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The best bridal shops to browse for your big day
The UK-based bridal boutiques to know about, from Rixo to The Own Studio
The best bridal shops offer that personal experience you just can't get when browsing from home. More people are buying online than ever in 2024, but it comes as a surprise that internet searches for 'wedding dresses' haven't increased at all in the past decade.
"Shopping online can be tricky for any clothing, so when it comes to bridal most customers prefer to shop in person," Annelise Sealy, Founder of The Fall Bride, tells us. "These are special and expensive pieces, after all." She's right, of course. Every bride wants the perfect outfit on their big day – whether you're planning in advance with a bespoke design, require multiple fittings, or looking for something off-the-rack.
The consumer tendency to buy multiple items online only to return 99 per cent of them can get pretty impractical when it comes to bridalwear. It's unsustainable, too – and given that weddings by nature are wasteful, brides-to-be are becoming more considerate of the impact theirs will have on the planet. "The number of brides considering what happens to their outfit after the day has been steadily increasing over the years," says Sealy. "I would say about half of our clients are extending the life of their wedding dress, whether they're bringing their dresses back to resell through our (Re)Cycle service, or dyeing and hemming it to keep as a special piece in their wardrobe."
Of course, one of the most sustainable things you can do – besides walking down the aisle in something from your existing wardrobe – is buy a wedding look that you'll wear again. Brands like Rixo (with its vintage-inspired midis and retro minis), The Own Studio (incredible after-party pieces) and Whistles (affordable tailoring and minimalist bridesmaid gowns) are wonderful for this, and you can shop both online and IRL in their dedicated bridal departments.
The best place to start is with a browse online, then you can take the plunge and book an appointment with the boutiques that catch your eye. Keep scrolling to see our pick of the best bridal shops in the UK.
Rixo
Cult British brand Rixo launched its debut bridal collection in 2021. These more casual (read: wearable) designs couldn't have been better timed, mid-pandemic, when traditional meringue gowns didn't sync with reduced guest list.
Three years on and the brand's vintage-inspired dresses, retro suits and playful separates are still selling out with every new drop – most likely because they're wearable once the ceremony is over. The collections are available on various stockists, the brand's own website, or you can book a bridal styling session in its newly opened King's Road boutique in Chelsea (alterations are available as a separate appointment).
Prices start from £250
Galvan
If you can't imagine yourself in full-blown boning and meringue skirting on your big day, Galvan should be your first port of call. When Sienna Miller wore the British brand's pure white jumpsuit to Wimbledon a year after its 2014 launch, we couldn't stop thinking that this clean, simple eveningwear would translate well for contemporary brides.
Voila, in 2018 Galvan Bridal launched to great acclaim; whether you're shopping for the ceremony itself, chic bridesmaid looks or an afterparty outfit, the brand has you covered with its cult halterneck gowns, white slip dresses, fluid tailoring and silky separates.
Clio Peppiatt
Clio Peppiatt's intricate, beaded embroidery has attained cult status amongst editors and tastemakers – including Taylor Swift – so it's only natural that the London-based designer translated her skills into bridalwear.
Following a debut collection in spring/summer 2023, Peppiatt's embellished wedding dresses have returned for SS24 with a six look capsule of decadent, ceremony gowns, reception dresses, tailoring, and accessories.
"This collection has a far more romantic feel than our first bridal collection," Peppiatt told us. "As always, nature is a huge inspiration to me. Standout pieces such as our Olympia styles, take inspiration from the textures and shades of shells... Florals and crystal sun rays also feature in the embroidery across the collection but in a very modern way."
Prices start from £1,400
Vivienne Westwood
Carrie Bradshaw recently re-purposed her couture Vivienne Westwood wedding gown in HBO's And Just Like That, and models Barbara Palvin, Erin Wasson and Georgia Fowler, Miley Cyrus and Jerry have all also plumped for the British brand on their big day – which is a testament to how timeless their bridal range is.
Choose from the mainstays (those iconic corseted and draped, Neoclassic silk dresses) available online, or book into one of the brands bridal stores in London, Paris, Milan, New York and LA boutiques to start your own made-to-order journey.
Prices start from £2,230
The Own Studio
Best friends and designers Jess Kaye and Rosie Williams founded The Own Studio with a view to freshen up the wedding-wear scene.
The duo's in-house designs, handmade in their London atelier, are totally unique. Think modern wedding dresses and separates that feel contemporary while nodding to vintage eras – from minimalist silk slips and expertly-draped duchess-satin gowns, to feather-trimmed mini wedding dresses and flared trouser suits. If you're conscious of one-hit-wonders and looking for something you can wear post-ceremony, this is it right here.
