Iconic designer — a household name on TLC’s — is sharing her wedding dress expertise and the inspiration behind her designs.
The designer, 61, tells PEOPLE that while today’s fashion trends can change in a “flash,” wedding gowns tend to be more “classic pieces” that “stand the test of time.”
“Dimensional flowers and floral details have been trending for years, but smaller trends like pleated tulle or peek-a-boo bra-style necklines feel fresh,” Tornai says. “And as always, what is old is new! It’s not uncommon for past trends to become popular again, but updated for the modern bride.”
Another new trend taking the bridal world by storm is shorter dresses, which Tornai says brides are gravitating towards for civil ceremonies and after parties. She adds that modern brides, “find it hard to commit to just one dress” so it’s not unusual to have three separate dresses for the ceremony, reception and after party.
That’s why her latest bridal collection — which is the largest she has introduced so far — has 52 styles to choose from. The theme of Tornai’s collection is “LOVE” with the hope of spreading the sentiment to all the brides who wear her dresses.
“I’ve included a bit of everything, short dresses, different styles of beading, and basque waists, which brides are loving at the moment,” she tells PEOPLE, adding that her signature “beading,” “bows” and “corsets” can also be found throughout the collection.
Tornai notes that brides shouldn’t rush to find their perfect dress, as those who want one of her one-of-a-kind designed gowns have to place an order at least seven months in advance in order and then plan come in two-to-three months before their wedding for alterations.
The designer also advises brides to keep their wedding dress shopping entourage small because “deciding on a dress with so many different opinions can be challenging,” she says.
“So many of my brides chose a dress they didn’t want to try on at first! Then, when you find the dress, stop looking! Don’t continue to shop because you’re afraid of missing out on other dresses,” Tornai shares. “Your heart will tell you when it’s the one.”
She adds, “I’ve had brides come back to me after scouring store after store, and it saddens me so much to disappoint them because I don’t have enough time to make the dress.”
As for jewelry, Tornai says that brides are opting to choose one-of-a-kind styles for the big day, including the black diamond engagement rings in her
Her new wedding jewelry collection, utilizes pearls, which she has long incorporated into her bridal gown designs.
“Pearls are luminous and precious, a wondrous gift from nature with the life-giving energy of water,” Tornai says. “A pearl and diamond engagement ring or wedding band is a chic, elegant alternative for the bride who wants to be a little different, but still classic.”
Alongside the unique styles, the designer says she’s been seeing brides opt for much bigger stones lately, which also prompted her to create a new lab-created diamond ring collection featuring “larger stones” measuring between 3 ct to 5 ct.
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“These rings are for those who love bling as much as I do,” she says. “With lab-created diamonds, you can get a bigger stone for the price of a smaller mined diamond, making your dream ring more accessible.”
Tornai, who has dubbed herself the “fairy godmother of brides” says she got into the business of creating engagement rings in order to help make a bride’s “dream come true” at the very start of her love story.
“Creating jewelry allows me to reach my bride at the beginning of her journey when she says ‘yes’ to the love of her life,” she explains. “I consider myself very blessed to be part of my brides’ biggest moments in life. And, of course, as the Queen of Bling, it has been my dream to work with diamonds and to partner with Jared.”