Finding Your Dream Elopement Dress: 12 Best Designers & Shops

Picking out your elopement/wedding dress can easily become overwhelming, even though it’s supposed to be a super fun and exciting process!

How do you know where to shop? What style should you go for? Which designers are the best?

That’s why I’ve created a list of my favorite elopement/bridal dress designers + the best bridal shops in Seattle, to help you narrow down your options and give you a great place to start. I’ve also included 7 unique elopement wedding dress ideas at the bottom of this blog post for any brides looking for ways to create a unique, personalized look.

Happy dress shopping!

Best Elopement/Bridal Dress Designers

1. Galia Lahav

Galia Lahav has got to be one of my all-time favorite dress designers, and I’ve worked with them tons of times. Most recently, I actually did a shoot in Arizona to photograph some of their newest designs!

Galia Lahav is a luxury bridal boutique that prides themselves on unique pieces, high-end materials & techniques, and custom gowns for every type of bride. The personalization & details on each and every dress are something you truly won’t find at any other bridal company. You’ll never regret investing in a unique, personalized piece by GL.

Take a look at some of my past brides who chose Galia Lahav for their wedding dress. You’ll fall in love as soon as you see these gowns, trust me!

2. BERTA

BERTA is a fashion house originally created by designer Berta Balilti, famous for mixing bold & modern styles with vintage materials & retro looks. She’s a top-notch designer in the bridal industry and has designed countless elegant creations for brides around the world!

Domenica in BERTA

Domenica rocked a BERTA gown for her wedding day with Dominic. A stunning mermaid-fit gown with a classic wedding feel, yet mixed with the modern vibes of the uniquely-shaped deep neckline cut.

3. Rue de Seine

If you’ve ever seen a wedding gown filled to the brim with a luxury bohemian feel, unique patterns, & a trendy fit. it was probably a Rue de Seine gown.

Rue de Seine is THE top-tier company for modern bohemian bridal looks for the free-spirited bride. Founded by designer Michele Corty, who was inspired by the effortless bohemian style of Saint-Germain-des-Prés (a Parisian district). This company produces all its gowns in-house and put the utmost care into its craft. Every gown is created & cut by the same seamstress and is decorated from top-to-bottom with unique patterns that really force you to think outside of the box when it comes to wedding gowns! From white dresses with bohemian cutouts, to blue dresses with a luxury Western-style, to materials that allow you to move freely, Rue de Seine should be the go-to bridal designer for any bohemian-loving bride.

Alisa in Rue de Seine

Alisa knew that she wanted to embody a free-spirited, bohemian vibe when she & Kyle tied the knot out in the wide-open Arizona desert. She picked a Rue de Seine gown with chunk floral designs, open back, flowy sleeves, and a leg slit. Perfect for free movement around the desert. They fully embraced the modern bohemian style we all love, pairing Lauren’s gown with Kyle's black suit!

If you’re loving these photos of Alisa in Arizona, you’ll definitely enjoy my blog post featuring the Best Places to Elope in Arizona!

4. Rime Arodaky

Rime Arodaky is a designer that I feel like many people haven’t heard of. She has created many of the most beautifully-crafted bridal looks out there. Her creations are full of effortless glamor, fashion-forward style, and elegant craftsmanship. From one-of-a-kind bridal looks such as pantsuits to glamorous takes on traditional styles, to unique accessories to elevate any look.

With a focus on ethical design techniques & the comfort of each and every bride, Rime has created countless bridal looks using recycled crepe and makes sure every dress is made of

5. Grace Loves Lace

Grace Loves Lace is a bridal company whose gowns are handmade in Australia. They focus on crafting pieces that take into account the comfort & movement of their brides. They believe in creating gowns out of high-quality, luxury, and sustainably-sourced fabrics, using ethical manufacturing techniques, and use only the finest laces, silks, & embroideries. Talk about a luxury company that truly cares about its customers!

Grace Loves Lace loves creating gowns that scream effortless luxury, confidence, & empowerment for every bride that purchases one. This company has a dress for everyone, from modern bohemian styles, to elevated traditional gowns, to simple & chic looks.