Prices start from £180
Whistles Wedding
High street favourite Whistles launched its bridal department in 2016 to huge success. Beloved for its directional suiting, timeless gowns and candy-coloured bridesmaid dresses, the line offers quality at impressively affordable price points.
You can browse the full collection online, but if you'd prefer to shop in real life, head to Whistles' London flagship store in St Christopher's Place – you can book private styling appointments for bridal parties as well as alterations in this dedicate space.
Prices start from £199
Halfpenny London
Kate Halfpenny founded her namesake label in 2015 with the intent to create bespoke bridal via private appointment; she was able to use word-of-mouth recommendations in lieu of marketing, since she'd already styled the likes of Cate Blanchett, Emilia Fox, Kate Moss and Rihanna.
Luckily, Halfpenny London has since opened its doors to the public – but every wedding gown is designed and handmade within the UK. Halfpenny's ready-to-wear is stocked all over the country and online at Net-a-Porter, but if you're looking for custom bridal gowns head to its Flagship boutique in Bloomsbury.
Prices from £2000
The Fall Bride
When Annelise Sealy realised there weren't many contemporary bridal offerings out there, she founded The Fall Bride in 2019. She's since launched an e-tail store, but what customers are really interested in is a trip to her serene East London studio.
There, you can peruse wedding dresses and accessories from brands like Galvan, Katherine Tash and Jessica Bennett, commission custom orders via private appointment, or select a pre-loved gown from the (Re)cycle department. And once your big day is over, you can sell your once-worn gown back to The Fall Bride for someone else to cherish.
Prices from £450
Jenny Packham Bridal
Jenny Packham's exquisite gowns are a red-carpet favourite for the Princess of Wales, Kate Beckinsale and Adele, so it was only natural that the label should expand into bridal.
The designer's attention to detail – think clever nude inserts, lace panelling, feather trims and intricate beading – really shines through against the neutral canvas of ivory tulle, georgette and silk-satin. You can buy the brand's white gowns on Net-a-Porter, The Outnet and Farfetch, but we recommend taking a look at them up close and personal at the Jenny Packham flagship in Carlos Place, Mayfair.
New-season from £2,505, outlet from £750
The Mews Bridal
Gail and Lauren Crispin have a thing for French fashion. So do most style enthusiasts, of course, but the mother-daughter duo have taken this one step further: launching a dedicated bridal shop that only stocks French designers.
It's worked a treat – what started off as a small boutique store on a quaint mews in Clifton Village, Bristol, has expanded to a line of stores in Notting Hill and New York, as well as pop-ups around the globe. The Mews Bridal is the exclusive UK stockists of Parisian labels suchs as Rime Arodaky, Laure de Sagazan, Delphine Manivet, Donatelle Godart, Margaux Tardits and Mademoiselle de Guise.
Prices start from £800
Emma Beaumont Atelier
Emma Beaumont is a fashion industry favourite, with many stylists and editors opting for the label's bespoke gowns on their big day. It's down to Beaumont's creative approach, whereby she allows her customer to be as collaborative and creative in the process as they want – every single aspect of the gown is customisable.
What to expect? You'll walk away from your first appointment with an initial sketch, then come back to the label's Knutsford atelier for toile fittings, with the final fitting being two to four weeks before the big day.
Prices available on request
Sassi Holford
Sassi Holford has been creating bespoke bridal gowns since launching her namesake label in 1981. The brand is British through-and-through, with every order handmade in the South West of England (which helps minimise carbon footprint) and ateliers in South Kensington and Taunton, Somerset.
As a bride, your journey begins in one of these stores or via virtual consultation, then continues with fittings up until the big day. Alternatively, browse seasonal wedding dress collections and second looks – from white sequin minis and retro jumpsuits to beautiful 19th Century-inspired separates – online or in one of the brand's many stockists across the UK, Australia and America.
Prices from £2,500
Grace Loves Lace
Australian brand Grace Loves Lace is known for its contemporary lace wedding dresses and minimalist slips that prove perfect for beach weddings and elevated boho themes.
You can shop the full collection online and consult the brand's stylist via virtual appointments, but we recommend visiting bridal boutique in Shoreditch to really get a feel for the different lace fabrics. Each bridal appointment takes place in the brand's private styling suite, with complimentary fizz and a one-on-one stylist for advice on fit and stock. The boutique does not offer a tailoring service as of yet.
Prices start from £1,200
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