I’m elated to share with you a very special interview with a very special couture wedding dress designer and wonderful friend of mine, Monique Lhuillier.

This summer one of our gorgeous brides chose this stunning Monique Huillier dress for her welcome dinner. She wanted something stylish with a great simple cut and as you can see in the picture below she felt free and happy in it.

Monique is as lovely as she is talented. She was kind enough to take time away from her design work to share her wedding dress insights on our site. So sit back, enough the beauty of bridal gown perfection, and take a look at our exclusive interview with Monique Lhuillier, the master of couture wedding dresses.

On the heels of her latest collection of couture wedding dresses, we get personal with the master herself!

Alejandra: How would you describe your latest bridal collection? Where did the inspiration come from?

Monique: For Fall 2019, Monique Lhuillier materializes a surreal fairytale in a sophisticated lineup of show-stopping gowns. Signature silhouettes are embellished with elaborate and colorful florals in an impressionist palette of sunset, peony and rose gold.

Floral printed organza and tulle give a sensual feel, while metallic, three-dimensional and jeweled elements add an innovative touch. Capes, jackets and streamers in bold floral laces add an heirloom feel to the collection. Volume in skirts is exaggerated with cathedral-length trains.

The overall effect is undeniably dramatic with a darker edge for Fall.

Alejandra: What advice would you give a bride who wants a wedding day look that’s completely unique, individualized and show stopping?

Monique: The best preparation is for a bride to give herself plenty of time to find the perfect dress. She doesn’t want to be limited by timing. When choosing a wedding dress, it has little to do with silhouette or trend and everything to do with how the bride feels in the gown. I always tell brides to follow their instinct. Women look their best when they feel comfortable and beautiful and it is all about selecting a gown that makes a bride confident. Less is more. Understated accessories: delicate earrings and a beautiful engagement ring and course, the perfect comfortable shoe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alejandra: How did you get your start designing couture wedding dresses?

Monqiue: When I was 21, engaged and shopping for the dress of my dreams— I was very frustrated with all of the traditional options I saw in stores. So a seed was planted.  After my wedding, I took what I’d learned in fashion-design school and created my first gown, the “Laura”: a simple spaghetti-strap dress that is still a best seller. My husband, Tom stepped in as CEO, and together we built our fashion and lifestyle brand.

Alejandra: When you design one-of-a-kind couture wedding dresses, what’s the process like?

Monique: A couture piece is created 100 percent from scratch—a custom design, executed with the finest materials specifically sourced and cut for the bride. It is a very special process and I typically only accept 10 custom wedding gowns a year. The bride and I get together to discuss the concept and design direction. Then we present her with sketches and fabric options. A muslin sample is produced and once it is approved, we begin creating the actual gown. Most couture bridal clients require six fittings, all of which happen in our Los Angeles flagship boutique. Depending on the bride’s needs, we may send our head tailor to the wedding. The dress is truly one of a kind.

 

Alejandra: Now let’s get a bit more personal. What’s your favorite pastime when you’re not designing or working?

Monique: Weekends are family time; we love being outdoors which is why we choose to live in Los Angeles. We are very active and like to do sports, dance, and entertain with other friends and family. Tom and I also try to make sure we have a date night during the week and plan fun trips on long weekends to make sure we also have quality time together.

Alejandra: What’s next for the Monique Lhuillier brand?

Monqiue: I would like to continue to grow our lifestyle brand which encompasses ready to wear, bridal, accessories, home décor and home fragrance, and fine jewelry, and would like to enter the beauty space with cosmetics and fragrance.

Thank you so much Monique for sharing your wonderful inspiration, insight and beautifully designed couture wedding dresses with us! I am in love with your latest collection! I can’t wait to see some of our clients in these runway looks.

To view the entire bridal collection by Monique Lhuillier, see her website here. And for help selecting your wedding gown, we love taking our clients shopping in Paris!