Say Yes to Your Dream Dress at Couture Bridal Boutique L&H Couture
This post is sponsored by L&H Couture.
Hi everyone!
I hope you are all doing well, and I wish you all a happy early Valentine’s Day! If you haven’t been following along on Instagram, last week I had the pleasure of visiting designer bridal boutique L&H Couture in Doylestown, PA for an Instagram live. In case you missed it or you did watch and want the information in readable form, this post is going to be all about the boutique! And if you do want to revisit the live, it’s embedded at the bottom of this post.
During our segment, I had the chance to chat with manager Krystyne and consultant Kaki, who, let me just say, were SO fun. Like honestly I should just have them do my live segments for me haha. They made me and make brides feel so welcomed! Not to mention that L&H has been in business for over 50 years with three store locations. L&H Couture features exclusive designer gowns, L&H Bridal in Philadelphia has mid-range gowns, and L&H Bridal Rack in Sinking Spring, PA has options that are friendly for the bride on a budget. There is truly something for everyone!
We started out with a quick walk around the spacious boutique, which carries gowns for the mother of the bride and mother of the groom, bridesmaids’ gowns/evening wear, and of course, stunning bridal gowns! Key designers the boutique carries include Atelier Pronovias, Yumi Katsura, Demetrios, Sottero & Midgley, Eve of Milady, and more. You’ll find everything from fitted silhouettes to big and beautiful ball gowns. Read on to learn more about L&H Couture and get some great gown shopping tips from the experts!
Who is the L&H Couture bride?
Anybody looking for a different and unique dress that isn’t found in other stores. If you want a piece that looks like it’s straight off of the runway, this is the bridal boutique for you. The Yumi Katsura Dewy gown paired with the Jamaica bolero is perfect for the bride who wants something extraordinary, while the Clemence gown by Atelier Pronovias is a lacy regal choice with long sleeves, a scoop neckline, and a detachable train for two looks in one. It’s truly an OH EM GEE gown combining all of the top bridal trends in one fabulous dress. Check out some of the gorgeous styles available below!
What sets L&H Couture apart from other bridal boutiques?
L&H Couture’s alterations department sets it apart from your average bridal boutique. Lucy, the Director of Alterations, is Italian, and growing up in Europe she learned the art of fine tailoring, so you’re definitely in great hands. During the pandemic, a bride wanted to wear her grandmother’s gown, and Lucy was able to take a ball gown and restructure it to be a fit-and-flare silhouette. She’s also able to make customizations like adding sleeves to a strapless gown for a one-of-a-kind look. When Lucy gets a hold of the gowns, she really makes them pop! Kaki pointed out that in-house alterations are best since you know that the gown is in a safe place free of pets, cooking smells, etc. Lucy knows that alterations can make or break a gown and will never let a dress leave the store until it looks perfect in her eyes, even if you think it looks flawless. The store is family-owned, so whether you knew you needed an Italian mother or not, you’ll find one in Lucy! There is really a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Do the designers you carry offer customization?
Some of the designers do customizations, but not all! Eve of Milady, Amalia Carrera, and Demetrios specialize in custom work. L&H Couture has a great relationship with them so Lucy works with the designers to customize the gowns and build up the necklines for modest brides if needed. Again, if you want to really make your gown your own and the designer can’t customize it, Lucy has you covered!
Do you offer plus-size dresses?
Absolutely! There are so many incredible gowns for the curvy bride.
Do you have trunk shows and can you explain why a bride should shop during a trunk show?
Trunk shows are Kaki’s favorite! Trunk shows are especially great for indecisive brides because the gowns are in-store over the weekend and then they leave, so you have to act quickly. Also as a bonus, you get a discount during the trunk show as well! The designer will often send his or her whole collection, so if you have a designer that you love, it’s a great time to make an appointment. Even if it’s a designer you aren’t sure about, there are more gowns to choose from during trunk show time. It’s like getting the inside scoop on up-and-coming styles!
Pronovias
Can you walk us through what an appointment is like at L&H Couture?
Before trying on gowns, the wedding details are discussed as well as the bride’s overall vision. Then she will be taken to look at the gorgeous gowns on display. The gowns are kept in mesh bags so the samples are protected and in pristine condition, and then they are steamed and sanitized after the bride tries them on. Everyone in the store wears a mask as well and there is hand sanitizer available when you first walk in. Just a note: Kaki and Krystyne aren’t wearing masks in the live segment only because the store was closed.
Can you give us some advice for brides or moms who think they know what they want but then realize they love a gown that wasn’t what they originally pictured?
