It’s one thing to admire all of these BHLDN pretties online, but it’s quite another to experience it all in person! BHLDN has only two stores at the moment, and since one is in downtown Houston (the other is in Chicago), I was thrilled to finally stop by and take a look at all of the gorgeous gowns and products a few weeks ago. My dear friend Aelish of Aelish Wilmot Photography came along with me to capture every detail, and I’m so excited to share my experience with you today!

The team at BHLDN Houston is truly wonderful. We worked with the events manager, Cynthia, to come up with the perfect way to bring the store experience to life, and she could not have been more sweet, helpful, or enthusiastic. Thank you so much, Cynthia! We also worked closely with Lindsay, an incredible stylist who has been with BHLDN Houston since they opened in August 2011. She was a dream to work with, and you’ll see in this post just how talented she is!

The store is split up into sections—bridesmaid and party dresses, décor, lingerie, shoes (be still my shoe-loving heart!), and of course, the bridal gowns. Along with the products themselves, every detail of the store is so beautiful and thoughtful. In the décor room, Lindsay and I pulled together some pieces to create the sweetest cake table vignette, complete with sparkling serving knives and vintage-inspired dessert plates. We could have made a million combinations with all of the goodies in that little room!

To show the experience of a BHLDN bride, Cynthia, Lindsay, and I decided to do a mock appointment. We started out with a little consultation, during which Lindsay asked me about the details of my “wedding” and the look I was going for. I told her I wanted to try out a variety of distinctive looks, while always adhering to Something Pretty’s aesthetic of classic and charming. With Lindsay’s expert help, I selected a handful of bridesmaid dresses and three completely unique bridal gowns to try.

While Lindsay gathered the gowns in my size, Aelish and I waited in the bridal dressing room, which was an experience in itself. We relaxed on a rose-colored settee, and were delighted when Lindsay brought out a cute tray of white wine and mini cheesecakes for us to enjoy. So fun!

The first gown I tried on was my personal pick—the Burnished Organza Gown. I have been swooning over this gown since BHLDN launched, and fell even more in love with it when I featured this sweet wedding. Lindsay created the perfect boho chic look for me, complete with the intricate Cherished Heirloom Scarf and the stunning Empyrean Circlet. I never would have picked up this headpiece on my own, but Aelish and I both fell head over heels for it. These accessories definitely brought the gown to life in a whole new way!

The second gown was one that Lindsay picked out for me: the 20s-inspired Lita Gown. The fabric of the gown feels incredibly romantic and special, and once Lindsay worked her magic by twisting my hair into a low bun and adding the Sweetbriar Headpiece (seriously, have you ever seen anything so gorgeous?), and the dramatic Insignia Necklace, I felt like Daisy Buchanan on her wedding day.  Shoes were one of the things I was the most excited about trying, so I chose the sparkly gold Moonlit Peep-Toes to complete this look. As an added finishing touch, Lindsay brought out the luxurious Enfumé Wrap. The bar cart in the pictures below is where BHLDN stylists collect accessories and details for a bride to try while she changes into a gown. I thought this was such a special service, and as you can see from these pictures, the stylists definitely know what they’re doing!

Lindsay picked the third gown, the Ribboned Silk Gown, because it has been one of the most popular styles lately (as you may remember, the bride I featured on Monday wore it!). I didn’t think I could pull off this silhouette, but my gosh, I felt like a glamorous old-Hollywood starlet as soon as I looked in the mirror. The gown fit like a glove and all of the draping details were so incredibly chic, I could see immediately why this gown is a favorite. To add to the vintage glam look, Lindsay brought out the darling Polka-Dot Mary Janes, the stunning Gilded Fronds bracelet and Wild Rose Earrings, and the dreamy Lighter than Air veil. I think the result was my favorite look of the day, and according to Aelish, it was the one that looked the most “me.” By the way, how gorgeous is that paper flower backdrop behind the mannequins? It was handmade for BHLDN by Balushka.

Next, it was time to style up a few bridesmaid looks! These could be easily translated for any party or event, which is something I think is so important in bridesmaid dress selection. From the adorable blue dresses we picked out at the start of the afternoon, I first tried on the Horizon Dress, which also comes in white. I was enchanted by the scalloped details and little bow belt. Lindsay played up the bow by pairing the dress with the glittery metallic lace Mercury Peep-Toes, which I absolutely loved, one-of-a-kind pink crystal drop earrings by Dolores Petunia for BHLDN, and a vintage Austrian crystal bracelet. The vintage pieces are a special advantage of being at the store, since these unique pieces are one-of-a-kind, and therefore not available online.

For the final look of the day, I wore the bow-covered Ribboned Garland Dress paired with shoes I’ve been admiring since BHLDN launched, the sweet Elopement Pumps in my favorite color. I can see why so many brides choose BHLDN shoes for their big days–every pair I tried on was so comfortable! Lindsay also handed me the adorable Hexagon Clutch and pinned on the most adorable birdcage veil fascinator, which brought the perfect addition of whimsy to the look and showed how it could be bridal. This dress would be perfect for a rehearsal dinner or as a getaway dress, as well as the cutest party dress. We shot these pictures in the most colorful parts of the store—the shoe salon and the room full of hairpieces and accessories!

I am so incredibly grateful for BHLDN’s hospitality and enthusiasm about working with me on this exciting post. I had the time of my life playing model in their gorgeous dresses and accessories, and given how special each and every person there made me feel, I can only imagine how special brides feel at BHLDN. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to Cynthia, Lindsay, and everyone else at BHLDN for having me!

I also want to thank Aelish for capturing this wonderful day so perfectly–I could not have done this post without her!

So, which look is your favorite? I can’t wait to hear!

Love, Lisa

P.S. Find some outtakes from our shoot on the Something Pretty Facebook page!

See more BHLDN Week here:
Monday: Sparkly Rustic Wedding
Tuesday: Q&A With a Stylist
Wednesday: Something Pretty Picks