Photo: Maddison Row Bridal Chic; Virgil Bunao Photography
Finding the right wedding dress may be trial-and-error, but finding a bridal salon shouldn’t be. Our editors polled more than 1,500 brides to discover the places with the prettiest dresses (from the designers like Carolina Herrera, Mira Zwillinger, and Houghton, just to name a few!), nicest consultants, and chicest spaces from coast to coast. Every single shop on this list is a true standout in style, service, and atmosphere whether it’s the white dress mecca in your state or a gem in the middle of nowhere (we didn’t judge!). Get ready for our curated, tested, and fully endorsed list of The Best Bridal Salons in America. Here, our editors narrow down the best bridal salons in the South. Happy shopping!
Ivory & White Bridal Boutique, Birmingham, Ala.
The consultants at this Mountain Brook mainstay are “thoughtful, detail oriented, and stylish,” reported one southern belle. “They were able to expertly tie my vision to the beautiful dresses available in the salon,” raves another.
Hitched Bridal Couture, Washington, D.C.
The above-and-beyond staff at this Georgetown staple got perfect reviews. Take it from one same-sex couple: “They celebrated us and guided us to dresses that would complement each another. They even pulled my wife’s pick from the rack so I wouldn’t be tempted to try it.”
Chernaya Bridal House, Miami
No need to hit Drybar before your appointment: Priscilla, whom one bride called “the sweetest person ever,” is handy with a bobby pin and happy to give a quick updo before she guides you to your dream Elie Saab or Angel Sanchez.
Ever After Miami, Miami
International and local brides agree that this dress mecca is worth the trip because of its seriously chic owner, killer gown selection, and in-house alterations shop/atelier, where “there’s no limit to what you can do to customize your dress.”
The Collection Bridal, Winter Park, Florida
With some of the best couture gowns around (Vera Wang, Inbal Dror), this light-filled store on Park Avenue wowed reviewers and passersby alike. “When I stepped in the front window during my final fitting, people came in from the street to tell me how beautiful I looked,” says a satisfied bride.
Joan Pillow Bridal Salon, Atlanta and Houston
In the South, this salon (with two locations) is the spot to score in-demand designers, like Oscar de la Renta, but don’t mistake sophisticated for stuffy. “They didn’t bat an eyelash when my young daughter and stepdaughter touched every dress in the store,” says one bride.
The Sentimentalist, Atlanta
Down-to-earth brides heart this whimsical shop in Midtown’s Berkeley Park, citing the cozy cottage location, two cool chicks who own it, and “unique inventory of modern and antique-feeling” gowns.
Blanc Bridal Couture, New Orleans
It may be the new kid on Magazine Street, but this glam salon is gaining traction, thanks to its bend-over-backward consultants, including one a reviewer was legit girl-crushing on.
Garnish Boutique, Baltimore
Self-proclaimed “Garnish girls” gushed about the “one-on-one experience” and gorge decor at this newly renovated shop a short drive from D.C. “It looks like it came right from my Pinterest board,” says a fan.
Hayden Olivia Bridal, Charlotte, N.C.
If you like transparency, this is the place to visit. “Everything is laid out for you” — the dresses, the prices, and the alteration fees — so go ahead and let your squad take a seat while you twirl around in a Hayley Paige or Jim Hjelm gown.
Maddison Row Bridal Chic, Charleston
This salon’s high marks come courtesy of the kick-ass seamstresses. “I lost 40 pounds after ordering my dress, and they made what could’ve been a stressful process seamless, pun intended,” says a bride.
Maggie Louise, Collierville, Tenn.
Molly Farrell is the Memphis bride’s BFF for good reason: She asks each client to fill out a questionnaire and chat on the phone before she even arrives in the shop. “I love that Molly was able to focus on my individual needs, taste, and style from the get-go,” says a fan.
White Dresses, Nashville
It’s all about the atmosphere at this year-old salon, which nails it on dressing-room lighting (“insanely flattering”) and big-reveal moments. (“The vintage mirror is perfection.”)
Warren Barrón Bridal, Dallas
The ladies here always deliver, but especially when a gown is designed by Dallas’s own Lela Rose, whom nearly all of our reviewers chose. One says, “My consultant tracked down a dress I had seen at her runway show and had it shipped to the store for me to try on in person.”
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See More: 50 Things to Know About Finding Your Dream Wedding Dress