Los Angeles has more bridal shops than almost any city in the country, which is a gift and also, let's be honest, a lot. Big showrooms, independent boutiques, sample sale warehouses, appointment-only ateliers. Before you start booking everything in a 20 mile radius, here's the actual, unglamorous logistics of how to shop for a wedding dress in LA: when to start, what to bring, how an appointment like ours actually runs, and what happens after you say yes to a dress that isn't sitting on a rack yet.
How far out to start shopping for your wedding dress
A good rule of thumb is to start trying on dresses nine to twelve months before the wedding if you want a made to order gown from an independent designer, since production typically runs three to six months and you'll want a cushion for alterations after the dress arrives. If your timeline is shorter, that's not a problem, it just narrows you toward ready to ship pieces and in-stock samples rather than a made to order process. Either way, start earlier than feels necessary. Brides almost never regret giving themselves more runway, and almost always wish they'd booked their first appointment sooner.
What to bring to your bridal appointment
Bring the undergarments and the shoe height you actually plan to wear on the day, since both change how a gown falls. A strapless bra reads completely differently under a fitted bodice than no bra at all, and two inches of heel changes how a hem skims the floor. Bring photos if you have them, but hold them loosely. Pinterest boards are a great starting conversation and a terrible rulebook, since the dress that looks right on your body is often not the one you pinned. And keep your guest list for the appointment itself short. One or two people whose opinions you actually trust will get you further than a crowd of six all talking over each other.
How appointments work at Mae Bridal's Santa Monica showroom
Only one bride tries on gowns at Mae at a time, so your appointment is private and unhurried, not shared with another party pulling dresses off the same rack. Our team gets to know your aesthetic, your venue and your budget before a single gown comes off the rail, and because appointments run back to back, we ask that you arrive on time and keep your party to the number agreed when you booked. If you fall for a sample that needs a small change, we go directly to the designer to make it happen, which is one of the advantages of working with independent ateliers instead of a big bridal chain.
Made to order lead times, and how to plan around them
Most of the gowns in our made to order collection are handmade in limited quantities by the designer, with an estimated production lead time of three to six months. Within 48 hours of saying yes, we email you that estimated timeline and ask for your measurements, and you're free to cancel for a full refund at that stage if anything changes. Once your details are confirmed and the order is placed with the designer, it's locked in, since the gown is being cut specifically for you, so we always recommend ordering with real margin before the wedding date rather than cutting it close.
Can't make it to Santa Monica? Try wedding gowns at home
If a trip to LA isn't realistic, our Try at Home program ships eligible gowns straight to you. You get ten days from delivery to live with a dress, try it on in your own light and mirror, and send it back, with the program fee credited toward a purchase if you decide to buy. It's the next best thing to standing in our showroom, and for brides shopping from outside Los Angeles, it's often the easiest way to narrow a shortlist before committing to a trip. We also run live virtual fittings if you'd rather talk it through with a stylist in real time first.
A few gowns to start with
If you want a sense of range before you book, here's a small spread across price and silhouette.
Vintage rose-trimmed satin slip wedding dress
A bias cut satin slip with hand-applied rose appliques, ready to ship now, no lead time to plan around. Shop the rose-trimmed slip, from $190.
Simone dress, Claire La Faye
A bias cut silk charmeuse slip with an open scoop back and a sweeping train, made to order by Claire La Faye in her Portland studio, available at Mae Bridal. Shop the Simone dress, from $1,795.
Eterna gown, Monetre
For the bride who wants the full princess moment: a drop waist corset bodice into a voluminous ball gown skirt, cut in your choice of silk or satin. The Eterna is made to order by Monetre, available at Mae Bridal. Shop the Eterna gown, from $2,900.
Shop the full collection
See everything currently in the showroom and online in our full wedding gown collection, or narrow straight to what ships immediately in Ready to Ship Gowns.
Shopping for a wedding dress in Los Angeles, answered
What are the best bridal shops in Los Angeles for a non-traditional bride?
Look past the biggest names and toward boutiques that curate independent and European designers rather than carrying the same handful of mass-market labels every salon in the country stocks. That's usually where you'll find a silhouette that doesn't look like everyone else's wedding photos.
How many bridal appointments should I book before deciding?
There's no magic number, but most brides find their dress within two to four appointments once they've narrowed down a general style. Booking ten appointments in one weekend tends to blur every dress together rather than clarify anything.
Do I need an appointment, or can I just walk in?
At Mae, appointments are by booking only, since only one bride is styled in the showroom at a time and we book back to back. Give us at least 24 hours' notice if you need to cancel or move your time.
What if I don't know my size yet?
That's completely normal, and it's part of what an appointment is for. We take measurements in the showroom, and for made to order pieces, those measurements are what the designer cuts to, so there's no need to arrive with a number already in mind.
Ready to see them in person? Book an in-person fitting at our Santa Monica showroom, or book a live virtual shopping session from wherever you are.
Book your appointment
Searching for wedding dresses near you? Come find us in Santa Monica. Our showroom is minutes from LA but a world away from the typical bridal salon, come see why Mae Bridal is where modern, non-traditional brides find their dress in Santa Monica and Los Angeles. Book appointment