The couple: Jayna Nelson & Chad DuBose

Wedding date: September 14, 2013

Photographer: Sean Cayton | www.caytonphotography.com

Jayna is from Austin and her husband, Chad, is from Baton Rouge—but for their destination wedding in Colorado Springs, all roads led to Dallas designer Nardos Imam.

Our bride envisioned gliding down the aisle of Chapel of Our Savior, Colorado Springs in a timeless gown featuring a sleeved silhouette and full skirt that was perfectly suited to her petite frame. And although Jayna admits that she was initially nervous about the idea of purchasing a custom confection based on a sketch alone, her worries vanished as soon as the design process began.

“The first time I met Nardos it was just so easy and perfect,” Jayna said.

From the pages of Nardos’ sketchpad emerged a real-life bodice of scalloped Chantilly lace shimmering with hand-beaded pearls. A thin ribbon at the waist joined the lace top to a ball gown –shaped skirt of silk shantung, which added a bit of modern structure to the gown’s classic lines. The stunning full-length train was bustled for the reception—ideal for dancing with the couple’s 130 guests (and two German Shepherds!) at the Broadmoor Hotel’s Cheyenne Lodge. Once Jayna removed her veil, the gown’s low back, covered buttons, and delicate bow were revealed—meaning our bride looked just as elegant waving goodbye at the end of the evening as she did walking down the aisle to say “I do.”

A Dallas-based writer and artist, Nardos Imam guest blogger Karley Kiker has interned for US Weekly and D Magazine, worked as an au pair in Southern France, and attended parties as a society columnist for People Newspapers. Her forthcoming bridal guide, Hitched in a Hurry: The ultimate how-to for a speedy “I do,” releases March 2014. To learn more, visit www.hitchedinahurrybook.com.