Bridal Gowns

Yes you do need an appointment. This allows us to give you the best individualized attention possible. Appointments are made for an hour and a half, we will make every effort to accomodate your needs. Call us today! 515-244-2266. Alterations will require an appointment. Your sales associate can help schedule an appointment for bridal alterations.

Now that you have set the date…or not, it’s time to search for that perfect gown!  Take along family, a trusted friend, as many as you need! Please keep in mind our intimate setting and limited seating.  You may want to bring a strapless bra, however we have bras in the store for your use, if needed.  You can bring in pictures of gowns that you like as well.  Most importantly bring an open mind and get ready to have some fun!

Of course. We know this is a big decision, not to mention an investment and want to help you envision what you’d look like on your wedding day.

All sales are final. This final sale policy is consistent with the industry standard for bridal and special occasion apparel. To better understand why all sales are final, you need to look at the process of getting your special gown, bridesmaid dress, veil, and flowergirl dress. When you pick the gown or dress of your dreams, it is then ordered from the designer's manufacturer in your size, length, color and/or with special additions, adjustments and look. Your gown or dress takes approximately four months to arrive in our store. You are a special one of a kind person and so is your dress.

We accept cash, personal checks, cashiers checks, money orders, Visa, Mastercard, Discover Cards and U.S. currency cash. At time of order, we require a payment of half the purchase price of the gown, bridesmaid dress, or any other special order item. The remaining balance is due when the dress/item arrives in the store. Please note ALL bridal purchases including special orders and in-stock gowns, are FINAL SALES. Deposits are NON-REFUNDABLE if your wedding plans change.

We also have a layaway plan….see your bridal consultant for details!

It is never too early to start looking for your bridal gown. Many brides start shopping right after they get engaged (some even earlier!). It is a good idea to plan ahead, six months to one year, in order to allow time for ordering, if necessary, and alterations. Many of our gowns take approximately four to six months depending on the designer, and we like to have 2 months minimum for alterations. Sample gowns do not require the wait time when ordering, but you will need to be close to the size of the dress. Bridesmaid dresses take approximately 3 months.

The Bridal Boutique is a specialty boutique for your bridal needs. To give you the most choice of gowns and dresses, we typically carry only one "sample" of each gown or dress. This "sample" gown or dress is typically in a bridal size 10 - 20 and is in a color of choice by the designer. When you find your wedding gown or bridesmaid dress, we then order it for you in your size, color of choice, length of train, special additions and any other changes you wish. Most wedding gowns take four months to arrive in our store. Bridesmaid dresses typically take three months to arrive in our store. We are not considered an "off the rack" bridal store, but we do sell our "samples" for 20% off if the size and color are to the bride’s liking. Once the samples have been discontinued by us or the designer, our sample gowns are considered bargains at up to 50% off the original price.

Please see our new page for alterations in navigation.

Bridal fittings should begin approximately 2 months before the wedding date. Appointments MUST be made for bridal fittings only.

Your gown will be ordered in the size according to measurements taken at the time of purchase. The Bridal Boutique cannot be held responsible for changes in weight. Typically we can accommodate small changes, however major changes will require extensive alterations chargeable to the bride. After a bride has ordered her gown, she should take great care to not change weight dramatically.

Of course! Year round, today's most popular styles include strapless and sleeveless gowns. If you are planning a cold weather wedding, it is likely that most of your day will be spent indoors. And with the help of the season's hottest accessories, you can also stay fashionably warm for your outdoor travels, events, or photo ops. Our designers suggest adding a satin or faux fur wrap, we carry these in the store and they are gorgeous. Then you have the option of removing the outerwear at your reception, creating a whole new look.

A veil will truly make you look and feel like a bride, so try on several different lengths, styles and combinations to find a look that's right for you. A tiara is also a great option and can be worn with most veils. If you decide not to wear a veil or tiara, there are plenty of headpiece alternatives such as headbands, bun wraps, hair jewelry or flowers. You might not realize that you can mix and match pieces to get the right headpiece look!

