Fourteenth: My Wedding Fashion Icon
When I met Emily Hesselbacher, I knew I was in for a fashion experience like no other. She exuded confidence with a stylish flair. Her wedding storyboard could have been part of a Hollywood film.
My first meeting with Emily was to discuss creating a custom crown that fit her vision. She fell in love with the elements of our Jackie headpiece. The combination of stones, freshwater pearl, and metal arching prompted us to explore designing a crown inspired by this gorgeous piece.
Our Jackie headpiece photographed by Erin Usawicz
Jackie headpiece with the silk bow removed.
Design specifications for Emily’s crown.
Emily scheduled a subsequent meeting to talk about a veil design. She was looking for a dramatic lace veil. I sent a picture of her gown to my lacemaker in France to find patterns and textures that would compliment the lace pattern of her dress. I found they made the luxurious lace for Emily’s Romanian-designed wedding gown. This has only happened twice in my career.
“The time and expertise required to design a bridal veil using delicate authentic French lace are great. I studied the patterning for two and a half hours before making the first cut. There is no turning back once you commit to the design. Then the hours of layout, pinning, basting, and most importantly, mirroring begin. Only the distinguished bride recognizes the tedious extent of this process.”
Emily brought her gown to Headpiece.com when it was time to see her final designs.
“I felt really comfortable with you and knew that I could trust you with anything that I wanted.”
“My mother picked out my gown. I was picking out very low cut, simple dresses. She pulled this one and we both knew immediately. It was different than what I thought I had wanted, yet completely perfect!”
My dear friend and fashion designer, Teresa Cristaldi, performed the very complex alterations to Emily’s Ersa Atelier’s couture wedding gown. Teresa and I have shared many brides over the past four years, but this was a special project. Emily’s mom passed away amid design and wedding planning. We wanted to surround her with love and support while performing our best craft to give her the style and beauty she desired on her wedding day. Emily’s project was also significant because she was the last bride Teresa and I would work on together. Fourteen days later, Teresa moved back to Italy to pursue her fashion design dreams.
“Although there were many women in my life that stepped up and helped me throughout the process, you and Teresa were two of them. That is why I invited you both to my wedding. I felt really close to you. You were there when I needed it and I always enjoyed our time togther too.”
Pleasantdale Chateau Wedding Weekend
EMILY AND NICK Photography by Leandro Da Silva
VENUE | Pleasantdale Chateau CROWN & VEILS | Headpiece.com GOWN | Ersa Atelier SHOES | Christine Louboutin BEAUTY | Dasi Salon FLORIST | Debbie’s Designs ATELIER | Teresa Cristaldi BOUDOIR | Victoria’s Secret DANCING DRESS | Anthropologie Bridal AFTER PARTY | Revolve
The wedding of Emily and Nick at the Pleasantdale Chateau is one to be remembered. The weekend was filled with events paired with incredible fashion!
“After viewing Emily’s photo gallery, I knew this blog had to be about more than just her beautiful ceremony gown and accessory design. I felt like I was flipping through the pages of a vintage Vogue or Harper’s Bazaar magazine.”
I told Emily I couldn’t get past her first “Twiggy-style” outfit and asked if any garments were from her family. Her answer was everything I had hoped for.
“The first outfit was almost 100% family vintage. The fur hat was from the 60s and was my Nanna’s, the fur coat was from the 40s from my great grandmother, and the dress was from the 70s and was my great aunt’s. The purse was my Nanna’s from her engagement party. The boots I got in Italy last year.”
The release of doves was the first event of the weekend. It was dedicated to Emily’s mother, Nanna, and grandmother.
Wearing her Dolce and Gabbana swimsuit and pearls that go back multiple generations gave the vibe of Esther Williams aqua musicals during the Golden Age of Hollywood.
The Rehearsal Dinner
“I think this was everyone’s favorite night; close friends and family, many speeches, some planned and some ad hoc. It was a French wine and food pairing. Incredible menu!”
“Honestly, it was a hard weekend for my dad, hosting it without my mom. My mom had planned the whole thing. It was all her, and he just had to finish the job. He did it well, though.”
Wedding Day
“Every bride is definitely different. I loved photographing Emily because of the way she carried herself and radiated confidence in the room. She was a modern bride. I loved how she had multiple outfit changes.”
“Planning and having my wedding without my mom is something that I still struggle with everyday. It was incredibly difficult and lonely. ”
Emily called a few weeks before the wedding, wishing to design a veil for her flower girl with any remaining lace pieces. There was very little left. We used every last piece to make it work.
“I love to ask the bride and photographer if they remember any specific wedding veil moments. Often the word breeze and sun are a part of their reply.”
“For me, the word natural will always be in the description of a beautiful veil moment.”
While Grace Kelly played a vast role in influencing Emily’s wedding fashion, Emily conceptualized her style from head to toe for each event with looks that were both sexy and sophisticated.
As a fashion designer, my experience doesn’t end when I have completed something beautiful, and the bride takes it away to wear it down the aisle. I am imbued in the fullness of her wedding day. I am forever intrigued and thoughtful of every moment of my brides, present or not. I was blessed to witness life, love, beauty, and fashion as never before with Emily.
See you next month on the Fourteenth