One of the most important elements of any wedding day is of course the dress. An item that some of us may have been envisioning for many years, when it comes to selecting your gown no detail can be overlooked and the bride must be no less than serenely happy with her choice. To make sure the match between dress and bride is another made in heaven, Kent’s wedding dress experts are on hand with guidance, advice, support and bespoke services to ensure that your dress is no less than perfect. 

From sweetheart necklines and pearl buttons to lace detailing and satin petticoats and the less traditional dresses that come in a variety of colours, shapes and materials, there are a myriad of both major features and minor details to consider when choosing ‘the’ dress. You may have everything decided upon every specification before your visit to the bridal boutique, or perhaps you are waiting for inspiration and advice. Whatever your gown situation may be, insideKENT’s guide to the best bridal boutiques and wedding outfitters in the county is certain to guide you on your way to being united with your dream wedding dress.

Victoria Grace Bridal, Canterbury

Instagram: @victoriagracebridal

Expect warm, caring advice and service from Hayley, Emma and Julie, the three experts that run Victoria Grace Bridal in picturesque Canterbury. Offering private appointments to give you exclusivity while trying on gowns and providing those personal touches you so deserve, service and compassion at Victoria Grace is a defining trademark. Offering a wide range of stunning bridal gowns to suit all budgets which range between sizes 8-34, Victoria Grace also offer a ‘take away today’ price on all gowns if your wedding is close, or for those that would like to buy a dress at a discounted price. Victoria Grace also provides a wonderful range of bridesmaid dresses which can be ordered in over 50 colours, so easily coordinated with your colour scheme. “Our aim is to make sure the bridal shopping experience is as comfortable as possible and a memorable one for not only the bride, but their family and friends too,” says Emma.

“Making sure our bride’s experience is special lies at the heart of everything we do. It should be the most unforgettable time, finding ‘the one’. We know that for some, wedding dress shopping can feel very daunting and finding the perfect dress is a lot of responsibility. We are not only here to help, but make those memories ones to treasure for a lifetime. We passionately believe that from the moment a bride walks into our beautiful boutique, she feels relaxed, looked after and part of the Victoria Grace family.”

With beautiful gowns that range between £795 – £2000, as well as their, ready-to-wear collection, Victoria Grace are proud to be a stockist of these fabulous designers: Essense of Australia, Stella York, Allure Bridals, Victoria Kay, Kenneth Winston Couture and Ella Rosa by Kenneth Winston. “These Designers give us the ability to offer our lovely brides the best range of gowns, with each designer stocking very different styles, shapes and designs. Whether princess, elegant or boho to name but a few, we have styles to suit all shapes, budgets and desires.”

Country Brides of Faversham

Instagram: @countrybridesoffaversham

Established in 1998, Country Brides of Faversham have been helping brides choose their perfect wedding dresses for over 20 years. Proud winners of the Kent Wedding awards 2019 as well as being a Kent Wedding Awards Finalist in both 2020 and 2021, they remain one of Kent’s most popular bridal boutiques with brides coming from far and wide to purchase dresses. 

Stocking a stunning collection, their designers include Morilee, Romantica of Devon, Ladybird, and UK designed and made Lucy Can’t Dance. Country Brides of Faversham therefore stock a wide range of shapes and styles with everything from ball gown wedding dresses, a-line wedding dresses, floaty boho wedding dresses and beautiful fit-and-flare wedding dresses. Stocking a minimum of 80 sample dresses in their studio ranging from sizes 8 to 28, with made-to-order prices starting from £995 and ex-sample dresses starting from just £695, there is destined to be a dress to suit you.  

For exclusivity and ultimate service, Country Brides operate by private bridal appointment only, which take place in their beautiful first floor studio at an elegant 16th-century Faversham manor house. After specifying their dress wants, needs and desires, brides will then be guided through the collection and supported by one of the experienced Country Brides team.

