As the popular star of TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress, Randy Fenoli has helped hundreds of women find the gown of their dreams. “I always want the bride to feel beautiful in the dress she chooses,” says the award-winning fashion designer and author. “I know that when a bride feels beautiful in a gown, she wears it differently.”
Fenoli is also the fashion director for the wedding dress store Kleinfeld Bridal. Born in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, Fenoli began sewing dresses when he was nine, eventually expanding his efforts into the areas of make-up artistry, hair styling and entertainment. Fenoli used the money he received from winning the Miss Gay America contest to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York.
In 2007, Fenoli made his television debut on TLC with Say Yes To The Dress.
In April, Fenoli will bring his banter and bridal tips to Ottawa where one lucky bride will win a private consultation with him and take home a designer gown.
Q: On Say Yes to the Dress, you are often forced to put out fires between the bride and her family and friends. How do you stay calm in the midst of all the meltdowns?
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A: Having designed wedding dresses since 1993 and knowing them literally inside and out does help. I also listen closely to what the bride is asking for and choose dresses I feel will give her the look she wants, but is also right for her body type. In the right gown, a bride stands more confidently, she smiles wider, her shoulders go back, and she “owns” the room. This confidence is what I believe truly makes a bride beautiful.
Q: You’ve said regardless of size, age and shape, every bride is beautiful. Is that a hard sell?
A: I wrote, It’s All About The Dress (Grand Central Life & Style Publishing, 2011), to give brides everything they need to help them choose their perfect wedding dress. I’m proud that the “models” I used in the book are real brides, ranging in age from 20 to 60 and size two to size 22. I wanted brides to realize you don’t have to be a runway model to look beautiful on your wedding day. With the perfect wedding dress, hair, makeup, and accessories, any bride can look beautiful.
Q: How often do you go to weddings?
A: LOL never. I have been to about three weddings my entire life: two were family members and one was very close friends.
Q: What can the audience expect when you come to Ottawa in April?
A: I will talk about my life growing up on a farm in southern Illinois, my time as a hairdresser and makeup artist, designing bridal gowns and how I got onto Say Yes to the Dress, which is a very funny story! Then I will go through what all brides want to know — what dress is best for me? — and talk about body types, wedding trends, everything that they would need to know relating to bridal.
Q: What are the hot new looks for 2016 weddings?
A: This season, the designers showed every gown from the simplest to the most ornate; from the most formal to relaxed, short, and bohemian. With that being said, the trends I noticed most were gowns with gorgeous dramatic backs, straps and sleeves. There was a huge influence from The Great Gatsby movie. There is still plenty of lace being used; some unique laser ‐ cut fabrics were introduced and there were plenty of short dresses and bling. Gowns with dimension, texture, ruching, ruffles and movement were everywhere. Bottom line: there is something for every bride out there.
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