Part 1: The Gowns
Although Ally McGown was no ordinary bride, she had the same dreams as any bride: to get married to her true love in a gown that made her feel wonderfully beautiful. On September 8, 2017 Ally’s dreams came true when she married her soulmate, Jason Fritz, at the St. Joseph’s Cathedral in King’s Park, NY. Not only did Ally get to wear one stunning custom Pnina Tornai gown on her wedding day to make her feel like a queen, she got to wear two!
Some of you may recognize Ally from Say Yes to the Dress or Pnina’s social media, but for those of you who do not, let me introduce her to you. Ally is the boutique manager for the Pnina Tornai Boutique at Kleinfeld Bridal! Having worked with Pnina Tornai for a number of years, Ally spends her time helping make other brides’ wedding dress dreams come true. From taking their measurements to even helping with custom orders, Ally is an expert when it comes to bridal fashion and has seen more wedding gowns then most people see in a lifetime.
Therefore when it came time for Ally to find the gown of her dreams, there was only one designer for her and only one route to go. The gowns were going to be custom and they were going to be designed by her and Pnina Tornai. Having looked at so many dresses for so many years, Ally had been constructing her dream gown in her mind far before she got engaged. Ready with an idea in mind for her dream wedding dresses, Ally sat down with Pnina to sketch out the gowns and brainstorm about how to bring her vision to life.
“I knew that I would want two dresses because I couldn’t decide between a romantic dress with no bling and a gown with all the bling,” Ally recalls.
Gown one would be the gown that Ally got married in, so for this dress Ally decided to go the romantic route. Ally knew all the elements that she wanted to combine in this magical gown. For starters, the gown needed to be strapless. From there Ally wanted a “cat-eye” neckline which is a pointed version of a traditional sweetheart neckline. The silhouette for the gown would be drop-waisted to show off Ally's amazing figure. Lastly, Ally wanted her gown to have the extravagant signature Pnina Tornai ruffles from the waist down.
Expressing her desires to Pnina, Ally looked to the famous designer and close friend to guide her in making the best decisions for her gown. Pnina added a touch of magic to Ally's original idea and the result was breathtaking. To wed her love Jason, Ally would walk down the aisle in a captivating drop-waisted gown with beautifully romantic Chantilly and Alençon lace, a sexy “cat-eye” sweetheart neckline, illusion corseted bodice with a tulle lace up closure in the back and luscious ruffles that began on the sides of the gown and exploded into full blown dramatic glamour in the back. It was everything Ally could've dreamt of and more!
While gown one was grand and romantic, gown two was fit for a bombshell ready for a good time. Equally as fabulous as the first gown, the gown that Ally and Pnina designed for Ally to wear to her reception was a sexy stunner meant for partying the night away.This gown was all about the satin and the bling which was exactly what Ally was hoping for. Ally's reception gown was a dazzling satin mermaid gown with a plunging V-neckline and exquisite crystal embellishments that also formed a seductive and eye-catching keyhole back.
“I always love to wear stuff stuff fitted and show off my shape,” Ally explains, “The gown accentuated my body in all the right places. I absolutely loved it!”
Fun fact: the crystals used for Ally's gown were used for the first time on her second dress and were later prominently featured in Pnina’s 2018 Fragile Collection. Hugging her curves like a second skin and shining brighter than stars in the night sky, all eyes were on Ally in her captivating and alluring gown.
These two extravagant gowns fit in wonderfully with the luxurious old-world vibe that Ally and Jason were going for. The voluminous ruffles on Ally's wedding gown were perfectly complemented by the elegance and dramatic nature of the cathedral in which they wed. It filled the space splendidly and mirrored the grand nature of the venue. Ally's reception gown carried on the old-world vibes later that day as Ally and Jason danced the night away at The Carltun. A marvelous and opulent venue filled with old-timey rooms like cigar lounges and wine rooms, Ally's ravishing gown felt right at home in the opulent estate.
What really made these gowns so special though? According to Ally it was all about love!
“I felt magical. I felt the most beautiful I have ever felt in my life and it was special to me because of all of the love that was put into the gowns by Pnina, the team, and everyone involved,” Ally reminisces, “I was surrounded by love!”
Covered in love from head to toe and ready to marry the love of her life, Ally's beauty was beaming from the inside out as she said yes to her forever love.
Photography by: InFocus Pro Photography
Flower Girl & Mother of the Bride: Custom Pnina Tornai
Planner: LLG Events
Venue: The Carltun
Florals: Pedestals Floral Decorators
Band: Marcus Reid Band via Hank Lane Music
Hair & Makeup: Lauren D’Amelio
Videographer: Joseph Edwards Films
Written by: Jazmine Keels