Wedding Dress Shopping

• Gather your besties and start the morning on South Beverly Drive. Parking is recommended at the City of Beverly Hills parking structure at 216 South Beverly Drive, just south of Charleville Boulevard, where your first two hours are free.

• Enjoy breakfast at Chaumont Bakery & Café, a small French cafe, offering breakfast dishes such as smoked salmon with poached eggs, a freshly baked croissant and hollandaise sauce and the vegetable omelet with zucchini, broccoli, caramelized onions and goat cheese. With fresh ground coffee, smoothies and fresh squeezed orange juice, you’ll find Chaumont Bakery to be the perfect place to map out the day ahead. 

• Walk to the new Bella Bridesmaids, just down the street on Beverly Drive and head to the second level.  Here you will find a showroom with an array of dresses for your girls from Jenny Yoo, Amsale, Dessy Group and Pia Gladys Perey who has been worn by everyone from A-list star Angelina Jolie to Bravo TV reality personalities on Vanderpump Rules. Here, you can shop for one of the best selections of bridesmaids’ dresses with hundreds of selections and accessories but be sure to make an appointment in advance. (310) 550-1755

• Now it’s time to focus on you, so head to Winnie Couture on Wilshire Boulevard, just east of Canon Drive. Amid the pink draperies and white chandeliers, are the latest designs from Winnie Chlomin Lee. From the color and material to the neckline and hem, each of the gorgeous gowns in this flagship boutique can be customized to fit your needs. The salon is available by appointment only, so remember to contact the boutique in advance. (310) 858-8868

• Walk to Department Store Row and the second floor at Saks Fifth Avenue. While they no longer carry traditional wedding gowns, you can find lovely designer white gowns from Carolina Herrera, Herve Leger and Love Shack Fancy among many others.  And, don’t forget the Jimmy Choo heels on the ground floor– a wedding favorite, while you peruse the vast cosmetics counter to complete the look. (310) 275-4211

• If your fiancé is still searching for his perfect groom ensemble, the Saks Fifth Avenue Men’s Store next door is the perfect place to find formalwear and made-to-measure suiting, as well as men’s skin care and fragrances. (310) 275-4211

• After trying on the designer gowns, stroll over to Spanish import TATEL for lunch. They offer a festive front patio on Canon Drive with banquettes or a more secluded back area for alfresco dining with larger tables on “El Patio.” Order traditional tortilla, grilled branzino fillet and cheesecake as part of the prix fixe menu and toast with champagne. If you are shopping on the weekend, stop by for the brunch menu with eggs Benedict, chicken and waffles but don’t miss the bottomless mimosas and sangria. This spot gets packed from mid-week to weekends, so reservations are highly recommended. (310) 651-8553

• Now that you’ve checked off the morning’s itinerary, it’s time to visit Rodeo Drive. Step inside the Vera Wang boutique, situated in between South Santa Monica Boulevard and Brighton Way to try on the latest designs from the undisputed queen of bridal. With an edgy all-black interior, the white iconic gowns pop against the blackened floors, walls and fixtures. As you try on the fabulous Vera Wang gowns, take a moment to peer out the window onto Rodeo Drive and soak in the day. As with the other boutiques on this list, an appointment is required. (323) 602-0174

• For one last fitting, Panache Bridals of Beverly hills offers a large private VIP room with a bridal suite, wall-to-wall mirrors, and a private runway where you can practice your walk down the aisle in Inbal Dror, Lian Rokman and Michael Depaulo formal gowns. By appointment only (310)-860-9221

• Another way to handle the search for the perfect dress is to have gowns brought to you. At the Beverly Wilshire, a Four Seasons Hotel (of “Pretty Women” fame,) go for the star treatment à la Julia Roberts. The property has amazing relationships with the stores on Rodeo Drive and can arrange for private sessions from the comfort of your guest room or suite. In addition, they have the jewels to accessories your look on-site from David Webb, Mikimoto, and Jason of Beverly Hills.  

• Wrap up the day with Afternoon Tea at The Living Room, inside The Peninsula Beverly Hills. Served from Thursday to Sunday with seatings at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 4 p.m., enjoy sweets such as blueberry truffle, strawberry elderflower cake and sandwiches, like house-smoked salmon or lobster roll with caviar, while you drink from a selection of teas. Toast the special day – and hopefully the success of finding your perfect gown - with a glass of Laurent-Perrier Champagne, which is also available with the tea service. (310) 975-2736

About the Author

Carole Dixon’s international career in film, television and publishing has spanned over several continents but holds a long history in Beverly Hills. Dixon worked for the late, legendary talk-show host Merv Griffin’s production company based in the city for over a decade when he owned The Beverly Hilton Hotel. Since then, her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Travel & Leisure, Robb Report, Modern Luxury, AFAR, PureWow, The Hollywood Reporter, Wallpaper and the Beverly Hills Courier, among many others. As a luxury lifestyle expert, she frequently reviews Michelin starred restaurants and chefs, 5-star resorts, wine country regions, spas, interior designers and architects. Favorite projects have included producing “Food for Thought” for Bloomberg in London with legendary A.A. Gill, co-launching “The Feast” for NBC LA and penning the Wallpaper City Guide Books for many years.