Inside the wedding dress shopping experience at Opus Couture

We headed to Opus Couture to get a taster of the wedding dress shopping experience and chatted to lovely manager Susan who shared everything from the "brides first" motto of the West Kilbride boutique to what the team wish more brides knew before they start the dress search.

So if you're a bride-to-be planning your visit to Opus, or you're still trying to find the right place to start shopping – you've come to the right place. 

Over 30 years of bridalwear expertise

Hi Susan! Tell us a bit about the backstory of Opus Couture

"Opus Couture was founded in 2003 by Sharon McPherson, who now has over 30 years of bridalwear expertise.

"Our boutique has grown into a trusted name for brides not just in Scotland but across the entire UK, thanks to Sharon’s deep knowledge of fashion design and our passion for creating unforgettable bridal experiences."

Personalised bridal fittings and customisations

What’s the core ethos of Opus Couture? 

"We’re all about making brides feel beautiful, supported and confident. Everything is done with care and expertise, whether that’s personalised fittings or customisations, and we go the extra mile to ensure every bride finds her dream dress."

Win a wedding dress from Opus Couture and earrings from Gemini Clay Studio 

What to expect at your Opus Couture appointment

What can a bride expect when she walks into your boutique for the first time?

"We like to think (and our numerous reviews support this) that everyone is welcomed with warmth and excitement.

"If you book an appointment at Opus, you can expect prosecco and cupcakes, plus, of course, an expert consultant ready to understand every aspect of your bridal vision.

"Our beautiful boutique itself offers a calm, luxurious atmosphere where every detail has been carefully worked out to make your experience as special as possible."

A safe, supportive place to wedding dress shop

How do you ensure a personalised experience for every bride?

"Before your appointment, we’ll have a chat with you to understand your style, your concerns and whether you have any special requirements.

"From there, we tailor everything – from finding the right silhouette to offering custom add-ons, or even just creating a safe, supportive space to shop."

Real brides, real feedback

What’s the most frequent piece of feedback you get from your customers?

"Brides often tell us how much they appreciate the personal touches and the attention to detail.

"They love the way our supportive team go all out to make them feel pampered and truly understood."

Planning Diaries: bride-to-be Antonia is working with Opus Couture on her dream dress 

What’s your favourite part of helping someone find their perfect dress?

"It has to be the moment when they realise they’ve found the one. It’s simply magical to witness such joy and excitement!"

London bride finds dream dress in Scotland bridal boutique

So many brides must have found their perfect dress with you. Do any in particular stand out in your mind?

"Oh, there are so many! One I’ll never forget is a bride called Sarah, who flew in from London for the day.

"We opened the boutique just for her, and she found her dream Berta gown within a few hours. That was truly a special moment."

What do you wish more brides knew before they start shopping for a dress?

"I suppose we wish people knew that it’s okay to feel nervous or unsure. We’re here to guide you and all we need is for you to trust the process – we’ll take care of the rest. 

"I also think it is important to trust your intuition and not to overthink the number of dresses you try. When you know, you know – even if it’s the very first dress you step into."

What should I bring with me or prepare before my appointment at Opus Couture?

"The only crucial thing to bring is an open mind! Nude undergarments can also be helpful, if you have them, as can any inspiration pics that you’ve collected, although neither of these is essential."

Which designers do you currently carry in your boutique?

"We offer a curated collection of stunning designers including Pronovias, Maggie Sottero, Woná Concept and Enzoani. We are the exclusive stockist of Berta gowns in Scotland, and we also offer our own designer collection, Be Beautiful. 

"When choosing which designers to stock, we focus on quality, craftsmanship and designs that align with our brides’ tastes. For us, it’s all about offering something extraordinary."

Browse our supplier directory for even more bridal boutiques and designers to consider 

Upcoming Enzoani runway event

Can you tell us about any new designers or collections you’re excited to be bringing to the boutique?

"We are very excited about our upcoming Enzoani runway event in April – we know our brides will love seeing all the latest designs at Opus Couture before anyone else."

The latest wedding dress trends

What are some of your current top-selling wedding dress styles?

"Classic and timeless designs with a modern twist are always a favourite with me and our Opus brides; think clean lines, intricate lace and a touch of sparkle."

Have you noticed any recent trends in bridal fashion that are particularly popular among your clients?

"Statement sleeves and customisable add-ons like bows and straps are making a big splash.

"Brides love adding their own flair and we really enjoy being able to help them inject a little of their own personality to their wedding gown."

Bridal fashion evolution: then & now

In the 22 years since Opus Couture opened its doors, you must have seen it all – how would you say trends have changed since 2003?

"We have indeed seen it all over the past two decades – everything from vintage glamour to minimalist chic, in fact.

"I think the biggest difference is that, today, it’s about blending personal style with timeless elegance and embracing what makes you as a bride authentically ‘you’ on your big day."

In-house wedding dress alterations

Besides wedding dresses, do you offer any other services or products? 

"Our motto is “brides first” and as such we want to give our customers as much help as possible to make their dress shopping experience smooth and seamless.

"That means we do in-house alterations, we offer customisations, we have a wide selection of accessories, and we can even organise post-wedding dress cleaning and boxing services. 

"We are very fortunate to have a skilled team who can take on alterations and gown customisation – this could be adding beadwork, changing a neckline, creating straps or sleeves, and much more.

"Our alterations team are renowned for being able to make our brides’ dresses fit perfectly."

"Rather excitingly, we have also just launched our Bridal Essentials boxes which contain a beautifully curated selection of products to make getting ready on the big day a little easier."

The future of Opus Couture

What are your goals and visions for the future of Opus Couture?

"We’re always looking to improve, whether it’s through bringing in new designers, enhancing our services or creating unique experiences for our brides.

"We’ll be launching a new website soon to make the bridal journey even easier and more exciting, and we’re planning some fabulous events for our brides… Watch this space!"

How can brides stay updated on your events and new arrivals?

"They can follow us on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok – we love being active on social media and giving our brides behind-the-scenes access to our daily goings-on.

"We’d also love for everyone to subscribe to our newsletter for all the latest updates."