Ashley Graham is the plus sized model we all know and love for being a representation of a real woman – but despite being an internationally recognized model, she struggled to find the perfect wedding dress when she married her videographer husband, Justin Evrin in 2010.
Now expecting, but still working hard, she recollects wedding dress shopping all those years ago, “I had difficulty finding something that made me feel special, something that would flatter and celebrate my body on one of the most important days of my life. I’m a traditional girl and knew I wanted my gown to reflect that.”
After getting engaged, she had just 2 months to find the perfect dress and plan her wedding ceremony, which meant that having a bespoke custom creation was out of the question – and had no choice but to buy off the rack. She humors when she went back to home to shop for her dress with her loved ones and the issues she faced when trying to find the perfect dress, “I went home to Nebraska to shop with my mom and grandmother, and the dress I liked was only a size 10 with a corset. We had to put a whole panel in the back so it fit properly, and even after that, I had a bit of a situation with my girls spilling out!”
Understanding the plight of a curvaceous bride, Ashley Graham has teamed up with well known wedding dress and evening wear designer, Pronovias to launch Ashley Graham x Pronovias bridal collection – which will cover sizes from 0 to 34. “Women should be empowered to be their most confident selves on their wedding day—looking and feeling beautiful—and that’s why it’s important for brands like Pronovias to provide luxurious options in all sizes and styles,” she says.
Many women panic to lose weight before their big day, and recognizing the lack of size inclusivity within the bridal dressing market, Ashley came to the rescue with this stunning collaboration, “Typically, we have to try on a smaller size and then either special order our size or reconstruct the dress to fit, so when you’re shopping, it makes it difficult to get that ‘this is the dress!’ feeling. One size and style does not fit all when it comes to wedding dresses.”
Speaking about what she hopes for through the design collab, Graham says, “I want the Ashley Graham x Pronovias bride to feel bold, brilliant, and beautiful. I want her to be blissfully happy and confident as she embarks on this new chapter in her life.”
