As summer begins, June brides everywhere anxiously await the walk down the aisle. Any bride-to-be knows finding the right dress to do so in is like finding the perfect partner: incredibly fulfilling, but ridiculously exhausting. These local bridal boutiques can help you find the gown before you get cold feet.
Cleo & Clementine
At Cleo & Clementine, each custom wedding dress is treated with a level of meticulous planning rivaled only by the big day itself. The Phoenix-based online boutique is in the sartorial matchmaking business, with gowns designed by owner Monique Sandoval and handmade to perfectly suit each individual bride. “We design for their body types,” Sandoval says. “We get to know our brides and exchange ideas back and forth.” In-person or Skype consultations for the modern, off-beat dresses can be booked online. cleoandclementine.com
Pearl Bridal
Buying a dress from Pearl Bridal is a unique experience, to say the least. Brides are welcomed into a consultation room with an outdoor theme inspired by owner Anna Lynn’s hometown of Portland, Ore. Grass carpeting and an indoor fountain provide the backdrop for one-on-one consultations. “We get a lot of unique clients that other bridal shops aren’t able to accommodate,” designer Erica Kristine says of the Phoenix-based shop, which caters to a quirkier clientele. Pearl designers will take on any dress, whether it’s princess-style, bohemian or Halloween-themed.
3326 N. Seventh St., 480-579-6715, pearlbridalphoenix.com
Almond Tree Wedding Boutique
Owner Pamela Hardy Ronalter always dreamed of owning a dress shop. Now, she seeks to make bridal dreams come true with her handmade designs. “It is such an honor to be a part of the moment when a bride finds the dress that makes her feel like she has realized her dream as a bride,” Ronalter says. She prides herself on making unique dresses and custom designs at affordable prices at her North Phoenix boutique to make dreams a reality for brides on a budget.
5415 E. High St., 480-342-9784, almondtreeweddings.com
La Bella Bridal
Finding “the dress” at La Bella Bridal is all about the experience, which is fit for a bride on the TLC hit Say Yes to the Dress. A full team of stylists and designers guides each bride step by step through the process. Owner Amber Martinez is the mind behind the Mesa-based boutique’s most unique feature, the “Bella Suite,” a fitting room outfitted with a stage, large mirrors and draped curtains to create the bridal experience seen in movies. “We thrive in adding personal touches to every bridal gown,” Martinez says. “It’s all about the bride.”
1941 W. Guadalupe Rd., 480-897-2477, labellabridalaz.com
