Dream Dress Project Bride Spotlight: Emily, In Full Bloom

A retro-glam bride-to-be who’s redefining beauty, radiating self-love, and lighting up our Dream Dress Giveaway. With record-breaking nominations and heart-melting style, Emily is proof that kindness, confidence, and a killer pair of sunnies always win.

If Ivory & Main ran our Dream Dress Giveaway like American Idol, Emily would’ve taken the crown by a landslide. But it wasn’t just the number of nominations —it was what her community said about her: in their submissions, they lauded a friend who maintains self-joy while ensuring that her shine never dulls the light of those around her. Instead, Emily's effervescence only helps illuminate her tribe. And the minute we connected with Emily, we felt the glow!

In one of her (many) nominations, one friend coined the best title ever, describing Em as  “a walking celebration of self-love.”  Reading this love note had us simultaneously tearing up and  revving up the screen printers. Not only because something that poetic needs to be on a shirt, STAT but because that’s the energy we aim to live every day—and the experience we want every client to have when they leave our shop (if they didn’t walk in glowing already).

Emily is the embodiment of confidence, kindness, and beauty, inside and out. She’s the kind of person who shows up for everyone else—lifting spirits, hyping friends, and radiating warmth wherever she goes. The kind of person who makes other people feel like they belong. So when her name rose to the top? It didn’t just make sense—it felt like a full-circle moment.

As a plus-size woman, Emily has moved through a world that too often underestimates women like her—but she’s never let that stop her. She radiates joy and self-love with every step, redefining beauty on her own terms and inspiring everyone around her to do the same.

And don’t even get us started on her personal style—Emily is serving modern bombshell energy with a nostalgic twist. From her trendy ginger shag haircut to her whimsical, retro-glam engagement shoot (yes, we’re still dreaming about the convertible, heart-shaped sunnies, and tea-length veil), every detail screams fun, fearless, and full of flair. She’s got a vibe, and we are fully subscribed.

Now the only thing left is to see which of our gowns she’ll choose—and let’s just say the entire Ivory & Main team is hovering like it’s a season finale. Because when someone this radiant walks into our fitting room, you know it’s about to be a moment.

Emily, we hope your dress makes you feel exactly how you make everyone else feel: powerful, radiant, unforgettable—and loved while being fully & fiercely themselves.

Watch as Emily says yes to her dream dress in our latest episode of the Dream Dress Project: