In The Shop October 2022!

It’s been a while since we shared a blog post specifically to swoon over some of our favorite wedding gowns. The Bustle bridal shop is often a front door for our team to escape. With a step inside this enchanted closet, we let reality wait in the parking lot for a few hours. If you open a window, some blissful serotonin might find its way out. Each rack is a cadence of texture and softness - a complete dream. A reminder that celebrating love and art will always leave a gentle space for effortless wonder.

“We don’t create a fantasy world to escape reality. We create it to be able to stay.”

— Lynda Barry

We would love nothing more than to have you in our shop so you can experience this simple magic for yourself. If you are interested in booking a bridal appointment with one of our consultants, you can schedule that appointment here.

SEE YOU SOON <3

Birmingham's Only Sample Gown Shop

So it begins, wedding planning is in full swing. As both your to-do list and excitement grow, the time has come to start the beloved google search for local bridal boutiques. With each click you feel yourself getting lost in the pool of wedding dress shopping options. SO. MANY. DRESS. SHOPS. We hope this blog can help you get to know our bridal gown shop and what makes it special. 

We’ve found that not all of our clients know Bustle is the ONLY all Sample Gown shop in Birmingham. What does that mean? We’re glad you asked!

Sample Wedding Gowns are dresses that have been tried on by brides but never actually altered or purchased. At a traditional bridal shop, brides will try on sample gowns and order their dress in a different color or size. But, what happens when the sample gowns run their course?

The act of seeking out the sample gowns in our shop reminds me a lot of the movie National Treasure. And if that’s the case, our intuitive shop owner is the Nicholas Cage of the wedding world. She puts so much intention in seeking out and selecting the gallery of gowns we have in the shop. Each gown is incredibly special in their own way. There are a multitude of reasons why shopping sample gowns at our shop is a wonderful choice. Below we will highlight some of our favorite reasons!

1. COST

At Bustle, EVERY gown is under $3,000. Buying a sample gown means that you will get the designer of your dreams at quite literally a fraction of the cost. We know the anxious feelings that can come when visiting a bridal boutique for the first time without knowing how many gowns will be available in your budget. It’s nerve-racking and uncomfortable. When you visit Bustle, you can breathe deep knowing that every gown is set at a price that is accessible for every bride.

2. SUSTAINABILITY

It’s no secret that buying second hand is an amazing way to reduce waste and cut costs. If wearing a used gown isn’t for you, shopping sample gowns is the perfect solution. It’s both devastating and unfortunate to think of a beautifully hand-crafted wedding dress going to the scrap pile. At Bustle, we give gowns a second life. You get a dress that is perfectly tailored to you, without ever being worn by another bride. Your wedding will be the first wedding day your gown has ever seen.

3. NO WAIT

The dreaded wait time for your ordered wedding dress to come in was already anxiety inducing. Calculating that wait time felt like a math problem that you could never solve. The wait only got worse for traditional bridal shops in recent years with the supply chain issues from the pandemic. At Bustle, there is NO WAIT. You get to take home your dream dress THAT day. Imagine saying “yes” to the dress and then your consultant giving you that same dress in a sleek garment bag as you leave your appointment. That is the experience you get with Bustle. Shopping sample gowns means there is no wait time. Supply chain issues, who?

4. FEWER ALTERATIONS

Even though our shop is a sample dress boutique, that doesn’t mean you will be shopping alone. Bustle will always make sure you have the most elevated shopping experience. We have the sweetest, most intentional bridal consultants ready to guide you to the dress of a lifetime. Because our consultants will be bringing you gowns that are tailored to your style and body, this greatly decreases the amount of alterations you will need. You are getting to try on every gown with the knowledge that you will take that dress home. We aren’t blindly ordering a size with the hopes that when it comes in, it will fit like you envisioned. We’ve found that aside from minor alterations—like a hemline taken up or waistline taken in—our brides rarely make alterations to their gown.

It would be an absolute honor to help you find the dress your heart has been looking for. You can make your own bridal appointment here. And if you have any pre appointment questions, don’t hesitate to send us a message on instagram or visit our chat portal on our website. Our team loves to post reels of new arrivals on our instagram - you can find our recent reel here! We can’t wait to see you! 

Catherine Ryals: seamstress and designer.

This lovely woman is Catherine and she is the most talented seamstress we have ever met.

View fullsize

Catherine has been sewing since age 6 when she began making clothes for her dolls. She has been perfecting her craft ever since and now has an adorable studio in Mountain Brook which is home to Catherine Ryals Couture. Not only is she is able to transform any gown with exactly the right alterations, she is also an incredible designer. She has created couture bridal and mother-of-the-bride gowns as well as frocks for numerous other affairs. Below are just a few of the wedding gowns from her original Stella Reese collection.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Love her already? Contact her at Catherine.Ryals@gmail.com to inquire about alterations or couture garments. Be sure to tell her Bustle sent you!