Watters | Melange de Blanc Bridal Market Week Series
Literally growing up with the company, Style Director, Sydney Watters Dunbar, has an innate sense of the brand. She's got the pulse of her generation's style, not to mention being kind of a nut for fashion herself. Working elbow-to-elbow with the design team, she helps shape the creative direction for each collection.
Ever wondered how a wedding dress transitions from a simple fabric to an exquisite masterpiece? Tune in as we navigate this spellbinding journey with Sydney Watters, a luminary figure in the world of bridal designs. This episode will give you an inside look into the creative process, the importance of color and fabric selection, and the thrilling journey of turning a simple fabric into a bridal gown.
Sydney, who is currently planning her own wedding, gives us a raw account of wedding planning, underlining the importance of trusting professionals in the field. We also touch on the evolution of the boho and destination bride trend. This episode is a treasure trove of insights, not just for brides-to-be, but for anyone fascinated by the artistry behind wedding designs and planning.
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Speaker 1: 0:10
Hello and welcome to this versus that, making wedding decisions with Kelly McWilliams. This podcast is for you if you're making a wedding decision and want to know what to consider before saying I do to all the things that will make your wedding experience a great one. I'm your host, Kelly McWilliams, and I'm so glad to be a part of your wedding planning journey. In each episode, you can count on me and my expert wedding co-hosts to give you everything it takes to make the best decisions for the wedding that you're dreaming of. Hey, here we are, Melange de Blanc, in New York, New York City, Manhattan. It's live and by been and noisy, as it has been for the rest of this mini series. So, guys, this is a reminder so many things going on here, hundreds of people walking by, lots of noise, and it's all like the good kind. It's very exciting, very New York. This episode was really fun because it's with Sydney Watters and she's from Watters Designs and she and I actually met just a couple of months ago in Paris, of all places where she was also engaged. She is also a bright to be to see sitting right where you guys are right now and working on her wedding and her dresses and all of that fun stuff. So this was. This is a very fun episode for me to record with her. This interview is great. We had such a good time and I'm so glad that we got to reconnect again. It's Sydney Watters from Watters, design Sydney. Thank you so much for coming on the episode today. I appreciate it.
Speaker 2: 1:50
I'm so excited to be here. Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1: 1:52
Yeah, no this is so great. Well, great for two reasons because, of course, we love Watters, but also because you're getting married.
Speaker 2: 1:59
Yes, I can't wait.
Speaker 1: 2:00
But have we been on the public and talking about it yet? I have talked about it briefly. Yeah, okay, all right. So first of all, I overheard you talking to the girls here from Coded PR. So, yeah, they're making a coffee right now and it's going to pick up all of it, but from Coded PR that you guys got engaged in Paris.
Speaker 2: 2:21
Yes, we got engaged in Paris in February, so before we actually met each other for the first time, I'd engaged. Oh, before we met, I was like, oh, we met him, no, okay, the first time we were there for Premier Vision, which is an amazing fabric show. So it was a great time, very surprised, and I had one more day to go look at fabric for my wedding dress after we got engaged.
Speaker 1: 2:41
Oh, that's so cool. Wait, so was just. Did you just get engaged In February? Oh, okay, and then we were back there in July.
Speaker 2: 2:51
I've been there a lot this year, yeah.
Speaker 1: 2:53
I was going to say so now. It's like a really meaningful place for you. Yes, Okay so, but are you not getting married there?
Speaker 2: 2:59
No, we're getting married in Mexico City.
Speaker 1: 3:01
So cool which I'm going to Mexico myself in February, Cabo. So my first time in Mexico.
Speaker 2: 3:09
Great, I love Cabo.
Speaker 1: 3:10
Yeah, and then, right after the long run, cabo first and then go to Mexico City.
Speaker 2: 3:14
Oh, you're going to love it.
Speaker 1: 3:15
I'm very excited. You're really going to love it.
Speaker 2: 3:17
So, since we were based in Dallas, mexico is very easy for us to get to.
Speaker 1: 3:21
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2: 3:22
Cabo is beautiful, probably my favorite easy destination to get to. I'm just too scared to have a beach wedding, yeah.
Speaker 1: 3:29
Well, that's fair. I plan a lot of those and there's a lot that goes into it. Yes, but so you can do a part of it outside, or Everything inside, everything inside. I'm not willing to chance it.
Speaker 2: 3:38
You're like no, you know we've worked on set at Honey Ya Photo Shoot and those are perfectly controlled for the best day and even then a little too scared to do a wedding.
Speaker 1: 3:49
What do you think? How do you think like having all the insider knowledge with designs and bridal has influenced what you're doing with your wedding planning. Do you think that you're a different bride than most because of it?
