Romantic Wedding Dresses from Katrina Marie Designs|
Interview by Grace Sydney
Photos courtesy Katrina Marie Designs

There is nothing more sensual than the touch of velvet, and Katrina Marie Designs offers wedding attire and a new line of lingerie fashioned in this romantic fabric to fulfill any bride's fantasy. Following is an interview with Katrina Jacobs, the creative force behind Katrina Marie Designs, who offers her advice for brides-to-be.

Theme weddings are becoming increasingly popular. Why do you feel that so many of today's brides are turning to the past for inspiration?

I feel that brides are looking for something unique to express themselves on their wedding day. Wearing a gown that is inspired by the past may show a bride's heritage or love for a certain time period. Our population is also becoming more multi-cultural and some brides want a gown that brings them closer to their roots and individuality.

Click here for a gallery of more wedding dress designs from Katrina Marie Designs photo courtesy Katrina Marie Designs

How has your theatrical background helped to give you a unique perspective when designing gowns?

As a designer my theatrical background gives me more tools to work with when creating my gowns. There are many style elements found in fashion history that are not being used in wedding dresses such as different fabrics, accent colors and trim placement to various sleeve and gown cuts. Most designers create "traditional" looks that have really only been in fashion for the last 50 years. I have more design inspiration by researching what people wore 100s of years ago than in modern times.

Your company offers a wide range of styles, ranging from medieval and Celtic to fantasy and Gothic. What advice would you give brides in search of a period gown that both flatters her particular body shape and captures her unique spirit?

It's really up to the bride to decide which style she feel the most comfortable wearing. Every bride eventually finds the gown that captures her spirit by looking and trying on gowns. Whether it is a fitted long sleeved gown with a hip belt or a full skirt and circle flounce sleeve that flows and flutters.

Our gown collection is created from A-line and princess styles, which we have found to be flattering on most body shapes and sizes. Some sleeve styles are better on certain body types in which case we will recommend the best choice for the bride's figure.

What advice do you have for brides planning a summer wedding who would like to wear one of your creations?

For our brides planning a summer wedding we usually recommend a gown that has a sheer chiffon sleeve or is sleeveless. We will also be offering new styles that are strapless or have spaghetti straps. Since most of our gowns are made from crushed panne and stretch velvet we sometime have brides concerned with being too warm, but there is really little difference from a satin gown made from the same fiber content.

Although many brides would like their guests to don period attire, some are met with reluctance. What advice can you give those hoping to persuade attendees to wear attire in keeping with the theme of the wedding?

I think it is great if the guests want to dress up, it can make the celebration more fun. My advice is not to come in costume, but rather dress in attire that is inspired by the period. Try something a little more creative than work attire such as khakis, black suits and white shirts. We recommend free flowing shirts and vests for the men and gowns with lacing or corset tops and flowing skirts for the ladies.

What is the most requested gown in your collection? What do you feel is the special appeal of this garment?

I would have to say we have the most requests for gowns that have a Tudor, Angel or Fairytale sleeve. Our popular styles have been Kathleena, Juliette and Angelyn. These gowns are appealing because they are simple and classic. We are currently receiving interest in the gowns from our Katrina Marie signature collection which combine elegant styling with jewel tone accents and metallic trims. Our gown styles Valentina, Anastasia and Evangelina are designer favorites and add romance and drama to the wedding event.

You also design a line of intimate apparel. Could you tell our readers about Katrina Marie Designs lingerie collection?

Our line of lingerie is in the early design stage, but will compliment our bridal collection quite well by combining the same fabrics and accents we use to create our gowns. We currently have a few pieces including our lace edged crushed panne Cami & boi shorts and our camy corset & panty with decorative ribbon lacing up the front for a sassy renaissance look. These garments are comfortable and flattering just like our gowns.

Not only can brides order your gowns online, they can also visit Katrina Marie Boutique, which is now open in downtown Bennington, Vermont. What should a bride expect upon entering your showroom?

Our designer boutique is a unique mix of special occasion attire including tops, skirts, pants, dresses and gowns with complimenting jewelry and accessories. Our bridal collection is exclusively designed by Katrina Marie Designs and is by appointment only. The bridal showroom is a smaller more intimate section of the boutique and features most gowns from our collection.

Where else can brides see your creations?

We have displayed our attire at Renaissance Festivals for almost eight years. Currently our gowns are on display at the Ohio Renaissance festival, but we plan to add a couple more festival locations by 2005 in the New England area. We are also marketing our designs to boutiques around the United States. At this time our gowns are only available through a few locations, but we plan to have more bridal shops within major cities carrying our collection in the next year. Please contact us for a salon in your area.

Is there anything else you would like to tell our readers about Katrina Marie Designs?

Katrina Marie Designs offers a unique collection of made-to-order bridal gowns, prom dresses and evening wear that artfully blends rich stretch velvet, delicate floral lace and flowing chiffon with the romance of the renaissance and fairytale dreams. Our designs are inspired by past times but are created with modern knit fabrics offering a couture fit at a ready-to-wear price.

For more photos of wedding dresses by Katrina Marie Designs, click here for a gallery of beautiful dresses

For More Information:

Katrina Marie Designs, Inc.
133 Church Street
Hoosick Falls, NY 12090
Email: katcouture@msn.com katcouture@msn.com
http://www.katrinamariedesigns.com