There's no doubt about it- finding the perfect bridesmaids gowns can be difficult. Meredith Fisher, founder and designer of California-based collection WAYF (Where Are You From), realized this while planning for her big day. The outcome was stunning, with Fisher deciding to design a collection of dresses tailor-made for her bridesmaids. The collection launched with Nordstrom and is receiving amazing feedback from all over the country.
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Of course the wedding day belongs to the bride, but there is no reason why her bridal party can't put their best foot forward with these breezy designs. The chic and feminine gowns offer a new spin on the traditional bridesmaid gown, with various styles, patterns and hues. Any bridesmaid would be thrilled to wear these dresses. Simple in style and wearability, the designs provide a fresh take on the traditional bridal party, able to be worn time and time again.
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Check out our Q&A with the designer herself and shop the WAYF bridal collection at Nordstrom.
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When did you know that you wanted to begin designing your own bridesmaids collection?
The moment I started planning my wedding, I knew I would design my bridesmaids' dresses. How could I have my bridal party wear anything but WAYF! Also, having shopped for bridesmaids dresses before, I knew the limitation of the current offerings in the market. I wanted something fresh and different that would reflect my aesthetic and vision for my entire wedding.
What do you believe make your designs unique? How does this line stand out from others in the bridal industry?
The silhouettes are really special and differ from traditional bridesmaids dresses. I wanted to create dresses that could be worn as a bridesmaid but that you would love enough to wear again. Since the dresses were designed for my own bridal party, they also encompass styles that flatter many different body types. My sister in law actually had a baby 3 months prior to my wedding, so her dress can actually be worn with a nursing bra!!!
How is designing a bridesmaids line different than a fashion line? What similarities and differences did you draw on?
Designing the bridesmaids dresses was an amazing challenge! Since I was originally designing the dresses for my actual wedding, I felt extreme pressure to ensure they were flattering on my bridesmaids, reflected my aesthetic and kept in line with the vision I had for my wedding as a whole. I wanted the dresses to have a perfectly mismatched aesthetic – so that each dress represented the girls individual style but would also look great when all together for photos. I settled on an ombre color palette which I think is such a great concept for today’s wedding parties. There were more components to take into consideration when designing bridesmaids dresses – how would the dresses look with bouquets, how would the colors and silhouettes look in the wedding venue, how could I make sure the dresses would be fashionable, yet classic when we look back on photos? Elements you don’t have to think about when designing a ready to wear collection.
What advice do you have for brides as they begin searching for the perfect bridesmaid gowns?
Listen to your bridal party! My number one priority was for my bridal party to be comfortable and love the way they looked in their dresses!! Nobody wants to be forced to wear something that is unflattering!
