Claire Pettibone’s childhood was as romantic as her gowns are today. The Los Angeles-based designer grew up in a 19th century farmhouse in rural New York, and spent her days picking raspberries and roaming the surrounding streams and forests. Um, does it get more idyllic than that?! You can definitely see the inspiration in her designs, which she began in 1994 with her husband after graduating from Otis Parsons School of Design.
I love the mix of antique romance and modern cuts. They feel like they could be straight off the set of Jane Eyre. Aside from the fact that I adore a lot of her gowns, her website is also super easy to use, which makes an organization junkie like me extremely happy. You can browse by gown name, type, season, and price. Attention other wedding dress designers! Please take a cue from Claire Pettibone’s website–it shouldn’t be difficult to find gowns from past seasons on yours!
When I first got engaged and started thinking about THE DRESS, I really didn’t know where to start. Who were the designers? Where could I find them? While I started my search in New York City (I figured they had the best selection), I soon realized that it wasn’t really realistic to buy a dress in a city you don’t live in. Would I fly up for my fittings? That wasn’t going to happen. I looked at a couple nice stores in Nashville, but eventually ended up finding a boutique in Miami that had the dress I fell in love with. Considering I was getting married in Miami but living in Nashville, it worked out perfectly.
I wish I had a list like this when I was looking for local wedding boutiques, so I made one for you! Below is a compilation of the boutiques/salons across the country that I think have the best selection of couture wedding dress designers. Based on the designers these stores have listed, you can expect prices to range from $1800 all the way up to $10,000 and above! BUT! Don’t get scared if you don’t have a couture budget. All of these stores are bound to have sample sales (usually the sample dresses are in sizes 6-8, but this can vary widely. I’ve seen sizes 10 and 12 before) where you can get dresses up to half off or more. I got my Atelier Aimee dress from Chic Parisien, listed below. It was originally listed at $8,000, and I got it for $2,000 because it was a sample. So go and check out the selection! Not only will you get to know a bit more about which designers you like/don’t like, but you might score one of them with a major discount.
Designers: Lela Rose, Amsale, Jenny Packham, Lazaro, Junko Yoshioka, Adele Wechsler, Anna Maier, Carolina Herrera, Marchesa, Oscar de la Renta, Claire Pettibone, Rivini, Judd Waddell, Kenneth Pool, Liancarlo, Anne Barge
Designers: Karl Lagerfeld, Christian Lacroix, Angel Sanchez, Rivini, Valentino, Ines Di Santo, Anna Maier-Ulla Maija, Vivienne Westwood, Elizabeth Fillmore, Reem Acra, Vera Wang, Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera
Address:
2977 McFarlane Road
Miami, FL 33133-6033
Phone: (305) 444-7300
Hours: Open Mon-Tue,Fri-Sat 10am-5pm; Wed-Thu 10am-7pm
Designers: Amsale, Amalia Carrara, Eve of Milady, Kenneth Pool, Jenny Lee, Lazaro, Liancarlo, James Clifford, Marisa, Monique Lhullier, Vera Wang, Rivini, Jenny Packham, Romona Keveza Collection, Romana Keveza Legends
Designers: Angel Sanchez, Badgley Mischka, Carolina Herrera, Jenny Packham, Junko Yoshioka, Kenneth Pool, Lela Rose, Monique Lhullier, Oscar de la Renta, Peter Langner, Rivini, Ulla Maija
Address:
106 E Oak St # 2
Chicago, IL 60611-1230
Phone: (312) 337-6300
Hours: Open Mon 11am-6pm; Tue-Wed,Fri 10am-6pm; Thu 11am-8pm; Sat 10am-5pm
Designers: Adele Wechsler, Rosa Clara, Bellantuono, Elen Paumere, Janet Nelson Kumar, Manale PARIS, Jenny Packham, Manuel Mota, TWO by Rosa Clara, A Hnna B, Kirstie Kelly, Paloma Blanca, Jessica Zamir, Youlin, Pronovias
Designers: Aire, Alma Novia, Amsale, Angel Sanchez, Anne Barge, Atelier Aimee, Badgley Mischka, Carolina Herrera, Christos, Claire Pettibone, David Fielden, Elie Saab, Elizabeth Fillmore, Enzoani, Eve of Milady, Farage Paris, Ian Stuart London, Jaehee Collection, Jenny Packham, Kenneth Pool, Kitty Chen, La Sposa, Lazaro, Lusan Mandongus, Maggie Sottero, Manuel Mota, Melissa Sweet, Nicole Miller, Paloma Blanca, Platinum, Priscilla of Boston, Pronovias, Reem Acra, Rosa Clara, San Patrick, Stephen Yearick, TWO by Rosa Clara, Vineyard, WToo
Address:
66 North Van Brunt Street
Englewood, NJ 07631
Phone: (201) 541-0077
Hours: Open Mon 12pm-4pm; Tue,Fri-Sat 10am-6pm; Wed-Thu 12pm-8pm
Designers: Alberta Ferretti, Angel Sanchez, Anne Barge, Anne Bowen, Carolina Herrera, Douglas Hannant, Elizabeth Fillmore, Jenny Lee, Jenny Packham, Junko Yoshioka, Le Spose Di Gio, Lela Rose, Marchesa, Monique Lhullier, Oscar de la Renta, Peter Langner, Rivini, Vera Wang
Designers: Rivini, Peter Langner, Anne Barge, Le Spose di Gio, Janell Berte, Simone Carvalli, Jenny Lee, Judd Waddell, Jenny Packham, Victoria Nicole, Elizabeth Fillmore, Two by Rosa Clara, Monique Lhuillier, Junko Yoshioka for Bonaparte
Designers: Vera Wang, Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Reem ACra, Badgley Mischka, Romona Keveza Collection, Romana Keveza Legends, Alita Graham for Kleinfeld NY
Designers:Anne Barge, Bliss by Monique Lhullier, Eve of Milady, Ian Stuart, Ines Disanto, Jenny Packham, Lazaro, Martina Liana, Marisa, Monique Lhullier, Nicole Miller, Paloma Blanca, Peter Langner, Pronovias, Rivini, Rosa Clara, Rosa Clara Two, Romona Leveza Coutoure, Romana Keveza Legends, Suzanne Neville
Address:
106 North Lee Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: (703) 549-0387
Hours: Open Tue,Fri-Sat 10am-6pm; Wed-Thu 10am-8pm; Sun 12pm-5pm (call to make an appointment)
As a newly engaged writer, I had a hard time finding the practical information I needed to plan my wedding. While the wedding books, magazines, and websites I read had pretty pictures, they seemed to just skim the surface when it came to providing helpful ways for me to create the wedding of my dreams. Now that I'm married, I hope this blog serves as a resource for all you other bride-to-be's, with unique ideas for wedding venues, wedding decorations, wedding dresses, and more!
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