Wedding Dresses Made in America

The last wedding I went to was exactly one year prior to the wedding I should be going to this weekend.  I'm loving this Fall Wedding trend!  I really love weddings...period.  I always get teary eyed during the vows.  I love to dance.  I love the idea of being able to share in such an important commitment.   That being said, a wedding for me was just never something in my cards.  

I am not comfortable being the center of attention, so it just seemed like a wedding would be an event feeding my anxiety. Believe it or not, I did get married. My longtime boyfriend and I invited our parents to town for the weekend and the only other invitee was our pet dog.  We got married under 'our tree' in Washington Square Park. 

I was never one of those girls who dreamed of being a princess or bride.  So, this morning was the very first time in my life that I researched bridal gowns.  I must say, they really do make a woman look beautiful.  I still do not like the idea of being singled out in one, but I can definitely appreciate why some people do.

Moreover, I was so impressed by how many dress options are made locally! I did not look at prices and I am sure price is a big factor when determining wedding dresses, but there seem to be a wide array of talent making bridal gowns in the US so if you are an environmentally conscious, or a made-local supporting bride-to-be, finding a dress aligned with your values can be in your future!   

Design House: Alvina Valenta

Description: Alvina Valenta believes in evoking a sense of magic and emotional connection through creative layers of lush silks, European laces, intricate embroideries and thoughtful details. They believe in helping our brides express their inner romantic through their dream wedding dress.

Sources: Hand-crafted and manufactured in New York City of imported fabrics

Design House: Amy Michelson

Description: Sophisticated and elegant, Amy’s bias cut wedding gowns evoke the enchantment of Hollywood’s golden era yet are fresh and of the moment. She creates a signature look of soft sensuality infused with a modern confidence.

Sources: worldwide fabrics, made in the USA

Amy Michelson hails from New Jersey and has all her dresses made locally.  

Design House: Amsale

Description: Amsale's mission is to create elegant and understated dresses for women like her.  Amsale began custom-making wedding gowns in her New York City loft that fused pure, archetypal silhouettes with couture craftsmanship and sumptuous textiles.

Sources: international fabrics, crafted in NYC

Amsale Aberra was born in Ethiopia, but makes her garments in the US.

Design House: Angel Sanchez

Description: Angel Sanchez was initially an architect.  His designs reflect his architectural discipline and structure while creating new shapes and proportions that hold true to the timeless perfection of traditional couture.  His designs are architectural, contemporary, and feminine; which always include a touch of drama.  

Sources: international fabrics, made in USA

ez is also a Venezuelan-born designer, but his gowns are made in the US.   

Design House: Badgley Mischka

Description: Badgley Mischka's sophisticated style caters to a younger, more modern couture customer, without forsaking women of any age. They have remained true to this design philosophy throughout all of their collections.

Sources: worldwide fabrics, made in USA

Both Mark Badgley and James Mischka were born in Illinois and Wisconsin, respectively; most of their gowns are made here.

Design House: Carolina Herrera

Description: Carolina Herrera creatively translates her inspiration into a modern, dynamic, and yet timeless fashion that exudes effortless elegance. She asserts great importance of couture like-craftsmanship and excellence in quality. 

Sources: imported fabrics made in-house in New York City

Born in Venezuela, Herrera's gowns are made in New York City.

Design House: Claire Pettibone

Description: Claire Pettibone embodies vintage romance with an enchanted bohemian spirit. The garden, vineyard, rustic and vintage inspired weddings that have become so ubiquitous, showcase many of the designer’s creations. Claire’s gentle use of color, couture details, European laces and graceful embroideries flutter and flow to make a woman look and feel like a goddess.

Sources: international fabrics, made in US

Pettibone is American-born, and her gowns are manufactured in Los Angeles.

 

Design House: Elizabeth Fillmore

Description: Elizabeth Fillmore designs for the "Modern Romantic"...Individuality being very important to her.  They are a beautiful balance of Sophistication, Femininity, and a touch of the "Bohemian"...there is an overall lightness to the designs coupled with the personal touch of hand done accents on each dress.

Sources: dresses handcrafted in the US from European fabrics

Born in Michigan, Fillmore's gowns are made in New York City. 

  

Design House: Kenneth Pool

Description: The Kenneth Pool collection is designed by Amsale and is known for its embodiment of fantasy and drama with its grand ball gowns, luxurious fabrics and exquisite bead work. The Kenneth Pool creations cater to the bride who commands the spotlight.

Sources: imported fabrics, made in the USA

 

 

Austin Scarlett of Kenneth Pool was born in Oregon. 

Design House: Lazaro

Description: Lazaro's romantic wedding dresses are known for contemporary silhouettes, enhanced with classic embellishments and fabrics.

Sources: international fabrics, made locally

Born in Cuba, all Lazaro gowns are made in the US.

  

Design House: Monique Lhuillier

Description: Monique Lhuillier capture the essence of sophisticated luxury by provoking femininity, allure and glamour.  Monique appreciates that luxury can be whimsical and playful, allowing the brand to become a destination for women who understand the art of fashion.  

Sources: international fabrics, made locally

Lhuillier was born in the Philippines, but she makes her collection in the US. 

 

Design House: Nicole Miller

Description:  A mainstay in bridal for the past two decades, Nicole Miller combines her art training with couture technique, which has given her a unique style and vision.  

Sources: fabrics from around the world to be made locally

Born in Massachusetts, all of Miller's gowns are sewn in the US.

 

Design House: Oscar de la Renta

Description: De la Renta designed wedding gowns with the same sense of glamour and sophistication that he brought with him throughout his career. For de la Renta, experimentations in bridal design were subtle and always tasteful. A touch of color here; an unexpected hemline there.  Peter Copping took over as Creative Director for three seasons, but it seems they will be using in-house designers going forward.

Sources: international fabrics are used to manufacture locally

Oscar de la Renta's gowns are made in the United States.

 

Design House: Reem Acra

Description: Reem Acra is known for her breathtaking collections combining tradition with modern aesthetic.  She leads the way by continuously redefining the boundaries of fashion.  Reem Acra uses detailed and innovative couture designs in her design to make extraordinarily beautiful bridal gowns.

Sources: worldwide fabrics are used to manufacture locally

This designer is from Lebanon, and her gowns are made in the United States.

Design House: Vera Wang

Description: The Vera Wang name denotes an aspirational sentiment in the bridal world.  Vera Wang creates dresses of exquisite craftsmanship, delicate and thoughtful detail. There is a gentle sophistication and youthful air to her creations.  Pronounced silhouettes denote the Vera Wang label that are said to be poetic drapery.

Sources: international fabrics made local

Wang was born in New York City, and her gowns are all made in US.