Speaker 2: 4:04
I have not worked a ton with other brides for any other aspect for the wedding. I was very surprised, going into it, how I didn't know anything besides the wedding dress.
Speaker 1: 4:12
Did you think that you knew more? I thought, I might yes yeah.
Speaker 2: 4:16
So, going into it, I just made sure that we picked professionals for each task that I trust wholeheartedly. I don't have too many opinions at all. I trust the professional for each specific category is really how I've been going into this. Oh, that's so cool.
Speaker 1: 4:30
Okay, so let's talk about Watters. Let's do it. Yeah, so you guys have how many different lines? Because there's a few different branches right.
Speaker 2: 4:41
Of course. So our whole company's Watters designs and then within that we have Watters brides, which is our flagship brand. Higher price point, more inventive materials. We get a little more modern with corseting, cooler beading, kind of pushing the envelope with that brand. And then we have W2, which we created next, and that is our affordable luxury price point. There's something for everyone in it. It has the most breadth and style. Okay, we have clean dresses, tool dresses, very girly, a little bohemian, a little bit of everything there. And then Willoughby is our destination bride brand.
Speaker 1: 5:19
Oh, is that one of the more new it's, newer it's newer. Okay.
Speaker 2: 5:22
So, as we all know, maybe what 10 years ago bohemian was it? Yes, and now we've kind of seen that move into the destination bride rocker, feeling a little bit more adventurous. So that's for that bride. And most recently, when COVID happened, we were moving offices to downsize a little, knowing that we were going to start working from home, and we were going through the fabric at our studio. We have bolts and bolts and bolts of fabric and we found this amazing Dupe, yoni from the 90s, get out, it's beautiful, it's beautiful.
Speaker 1: 5:52
So is it in the new line?
Speaker 2: 5:53
No, we picked it up, okay.
Speaker 1: 5:55
Oh, it's all gone now it is gorgeous.
Speaker 2: 5:57
It was gorgeous, but it inspired us to start making little white dresses, which is what our Buy. Watters line is.
Speaker 1: 6:04
Oh, okay. So how many different dresses are in that line?
Speaker 2: 6:08
Oh my gosh, we have a lot now over 30. Oh wow.
Speaker 1: 6:11
Little white dresses available online.
Speaker 2: 6:14
How many people?
Speaker 1: 6:15
are you going to have one-to-one dress? Oh?
Speaker 2: 6:16
my goodness, isn't that? Everyone's been asking me that, so I knew exactly what I wanted, and I can't think of anything better than it, so I am just going to do the one wedding dress, and then I have a backup, little short one to change into If I want a little more comfort late night, since the wedding is going to last until 2am or later maybe yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1: 6:37
So right now in your hand, you're like no, this dress is so amazing, I'm keeping it on. But as most of my brides go about 10 o'clock, they're like, um, I need this off.
Speaker 2: 6:47
Like you just want to be like that, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1: 6:50
Just like you said. You've got it, it's prepared. It can be on a rack in the side room so you can make that quick switch.
Speaker 2: 6:55
Yes, but plenty of people. I was just in my best friend's wedding. She did floor looks and On one night, yeah.
Speaker 1: 7:02
Oh, that's a lot.
Speaker 2: 7:03
It was a lot. She loved it. It was so. Her One was just a sleeve change that was manageable but some people really go for it and I'm buying it.
Speaker 1: 7:10
Yeah, so for her in particular, did she do all waters she did, oh was that so fun to do together.
Speaker 2: 7:19
Yeah, she did a ball gown and then she did a sleek look and a sleeve and then a mini.
Speaker 1: 7:24
Well, let me ask you this you said ball ground and I. That's not something we've heard a lot about in the last seven years, but let me tell you, since COVID, I have so many more black tie weddings Like we like even I do destination, and they're still doing them there. And you know, the last 10 years that was pre COVID 10 years that was enough of the case and I'm thinking there's a turn, going towards trend, going towards a fancy address. One walks in the door right now in front of this. You guys can't see this, but this big sparkle ballgown sparkly black ball gown walks in the door.
Speaker 2: 8:07
It's amazing. So no, I totally agree with that. I think post COVID, everyone is kind of sad of wanting to go all out. It's their big day. A lot of people have been waiting, so they're going to go all out for this. And I think everyone also knows maybe if you're doing this destination far away wedding, you won't have as big of a guest list. But people just want those who are closest there with them. Yeah, and then back to the ball gown. I think people are less afraid to do it because one they're gorgeous. When else are you going to wear a ball gown other than on your wedding day?
