Chhabra Bridal Wear — Attraction in Arlington

I have very mixed feelings about this place, so it took me some time to gather my thoughts...I thought the family that runs the shop seemed very friendly and helped me try on many different items, helped me try to maximize my budget and educated me about their clothing options. That said, a few things perturbed me greatly. First, I got a $30 parking ticket while there... which is 100% my own fault. However, the response I got was, "why? We have free parking! A large lot in back, we even have a sign!" Now, the "sign" is painted on a door which is to the far right of what looked like the entrance door. On what looked like the entrance door is a sign stating to enter the store using a door to the far left. No where on either of those doors did it mention the free parking. I'm talking there is at least 20'-30' between doors. Ok, my fault. Second, the clothing there is exorbitantly expensive. Similar items online are at least 50%-75% cheaper. Why did I go to this store, you ask, if that is the case? Because I waited too long to safely order for an upcoming wedding and I had NO IDEA how to dress myself in Indian clothing. I ended up spending way too much for an outfit that I only marginally liked. When I tried to return them THE VERY NEXT DAY I was told that all sales are final. No exceptions. tags still on, still in the bag. Please keep in mind that this store is 1-2 hours from my home (depending on traffic) so I felt compelled to come home with something... and then thought better of it. Third, some of the clothes in the front of the store had sun damage, leading me to think they had been there for many years. Weird, yet they were still VERY expensive. So, I guess, if you have a short deadline and money to burn feel free to shop here. But please know there is free parking...

Went to Chhabra Bridal Wear to get an outfit for a wedding I'm going to in India. You don't NEED an appointment to go shop, but I do recommend calling ahead to see if someone is available to help you, particularly if you aren't familiar with Indian clothing/how to drape it. Anything you buy here is going to need to be tailored to fit you, so also factor that in - it takes longer to try a piece because it needs to be tucked/pinned before you can see the full effect.

I LOVED the selection and pieces Chhabra had available - there were outfits that were much more traditional, some that were more modern, and the one I finally landed on was gorgeous and worth every single penny. I will own it for a lifetime. They also worked with my truly ridiculous timeline (I showed up on Saturday needing something done by Tuesday).

Chhabra clearly has a steady business for non-Indians going to their first Indian wedding - they will take the time to explain what's appropriate and what's not and how to wear it. I found them so friendly and helpful.

Be aware: this is a BOUTIQUE bridal store, and the prices reflect that. Expect to pay at least a few hundred dollars for an outfit and then more for tailoring. If you're looking for something super cheap, you can go online and take the risk of photo versus reality/it not fitting you well - this wouldn't be the store for you. If you want something gorgeous and well made that you feel confident in, go to Chhabra.

This is not where you want to go if you're looking for everyday/casual outfits - this truly is a store for...

I can’t express how grateful I am for the hospitality, kindness and timeliness that the team at Chhabra Bridal dedicated to helping me find my first lehenga and adorning it with the necessary accessories to complete the look.

I came in less than a week from my first Indian wedding and was in desperate need to find a saree or lehenga that would be durable and beautiful and fit into a timeline that would allow for alterations and a second fitting. The team dedicated time to making sure I was happy with my selections and that I was prepared for what to expect at my first Indian wedding.

Bless the heart of Prakriti - she’ll likely be the one helping you find what you’re looking for, do the fittings and answer all your questions. She was extremely kind and patient with me and made sure I had the right accessories to complete the outfits. She is humble and mature beyond her years.

The seamstress there (I forgot her name) was extremely diligent in alterations and made additional alterations on my second fitting on-the-spot as she knew I was on a specific timeline. She was really nice and patient.

I got to chat with one of the owners - the woman (I didn’t get her name) - and she was down-to-earth and really informative on current world news and lended a hand in making sure my outfits were what I wanted. Her compliments made me feel more confident in the lehengas that I chose and I valued her expertise greatly.

All in all, I would definitely come back to Chhabra Bridal for future occasions as the service and team are superb and the selections are...