Like the brides who choose them, each of our featured wedding gown designers has a unique personality, an interesting history and an appreciation for uncommon beauty. Meet the extraordinary talents behind the bridal collections by clicking on the designers’ names below. Then follow the links to their wedding dress collections, to discover how these creative individuals use their one-of-a-kind perspectives and skills to create the most beautiful, original and unforgettable bridal gowns available today.
Wedding dress designer Amsale Aberra left her home of Ethiopia in 1973 to further her studies abroad. She began her college career in Vermont and eventually moved to Boston. It was after graduating from Boston State College that Amsale decided to pursue her love of fashion in the place that fashion thrives; New York City. Search dresses by Amsale Aberra
photo credit: www.amsale.com
The Perfect Blend of Classic Traditional Elegance and Modern Innovation. Reem Acra, fashion designer to the stars, has managed to create a unique niche market with her distinctive bridal gowns. Today, she has her collections in more than 100 of the world’s most exclusive bridal boutiques. Search dresses by Reem Acra
photo credit: www.reemacra.com
In 1987, Angel hung up his hat as an architect, and moved into clothing design. Sanchez quickly became a popular designer in his native country as well as throughout all Latin American countries. In 1997, he moved his establishment to New York City, where his success continued. His eveningwear collection flooded top US retailers like Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Bergdorf Goodman. Search dresses by Angel Sanchez
photo credit: www.stanleykorshak.com
Year after year, Jim Hjelm’s ever-thriving company creates, manufactures and distributes amazing bridal sensations and bridesmaids dresses that are both innovative and fashion-forward. His gowns are always value priced. Search dresses by Jim Hjelm
photo credit: www.jlmouture.com
Amsale’s Christos gowns stand out for their impeccable quality. Fine silks, French laces and silk Organza are staples of the collection. Christos designs are especially known for their use of Alençon lace, a type of needle lace created in a French town by the same name. Search dresses by Christos Yiannakou
photo credit: www.christosbridal.com
When most people hear the name Donna Karan they might not immediately think of wedding gowns. Karan is one of the premiere fashion designers in the world, creating both the Donna Karan New York and DKNY clothing labels and being known more for designing sportswear and dressing some of the top male and female celebrities around. However, she also always has a new wedding dress line which she debuts at least once a year along with some of her other fashions. Search dresses by Donna Karan
The Pronovias Group, today’s leading name in bridal fashion, presented its first bridal collection in 1964. Innovative from the very beginning, Pronovias was the first in the industry to present a ready-to-wear bridal collection. Search dresses by Pronovias
photo credit: www.pronovias.com
The name Vera Wang has become synonymous with high fashion. Vera Wang first experienced fashion on the ice rink as a competitive skater. Once off the ice, Vera immersed herself in the fashion industry. Today, she’s a world famous wedding gown designer who’s name is recognized by everyone in the industry. Search dresses by Vera Wang
photo credit: www.verawangonweddings.com
Mark Badgley and James Mischka are known in the fashion world as Badgley Mischka. The design duo teamed up in 1988, to create their own line after working with other high-end designers. Search dresses by Badgley Mischka
photo credit: www.badgleymischkabride.com
Christina Wu is a wedding gown designing company known all over the world for their lavish embroidery and hand sewn embellishments. They offer wedding dresses for all price ranges, and do a lot of specialty designed gowns for retailers and those willing to pay for something special. Search dresses by Christina Wu
photo credit: www.christinawu.com
Herrera’s wedding gowns feature crisp fabrics, unique neck and silhouette lines, sophisticated simplicity and a timeless look that extends through the seasons. Many of her gowns have flowing skirts and fitted bodices with sweetheart necklines or stunning sheer sleeves. Ruffling, pleating and bunching have also found their way into Herrera’s gowns as fashion trends have evolved. The embellishing and detailing on her gowns is generally kept to a minimum, keeping the gowns looking chic and elegant without being too over the top. Search dresses by Carolina Herrera
Maggie Sottero is one of the top bridal gown manufacturers in the world. They have won numerous awards, including being inducted into the DEBI (Distinctive Excellence in the Bridal Industry) Hall Of Fame in 2010 after winning 6 of their awards previously. When you think of a Maggie Sottero design, you think “shiny and glittery”. Search dresses by Maggie Sottero
photo credit: www.maggiesottero.com
Even the name, Ulla ja sounds rich and exudes elegance. The design team at Ulla Maija INC is located in the fashion district of New York City. Ulla Maija strives to create beautiful and delicate gowns for the modern bride on her wedding day. Search dresses by Ulla Maija
photo credit: www.ulla-maija.com
Even as a young child, Melissa Sweet chose to wear white. While other children her age were sporting multi-colored playclothes, Melissa wore white dresses, blouses, skirts and shirts. Melissa loved the color white. Search dresses by Melissa Sweet
photo credit: www.priscillaofboston/melissasweet
Wedding gown designer Alfred Angelo has been designing wedding dresses for more than 75 years; their gown collections offer dresses made of beautiful fabrics and elegant embroidery, beading and lace.
photo credit: www.alfredangelo.com
Ana Hernandez is known for her knack of looking at a bride’s body and creating a wedding dress that fits perfectly for each one of her brides, she spares no expense on luxurious fabrics, delicate details, and what you personally want in a gown. Search dresses by Ana Hernandez
photo credit: www.anahernandezboston.com
Michael Shettel is an American wedding gown designer who’s also the vice presdient of design for Alfred Angelo. He’s won multiple awards over the years for his designs from Arnold Scassi, Giorgio Sant’Angelo and Hubert de Givenchy.
