Photos by Heather Decamp Photography
As a bride, you want to find the absolute perfect gown to fit your personality and your body type. You can visit your local bridal boutiques and try on gowns (and please do this!), but if you're not finding the ONE, then a custom gown might be the best route! If this is the case, may I introduce you to Ashley Gootee of Something YOU Bridal? She is your go-to gal for finding exactly what you want! She will carefully craft a wedding dress to suit your design aesthetic. And the best part is, you don't have to go through the trouble of alterations since the dress will be made specifically to your body type! Each dress is made to order and just like snowflakes, no two are alike! Get to know Something YOU Bridal below and check out all of her custom designs! (And scroll all the way down to find a special deal just for NBG brides!)
Photo by This Girl Sylvia
Tell us about your Something YOU!
Ashley: I have been doing bridal dresses as a side gig for the past 7 years and recently started Something You. something You works closely with brides to create dream dresses and accessories for brides that couldn't find the perfect dress off the rack. To give you a bit of a backstory, I have been in fashion design for thirteen years. I worked for Zac Posen, Peter Som, Wal-Mart, and then ran my own fashion line, Zamrie, for seven years in Chicago. Most recently I consulted for different brands. But this is kind of a funny story on how and why I decided to go full force and create a full time custom bridal company, read on…
You know how you have one of those jobs, that is good… but you don’t love it. It's one that pays the bills, but you think to yourself, “I need to get out, but don’t know how?” Well, after I was fired via email, yep you read that right, I was fired via email, from my last gig, I actually started laughing because I was so relieved. However, I immediately started crying because I didn’t know what I was going to do! My husband was out of town and my best girlfriend from high school was coming over for dinner that night. She walks in the door, with her bubbly self, and says “Hey gurl! How are ya?!” And I said “ Welp, I just got fired VIA EMAIL about an hour and a half ago, but I’m actually okay… relieved, actually.” She high fives me and says, “Me too!” (She wasn’t fired via email, just laid off of her project). We could not stop laughing but when we did, I told her I had no idea what I was going to do, and how I was going to move forward. Her response? “I know. Ashley, I know exactly what you are going to do. You are doing bridal.” (Fun fact she was my first bride whose dress I made). I laughed and replied, “Funny you say that because I have had a couple requests for gowns over the past week through the grapevine, but…” She stopped me immediately and asked me why I kept ignoring this talent God had given me and said I had to take the plunge. It was now or never. Over dinner, and maybe some wine, we created my company that night. Something You was born, and I couldn’t be happier or more excited to make brides here in Nashville feel more beautiful.
Photos by This Girl Sylvia
How did you get started making wedding dresses?
Ashley: It all started with family and friends. My cousin couldn't find any bridesmaid dresses she loved, so knowing I was already in fashion design, she asked if I would make them. Of course, I said YES! And soon after, I had friends ask me to make their wedding gowns.
What's the philosophy behind Something YOU?
Ashley: My mission, since I started designing when I was 18, has always been to make women of any size color, or background, look and feel beautiful. To me, creating a gown which allows women to be beautiful, feel it, and know it, especially on her special day, is most important. I am not happy unless our work, the bride’s vision and my execution, surpasses her wildest expectations. What is unique about Something YOU, is that all of our gowns are made to order. This means no alterations and a custom fit for your special day.
Photos by Kirsten Miccoli Photography
What are your strengths compared to others in your category?
Ashley: We work with each bride to ensure that we are taking their vision and turning it into a reality. Our detailed creative process helps to pinpoint what the bride truly wants. This means each dress is unique and created for her, made to her measurements and fits her perfectly on her big day.
What attracts brides to your business (+ describe that bride!)?
Ashley: We work with brides who aren’t able to find their perfect dress in a store or have a specific vision of what they want that may not be offered in the market.
Photos by Kirsten Miccoli Photography + Star Digital Services
Also, Ashley has a special deal just for NBG brides! The first 3 brides to book their wedding dress with Something YOU Bridal will receive 30% off of their gown! Amazing! Just mention that you saw this post on Nashville Bride Guide. 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing all about your business, Ashley! You can find more about Something YOU Bridal here on her website. And be sure to follow along with all the latest happenings here on Something YOU Bridal's Instagram page!
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