6. Sarah Seven

Sarah Seven is a designer who creates chic wedding gowns for the modern bride. Whether she’s looking for a simple gown to pair with accent accessories, or a unique bridal look with beaded sleeves & a leg slit to keep her comfortable. These designer dresses are luxurious, elegant, and modern, filled to the brim with unique touches to help brides find what feels like them, such as removable sleeves, puffed shoulder pads, and trains of all lengths.

7. Teuta Matoshi

Teuta Matoshi actually isn’t a bridal designer, but a company specializing in high-quality, whimsically feminine gowns. Her gowns are amazing options for any brides searching for a non-traditional yet still luxurious look! Every gown looks like something out of a whimsical storybook. Many are decorated with flowers, featuring pastel colors, and offering tons of different fits + styles. Wearing a gown from Teuta Matoshi to your wedding is a sure way to embody a unique bridal look that makes it look like you’re straight out of a fairytale!

8. Leanne Marshall

Finally, Leanne Marshall is a bridal designer that produces gowns in New York, all composed of natural, sustainable textiles & materials sourced from reputable mills. Her signature bridal line is made up of sophisticated designs full of feminine details and timeless elegance, handcrafted for brides who want a dress that will showcase her beauty in a simple yet luxurious fashion. Her dresses are unique and dreamy for any bride looking for an ethereal look, whether that means a classic white dress or a whimsical dress with a pop of color.

Where to Buy Your Elopement Dress: Best Bridal Shops in Seattle, Washington

If you’re shopping for a gown in the Seattle area, here are a few of my favorite, go-to shops that I recommend to brides!

1. The Dress Theory

The Dress Theory is a bridal company that designs effortless dresses for the modern, romantic, & free-spirited bride. They were actually founded in Seattle, and now have locations in Nashville & San Diego as well! They’ve got tons of styles to offer, from modern to bohemian to eclectic gowns & more, all made with care, detail, & fairness. Their gowns range from $2000-$8000, with an average purchase range of $2500-$4500.

Visit the Dress Theory Seattle at 1423 N 45th St., just north of the Fremont area!

2. a&bé Bridal

a&bé Bridal is a bridal boutique with locations in Austin, Boise, Dallas, Denver, Minneapolis, Portland, Raleigh, Sacramento, & Seattle. They’ve got tons of beautiful styles available to fit your personal vision & style, from modern dresses, to more romantic classic styles, to chic trendsetting designs. Their gowns range from $1200-$3000+, most ranging from $1500-$2500.

Visit a&bé Bridal at 5423 Ballard Avenue NW!

3. IDINA Bride

IDINA Bride’s slogan is “bridal wear that transcends the conventional” - how could you not already love that? This boutique provides an intimate, elevated bridal shopping experience to help you find your dream dress, whether you’re looking for a simple gown with pockets, a whimsical gown full of elegant details & appliqué, or a unique gown with puffed sleeves and a leg slit, they’ve got it all.

Visit IDINA Bride at 610 Main Street in Edmonds!

4. Grace Loves Lace

I already mentioned Grace Loves Lace as a fantastic bridal designer, and fortunately they’ve got a showroom in Seattle you can visit for your bridal shopping experience.

Visit Grace Loves Lace at 5201 Ballard Ave NW, right near a&bé Bridal!

7 Unique Elopement Wedding Dress Ideas

Before you go, I wanted to give you a few unique elopement or wedding dress ideas to help you think outside of the box when it comes to picking your dream dress!

1. Sleeves

Sleeves are a perfect way to add a unique touch to any dress, whether the dress comes with sleeves sewn on or you buy removable sleeves to put on & take off at different parts of the day. You could go for simple long sleeves, puffed sleeves, sleeves with floral appliqué, the options are endless. Check out some examples of bridal gowns with sleeves below, featuring Diamond, Natalie, Blair, & Jess!

3. Geometric cutouts + patterns

Geometric cutouts and patterns are a great way to add some dimension & unique details to a dress! You can see that Natalie’s dress, below, featured uniquely-shaped cutouts in the shape of an upside-down triangle at the top, and then skinny rectangles going down the bottom of the dress. These cutouts really created a unique frame & look to a simple floral dress!

Lauren’s dress is also a great example of geometric patterns; her dress had criss-cross squares from top to bottom. The top of the gown also featured lines of flowers & straight-edge cutouts, which created a really unique look.