Expert Jane tells us: “We have been under new management since October 2020, but our ethos is as it has always been – to provide a safe and nurturing environment where brides can come to relax and enjoy their time with us while choosing their perfect wedding dress. A bride’s wedding dress journey is important to us and we are proud to provide a relaxed and welcoming experience in our private bridal studio. If you’re looking for something a little bit special, then why not book one of our luxury bridal appointments and treat yourself and your guest to a 30-minute pamper treatment after your bridal appointment.”

Dress Dreams, Sevenoaks 

Instagram: @dressdreamsbridal

Elevating ‘bridal out of the ordinary’, Dress Dreams Bridal Boutique in Sevenoaks offers the modern bride something a little different. “Breathtaking contemporary dresses reflect our brides spirit and dreams,” says expert Kate. “Our wedding dresses are created by the finest fashion-forward international designers whose designs are all exquisitely beautiful and unique.”

Understanding that choosing your wedding dress is as exciting as it gets, and that your experience should be a memory to treasure forever, Kate tells us that she wanted to create a deeply personal bridal experience to provide “above and beyond customer service without the stuffiness, where each bride and her loved ones feel welcomed, spoilt and looked after by a team that really care.”

“Afterall, this is a journey,” Kate says. “Some brides know exactly what they want, others have no idea where to start and others think they know what they want but then try something different and fall in love!”

Located at a newly refurbished boutique in Sevenoaks, Dress Dreams has been designed to feel luxurious and glamorous at the same time as being relaxing and welcoming to all.  From the velvet sofas to the complimentary glass of fizz, Dress Dreams prioritise warmth and luxury.   

“Whether you are looking for ethereal heaven, sexy chic, edgy trend or a dreamy classic, we can’t wait to help you find your dream wedding dress.”

Isabella Grace, Royal Tunbridge Wells

Instagram: @isabellagracebridal

Having been crowned the UK’s Best Bridal Retailer no less than five times in the last six years, Isabella Grace in Royal Tunbridge Wells pride themselves on their expertise and outstanding service.

This elegant bridal boutique in the heart of elegant and leafy Tunbridge Wells is one of Kent’s premier places to shop for wedding dresses, with appointments highly sought after by brides. Offering beautiful wedding dresses from outstanding design houses such Madi Lane, Justin Alexander, Martina Liana, Essense of Australia and Stella York, the collection consists of over 180 dresses with prices starting at just over £1000. Promising something for every bride, Isabella Grace is spread over four floors of a Regency town house and is the largest, most elegant bridal boutique in Tunbridge Wells. With three totally private fitting suites to ensure that brides and their guests can relax and enjoy the most luxurious wedding dress shopping experience possible, a visit to Isabella Grace is sure to be bespoke, enjoyable and stress-free.

“We believe that choosing a wedding dress should be one of life’s most magical experiences. From the minute you walk into our boutique for your first appointment, to the minute you leave us having collected your wedding dress, you will receive a one-to-one personalised service from one of our highly skilled bridal consultants. We are here to guide you every step of the way in finding your dream dress and completing your bridal look to perfection,” says owner Rebecca. “Our job is to make sure that you look and feel like the bride you’ve always dreamed of.”

Bridal Boutique, Chilham

Instagram: @chilhambridal

A totally unique approach to wedding dress shopping, Chilham Bridal Boutique is Kent’s go-to luxury bridal boutique for ex-sample and pre-loved designer label wedding dresses. Their off-the-peg collection consists of the latest styles and trends from the most recent bridal collections of fabulous designers including Pronovias, Justin Alexander, Modeca, Willowby, Stella York, Essense of Australia, Madi Lane, Dando London, Adriana Alier and many more

Perfect for brides with a budget of £700 – £1700 who want a quality and stylish designer wedding dress at a reduced price, Chilham Bridal Boutique believe quality and service are imperative. Alongside beautiful dresses, Chilham Bridal Boutique believes in providing an utterly special bridal shopping experience for not just the bride but her family and friends too.