About Hope LaVine

My Story

It’s been a long time in the making. As long as I can remember, I have been drawn to art and expressing myself creatively. I was a very shy kid who preferred art projects to recess. Little did I know my interest in art would transform into a love of fashion.

At age 9 I started sketching evening gowns and bridal wear. Project Runway inspired me. In fact, I think that is all I watched for a whole summer. Slowly the subject of all of my school projects and papers also became fashion.

Later that year my mom and I were shopping for a gown for her to wear to a local charity ball. We stumbled into Renee’s Bridal where we became quick friends with the owner, buying all of my mom’s gowns from there. I looked forward to helping my mom pick the perfect dress. 

One day, I told the owner, Renee, that I would be a fashion designer one day, and I showed her my sketchbook. She promised me a job when I was old enough. Through the years, we visited for homecoming court dresses, prom dresses, and everything in between until the summer I graduated high school, when Renee offered me a job.

Now you’d think this is the start of a nice happily ever after; however, I hated it!! As an introvert it was an actual nightmare. But it taught me more about communication, relationships, and selling, more than public speaking classes ever could’ve. That job completely brought me out of my shell and after persevering and learning and learning and learning. Eventually, I was HOOKED. I loved bridal.

Renee and I worked together for four years. She taught me how to sew, design, buy, style, how gowns are made, how to open a store, how to manage a store, what fabrics are what, and so much more. During my time with Renee, I assisted her on multiple TLC celebrity wedding gowns and helped her open a store in Kentucky while managing our Florida location.

Renee gave me the freedom to fail, trust myself, be a leader, and find my voice. Post-college I had the big-city itch. So, I found my way to Bridals by Lori from TLC’s “Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta.” I had such a fun experience making friends with the sweetest brides and co-workers. We had trunk shows often, so meeting designers like Lazaro and reps for Eve of Milady and more was a blast. Not to mention seeing the TV show being filmed and being on it was a full circle dream come true. I truly loved my time there.

Today, I spend my time being a liaison between brides and sales consultants, like I once was. I create a mood board, book appointments, help articulate a bride’s vision to the consultant in easy-to-understand terms, assist in accessory styling, and day-of coordinating of the bridal look. I now live in LA and my taste has changed so much through the years, but one thing that remains is my love of bridal fashion.

My goal is to help brides feel their absolute best on their wedding day. And it would be my honor to help you for your day.