This is your day to wear whatever style and color gown you want! Rest assured that while white was once reserved for first-time brides, the modern interpretation is that white is a symbol of celebration. Furthermore, there are many color options available today. We offer a selection of beautiful gowns in a variety of shades from ivory to champagne to light gold. We suggest you choose a gown color that is complimentary to your skin tones. We can assist you in determining what color looks best on YOU!

We prefer to professionally measure each of your bridesmaids however if you have girls who are not able to come in to be measured, we will send measurement cards to them. They should then go to a reputable bridal store (preferably one that carries the same line) in their area to be measured. Your bridesmaid can then either send the card to us or they can call their measurements in. All bridesmaid dresses should be ordered at the same time and from the same store to eliminate dye lot differences. The Bridal Boutique will do what’s possible to ensure a perfect fit; however we cannot be held accountable for measurements taken by others. Please also keep in mind bridesmaid dresses are ordered in the size that is closest to your bridesmaid’s measurements according to the manufacturer’s size chart. Bridesmaid dresses are not custom made to the maid’s measurements, alterations may be necessary.

Bridesmaids come in all shapes and sizes, so you'll want a lot of options. We offer an extensive selection of dresses that can be ordered in sizes 2-26 With such an amazing assortment of styles, colors, and accessories, your options are endless. After choosing your nearest-and-dearest friends to be a part of the big day, consider their style and color preferences as well as their figure types. A-Line and Princess silhouettes are ideal for most figures, as they do not have a distinct waistline and give an uninterrupted, slimming appearance..Choose a color that will flatter your bridesmaids and offer an appropriate complement to your own gown. Pretty pinks like rosebud and beautiful colors like coral look great with most skin tones.

Yes we can dye your silk or satin shoes to match your gown and your bridesmaid gowns. If you purchase the shoes from the Bridal Boutique, this service is free. If it’s a pair of shoes that you’ve purchased elsewhere, we will dye your shoes for $10 per pair.

Your mother, as well as your groom's mother, can select from a variety of mother’s dresses that coordinate with your bridesmaid style. We do not suggest a perfect match, however we suggest choosing a similar formality and complementary color scheme.

Yes, we will store your gown until your wedding day free of charge. We will also steam and press your gown before you pick it up all free of charge.

We proudly use Jim’s Formal Wear for our tuxedo rental. They carry the most up-to-date styles and are known for their excellent quality. The groom’s tuxedo is free with six paid rentals.

We will deliver your gown, bridesmaid dresses, and tuxedos etc in the Des Moines metro area free of charge. Arrangements need to be made in advance. Delivery outside the Des Moines area can be arranged for a fee. Along with the delivery, we can assist you and wedding party with dressing. This ensures you will look your best on the most important day of your life. This is also a complimentary service we provide with the purchase of a bridal gown.

It's smart to buy some things over the phone and the Internet, but not an item that requires measuring, fittings, alterations, and professional pressing. Following is a TRUE story. A bride had been in a full-service store looking for her wedding gown. She found what she wanted; however, she ordered it over the Internet as she found a source that would sell her the same gown for $100 less. After receiving her wedding gown: (1) in a small box, (2) dirty and (3) not the correct size, she is having to pay $250 for the necessary alterations and $175 to have the gown professionally cleaned and pressed. When she tried to phone the Internet business where she ordered the dress, the number had been changed to an "unpublished" number. In a recent article in USA Today, it was reported that shoppers were getting a poor deal from Internet retailers. The Consumers International research group ordered 151 items from various Internet sites. It found that one in ten items never arrived. Your wedding gown is too important to take a chance. Please also be aware of designer gowns for sale on the internet. 9 times out of 10 these “designers” are copies and are of poor quality. If there was ever a time when you deserve quality, it’s your wedding day. Only buy something as important as your wedding gown from an authorized retailer.