When it comes to bridal fashion, as a bride you want to find the perfect wedding gown. You'll most likely spend hours upon hours browsing Pinterest, watching Say Yes to the Dress, and making the rounds to multiple bridal shops in the Nashville area. But if you're left feeling empty after seeing what's out there, or if you want something completely custom, I'd love to introduce you to Leah of elleNelle Bridal! Leah can design a custom wedding gown for your Nashville wedding. And not only that, she can create dresses for your bridesmaids as well! You may have seen her work here on Nashville Bride Guide in her own wedding at The Lodge (yes, she made her own wedding dress!) and also on the model in the Lakeside “I Do” styled shoot in collaboration with Paige Brown Designs. I'm not going to lie, I am still starry-eyed over that bridal jumpsuit she created! Not to mention, Leah is hosting an event next Thursday where you can meet her in person and see what all she has to offer! But without further ado, I'll let Leah tell us all about her journey to becoming a wedding dress designer…
Tell us about elleNelle Bridal + how long you've been in business.
Leah: elleNelle Bridal is a premier brand that caters to women looking for custom-made bridal and formal wear. We strive to give our customers a dress that meets every bit of their expectations. We do that by listening to what our customer wants, creating sketches, carefully selecting fabrics, and constructing quality pieces. Here at elleNelle we truly care about our clients and want to do our best to ensure they look their best on their special day.
How did you get started in weddings?
Leah: I’ve always been a creative at heart, and after pursuing two degrees in Accounting, I realize that life is too short not to do what you love. (Ha! Fine time to have this epiphany)! Nonetheless, about 6 years ago I decided I would pull my grandmothers old sewing machine out of storage and teach myself to sew. I started off reconstructing thrifted clothing, then after educating myself through trial and error, video tutorials, books, drop in classes, etc. I decided to move on to making clothes from scratch. By 2013 I created a custom evening/party wear line, called Racks Couture. It wasn’t until 2015 when I made my own wedding dress that I found my true niche. I loved every moment of wedding planning. Once my wedding was over I wanted to stay in the bridal industry and make brides feel as beautiful as I did on my big day.
What's the philosophy behind your elleNelle Bridal?
Leah: Our philosophy is to listen to our brides and create quality gowns that make them feel beautiful on their special day.
What are your strengths compared to others in your category?
Leah: elleNelle's strength lies in our ability to design unique bridal attire, incorporating both contemporary and traditional style.
What attracts brides to your business (+ describe that bride!)?
Leah: I think brides see our unique styles and attention to detail and fit; that attracts their interest. Our brides are stylish and fashion forward. They are willing to step out of the box and make their own rules when it comes to their wedding gown.
What is the most innovative new product, service, style or other aspect of your industry that brides and grooms might appreciate?
Leah: Bridal jumpsuits are a major trend these days, and that's something that I'm seeing more and more brides request. They can be formal, sexy, comfortable, and transitional. You can see in our lakeside photoshoot how a jumpsuit can be worn at a wedding.
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your company?
Leah: At elleNelle, we offer bridal gowns, bridesmaids dresses, + Prom/special occasion gowns!
Also, be sure to check out the elleNelle Bridal event coming up next week! You can meet Leah in person at StudioWed on Thursday, March 23rd. Check out all the details here on our events page!
Photos by Shannon Bankston Photography
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