Fustany Team 
11/22/16, 12:00 AM 
Giovanina Atieh is the co-founder of Maison Pyramide, a Cairo-based house of fashion strategists and creatives. But way before that, Giovanina was highly involved in the world of fashion. With more than 10 years of experience in the international fashion industry, you'd assume that she has a complex style. That's not the case! The fashionable Mrs. has a very laid-back and effortless style, which she complements with uncommon fabrics and statement pieces. How did this affect her bridal style? Read along to find out Giovanina Atieh's bridal style story, and all the details of her wedding day look.
When did you start your bridal gown shopping journey?
I was never really one to dream about my wedding or how my wedding dress would be like. I actually never thought about it before, but when the wedding preparations started, I had to think of my dress! Being as busy as I am with my job traveling all around all the time, I thought I would just get a RTW designer gown, and have it as my wedding dress, but then I ended up with a custom-made Karoline Lang wedding dress.
How many wedding gowns have you tried on before finding 'The One'?
After many shopping sprees in London, Paris, Milan and Beirut, I realized that I am much more picky than I thought – I guess being in the fashion buying industry and having been exposed to so much collections does that to you.
So this is when I decided that the best thing is to design my own made-to-measure dress, in order to be able to create what I had in mind. It was really difficult to decide on the designer I would do my gown with, because I had something very specific in mind – I really didn’t want any usual bridal gown fabrics, running away from organza and lace and all the traditional bridal cuts. And no designer I have met understood my vision nor had the needed fabrics to present to me.
You knew you found 'The One' when...
I knew it when I met Karine, and entered Karoline Lang world. The moment I met her in her beautiful atelier, and saw the way she was dressed and carried herself, I just knew that I had found the designer of my wedding dress.
Tell us all about your wedding day look.
My dress had so many details and such a story about it, we chose uncommon fabrics such as a lace fabric made from paper, leather piping and made an architectural dress out of puzzles, structure and transparency. 'So, I went for very natural make up and hair. I went for braids as the wedding was done on the set of the series Games of Thrones," so braids seemed appropriate. They also go well with all the uneven and messy lines of the dress.
Your all time favorite celebrity bride is ... , were you inspired by her?
Olivia Palermo, Audrey Hepburn – I love how effortless their dresses were. I was in a way inspired by the simplicity, but I guess my dress was much more elaborate.
I wasn’t really inspired by anything, I knew I wanted something short and long – extremely light and comfortable so I can be dancing and having fun. I love leather and cotton and unconventional fabrics for wedding dresses, so Karine’s technique and fabrics just made total sense to me. She kind of read my mind, and delivered beyond my expectations. I'm in love with my dress and I believe it doesn’t look like anything else.
Did you always know how you wanted to look on your wedding day?
Not at all!
Looking back at your wedding photos, is there anything you would have done differently?
I had chosen a very uncommon and new wedding destination; Croatia. At the time, Croatia had just become part of the Schengen union, and was the "it" hot destination Summer 2014. So, whilst being such an interesting destination, it was also very challenging. Looking back, I would have asked for someone from Lebanon to come with me to do my hair and makeup. I was not very happy with how I looked, as I am not one to usually put any make up or do any hair dos.
Share your tips for brides-to-be shopping for wedding gowns.
- Try on as many ready dresses as you can so you understand what suits your body, so you get familiar with the fabrics and cuts and understand what you don’t want. It gets easier when u know what you don’t want, and work towards finding what is right for your body and style.
- Be appropriate to the wedding location – the most beautiful brides are the ones who are comfortable in their dresses and are able to enjoy their wedding day without the dress becoming a burden.
- You get to wear the dress once! So be sure to wear it throughout your night, and not have to change it.
