By: Erin Gorman

Rita Vinieris is an established wedding dress designer with two bridal brands RIVINI and Alyne who has been designing wedding gowns for 15+ years. San Diego Style Weddings had a chance to chat with the wonderful Rita and talk to her about what got her started designing wedding dresses, what inspires her and the latest on her newest collections!

SDSW: What got you started in wedding dress design?
Rita: The first wedding dress I made was my own! Years later I helped two of my best friends look for their dresses. They couldn’t find anything they liked and that was when they asked me to make their dresses.  This was when I realized there was a need in the market. There was a lack of fashionable wedding gowns.

SDSW: Was there a turning point in your career when you felt you got your “big break” if so, when?
Rita: January 23rd, 1995 was the turning point in my career. It was my husband’s birthday, the day that I registered my 3yr old daughter in Montessori School and the day that I was restructured out of my job. It was a day of mixed emotions, yet I saw it as an opportunity and it gave me the motivation to start RIVINI four months later.

SDSW: What are some of your biggest highlights of your design career?
Rita: Getting my first editorial piece in Brides Magazine in 1997 which showed my bias cut gown was a huge moment for me! Also winning industry awards is pretty high on my list. I was 2002 New Designer of the Year and 2006 & 2007 Best Ad Campaign award winner. Most recently launching the RITA VINIERIS Collection in Bergdorf Goodman, my says her first year of business is just wonderful and I’m still smiling.

SDSW: Where do you draw inspiration from when designing new wedding gowns?
Rita: I draw inspiration from all the things of beauty around me, from my travels with my husband and daughters, to the spirit of people. I have a true curiosity about life and the inspiration is endless.

SDSW: Tell me about your latest collection what type of fabrics and embellishments are featured?
Rita: My latest collection was inspired by Photograms; this is an old technique of making a photographic image without a camera. In this era of smartphones and selfies, I have become obsessed with how we save our precious memories. My collection combines that with today’s 3-D printing technology. The result is a negative shadow image that shows variations in tone. I say the result is both modern and timeless.

SDSW: Do you have a favorite style wedding dress, if so what is it?
Rita: My favorite style wedding dress is modern with edge, yet it can’t be too Avant- Garde.  It needs to be timeless. I love understated luxury!

SDSW: How would you describe the Rivini bride?
Rita: The Rivini bride is modern, confident, and discriminating. She’s a quality snob that is stylish, yet timeless. She’s looking for the dress that is an extension of her personal style.

SDSW: What advice do you have for a bride-to-be searching for the perfect dress? Rita: “First and foremost, you must try everything on. What you think looks bad on the hanger can look amazing on! Don’t be afraid to try things, but never forget to stop when you fall in love! You need to be in love with the dress and it’s my hope that you will love mine”.