A bride trying on a MORILEE wedding gown in a champagne VIB bridal gown appointment at Bridal Chateau — A bride trying on a Morilee dress in our champagne VIB Appointment.

Bridal Gown Shopping Etiquette: A Guide from Your Friendly, Size-Inclusive Boutique

Hello, beautiful nearly-weds! 💖 As you embark on the exciting journey toward finding your dream wedding dress, we're here to sprinkle a little bit of our fun, inclusive magic into your bridal gown shopping experience. At our boutique, we believe that every bride deserves to shine in a dress that makes them feel confident, gorgeous, and truly themself, no matter their size, shape, or ability. That’s why we’ve dedicated our 6500sf showroom to housing 500 bridal gowns in sizes 0-40. We believe petite, mid-sized, and plus size brides should all get the same respect and selection under one roof. We won’t force you to go to a specialty shop.

We also understand that while wedding gown shopping SHOULD be fun, it can also be daunting or even downright scary for some. We believe that transparency and knowing what to expect can calm our brides so that from the moment they walk into the boutique, we can excite and delight them. Here's our guide to making the most of your bridal gown shopping adventure, complete with all the etiquette tips you need to know. So, grab a cup of your favorite beverage, relax, and let's dive into the wonderful world of wedding dresses together!

1. Do Your Research, But Keep an Open Mind

A glamorous beaded ballgown, black wedding gown, and boho bride with sleeves, all by Sottero and Midgley.

We know you have lots of store options when shopping for your wedding gown, and we would be honored to have you shop with us at our boutique! Take a look at each store (and their Google reviews) before setting up your appointment. If you are a glitz and glam bride, you may not have a successful experience shopping at the boho boutique. Make sure brands are aligned with your vision. Because of the breadth of our store collections, we have something to offer every bride, from clean and classic, long sleeve wedding gowns, beaded and glamorous, or even black bridal gowns!

Before stepping into our boutique, take a moment to browse through our collection online or on social media. You will also receive a link to our Look Book in your appointment confirmation email where you will find a selection of the gowns we carry in store, complete with pictures and pricing information. Don’t forget to ‘heart’ your favorites so your stylist can get an idea of your tastes before the appointment. Pinning down a few styles and silhouettes you love can be a great starting point. However, remember to keep an open mind! Our experienced stylists have a knack for finding the perfect dress that you might not have considered at first glance.

2. Appointments Are Your Best Friend

2 brides, one holding an antique phone making a phone call wearing a fitted MORILEE gown and the other bride with a vintage camera wearing a floral print wedding dress by Olivia Gray. — Photo by Seventh Arrow Photography and styled by Upstate Indie Weddings

To give you the undivided attention you deserve, we recommend making an appointment. This ensures you'll be guaranteed a showroom to try on gowns in with seating for your guests. This will give you plenty of time to try on dresses and chat with our stylists without feeling rushed. Plus, it allows us to prepare a selection of gowns we think you'll adore! We also offer different shopping experiences. You can see our appointment availability and book right from our website.

3. Choose Your Entourage Wisely

A bride saying yes to her dress in our Rose Suite Sparkling bridal appointment as her mother looks adoringly at her daughter and 2 bridesmaids swoon over the gown

We're all about fun vibes and positive energy, so when deciding who to bring along, think about those who uplift and support you. A smaller, more intimate group often makes for a smoother and more enjoyable experience. Remember, this is your day, and your feelings about the dress are what matter most. Have a tricky sister or over-opinionated mother in law? We can always reserve a Reveal appointment for those trickier guests that you want to include during this special time, but are worried about spoiling your Yes moment.

4. Be Open and Honest with Your Stylist

A stylist pulls a gown to show to a bride to try on

Our stylists are here to make your bridal gown dreams come true, so don't hesitate to be open about your preferences, concerns, and budget. Some brides are worried that they are going to be sold on a dress, but our staff work more like detectives. You will have a chance to chat with them before you start trying on dresses so that they can get an idea of your vision. We work in the dresses every day and sometimes know about styles or elements that we know the bride will love that they possibly never even thought of! The more we know, the better we can guide you to your dream dress. And don't worry—we're champions of inclusivity and celebrate brides of all sizes and budgets.

5. Trying on and respecting the Gowns

A stylist carrying a bridal gown out of the dressing room

Each gown in our boutique is a piece of art, waiting to make someone's dream come true. The stylist will assist in zipping and clipping the gowns, this way, every bride can have the same joyful experience of finding their perfect dress in pristine condition. We recommend being prepared with a nude strapless bra and underwear/biker shorts to give you a clean vision of how the gown will look without distraction.

Our stylists will pull the gowns for you. They are trained to be very intentional with their pulls to help guide you through fabrications, silhouettes, and details that flow with your wedding style. We are happy to accommodate any request, and if you see gowns on the rack/mannequins that are of interest to you, just point them out and the stylist will be happy to grab it for you, please don’t jump up and grab them yourselves. Since we have 500 gowns, if aunt Sally points out a gown that is in a size that won’t be successful for you to envision, we will grab the gown or one similar in another size.

6. Don’t be afraid to say yes!

At our boutique, we have the selection of 3 boutiques in 1! We will help you navigate through the array of styles available. If there is something that you haven’t seen that you wished to try on, just let your stylist know! Has a black wedding gown been weighing on the back of your mind? Try it on. The whole point of the appointment is to figure out what feels best to YOU.

We have to laugh every time a bride exclaims that they didn’t expect to find their wedding gown. They are also often surprised at how emotional an experience this can be. Your stylist isn’t trying to sell you on a gown, they are going to be your champion in the fitting room to help make sure YOUR voice and vision are what are being respected.

7. Enjoy the Moment

Last but not least, have fun! This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and we're here to make it as memorable and joyful as possible. Laugh, cry, twirl in the dresses—embrace the full range of emotions that come with finding "the one."

At our boutique, we're more than just a store; we're a community that celebrates love in all its forms and sizes. So, let's find you a dress that reflects just how amazing you are. We can't wait to welcome you to our bridal family. 💕

We hope this guide helps you navigate your bridal gown shopping journey with ease and excitement. Remember, at our boutique, everyone is welcome, and every bride is celebrated. See you soon for some unforgettable dress-shopping fun!

Shopping Etiquette