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On the Search for the Perfect Dress?
In the midst of all the wedding planning, you might find that your scheduled Santa Barbara engagement session is coming up quickly, and you don’t have enough time to search for a couple of outfits. That’s where we come in. We’ve created this list of our favorite stores in Santa Barbara for engagement dresses just for you! If you don’t want to shop online, these are the places that are local to us that we recommend all the time. And if you do have a couple of weeks until your session and you want to shop online, check out this post.
What to Shop for in an Engagement Session Dress
While you’re shopping around remember there’s no such thing as “too dressed up” when it comes to your engagement session, so don’t be afraid to have some fun!
There’s nothing more romantic than a long, flowy dress. Dresses and skirts tend to look most stunning on camera because they really flatter the female body — which is probably why the red carpet is always full of so many dresses and not very many pantsuits! We recommend choosing long, flowy dresses or skirts because they’re flattering on all body types, look amazing on camera and bring extra movement and dimension to your photos.
Maxi (or floor length) skirts and dresses will give us the best “twirl factor,” add more romance to your walking photos, and look especially gorgeous when juxtaposed with nature, like the desert, forest, fields, or beach.
Cute, shorter cocktail-length dresses or midi skirts photograph beautifully as well. Our brides who choose to bring two dresses will sometimes choose one of each! We recommend avoiding pants and shorts for your session, and saying yes to a dress (or skirt!) or two! You won’t regret it!
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Sirena
Sirena is located in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, just a few blocks from Moxi and Stearns Wharf. They have a great selection of clothing and some small home-good related items, but we love their style in the dress department. Sirena does have a website, but it’s best to go in person. They are known for selling out of their dresses quickly.
Wendy Foster
Wendy Foster has a few locations and is one of our favorite stores in Santa Barbara for engagement dresses. Whether you’re in Los Olivos, Montecito, or Santa Barbara we’d recommend making some time to visit because you’ll probably find something you can’t live without.
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Evangelina Boutique
Evangelina Boutique is located near State Street and has a wonderful selection of dresses. They are bound to have something that makes you feel like a million bucks! We’d also recommend checking out their tops and skirts categories as well. Sometimes you can find some hidden gems and put together an outfit that grants confidence and makes you feel great!
Whiskey Leather
Whiskey Leather is located on one of the main streets in Montecito. It is well worth the short drive and scenic views to visit their store. They have a wonderful selection of long and flowy dresses that are guaranteed to look great on camera!
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Catherine Gee
Catherine Gee has many beautiful and elegant dresses that will look absolutely stunning for your engagement session. This is the perfect store to shop at if you’re looking for a more sleek and elegant cocktail dress.
Would You Like More Help?
We hope this post about our favorite stores in Santa Barbara for engagement dresses has given you some inspiration. If you’re still searching for the perfect dress, let us know and we’ll help you find the right outfit for you!
