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Designer Ines Di Santo

Wedding Designer Feature: Ines Di Santo

For more than 30 years, fashion designer Ines Di Santo has wowed the bridal world with her luxe couture wedding dress designs. She craves originality and has a passion for quality paired with elegant aesthetics and timeless taste, so that every woman who wears a Di Santo wedding dress or evening gown feels special. Brides and celebrities alike have fallen head over heels for her sophisticated, romantic, and feminine designs—and we’re huge fans ourselves.

How It All Began for Ines Di Santo

Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Di Santo’s parents supported all her design dreams. They encouraged and inspired her to pursue fine art at a very early age.

After creating her first dress at age eight, Di Santo knew design would be one of her greatest loves. She started making dresses for her friends and eventually studied fine art and design in Argentina and Milan.

Ines Di Santo’s Path into the Bridal Industry

After graduation, Di Santo felt the bridal world was calling her name, but she wasn’t alone. Her daughter Veronica started working alongside her mom at just 5-years-old and hasn’t looked back.

Veronica was nine when her mom opened Ines Di Santo Bridal in 1984 in Toronto. Di Santo launched a bridal couture and eveningwear line, taking inspiration from her Italian and Spanish heritage.

Fast forward to 1998, when Veronica officially joined the company as a managing partner while her mom continued running the design room. Today, the duo works together to run the Di Santo powerhouse through trust, goal setting, and playing off each other’s strengths.

Ines Di Santo working with a modelCourtesy: arabiaweddings.com.

Ines Di Santo’s Empire Today

With an office in the U.S. and the atelier and flagship store in Toronto, the Di Santo family stays busy. Brides can find Di Santo gowns at various retailers worldwide, including Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman.

All gowns are custom made-to-order, and new ones are not available online. True to luxe couture, Di Santo gowns range from $3,500 to $9,000 in sizes 0-22.

So, what can a Di Santo bride expect for their bridal gown? The designer uses a variety of wedding dress fabrics and embellishments including silk organza, taffeta, intricate lace, and sparkling Swarovski crystals—just to name a few.

Brides can choose from two collections: the Ines Di Santo Couture Collection and the Ines by Ines Di Santo Collection. Both collections cater to the modern, fashion-forward bride that values quality, craftsmanship and an amazing fit.

Besides bridal gowns and evening wear, Di Santo also creates loungewear, jewelry, and other accessories. Her latest jewelry collection was inspired by a visit to the MET, where she laid eyes on a bronze caged bird sculpture. She partnered with CINER, a 125-year-old New York-based family business, to create this modern, fairytale-like collection.

Pieces from the made-to-order collection range from $120 to $2,550 and are available to purchase online.

Our Fave Ines Di Santo Looks

 

Elisabetta gown by Ines Di Santo Alida gown by Ines Di Santo Benedetta gown by Ines Di Santo

Courtesy: inesdisanto.com.

Hot off the wedding world press is Di Santo’s Fall 2022 Bridal Couture Collection “Heritage”. For this collection, the designer gathered inspiration from her childhood and says her best memories were always centered around family.

The scenery alone is breathtaking, but the gowns really steal the show. We’re totally in love with Alida—her long-sleeve illusion bodice is amazing paired with the detachable flutter sleeves and overskirt.

Benedetta gives her a run for her money with a sexy lace peek-a-boo slip and flirty high slit. But the belle of the ball is Elisabetta. Her embroidered boat-neckline is stunning, and the detachable overskirt adds the drama we crave in a wedding gown.

Ashley Iaconetti in Ines Di Santo wedding dress with husband Jenny McCarthy in Ines Di Santo wedding dress
Courtney Mazza in Ines Di Santo wedding dress Christina El Moussa in Ines Di Santo wedding dress

Courtesy: indesdisanto.com.

When you’re an internationally renowned designer, you’re sure to catch the eye of a few celebrities. Both Jenny McCarthy and Ashley Iaconetti said “I do” to strapless ball gowns by Di Santo for their nuptials, while Flip or Flop star Christina El Moussa went romantic with a form-fitting mermaid style.

Di Santo says Mario Lopez and Courtney Mazza’s Mexico wedding was one of her favorites. The designer loved working with the genuine, down-to-earth couple for their big day. Mazza’s off-the-shoulder lace gown was amazingly romantic, and her hubby agreed. Lopez said Mazza looked like a Disney princess with a little Latin flavor—classy but sexy. We couldn’t agree more!

Kelsea Ballerini at 2017 Grammys Kesha at 2014 Billboard Music Awards Laverne Cox at 2015 White House Correspondents Association Dinner

Courtesy: indesdisanto.com, redcarpet-fashionawards.com.

These ladies are rocking the red carpet! We love Laverne Cox’s charcoal gray silk gown from the 2015 White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. It was simple yet classy.

Kesha slayed in a black and gray tulle dress at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards, while country star Kelsea Ballerini was all shimmer and shine for her Grammys debut in 2017. We love the illusion sleeves and elegant train.