Bridal Stores Near Me? – Here is how to find the best one!

Click to listen

Bridal stores near me? This article will explain how to find the right bridal shops near you.

We are certain that you have a million tabs open titled bridal stores near me or bridal shops near me. Questions from your family and friends about your engagement, wedding dress, ceremony, and reception keep coming your way. We are also sure since you’re still in your engagement glow (as you should be!), you have not paid a lot of attention to what seems to be the most exciting, yet exhausting, part of your wedding. Choosing a bridal store that will become the one!

 

Wedding dress shopping is completely different from your regular everyday mall shopping. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience that should be planned in advance. Finding the perfect dress is not easy and can be quite a long process. Before you continue hectically typing “bridal stores near me” and start getting overwhelmed by dozens (or hundreds!) of bridal stores, here are some tips on how to choose a wedding boutique that’s right for you.

Set a Budget

Before you get carried away like a child in a candy store, take a look at your wedding budget and set a number you’re expecting to spend on your wedding dress. That doesn’t mean you can’t be flexible with how much you’re willing to pay for your picture-perfect gown, but having a top number in mind will allow you to focus on the bridal stores that are within your budget. Keep in mind these questions while setting your budget:

 

• Do you want to rent or buy your wedding dress?
• Are you looking for accessories to go with the gown?
• Off the rack, made-to-measure, or bespoke wedding dress?
• What about lingerie and shoes?

Once you arrive at the bridal store, make sure to let consultants know your budget to make things as easy and smooth as possible for you to enjoy this moment.

 

 

Ask Family and Friends

 

Start your bridal boutique search with advice from your married friends and family members. Find out what they liked (or didn’t) about that particular bridal store by asking for the inside information. Did they enjoy working with the consultant, and why? What types of dresses did the salon have? Was that experience memorable, fun, and relaxing? There are so many bridal stores near you, and having a little prep with your loved ones may help with the search. You can also ask for a referral from your friends and call before you visit to schedule an appointment and confirm that they offer what you’re looking for.

 

Research Your Wedding Dress Style

While you can head to a salon as soon as you find your bridal match and are ready to start your bridal shop journey, it’s a good idea to have a vision of the type of the wedding dress and then look at the styles and elements you may like. Are you thinking of a glamorous princess, vintage, boho, or romantic feel for your big day? With the wedding dress style in mind, look at what suits your body shape and what makes you feel beautiful and divine.

Go to Pinterest or Instagram and have a scroll through the bridal gowns, then you might start getting an idea of which wedding designers you are loving. Find a bridal store carrying your favorite styles and designers, and you’re halfway there.

 

Read Reviews

 

Okay, you have a wedding boutique in mind, now what? Check reviews! We can’t stress enough that reviews give you a great idea of what real brides think of the customer service, care, and attention they received on their bridal boutique journey. Find the store and go to Google to see if it’s a match for you. Instagram, Twitter, or even TikTok are also fantastic places to find honest reviews too. Or you can just go to the bridal store’s website to help you make a decision. They also list their contact information and hours of operation, making it a one-visit shopping experience for all the crucial information you may need.

 

Location

 

Location may not even be your first thought. But trust us, it is one of the most important. Picking the right location and your willingness to travel long distances are a must for a bride-to-be. You’ll want to choose something that is accessible to you and is in your local area. The best thing is that you can avoid the shipping fee if you live nearby. Your dress is going to be fitted and altered and may result in a few fittings, consider a location that’s close to you and won’t require long trips.

 

Visit More Than One Wedding Boutique

 

Visit several bridal stores, online, and charity boutiques before settling on where to buy your dream wedding gown. The variety of stores and dresses will help you narrow down your bridal dress list to one that suits your style, body shape, and wedding reception. 

 

Be Open-Minded

 

We know you’ve been dreaming about your wedding dress since first grade. Maybe you even have pictures of dresses that you love hidden in your diaries. We agree it is very helpful to know what you like to narrow the bridal gowns at your dress appointment. But don’t be afraid to try something different and totally out of your comfort zone. Who knows? Maybe you will fall completely in love with a different style than you imagined.

 

Listen to the boutique consultant recommendations. They really know what they’re doing! They have seen these dresses on thousands of brides. Feel free, to be honest, and open with your feelings and opinions about the dresses you try on. It is going to be so much easier to find your perfect dress when you share your thoughts with bridal store consultants so they can find the best fit.

 

Don’t Stress

 

Dress shopping should be comfortable, relaxed, and fun. Repeat after us, STAY CALM! It is worth remembering it will be nothing compared to the TV shows you binge-watch. But your bridal dress should make you feel beautiful and get you excited to wear it! Don’t forget to listen to your gut! If you’re feeling it’s not the one, even if your bride squad says you look beautiful, move on. You know you. You’re the one who’s going to be wearing the dress, you make the final choice.

 

And even if you leave the store with nothing, don’t get disheartened. This is going to happen more than once when you’re looking for your wedding dress. You’ll want to try different styles, designers, and bridal stores. It’s totally okay not to fall in love on the first try.

 

 

Our best piece of advice is – be honest about what you want, need, and what best suits your budget. You’re now ready to pick a wedding boutique!

 

Find bridal stores near you on Calla Blanche: bridal stores near me search tool and take a look at the look book

 

Header Image Credit: @steenaanne (Steena Anne Photography)