Wedding dress shopping season is a year-round occasion for brides-to-be, with everyone searching for their dream wedding gown. When considering which designer wedding dress to try on, Riki Dalal is a name that should be on the radar of any fashion-forward bride. With collections that cater to a wide range of tastes – not to mention, a private designer wedding dress shopping experience for a bride and her bridal party – there’s a Riki Dalal wedding gown out there for everyone. We had a chat with the globally-renowned designer’s team to learn more about what brides can expect during the wedding dress shopping process.
GO: When did your shop first open?
A: We opened our first Riki Dalal Flagship Boutique in the United States in July 2018, and we are the fourth Flagship in the world for Riki Dalal, along with London, Athens and Israel.
GO: What/Who inspired you to open your first Flagship in the United States?
A: The interest from brides in the US encouraged us to open our first flagship here, as well as offer our collections to individual stores across the US. We are seeing continued demand for the Israeli wedding dress aesthetic, and we are the largest Israeli wedding dress designer in the world with over 200 stores in Europe and Asia and 4 Flagships.
GO: Tell us about your brand – what are the differences between your three collections, Riki Couture, NOYA and LIRI Bridal?
A: We design gowns to appeal to all brides; our three collections express a certain style and personality unique to each collection. Riki Couture is for a sophisticated, confident bride willing to make a fashion statement on her wedding day. It represents Riki’s dream, to design without limitations and fully express her creativity. It is our only collection which offers our signature Made to Measure service as complimentary. The styles are customizable and are created from extraordinary fabrics. This is a collection designed for the bride who appreciates the added details that define luxury.
Our NOYA collection offers styles that are trendy and fashion forward. The NOYA bride is comfortable in her own skin and isn’t afraid to surprise with her sense of style. The NOYA collection is an achievable dream dress for most brides, with an average price point of $3,000. Brides can truly relate to the NOYA design. Our signature Made to Measure service can be ordered with any NOYA gown.
LIRI Bridal is a completely different look. Offering brides a sweeter, less sexy style and utilizing fabrics more familiar with traditional bridal gowns. LIRI Bridal leans toward more lace and sparkle, creating a dream wedding dress befitting a princess.
Riki’s inspiration derives from her involvement at our Riki Dalal Flagship in Israel. Riki is hands-on at the boutique, listening to her brides’ desires and designing new collections based on her experiences with real brides. It is Riki’s belief that all brides deserve to wear their dream dress for their wedding day!
GO: Are there any bridal fashion trends that stand out to you this year?
A: Brides are trending toward a clean and simple aesthetic with a modern take on satin fabric. Laces are delicate and light, while overskirts are back for brides wanting to change up their look from wedding to party without purchasing two different dresses.
GO: Do you offer any additional services to brides and her guests during the designer wedding dress shopping process?
A: Along with the incredible selection of gowns in our extensive price range, we provide our brides with the option of ordering a fully customized gown, or a custom fit gown. Our Made to Measure service includes 20 measurements to provide an incomparable fit.
Brides can also request a Private Shopping Experience, reserving our boutique exclusively for the bride and her guests. This service comes with an option to include champagne and lite bites.
GO: Ideally, how far in advance should a bride purchase her gown?
A: This question isn't as easy to answer these days, given all the changes in the last year. We recommend a bride start dress shopping at least 10 -12 months prior to her wedding day. This is the least stressful way to find your dream dress, allowing 7-9 months for ordering lead time and another 8 weeks for alterations. You will want to have your gown arrive with plenty of time so that the bride can choose all her accessories as well.
GO: What advice do you have for brides in search of the perfect wedding dress?
A: Keep an open mind! Riki Dalal gowns are truly unique and we use distinctive fabrics in innovative ways. It is a hallmark of our brand. Often times we hear brides say they have never seen dresses quite like ours. We also customize our dresses to suit each and every bride's individual sense of style. We sincerely want to help every bride find their dream dress.