Speaker 1: 8:39
Exactly, I was having this conversation with someone yesterday. I was like this is your one opportunity to like be that person.
Speaker 2: 8:46
Of course, Even if it's not your everyday thing.
Speaker 1: 8:49
this is your one chance Ball gown, full veil, all of it.
Speaker 2: 8:53
And then also now Brides are looking at that second look, so you can have that comfort factor still and still get your amazing bridal portraits in your ball gown Exactly.
Speaker 1: 9:02
I love that, okay. So for that reason I'm like totally down. That's why I'm down for the second dress, to be honest with you, because not everyone wants to be in the big dress the whole night. But knowing that you have that out to like really hit the dance floor and like, if you're willing like some people do love their dresses Just like you said so much they're willing to like sweat it out Really you got a great band or something like that. So tell me sorry, my friend tell me about some of your bridesmaids lines, because I feel like that's something that we don't talk about as often but I think just manage just as much. Do your bridesmaids stresses align with the? You guys do it on purpose, where the ones you put out new every season or are they every season? You put out About once a year, okay, so when you put a new one out, do you? Are they influenced by the bridal line that you're creating for that season? Or are they really their own separate thing?
Speaker 2: 10:04
I'd say they're really their own separate thing. It depends more on what fabrics we can source. Oh, okay, just making sure we have a great fabric available that we can make available in a good range of colors Is that the dress to start Like or for most designers, of course.
Speaker 1: 10:20
See, I didn't know that. Yeah, yeah, what do you guys go to? A lot of fabric sourcing. Okay, so you go to what are they like? You go to a warehouse somewhere.
Speaker 2: 10:30
Oh my gosh, they're amazing. It's just a yes. There's several shows big warehouses, manufacturers have booths of fabric swatches and you just spend days flipping through fabric swatches.
Speaker 1: 10:42
Oh, that sounds so fun, it's very fun, but very chaotic. Okay, it must be kind of like this is for the bridal shop owners that come here to the launch vlog and like there's just so much to choose from, it's the same but the base fabric, the garment, is not yet complete.
Speaker 2: 10:59
It's really cool, exhausting but fun.
Speaker 1: 11:02
And so when you guys go, and how many designers do you have?
Speaker 2: 11:07
We have a team of three designers.
Speaker 1: 11:09
Okay, so does everyone go fabric shopping or?
Speaker 2: 11:13
usually it is myself and then Zai, who is one of our head designers as well as our creative director.
Speaker 1: 11:18
Okay, so you guys, you go to and you find fabrics that you're like, oh, I love, and do you immediately think I already see what I'm going to do with this? So your influence really bought the fabric.
Speaker 2: 11:29
Definitely it starts with the fabric. We know what we love is people. We can be flipping through and say, oh Sydney, I bet you love this one, oh Zai, I know you're going to like this one. What are you thinking about doing with this? And then also just seeing how we can elevate the fabrics that we have now Like what's the next version of this overglossed floral? What's the next version of this dainty face lace? What kind of amazing the cotto can we find that maybe doesn't wrinkle as badly?
Speaker 1: 11:52
That is amazing. Well, I think that's all I have.
Speaker 2: 11:56
Oh my gosh, yeah, that's so fun.
Speaker 1: 11:58
I know I mean how. I mean you can talk about right all day long. I can, at least I feel like you can too, and now even more so. I'm excited to see, I'm excited to talk to you after you get married to see like how it all comes together and like what you thought was going to happen and, of course, to find out if you wore the other dress, of course, no, this was really fun.
Speaker 2: 12:23
It's not often you get to talk about the dress before it's a dress. Is it a dress yet? Oh well, mine is not a dress yet. No, but just in general, I feel like, as a design company, we never talk about how the dress gets to the dress portion.
Speaker 1: 12:37
Oh yeah, oh good, I'm glad that came up then. Thank you, Sydney. No, thank you. I'm so glad to be able to share my wedding experiences and expertise with you and that my co hosts are so giving it theirs. We truly do want you to have the best time at your wedding, and our hope is that this podcast is helping you to make your engagement time while planning your wedding that much easier. May I ask a favorite of you? If this is the case, would you just take a moment to leave a review of this podcast on your listening platform? It helps people just like you to find the podcast and to also find out their answer so they can make decisions. I would also absolutely love for you to give this versus that podcast a shout out on your social media. You can find us at this versus that wedding podcast on Instagram, and if you would like me to help you with a specific question a wedding decision please by all means ask. Send me a DM. I would love to hear from you and maybe, just maybe, even have you as a wedding cast on the future episode. How fun. Here's to another great wedding.
