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LulaKate is a longtime favorite of the Southern Weddings gals–we’ve featured their “classic with a twist” bridesmaid dresses more times than we can count (find them in our editorials here, here, and here), as well as had the privilege of rocking a few LulaKate styles ourselves at the V6 launch party. Their booth is also a favorite stop any time we head to Bridal Market–there’s nothing better than a little dose of Charleston hospitality in the middle of NYC! Since LulaKate just launched a gorgeous new website and plenty of new styles and fabrics, we thought it would be the perfect time for a little re-introduction. Designer Katherine McDonald kindly answered a few of our questions about this beloved brand, and Kat Harris provided plenty of fun photos that totally capture the vibe of the LulaKate girl. Enjoy!

Tell us about the beginnings of LulaKate—why did you want to start a bridesmaid line, and how did you get started? My bridesmaid line evolved from my original ready-to-wear line. Some of my ready-to-wear customers were asking me to design their bridesmaid and wedding dresses, and after saying no a number of times, I finally said yes. After the first wedding, I was hooked. I love the process of getting to know a bride, her family, and her friends. Being part of such a special day in someone’s life is truly an honor.

What sets LulaKate apart from other bridesmaid brands? We are proudly sewn in the USA and have some of the best customer service in the industry.

What is your single best tip for a bride about to start shopping for her wedding gown? Remember to purchase the dress you love. Consider loved ones’ opinions, but make the final decision yourself.

What is your current favorite wedding dress in your collection? If you were to get married tomorrow, which dress would you wear? The Brooklyn is my favorite dress from the 2016 Collection. I would wear either her or the LaMour from the 2014 collection.

What is your favorite memory from your own wedding day? My dad playing the drums with the band!

Do you have a favorite LulaKate memory? Seeing Carolina Herrera on the street of NYC earlier this year and the first time I went to India in the early years of my career.

What is the single greatest lesson you’ve learned in business? Never take anything for granted.

Name three items every gal should have in her closet. Something from your mom, something from your grandmother, and something you can pass down to your daughter/daughter-in-law.

Thank you so much, Katherine! Be sure to check out the beautiful, newly designed LulaKate website here–especially between December 10-13, when they’ll be hosting their sample sale! You can also follow along with LulaKate on social media here:

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

This post is brought to you by LulaKate – thanks for your support of the brands that make Southern Weddings possible!

lisa Written with love by Lisa
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With only eight issues of the magazine in the Southern Weddings archives, chances of the same gown designer appearing on more than one cover is pretty slim–there are so many talented folks out there, after all! However, one designer does have that under their belt–totally unintentionally, and simply because their gowns reflect our sweet Southern readers so well! That designer is Watters (find their gowns on the covers of V5 and V8), and this year with their Spring 2016 collection, they’re celebrating 30 years of making brides feel beautiful on their wedding days!

Creative Director at Watters, Xay Vongphachanh says, “We’re so inspired by the energy and beauty of our brides and strive to design pieces with them in mind. Our goal has remained the same for 30 years–to make a bride feel absolutely gorgeous on her special day.” We love that!!

Watters collections include their signature line, Watters brides and bridesmaids, Wtoo brides and bridesmaids, Willowby brides, and Seahorse (darling designs for flower girls and junior bridesmaids). To celebrate its anniversary, Watters is thrilled to present The Muse Collection, in recognition of the many women who have inspired designs over the past three decades. They’ve also added plenty of new styles to the adorable Seahorse collection for the littlest members of your bridal party.

Watters uses only the best fabrics, including 100 percent silk shantung, silk organza, silk taffeta and a variety of elegant laces. As you can see on the V8 cover, they know how to do “glam” in a perfectly elegant way, with just the right amount of sparkle and texture!

Here’s to another 30 years, Watters! And we’d love to know, did you wear a Watters gown on your wedding day? You can find a few Watters brides we’ve featured here, here, and here!

lisa Written with love by Lisa
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If you’ve had the chance to flip through Southern Weddings V8 (which we so hope you have! If not, find it here), you’ve most likely seen the gorgeous Astrid & Mercedes ad, right next to our Sweet Tea Society manifesto! We know wedding dress shopping can be daunting, so we love sharing our favorite designers, especially when we just know their styles and hearts will resonate with y’all. That’s why we’re tremendously grateful to have had Astrid & Mercedes (who believes in “petal-strewn kisses, ceremonies under the trees, and dancing barefoot under twinkling lights”) as part of the SW family for the past few years. We were tickled pink to have the opportunity to ask founder and designer, Lea-Ann Belter, a few questions for today’s Designer Spotlight!

Tell us about the beginnings of Astrid & Mercedes–why did you want to start a bridal line, and how did you get started? I spend a lot of time with my two nieces, Astrid and Mercedes, and after our adventures, all I want to do is sketch wedding dress designs. Rather than fitting in with my Lea-Ann Belter collection, though, the drawings that filled my notebook had a totally different sensibility. So, I followed my two muses and created a line of gowns just like my nieces–plucky, unconventional, and up for anything!

Tell us about what y’all offer to brides and gals. We create bridal gowns and accessories with a whole lot of care and love! Each wedding dress is made with 100 percent silk and is hand-cut, draped, and sewn by my wonderful team at our Toronto atelier.

What sets Astrid & Mercedes apart from other bridal gown brands? My niece-muses, Astrid and Mercedes! Their carefree, vibrant spirits weave their way into every gown and accessory. We also produce everything in the same studio as the Lea-Ann Belter collection. Something so special and dear to my heart needs to be made with the same attention to detail as my couture collection.

What is your single best tip for a bride about to start shopping for her wedding gown? Leave your expectations at the door. So often, women have preconceived ideas of what they’ll like, what they should wear, or how they should feel when they find the right gown. Approach the experience with an open mind and listen to your heart. When it flutters just in the slightest, you’ve got a winner!

What is your current favorite wedding dress in your collection? If you were to get married tomorrow, which dress would you wear? My favorite changes from day to day, but lately, whenever I see Glamour, she makes me smile–probably because she was inspired by a trip we took out to the Niagara escarpment. It’s such a beautiful place, so fresh and full of natural beauty! If I were getting married tomorrow…oh my goodness! I guess I’d be up all night sewing to create something that felt just right.

Do you have a favorite Astrid & Mercedes memory? I had been dreaming of creating the collection for so long that seeing it come to life in the studio was really moving. I’ll never forget how it felt to see all the new gowns hanging together in my Toronto boutique.

What is the single greatest lesson you’ve learned in business? Be fearless and believe in yourself.

Name three items every gal should have in her closet. A vintage piece that makes you feel beautiful, glamorous, and strong, a pencil skirt (so versatile!), and, of course, heels that won’t quit!

Thank you so much, Lea-Ann! Follow along with Astrid & Mercedes here:

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

This post is brought to you by Astrid & Mercedes – thanks for your support of the brands that make Southern Weddings possible!

lisa Written with love by Lisa
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Southern Weddings reserves the right to delete comments which contain profanity or personal attacks or seek to promote a business unrelated to the post.  And remember: a good attitude is like kudzu – it spreads.  We love hearing your kind thoughts!

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