When Haylie began planning her bridal portraits, she envisioned something unique and deeply personal. The setting was her husband Jack’s family ranch, a place that held special significance and showcased the natural beauty of Texas wildflowers. The journey to her dream dress, designed by Nardos Design, was an intricate process filled with creativity and collaboration.
The inspiration for Haylie’s wedding dress came from a silhouette by a London-based designer. “I wanted something unique with a scoop neckline, fitted, and sheer at the bottom,” she recalls. However, balancing a conservative yet striking look was crucial. Nardos excelled at this, creating a base layer dress that met Haylie’s vision while maintaining a timeless elegance.
To add a touch of drama, a large skirt was designed for the portraits and ceremony. “I kept thinking it was too overwhelming,” Haylie says. But with Nardos’ expert guidance and the reactions from friends and family during her bridal portraits, she fell in love with the complete look. “Seeing their emotional reactions and getting my bridal portraits back made me love the dress even more.”
Haylie’s love for color was a driving force in the design. “I knew I wanted a colorful dress because I’m a colorful person,” she says. The challenge was creating a design that was vibrant yet appropriate for a wedding. Through four rounds of custom pattern swatches, Nardos worked diligently to perfect the style and coloring.
Creating this one-of-a-kind dress required constant communication. “Nardos didn’t quit until the dress was exactly what I wanted,” Haylie says. From thread colors to beading patterns, every detail was meticulously discussed. The result was a dress that surpassed Haylie’s dreams. “The dress was truly the dress of my dreams,” she adds, reflecting on the collaborative process with Nardos. Her involvement in every step made the final product even more meaningful.
One unique aspect was incorporating Texas wildflowers into the dress design. Each flower was a Texas wildflower rendered in colors that matched Haylie’s muted citrus theme. “It was a thoughtful detail that made the dress even more special,” she shares. The ranch provided a picturesque backdrop for Haylie’s bridal portraits. The setting not only highlighted the dress’s unique flower design but also added a personal touch to the photos.
A standout element of Haylie’s ensemble was her custom cowboy boots from Miron Crosby, tying in perfectly with the ranch setting. “I knew I wanted to wear cowboy boots for the reception,” she says. The process of designing these boots was another highlight. Haylie’s grandmother gifted her and her sister custom boots ahead of their wedding, adding a sentimental touch. Miron Crosby allowed Haylie to customize every detail, from the base color to the accents and even a special message from Jack inside. “Jack wrote a sweet message inside, which I only read on my wedding day,” she recalls. The boots featured the XOXO design, a playful and romantic choice that perfectly complemented her dress.
