultural icon, concluded its 1992 season finale with the marriage of Woody Boyd to socialite Kelly Gains. Kelly wore a raw silk and floral lace Priscilla of Boston gown and matching veil.

In 1996, USA Today declared Priscilla a "Gown guru who steers brides down the right aisle."

Priscilla of Boston was the wedding gown designer of choice for the first bride of the new millennium, highlighted on "48 Hours" and "The CBS Evening News with Dan Rather."

The May Department Stores Company purchased Priscilla because of its unique position as a highly recognized, upscale bridal retailer and manufacturer with a fabulous reputation for outstanding service and magnificent collections.

Understanding that today's most discerning brides seek a range of styling choices, Priscilla joined forces with rising star Melissa Sweet. In January 2005, Melissa Sweet designs began being carried at Priscilla salons throughout the country, giving brides a unique collection of exquisite gowns speaking to a variety of tastes and personalities, from classic, to fashion-forward, to whimsical. In addition to the eleven Priscilla of Boston salon locations, exclusive bridal shops and top retailers across the country also carry Melissa Sweet gowns.

During the Spring 2007 bridal fashion week, Priscilla of Boston premiered a new bridal collection called 'Platinum'. The Platinum Collection offers the embodiment of luxury, with opulent couture gowns designed by the newest member of the Priscilla of Boston design team. Platinum is available at Priscilla of Boston salons, as well as specialty boutiques nationwide.

The Priscilla of Boston Group premiered its newest bridal collection, Vineyard, during Spring 2008 bridal fashion week. Designed by Mark Brower, the Vineyard Collection provides stylish, of-the-moment gowns using satin, chiffon and lace, intricate embellishment and textural appliqué beading and pearls. The Vineyard collection is available at Priscilla of Boston salons and specialty boutiques nationwide.

The Priscilla of Boston Group continues to grow, with the introduction of several new lines. Early in the year we launched our fifth bridal collection, Reverie by Melissa Sweet. The newest line features non-traditional dresses designed with a unique and sophisticated sense of style. Inspired by modern ready-to-wear designs, Reverie styles are perfect for a reception dress or for any bride who wants to reflect her individual fashion point view.

For Fall 2008, the bridal group introduced its newest endeavor for the most precious member of the bridal party, the flower girl. New flower girl collections by Priscilla of Boston and Melissa Sweet feature sophisticated designs that reflect the aesthetics of the respective bridesmaid’s lines, appearing as petite versions of the original dresses.

In other exciting news, Priscilla of Boston’s "Hollywood Glamour" gown style was chosen as the winning wedding dress on NBC’s TODAY Throws a Wedding: Race to Altar.