The L&H team at all of the locations are highly experienced so you’re in good hands! It doesn’t take very long to put a dress on, so Kaki recommends that if a consultant pulls a gown you should humor her and try it on, even if you don’t love it. If you hate it, you take it off and never have to wear it again! Sometimes you just have to try on the wildcard. Kaki and Krystyne can really read between the lines to understand what the bride wants and pull something she isn’t exactly describing. Often it ends in the bride saying yes to the dress! You can’t tell what a gown will look like until you take it off of the hanger and put it on. Trust your consultant and keep an open mind!
Any other bridal tips?
Once you get engaged, create a vision with someone you love and trust or by yourself! Pinterest is a great resource. Find your voice and create boundaries so you can stick to your vision. Book your reception venue, and then make your appointment to come shopping. Having all of that information creates a path to make shopping easier. With so many choices today, you need to narrow it down to keep from getting overwhelmed. Kaki compared it to going out to eat, which I thought was a great analogy. Choosing your cuisine and planning a reservation makes everything so much easier than wandering the street reading menus while you’re hungry! And once you find the gown, same with the person you said yes to, stop looking! Delete the Pinterest board! Don’t go shopping to double-check if it’s the right one. If you keep coming back to one gown, again and again, that is the one! Remember, not everyone cries. But when you know, you know. Listen to your gut and be firm if your group tries to convince you otherwise. And be honest with your consultant. Let them know if there’s a gown you are trying to beat, show them photos, etc. And just a note, L&H Couture DOES allow photos in the boutique!
Badgley Mischka
What have you been getting requests for in terms of trends?
Statement sleeves for sure, but color is also having a moment! Nude color linings allow the lace to pop, but L&H Couture has also had brides say yes to black gowns and baby blue gowns. For something more subtle, you can add a touch of color like a blue sash, which can also be your “something blue.”
How long should you wait between trying on and making the final decision?
If you know, just go for it! Sleeping on it won’t help. But it also depends on your personality. If you’re indecisive, a trunk show is great as stated previously because you have a hard deadline to purchase the gown. If you do need to sleep on it due to some uncertainty, that is totally ok! L&H is not about the hard sell or making their brides feel pressured and brides love to come back because of the experience they’ve had. Just make sure to not drive yourself insane and pick apart the gown. If you can close your eyes and you can picture yourself at your wedding in your dress, then it’s the one. Check it off the list and move on to planning other parts of your wedding. And remember to not show everyone photos of your gowns! You may get some unwanted opinions.
Do you have anything fun coming up or exciting announcements?
Yes! L&H’s Philadelphia location is having a sample sale on February 21st. This event is first come first serve. You’ll find amazing gowns at a discount! This event is especially great for brides who don’t have time to shop due to moving their wedding date sooner or who need a dress quickly and don’t have time to order one. There are trunk shows at both locations coming up, with Yumi Katsura and Victor Harper being featured at L&H Couture from today until February 21st. Make an appointment now! You can call 215-489-2777 or make an appointment online here.
Another exciting announcement is that bridesmaids’ gowns are now available! Designers include Amsale, Watters, and Adrianna Papell. Amsale has amazing fabrics and a beautiful fit, and the gowns don’t look like your typical bridesmaids’ gowns. The Watters gowns feature beautiful shimmery fabrics that are soft and comfortable in beautiful rosy tones and gray. For something unexpected, the Chai color is gorgeous! Check out these styles in the live embedded at the end of the post. There are also great party dresses for guests or for your bridesmaids if you want them to wear something a little different. And last but not least, L&H was chosen to sell Pronovias’ samples, stay tuned and watch their social media channels for more information!
Tell me more about mother of the bride and mother of the groom gowns!
The gowns for mother of the bride and mother of the groom are made in New York out of amazing fabrics (think French crepe) and have a beautiful fit, which is super important when it comes to gowns for the more mature woman. There are two dressing rooms in the front of the store for moms. Before she starts trying on gowns, the details of the wedding and her overall vision are discussed, although it’s not uncommon for her to fall in love with something different than what she planned! There’s a gown for everyone from the young mom to the conservative mom to the mom who really wants to wow. And these aren’t your typical matronly gowns. Incredible beading, feathers, and construction make all the difference. And don’t forget, Lucy provides custom alterations for the perfect fit.
And how do you make an appointment?
Call 215-489-2777 or make an appointment online here. You can request Kaki and if she’s available she will be more than happy to help you find your dream gown! She splits her time between the Philadelphia and Doylestown locations.
Well that’s all for this post everyone! I hope if you’re in the PA or NJ area you add L&H Couture to your shopping itinerary. While this post is sponsored, I have to say I honestly had the best time with this crew! Also, make sure to check out their Instagram for updates on new and exciting things happening at the boutique. Wishing you all a very happy Valentine’s Day. And if you need last-minute ideas, make sure to check out this post.
