Since founding LWD Couture seven years ago, Liz White, an Asheville, North Carolina-based designer, has made a name for herself as an expert tailor; champion of sustainable, eco-friendly fashion; and designer of va-va-voom meets elegant silhouettes. In 2011, she was recruited by the green-meets-glamour label Prophetik, and while acting as their lead designer, she created gowns that appeared on the red carpet (Livia Firth, Colin Firth’s wife, wore her gown at the 2011 Golden Globes), on the runway at London’s Fashion Week, and in the Smithsonian. These days, brides flock to Liz for gowns rendered from organic silk and hand-dyed laces, all cast in singularly feminine forms that call to mind screen sirens and goddesses aplenty. American born with a European aesthetic, Liz is known for both one-of-a-kind frocks and one-on-one, bespoke services.

With Suite 33 by Emily Papuga, Treats for Tresses, , Birdsong Designs by Jen Bonoma, Fresh Stitch by Corinne Citrolo

Sometimes it takes a village to pull off a mind-blowing collection. To achieve just that, bridal gown maven Rachel Gordon of One Love has partnered with four other local designers for a spectacle unlike any other that’s graced Charleston Weddings Magazine’s Spring Bridal Show to date. Rounding out the “fab five” are Suite 33 by Emily Papuga (bridesmaid apparel); The Fresh Stitch by Corinne Citrolo (flower girl frocks); Treats for Tresses (hair accessories and belts); and Birdsong Design (jewelry and gown accents). A sneak peek at the collaborative photos the dream team has shared tells us we’re all in for a trip into ethereal luxury, where flowy gowns and romantic dresses exude sexy femininity; little girl getups are nothing but frothy, fantastic affairs; and accessories polish off every look with a touch of glamorous elegance. The collaboration shows not only how rich with talent Charleston’s bridal fashion world has become, but also how graciously its participants can band together to create dynamic ensembles. For brides needing to piece together their wedding day style—and those of their wedding parties—this is good news indeed.

This year’s Emerging Designer Competition: East was overrun with entrants who’d fashioned bridal gowns, some of which pushed the envelope and others that beautifully reimagined classic styles. Given the onslaught of terrific looks and talent, a separate bridal category was created with its own panel of judges, including Modern Trousseau’s Callie Tein, Fashion Star alums Sarah Parrot (of Bow & Drape) and Nikki Poulus (who produces an eponymous line), Cator Sparks (freelance fashion and design writer for The New York Times, Vanity Fair, The Huffington Post, and W.com), and Charleston Weddings magazine editorial director, Melissa Bigner. Up for grabs? A turn on the catwalk at the always sold-out Charleston Weddings Magazine’s Spring Bridal Show during Baker Motor Company Charleston Fashion Week®, media coverage, and an internship at Modern Trousseau’s design and dress production headquarters in Connecticut. Across the board, the judges picked Brooke Ray, a Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) graduate from Marietta, Georgia, as the winner. Her fluid sketches impart a sophistication that far exceeds her 24 years, and sample shots of her real-life gowns reveal her deftness for layering deconstructed fabrics into corseted, full-skirted gowns that radiate femininity without fuss. A peek at her drawings and an idea of her prowess with the needle and thread made giving her a chance in the spotlight a near no-brainer. We’re not sure who is more excited about what she will fashion for her show—Brooke herself or those who recognize her as a budding and noteworthy talent.

While White on Daniel Island carries A-list national brands like Jenny Packham, Marchesa, Anne Barge, Amsale, and more, being on a first-name basis with those fashionistas doesn’t taint owner Jodi Moylan’s gal-pal-next-door self, nor does it tweak the relaxed vibe in her decidedly chichi shop. Rather, White’s champagne bar and the ever-barefoot Jodi give any dress appointment there the air of a perfect (and private) party. And surely that’s every bride’s dream come true—trying on the country’s finest gowns in a jewel-box setting with the kind of personalized and pampered attention celebrities usually enjoy? When the Jodi show takes to the runway, fabulously theatrical hair and makeup, rockin’ music, and high-end gowns rule. This year, as excited as she is to reveal the latest looks from her self-designed collection, White Couture, she’s just as fired up to introduce Marchesa to Charleston, as it’s the first time that the illustrious label has been represented in the city.

Callie Tein of Modern Trousseau has been a darling of the bridal fashion press—Martha Stewart Weddings, Town & Country Weddings, Inside Weddings, StyleMePretty.com, and many, many more—for ages. Certainly it’s because her gowns, each handmade “with love” in the label’s Connecticut headquarters, embody a flirty yet elegant and fresh femininity delivered in imported European lace and fine silk tulle. But we think it’s also because the Australia-born graduate of the Royal Melbourne School of Design is as charming as her creations. That mix of personality plus top-of-the-line looks and exquisite materials make Modern Trousseau a natural fit with the Holy City, so it’s little surprise one of the label’s three flagship stores sits a few steps from Marion Square on King Street. This year, we’re especially excited about the impeccably draped and classic tulle confections she’s dreamed up of late, as well as all the colors she’s offering. And if you’re looking for a shortie for all those wedding-related fêtes, check out her late 2012 launch: “Before Long.” The styles are fantastic (see page 131), and the price tags will blow your mind (in a good way).