Shopping for a wedding dress is supposed to be fun, but it can seriously suck. So many places are full of crazy dresses that all seem to blend together, don't feel good to the touch and have prices that seem to have been pulled out of the (very expensive) air. That's why we love Lovely Bridal Boutique. Tucked into the back of a building in West Hollywood, the store is just the right size to offer a good range of dresses without being overwhelming. Dresses come from small designers rather than huge bridal lines, so each one feels more individualized than at the giant bridal stores. And the designers here are more suited to a girl with her own style: French designer Delphine Manivet is somehow both sweet and edgy, while local designer Lindee Daniel uses all-natural, eco-friendly silks and cottons for fun, romantic designs that make you look as though you just washed up on a beach. While much of what's at Lovely is different from the regular shops, the place doesn't cater specifically to the “weird bride.” There are plenty of classic shapes, just made with better fabrics and quite often with better prices. 638 1/2 N. Robertson Blvd., W. Hlywd. (310) 659-2050, lovelybride.com.

—Besha Rodell

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