Wedding dresses for the bride who wants something that feels genuinely hers. Drop waist ball gowns with a lace-up back and a skirt that sweeps into a train. Corset bodices with hand draping. Lace sleeve wedding dresses, Chantilly at the neckline, silk charmeuse cut on the bias so it moves the way you do. Taffeta, mikado, silk organza, embroidered linen. Eight designers working in Spain, Portland, Madrid and Los Angeles, most of whom you will not find in a chain bridal store, chosen because they make romantic without precious and sculptural without stiff.
Nearly every gown here is handmade to order after you choose it, in limited numbers, by the hands that do the beadwork and the lace. Come and try them at our Santa Monica showroom, see them over a live virtual shopping session, or ask about trying a gown at home. See also vintage inspired gowns, drop waist gowns and all our designers.
Bridal gowns, answered
How long does it take to get a wedding dress?
Allow nine to twelve months if you can, and six at an absolute minimum. Our made-to-order designers run an estimated 3 to 6 months of production, and one runs 6 to 9, and that is before alterations, which want another six to eight weeks. If your date is closer than that, say so when you book and we will show you what can genuinely arrive in time rather than waste your afternoon.
What makes a gown right for a non-traditional bride?
Usually that it does not look like a bridal shop. These gowns lean on old details done properly, a dropped waist, a real corset, Chantilly lace, bias cut silk, rather than on sparkle and tulle. Several come off in layers or separate into pieces, so the look changes through the day. If you are not sure what you want yet, start with our guide to silhouettes.
Can a made-to-order gown be customized?
Often, yes, and it is one of the best reasons to buy this way. Sleeves added, a train lengthened or shortened, a neckline changed, a lining adjusted. What is possible depends on the designer and the gown, and it can carry a charge and extra time, so raise it before you order rather than after. Since the gown is cut after you choose it, that conversation is the right moment.
What sizes do you carry?
Made-to-order gowns are cut to your measurements rather than pulled from a size run, which is the quiet advantage of ordering this way. Showroom samples come in one size, so a fitting is about silhouette, fabric and weight rather than final fit. Nobody expects a sample to fit, and we will pin it so you can see the shape.
Where can I try on wedding dresses in Los Angeles?
At 145 Bay St in Santa Monica, by appointment, with the room to yourself. We hold samples from most of these designers though not every gown in the collection, so send us the three or four you keep coming back to and we will have them hanging when you arrive. Book a private fitting, or read a bride's guide to shopping for a wedding dress in Los Angeles.