Karen Forte first opened her wedding dress shop in Cambridge over 20 years ago in 1999. Not long after, she sold her first wedding dress. Today, brides travel across three counties to visit this reputable boutique in the picturesque village of Bassingbourn. We are pleasantly set away from the hustle and bustle of the high street and situated just a 15 minute drive from the city centre of Cambridge.
Our bridal boutique is spacious and relaxing with private fitting suites, which makes this the perfect place to find your perfect dress. Congratulations on your engagement! Finding your wedding dress is an exciting and emotional experience. We understand that every bride is unique in shape, style and size which is why we make sure our bridal experience is focused on you.
Our bridal boutique is spacious and relaxing with private fitting suites, which makes this the perfect place to find your perfect dress. Congratulations on your engagement! Finding your wedding dress is an exciting and emotional experience. We understand that every bride is unique in shape, style and size which is why we make sure our bridal experience is focused on you.
Services
Celebrating 21 years of bridal excellence, a family run business Karen first opened her bridal shop in 1999. In 2012, Karen opened her Occasion Wear department allowing the boutique to cater for Mother of the Bride Groom alongside Brides. Karen decided to retire from the business in 2013, leaving it safe in the hands of her daughter Charlie.
Karen Forte is a family run business and offers wedding dresses for brides in Cambridge, Hertfordshire and the surrounding areas. Over the past 21 years we have built up a long-standing reputation for service and quality. Shopping for your wedding dress with us is designed to be a memorable experience, as it should be for every bride.
The Pronovias collection is designed for brides all over the world. Karen Forte are proud premier stockists of the Pronovias collections and have worked with the worldwide renowned designer for over 14 years. Founded in 1922, it has since transformed into a global company. They have become the international reference for bridal fashion.
Enzoani offers brides-to-be exquisitely hand crafted gowns. They merge traditional and modern European styles together, subsequently creating high quality and timeless designs. The brand has become renowned across multiple countries since emerging in 2005. Enzoani is a young and vibrant company who are dedicated to producing cutting edge designs, exceptional quality and a fit like no other.
Perfect for brides looking to buy their wedding dress from stock. You can find your perfect dress and take it away with you the same day! These wedding gowns are available in limited sizes so please be sure to check the descriptions. If you have any questions about stock availability feel fee to get in-touch here.
Reviews (9)
Greebo Cat
Dec 06, 2021
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I had a fantastic experience at Karen Forte. Charlie was so patient when I tried on dress after dress after dress - and happy to have me try them all again when my Mum was able to come with me! I bought my dress just before COVID struck and it was stored at Karen Forte's safely for more than a year - which was a blessing as it would have been a struggle to keep it concealed in a small flat. I also got my veil at Karen Forte - which was truly stunning. They've been always lovely and supportive! Highly recommended!
Giuseppina Lobue
Oct 30, 2021
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Today I went to Karen Forte all the way from Hertfordshire and I'm glad I went the extra mile. I had an amazing time trying on mother of the groom dresses. Charlie and her mum made me feel well at home. I tried and retired on dresses to make sure I was making the right choice. They both had so much time for me to make sure I made the right to decision. I bought a Veni Infantino outfit and matched it out with hat, shoes . Pop in and see what you think. Thank you ladies Jo
Helen Brunt
Oct 30, 2021
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The ladies at Karen Forte were so lovely and welcoming. They armed me and my sisters with a glass of bubbly and then let us loose on the dresses. They let me choose the dresses I wanted to try but also picked out some dresses themselves that they thought would suit me. Between us we found the perfect dress! And they stored the dress for me all through lockdown until we were finally allowed to get married! Thank you ladies for such a lovely fun a memorable experience xx
Niki Bray
Oct 23, 2021
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A wonderful experience.
Having recently lost 10kg since buying my first dress, I wanted to find another gown that better suited my body shape. I explained to Louise and Charlie that I was unsure of style and they advised to try a number of styles. My appointment was 2 hours long and I tried on a number of dresses (shoes and veils!). Louise went above and beyond by taking lots of photographs and even facilitating a FaceTime with my brother to show him the beautiful dresses. I felt comfortable, at ease and not at all pressured to buy a dress. In fact the opposite- I wanted to buy a dress at Karen
Having recently lost 10kg since buying my first dress, I wanted to find another gown that better suited my body shape. I explained to Louise and Charlie that I was unsure of style and they advised to try a number of styles. My appointment was 2 hours long and I tried on a number of dresses (shoes and veils!). Louise went above and beyond by taking lots of photographs and even facilitating a FaceTime with my brother to show him the beautiful dresses. I felt comfortable, at ease and not at all pressured to buy a dress. In fact the opposite- I wanted to buy a dress at Karen
Dayna S.
Oct 23, 2021
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I went to Karen Forte for my first ever bridal appointment on 16/10 - after researching online & seeing that they had a dress I was particularly interested in by Maggie Sottero, it seemed like the perfect place to start.
I booked my appointment on the website which was really easy & I had a phone call on the morning of my appointment to confirm - at which point the lady told me the appointment before mine had cancelled & if I wanted to come earlier that wasn't a problem.
We (My mother & two bridesmaids) arrived perhaps 15 minutes earlier to the appointment - which seemed to annoy the staff &
I booked my appointment on the website which was really easy & I had a phone call on the morning of my appointment to confirm - at which point the lady told me the appointment before mine had cancelled & if I wanted to come earlier that wasn't a problem.
We (My mother & two bridesmaids) arrived perhaps 15 minutes earlier to the appointment - which seemed to annoy the staff &
Sue Wilkinson
Sep 02, 2021
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Veronika Luzicova
Aug 15, 2021
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I have had the best experience in Karen Forte. The advisor was knowledgeable, professional, easy to talk to, the right amount advice was given at the right times! We got a chance to pick favourites from the shop to try on, but also got recommendations for dresses we may have missed. They also offered to stay opened longer when I wanted to revisit a dress. I can say with confidence that out of the salons I visited Karen Forte had the absolute best service, I would recommend anytime!!
Cai Ytsma
Jul 21, 2021
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Jackie Colbert
May 22, 2021
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