26 Mar Charleston Fashion Week Spring Bridal Show
Fashionable southern brides and other wedding obsessed enthusiasts had their eyes firmly directed at the much anticipated Charleston Fashion Week Spring Bridal Show. Under the gorgeously decorated glitz meets glam tents designed by Gathering FLORAL + Event Design, the runways were jammed packed with stunning laces, ethereal silhouettes, loads of color and some jaw dropping show stoppers. The tone of excitement was instantly set as the lights dimmed and the powerful sound of “Oh Happy Day” was belted out by the esteemed gospel choir, Voices of Deliverance. Editor, Melissa Bigner then turned the runway over to local boutiques carrying the top names in the industry and local designers showcasing their latest collections. White started the parade of couture with laces, a gorgeous textured Amsale and a firm nod to retro Hollywood glam. Modern Trousseau lit up the stage with Designer Callie Tein’s classic silhouettes rife with bold red accents and the finale red gown. Next up, was the oh so lovely LulaKate collection. With soft draping, stunning lines, subtle color and beautiful fabrics, designer Katherine MacDonald captivated the audience. Her show stopping color blocked finale gown has won a place on my favorites list.
Maddison Row and Bella Bridesmaid rocked the runway with stunners from Vera Wang, Carol Hannah, Monqiue Lhuillier, Dolly Pearl, Kirribilla, Coren Moore and others. Color was a key element of their combined show that highlighted the most sought after bridal and bridesmaid fashions for spring and summer. The crowd was beyond excited with the final look of their show {and one of the highlights of the day}…a custom hand knit bridal coat by designer Charlotte Hess. Really, the coat draped over a simple sheath was ahhmazing!!
After a intermission filled with yummy treats, tasty sips and a bit of shopping from local vendors, the show was off and running with a surprise proposal and with the local designer, Rachel Gordon, who won the inaugural Emerging Designer Competition at CFW in 2007. Her runways were overflowing with draped silks, Grecian goddess goodness and a garden inspired showpiece. Charleston Fashion Week Spring Bridal Show celebrated it’s first ever emerging bridal designer competition and Atlanta based designer, Calvin James Bryant took center stage as the winner. As the show turned to the final presentation, New York designer Mychael Knight debuted his anxiously anticipated premiere bridal collection. We could go on and on, but luckily for you, the super talented Leigh Webber was with us and captured every stunning gown. We also put together a snippet of a film for you to enjoy!
Photographs by Leigh Webber
