Join us as we go Wedding Dress Shopping With Bianca Foley to find the perfect wedding dress for her big day.
Finding the perfect wedding dress is one of the most personal and exciting parts of planning a wedding. It’s a moment steeped in tradition, yet for today’s modern bride, the journey can also reflect values like sustainability, individuality, and practicality. For me, the search hasn’t simply been about the dress — it is about balancing timeless elegance with a fresh, forward-thinking approach to bridal fashion.
While the charm of visiting traditional bridal boutiques is undeniable — the plush interiors, rows of gowns crafted with exquisite detail, and expert consultants on hand to guide you, the champagne — it’s only part of the story. As I embark on my own journey, I feel drawn to explore alternatives that speak to a modern bride’s desire for something different.
High-street brands are now creating beautifully curated bridal ranges, offering affordable and contemporary designs that don’t compromise on style. Many rental platforms now offer bridal options, which presents an exciting opportunity to wear designer pieces without the commitment, cost or environmental impact. And for those who love a dress with history or simply want to snag the dress of their dreams for less; pre-loved and vintage gowns provide a unique sense of character, allowing you to reimagine a piece of fashion for your own day.
There’s also a growing trend toward custom-made gowns created by independent designers using sustainable materials, offering a bespoke experience that aligns with your values. These alternatives not only expand the possibilities but also allow brides to express their individuality in ways that go beyond traditional bridal norms, in dresses that rival works of art.
For me, this journey has been a discovery of all the ways to honour the sentiment of tradition while embracing modern, sustainable options that make sense for today’s bride. Along the way, I’ve unearthed some incredible resources and boutiques across the UK that cater to every style and preference — perfect for brides looking to write their own rules when it comes to wedding fashion.
Bridal Boutiques
Halfpenny London
Known for timeless silhouettes with a modern twist, Halfpenny London combines luxurious fabrics with exquisite craftsmanship. Their London boutique offers a bespoke experience, in a very comfortable and intimate experience; featuring pieces that blend vintage inspiration with contemporary elegance for the fashion-forward bride.
Discover more here.
BibiLuxe Studio
This boutique specialises in slow fashion and manufacturing. Their collection of couture bridal wear, offers a curated mix of high-fashion, customisable gowns. Each BibiLuxe Studio’s design is skillfully cut and made by hand so they don’t hold excess stock to limit waste in their production, they are perfect for brides who love fashion and want to wear their beloved pieces long after their big day.
Discover more here.
Grace Loves Lace
There is something so effortlessly sophisticated and also sexy about Grace Loves Lace dresses. Famed for their effortless, bohemian-inspired designs, Grace Loves Lace creates comfortable, stylish dresses crafted from premium lace and sustainable fabrics. Their London showroom offers a relaxed, personalised shopping experience. I got to experience this first hand and loved trying on a few pieces. The Grace dress (above) was a personal favourite.
Discover more here.
Rolling In Roses
Based in Yorkshire, Rolling In Roses champions ethical bridal wear with sustainable, handcrafted designs. They champion being the dress for *everybody*painstakingly crafted by hand by their small team of seamstresses in their York atelier. The designs are perfect for the eco-conscious bride, featuring unique, minimalist gowns made with natural fabrics and lined with a natural, breathable silk/bamboo blend or a vegan alternative to silk made from orange-fibre.
Discover more here.
The Fall Bride
This boutique has achieved cult status since launching in 2019 and caters to modern, minimalist brides seeking chic, understated gowns. The Fall Bride celebrates independent designers, offering a curated collection of contemporary styles with a focus on sustainability. They offer an incredible selection of pre-loved gowns, in a variety of sizes, further proving their commitment to circularity.
Discover more here.
Eco-Bride Studio
Located in an Edinburgh suburb, Eco-Bride Studio specialises in new and ex-sample designer bridal wear, Eco-Bride Studio offers a selection of sustainably crafted gowns. Their collection features classic and timeless designs for more modern celebrations, with a bohemian twist.
Discover more here.
Contemporary & Budget-Friendly
We Are Rewritten
We Are Rewritten is an East London based showroom, focused on relaxed, minimalist vibes, Their designs are more affordable (their most expensive piece is £675) and made with sustainability in mind. The Valerie is incredibly popular, made using bamboo fibres and available in sizes 8-18. Their pieces are designed to be versatile and can be altered so you can wear them again and again. They also offer a beautiful range of bridesmaid dresses in complimentary styles.
Discover more here.
Rixo
Fashion-girl favorite, Rixo, beloved for their vintage-inspired prints and feminine silhouettes launched bridal in 2021, taking inspiration from style icons like Kate Moss and Bianca Jagger. Rixo’s bridal collection is perfect for brides looking for something unconventional yet stylish and they offer something for every celebration; from a civil wedding or registry, to your second look or afterparty, these vintage-inspired gowns offer something for everyone.
Discover more here.
Reformation
Reformation brings sustainable fashion to the bridal market with its range of effortlessly cool, environmentally conscious dresses. Think delicate draping, minimalism and soft tailoring, this consciously curated collection offers versatile styles for every type of ceremony.
Discover more here.
Nobody’s Child
Affordable and sustainable bridal fashion can often feel elusive, which is why Nobody’s Child caught my eye with their bridal collection. Known for their effortlessly chic everyday pieces, their bridal offering brings the same romantic, feminine touch with a modern edge. Available to buy or rent, it’s a dream for the budget-conscious bride seeking both style and sustainability.
Discover more here.
Rental & Pre-Loved
ByRotation
I am a huge advocate for fashion rental and will definitely rent an outfit for my hen party from ByRotation. Rental platforms offer a huge variety of dresses from designers like Maggie Sotero (above) to Odd Muse, in a wide range of sizes, allowing brides to attain a designer look for a fraction of the price and reduce waste, the app allows you to browse and rent directly from other users.
Discover more here.
Vestiaire Collective
Vestiaire Collective may not be your first thought when looking for bridalwear, however this global platform for pre-loved luxury fashion features an immense selection of second-hand pieces from top designers. Although they don’t offer a specific bridal edit – if you have a dream piece in mind, you will likely find what you are looking for.
Discover more here.
The Loop
The Loop is a pre-loved fashion platform with a difference. They offer a personal, trusted shopping experience by catering to those who want their dream dress that is versatile as well as responsible. They also provide tailoring and help you every step of the way to ensure that even though your dress may be pre-loved, it doesn’t make it any less special experience.
Discover more here.
HEWI (Hardly Ever Worn It)
HEWI specialises in nearly-new designer fashion, including bridal wear. Their platform offers access to gently worn or unworn wedding dresses, shoes and other accessories at a significant discount, making it ideal for budget-conscious brides.
Discover more here.
Bridal Reloved
With 17 boutiques across the UK, Bridal Reloved focuses on pre-loved and ex-sample wedding dresses, offering high-quality gowns from renowned designers. As members of the Sustainable Wedding Alliance, their mission is to make luxury bridalwear accessible to all, giving these dresses a chance at a whole new love story.
Discover more here.
PS Bridal
PS Bridal combines rental and resale options, featuring exquisitely curated collections of designer wedding dresses. They offer a style quiz to ensure brides find their dream gown in a sustainable and affordable way.
Discover more here.
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