I see myself as a true modernist. Even when I do a traditional gown, I give it a modern twist. I go to the past for research. I need to know what came before so I can break the rules.

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I used to get tons of letters that said, "I'll never get to wear you," or "I'll never get married in one of your dresses," or "I'll never have an evening gown like the one I saw on the red carpet." I thought that was sad, because you give your life to this and you end up reaching very few people. So that was a major goal for me - to be able to reach and encourage more women, to encourage them to express themselves and be what they want to be.

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When you have a passion for something then you tend not only to be better at it, but you work harder at it too.

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My mother was extremely controlled, sort of flawless. And I always tend to be a bit more hippie.

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My normal routine is pretty much putting out fires all day.

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It's a remarkable exercise to sit and look at your own work over the years.

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A bride should look at everything she possibly can...just so she can experiment and see what makes her really feel beautiful or glamorous or classical or whatever she desires to be on that particular day.

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Even the most understated ceremony involves a certain respect for ritual and pageantry. No one plays more of a significant role than the bride's attendants.

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Don't be afraid to take time to learn. It's good to work for other people. I worked for others for 20 years. They paid me to learn.

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In the end, it’s not about failure, it’s about how much you love what you do.

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