Judd Waddell is a well known wedding dress designer with stores located throughout the United States. As a designer, Judd is responsible for Jim Hjelm’s popular “Occasions” label for bridesmaids and his dresses are consistently featured on popular television shows. Judd is known for his clean lines and simple aesthetic. Search dresses by Judd Waddell
photo credit: www.JuddWaddell.com
Sarah Burton has jumped into the pantheon of well known wedding dress designers by hitting a home run as the designed of both the wedding gown worn by Kate Middleton when she married Prince Andrew but also the dress her sister Pippa wore for the ceremony. Search dresses by Sarah Burton
photo credit: www.alexandermcqueen.com
Alita Graham is a wedding dress designer and collection exclusive to Kleinfeld Bridal, based in New York City. Her gowns are exquisitely feminine and elegant with lots of satin and silk touches. She likes soft colors as well, not just white, having designed many dresses in light pinks and blues. She tends to favor strapless gowns and bustiers that shape yet cover the bustline.
photo credit: www.kleinfeldbridal.com
The Kenneth Pool line of wedding dresses was created by Amsale Aberra in 2003. According to kennethpool.com, This line of wedding gowns is known for “its grand ball gowns, luxurious fabrics and exquisite beadwork. Kenneth Pool wedding gowns are meant to keep the bride where she belongs, in the spotlight. Search dresses by Kenneth Pool
photo credit: www.KennethPool.com
Charlotte Leung is the designer behind the well known Augusta Jones line of wedding gowns. She’s a British designer who put out the first collection in 1999, one of the first wedding gown designers that specialized in strapless gowns. Her initial collection of gowns was released in 1999, and in 2003 she launched her first collection in the United States. Search dresses by Charlotte Leung
photo credit: www.augustajones.com
Lhuillier’s gowns are the epitome of elegance and sophistication, with glamorous ruffles, pleating and beadwork serving as staples in her designs. From sweetheart necklines to babydoll sleeves, Lhuillier has a design for every bride. In addition to traditional white and ivory gowns, Lhuillier has designed a number of bridal gowns in more unconventional colors such as silver. Search dresses by Monique Lhuillier
photo credit: www.MoniqueLhuillier.com
The gowns within the Liv Harris collection are made of silk and lace, and are similar in style to those sold by other popular designers. However, Liv Harris gowns are far more affordable and are priced with the everyday bride in mind. From stunning ball gowns with sweetheart necklines to flowing empire waisted gowns with spaghetti straps, Liv Harris has 70 gowns in their Fall 2010 collection aimed at brides of all shapes and sizes. Search dresses by Liv Harris
Shane McConnell is an Australian wedding gown designer and one of the top wedding designers in the world, though not as well known to the American audience. He likes creating more independent gowns rather than mass production, although he will exhibit his wedding gowns from time to time. Search dresses by Shane McConnell
photo credit: www.shanemcconnell.com.au
Richard Glasgow is a retired wedding gown designer who, for over 30 years, created wedding gowns with elegance and the comfort of women in mind. His wedding gowns were the type a bride would wear all day and never feel as though she was constricted in movement. He was meticulous about his gowns, down to the petticoats. His gowns are prominently featured on Bridepower.
Search dresses by Richard Glasgow
Henry Roth
Henry Roth is the name of an Australian wedding down design house that was the brainchild of Aneta and Joseph Weinreich more than 60 years ago. They’re still around designing wedding dresses and a host of other couture, and their children have joined them to make it a full family business. Actually, the name Henry Roth is their son, who got a law degree before deciding to get into the wedding gown business. His sister is Michelle Roth, who also has her own wedding gown designs within the family business.
Search dresses by Henry Roth
Kathy de Stafford
Kathy de Stafford is an award-winning Irish wedding gown designer that’s been in the business for more than 20 years. She has 3 exclusive salons in Ireland where, unlike many other designers, she actually stops in to work with brides to help them get the designs they actually want.
Search dresses by Kathy de Stafford
photo credit http://www.destaffordbridal.ie/
Marchesa
Marchesa is the name the design couple of Georgina and Keren Craig came up with, and is actually short for Marchesa Luisa Casati. They are a relatively young designer couple based in New York, opening up in 2004, with definite European style that not only does wedding designs, but a host of other styles of clothes as well. They were the wedding dress designers for Nicole Richie’s wedding in 2010. Their designs are exclusive and only sold at specific stores throughout London and the United States and in specialty boutiques in a few other countries.
Search dresses by Marchesa
photo credit: www.marchesa.com/
Are you looking for a bigger list of wedding gown designers? Here’s a link to a near complete list of dress designers A – Z…enjoy!
