To start, could you share how you first discovered the showroom and what your very first appointment was like?
I was walking in North Park with my then-boyfriend when I first came across your showroom. I was drawn to the colorful window display and the classy, satin dress - it stuck with me! When my boyfriend proposed later that year, I knew I had to return.
I had recently moved to San Diego, and a lot of my friends and family still live in Colorado, so I was looking for my wedding dress alone (with friends and family on FaceTime!). I had been to appointments at other showrooms, and I didn't feel like their ethos fit my vision for the wedding. I felt like the experience was a business deal, rather than a collaboration to create a timeless piece of art, meant to be passed down to the next generation. When I got to your showroom, everything was different. Jess was amazing to work with. She made me feel like we were old friends, and she listened to my thoughts on each dress we tried on. She also listened to my mom and my best friend's thoughts on Facetime : ) She fit right in! Jess made me feel like she had all the time in the world to talk about the dress with me, and she helped brainstorm ideas for over an hour. It was the first time I was really excited about what I was going to wear to my wedding. I knew I'd be in the best hands.
Before we began designing your custom dress, what ideas or inspirations did you already have in mind?
I was inspired by my mom's wedding dress, and our generations of family in the mountains of Colorado. I wanted my dress to be lacy, like my mother's was. I also wanted my dress to feel timeless, like it could have been passed down to me by my mom or my grandma and worn on a Colorado mountain in cowgirl boots. So it also had to be able to tolerate some line-dancing! And I hoped it could reflect the women in my family: beautiful and strong.
During the process of creating and trying on your dress, what moments stood out to you or brought you the most joy?
It was a joy working with Jess and April. They made me feel beautiful. I was in awe of their craftsmanship and talent. I had complete trust in them. I so appreciate how they taught me about the dress and involved me in the process. It made the dress so much more meaningful. I loved seeing your sketches of the dress, and I was so happy (but not at all surprised) when Jess showed me the sketch and it was exactly how I had imagined it in my mind.
If you had to describe in just three words or adjectives, how did you feel on your wedding day when you saw yourself in the mirror and when your partner saw you for the first time?
I felt beautiful, timeless, and very lucky.
What piece of advice would you give to a bride who’s dreaming of a made-to-measure dress?
Go to Christina Sfez! She and her team will make you feel so cared for, and so sure of the decision you're making. You'll be part of a whole team with one goal: to make you the best dress possible for your wedding day.
Finally, how did it feel to learn that your dress design would become part of my 2026 collection as a “signature piece,” bearing your name?
I was honored! This dress--and the design and fitting experience leading up to the finished product--means so much to me. I hope it can mean the same for any person who wears it on their wedding day in the future.
