Shopping for the perfect bridal attire is no simple task. With the added pressure of wardrobe changes throughout the evening, brides can become overwhelmed even before their first visit to a wedding boutique. The explosions of styles, textures and designs can be daunting. Classic staples, modern pieces and everything in between are unified by their shared pale hues, leaving shoppers determined to scour every item before choosing the perfect ensemble.

Brides-to-be have plenty to mull over before saying “yes” to the dress. Fit and comfortability, however, should never be a question. At Ellenelle Bridal, Leah Langley-McClean creates fashion-forward wedding gowns with inclusive designs, sizing and customization. 

Ellenelle’s origin story started 10 years ago when Leah searched stores for her wedding dress. While sifting through options, she struggled to find fashionable statement dresses in sizes 14 to 22. 

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Toward the end of Leah’s search, she finally unveiled a solution – crafting a gown on her own.

“I had a little bit of sewing experience so I just decided to tackle making my own wedding dress,” said Leah.  “I was totally unprepared for how hard that was, but I did it.”

Leah’s recognition of bridal market gaps and her developing love of design inspired her to share her styles with Nashville brides. After testing her concept at a pop-up shop, Leah opened a flagship store in July of 2024, worked to expand her reach and even took her designs to New York Bridal Fashion Week.

“It’s always been that you’ve got to go to New York to get a couture gown,” Leah says. “I want to really change that stigma and let them know that we do have really unique gowns. Our quality stands up against anybody else’s.”

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Ellenelle Bridal offers high levels of customization, where brides work directly with the designer to curate their ideal gowns, which are made directly from their measurements at no additional cost. A black-owned business, the shop also provides inclusive mesh shades to match a diverse range of skin tones. 

“I just wanted to offer something that was going to ultimately allow [brides] to tell their stories and show up as their best selves on their wedding day,” Leah says. 

For more bridal inspiration, visit www.ellenellebridal.com and check out @ellenellebridal.