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When it comes to getting your perfect wedding dress or dresses, you need to make sure it is the perfect size, sewn with the material of your choice and adds the elegance you need to make your special day, extra special.
Choosing a designer could be stressful as there are many clothing designers to choose from, however, not many bridal gown designers are well known.
As wedding season is coming closer to an end, we know there are brides who are yet to get their perfect dress. Don’t panic, we have compiled a list of 10 bridal gown designers to choose from.
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Neville Masondo
A Fashion and Design graduate from Tshwane University of Technology, Neville founded his own brand, La Art Neviole Emporium.
According to Neville, the brand is a combination of historical elements and a touch of avant-garde. Nevile has showcased at the AFI Johanessburg and Cape Town fashion week. With his designs worn by A-list South African celebrities such as Bonang Matheba and Pearl Modiadie, Neville’s designs holler sophistication and brides who worked with him can agree.
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Maggie Sottero
With the inspiration of the name of the brand from the owner’s grandmother – Maggie, the bridal gown company was established in 1997, taking wedding gown designing to new heights.
With the mission to design classic, romantic wedding dresses of great quality but with the best fit in the bridal industry, Maggie Sottero introduces new design techniques with the interest of the bride in mind. Maggie Sottero works with Olivelli, a wedding attire boutique that stocks her designs.
Sanette Van Schalkwyk
Born and raised in Bloemfontein, bridal gown designer Sanette Van Schalkwyk opened her own design studio at age 19 - which was over 30 years ago - and founded Shifting Sands African Coutoure which captivates the balance of soulful cutting edge African gowns.
Nominated for an Mbokodo Award recently for her outstanding and valuable contribution in the field of arts and culture in South Africa, she continues to make traditional gowns for brides who celebrate their heritage. Sanette has a love of textures and beads and integrates these in her African roots designs.
Janita Toerien
Janita designs her gowns for brides to look and feel like themselves. With a wide variety of dresses, there is something for every bride, from dresses that have been worn by other brides, brides with different styles like the little off-beat bride, a little quirky bride, a little bit princess bride to custom made dresses for each bride.
Janita’s work was featured in the first comedy series from Showmax Tali’s Wedding Diary 2017.
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Meghan Bailey
Self-taught dressmaker Meghan studied Engineering and after graduating, she immediately followed her dreams of becoming a dress maker.
She moved to London, UK, to study at the London College of Fashion. Today she has over 10 years of experience in creating unique and dream-worthy bridal wear for the modern bride.
Her designs are made for the normal bride to the bride who wants to add drama to her dress but remain sophisticated with making use of materials such as Guipur Lace and mesh.
Elizabeth Gillis
It's not often that you know what you are destined for by the age of 12, however this bridal gown designer Elizabeth Gillis who was inspired by her mother and aunts knew she wanted make bridal gowns that embody style, charm and uncompromising class.
Being in the industry for over 20 years, she has become a well known bridal gown designer, favoured by most brides in Cape Town. A lover of French materials such as laces and sumptuous silks, satins and chiffons Elbeth Founded her brand in 1997 and is now internationally known for her bridal and evening couture.
Justin Alexander
Justin premiered his designing career in Brooklyn, New York in 1946. Inspired by a woman's individuality, Justin designs gowns that enhance the natural form of a bride, highlighting her figure, silhoutte and paying attention to detail.
The award winning designer has over 20 awards in Fashion and has become a contemporary designer and manufacturer of mid- to high-end bridal gowns and accessories, inspired by vintage style.
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Love Bridal
The bridal boutique from London UK, Love Bridal is one of the brands who recently introduced inclusive bridal gowns by recently commencing on their plus size journey, now offering sizes up to a 32 with amazing gown collections that still keep the level of their designing at an amicable standard.
Although Love Bridal is a London based brand, it has Bridal Allure as their stockist which is situated in Table View Mall in Cape Town. Launched in 2012, the brand's mission is to design gowns that are unique to each bride and offers their unique style. With over 9 collections so far, London brides are vouching for the brand.
Pronovias
A family firm that was first sold in 'El Suizo', a prestigious Barcelona store founded by Alberto Palatchi Bienveniste in 1922 that specialised in lace, embroidery and high-quality silk fabrics. Available in over 5 continents, the bridal brand maintains its sophisticated designer style.
The brand specialises in more than gowns for the bride, they also have bridal accessories such as veils, head, piece, petticoat, shoes, jackets and belts to assist the bride to complete her look. Pronovia designs bridal collections to enchant not only romantic, classic brides, but also modern.
Oleg Cassini
The American bridal brand has existed for over half a century and caters to women from across the globe with stylish design that compels the bride to walk with poise.
Oleg Cassini took her passion for fashion and design from her mother began working in Hollywood film studios in the 1940s and 1950s. She has designed dresses for iconic stars such as the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, Natalie Wood, Gene Tierney and Faye Dunaway.
Opening her first store in November 2010 in Turkey, the brand continues to open branches everyday with now over 12 stores that operates.
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