After Emily bought her wedding dress off the racks, she admits, “I never at any point loved my dress. I didn’t even want to look at pictures of it.”
What started as a compromise—“one of the only things I liked in my price range”—turned into something extraordinary thanks to Nathalie’s artistry, intuition, and gift for transformation.
Discovering Nathalie and her Talent
The connection started with a simple Instagram story. Emily posted that she was looking for a seamstress for a custom veil. A friend shared Nathalie’s contact, and after months of wedding-planning overwhelm, she finally booked an appointment.
As Emily and Nathalie discussed the veil, Nathalie noticed her hesitation around the dress and gently urged her: “Bring it in, we’ll look at it and see what we can do.”
That invitation was the turning point.
Emily brought in her silk Watters gown. It had a Basque waist and a pointed sweetheart neckline.
“The top almost looked like a bow, which I hated,” Emily reflected. “There were too many pleats, and it just fell flat. It didn’t have that drama or structure that I kept seeing in my inspiration images of 90s and early 2000s vintage gowns.”
After listening intently to Emily, Nathalie knew exactly where to begin. She reshaped the bodice, refined the darts so the gown hugged her frame, and softened the awkward neckline. Then, she appliquéd lace cut from the bride’s custom veil right into the center of the bodice.
“Once she made those changes, I trusted her completely,” Emily said.
From Falling Flat to a Perfect Fit
As an interior designer, Emily knew what she wanted her dream gown to embody.
“I wanted it to feel vintage with a twist of contemporary because that’s how my interiors are,” she said.
During their work together, Nathalie added volume beneath the Basque waist, giving it that coveted pouf. Nathalie layered tulle underneath the skirt, giving it structure and lift. Then, she added a dramatic bustle and Emily fell in love with it.
“It turned into a vintage dress, basically, but it was new and still contemporary,” she said.
The silk-bodied dress now had a sculpted waist and a reimagined neckline softened by lace. When Emily tried on the completed gown, she was speechless.
“I finally was content with how I looked in the dress,” she said. “I think the biggest feeling was relief.”
The Veil: An Heirloom in the Making
From the start, Emily had a crystal-clear vision for her veil. “I’m Italian and I wanted something that spoke to that. I wanted a mantilla-style veil—full lace, framing my face, but long enough to drag on the ground.”
The bride sourced remnant Carolina Herrera lace from Mood Fabrics and painstakingly matched the shade to her dress. Ash, our accessory designer, hand-cut turning the fabric into a sweeping chapel-length veil edged in scalloped lace.
“It was everything I wanted—romantic, traditional, but still me.”
“They took pictures of the process and even sent me a whole folder of it. I cherish those photos so much.”
A Love Story and Proposal in Italy
Emily’s husband, Harrison, was her college sweetheart, though the connection started even earlier.
“For me, it was the first time I saw him,” Emily said, noting that she had an immediate gut feeling he was the one. They first crossed paths at Florida State, both in the competitive interior architecture program. Harrison pursued architecture, while Emily went into design.
A 90s Romcom-Inspired Wedding
The wedding itself reflected their shared love for 90s romcoms. So many are set in New York City, and the couple appreciates the fashion, comforting feel, and the emphasis on family in these films.
“We wanted it to feel very New York, very classic 90s, early 2000s. Warm, cozy, homey—like a Nancy Meyers film.”
With only 18 family members, the intimate celebration began at St. George’s Chapel in Gramercy. Their reception took place at Keens Steakhouse, a meaningful spot where they’d celebrated countless Valentine’s Days together.
“We walked into the Lillie Langtry room, the same one we always got coincidentally, and I knew it was perfect. Dark wood, antique rugs, creaky floors—classic New York.”
The palette was inspired by earthy taupes, terracottas, and soft browns, accented with silver details throughout — from candlesticks to vases to champagne coupes. Her best friend, stylist Lanier Hicks, created beautiful floral arrangements in whites, greens, and deep reds, while Harrison hand-wrote each place card in his elegant script.
Emily loved wearing her custom-made outfit.
“I didn’t want to take it off.”
She added,” I think the most important part was that it had a story. That’s what I wanted and Nathalie gave me that.
Talent and an Innate Gift
Beyond Nathalie’s technical brilliance, what made the experience unforgettable was the designer’s intuition.
“She was very invested in how I felt,” Emily said. “I really appreciate people who are straight to the point and very honest with you. She read me really well, and I appreciated that. This isn’t just talent, it’s a natural-born gift.”
Nathalie and her team made Emily (and her family) feel welcome and supported.
Bride @eiliym photos: Heirloom Foto Venue Keens Steakhouse Stylist and Floral arrangements: @lanierhicks Makeup and Hair: GlamSquad Text: Gina Tron
