Imagine creating a wedding dress for a virtual wedding! Trish shares the captivating story of designing a friend's wedding dress amid a pandemic and offers a peek into her design process.
Trish's talent for crafting custom-made wedding dresses has not only stirred the bridal industry but also won hearts globally. Listen in to learn how her unique background and commitment to timeless elegance have poured life into her brand's success.
We also discuss the often daunting wedding planning process and how Trish's expertise can make it not just manageable but downright enjoyable. Hear her tips and tricks and learn how you, too, can have an unforgettable wedding experience.
Special series season in partnership with Coded Agency
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Trish Peng is a luxury wedding dress designer born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand. She caters to clientele from around the world, creating custom made masterpieces.
From the age of 7 she knew she wanted to be a Fashion Designer. Teaching herself how to sew at an early age and enrolling into Whitecliffe College of Arts & Design. Her gowns are feminine and effortlessly elegant, handcrafted in Auckland.
Follow her on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/trishpeng/
Places to go - People to see:
Kelly's Site: http://www.kellymcwilliams.com
Kelly's Blog: https://www.kellymcwilliams.com/blog
Instagram: @kellyamcwilliams
About Kelly:
Kelly knows how incredible a well planned wedding can be. Every moment counts and every decision plays a part. Wedding planning should be fun and as easy to do as possible. Besides planning weddings, Kelly travels the globe as an industry speaker. Kelly is a Martha Stewart Top Wedding Planner & this podcast won Brides magazine and WeddingWire's best podcast.
Need a little help planning your wedding?
The Getting Ready Room List (ON SALE NOW)
Wedding Song Ideas: Spotify Playlist Included! (ON SALE NOW)
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Episode Transcript
Hello and welcome to this versus that.
Making wedding decisions withKelly McWilliams.
This podcast is for you ifyou're making a wedding decision
and want to know what toconsider before saying I do to
all the things that will makeyour wedding experience a great
one.
I'm your host, kelly McWilliams, and I'm so glad to be a part
(00:30):
of your wedding planning journey.
In each episode, you can counton me and my expert wedding
co-host to give you everythingit takes to make the best
decisions for the wedding thatyou're dreaming of.
And we're back.
Are you tired of me hearing mesay that?
I'm tired of hearing me saythat it's so weird though, just
(00:52):
like recording one interviewafter another, but I'm having so
much fun.
I have to be honest with you.
So here's the deal.
This interview is with TrishPeng, who, I will be honest with
you, I hadn't met her before.
I hadn't heard her before orseen her gowns.
(01:12):
I went and looked in theshowroom to see them and I wish
I could have gotten to see yourshow Absolutely stunning, just
blown away.
But then, when I got tointerview her and get to know
her and about her, just so muchpassion in her and I love that.
(01:34):
I love it so much and you'retotally going to hear it in this
episode.
So again, we're at New YorkBridal Market in Melange de
Blanc, and so it's going to benoisy.
You're going to hear all thethings, just like I keep saying
but enjoy this episode withTrish Peng.
Trish, thank you so much forcoming into the studio today.
(01:55):
Thanks for having me.
Isn't this cool, this coated PRstudio that they built just for
this podcast Mm-hmm, put mypicture on the wall.
Ooh, look at you, yeah, look atyou.
And guys, just like I told youbefore, there is a cafe
literally like six feet away andit's nine o'clock in the
morning or 10 o'clock in themorning and everyone is here to
(02:16):
get coffee, yeah, which Iimagine you probably would take
quite a bit of coffee or tea onyour trip coming over here.
I did.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Yeah.
So for those who don't know,I'm from New Zealand.
That is an 18 and a half hourflight, oh my gosh, and we're
just so used to it, though youknow being down under, but I've
climatized.
I did LA and San Fran beforethis, so I'm on.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
US time.
That's great, and you told methat you went to a wedding while
you were here.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Yes, yes, one of my best friends, who I lived with
in LA she got married, so I washer bridesmaid, so did her dress
.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
Oh, you did.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Oh, was that so exciting?
Was that the first time you didit?
Speaker 2 (02:55):
for a friend.
No, no, I've done it a fewtimes, but it was, it was.
It's just so special.
But this time it was allvirtual because I'm in New.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Zealand.
Oh yeah, she's in Austin.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
And it's all, like you know, video calling.
Okay, now I want you to measurehair to hair.
Yeah, yeah, okay, this is whatyou want, okay.
Yeah, I'm going to sketch it upand see.
Hopefully you like it.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
And she loved it.
She loved it.
Yeah, one girl, and she lovedit.
So was that the first one whereyou were in the wedding with
them as well?
No, so.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
I'm okay, I've been a bridesmaid quite a few times.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
That's so exciting now.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
So now I have a question.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
Sorry, I know it's going to let you talk further,
but now I'm wondering when youdo things like that, like did
she these?
Was her dress from scratch,like a new design just for her?
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Yes, okay.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Custom.
Now that you've done that onefor her, is that something?
Will her dress become part ofyour life?
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Oh, that is a question I'm gonna have to ask I
would love that yeah.
Absolutely love that.
But you know, some brides, youknow, want something a little
bit unique.
That one else has.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
So, yeah, that's fair .
Okay, so are you?
You're from New Zealand, Bornand raised from New Zealand?
Yes, and how long have you hadyour company?
Speaker 2 (04:11):
So we celebrate 10 years in January.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
Congratulations, thank you.
This January coming up, januarycoming up oh my gosh, that's a
good deal.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
I mean that's a long.
That's a long time, yeah, Istarted while I was studying
Okay, studying in Auckland, newZealand and just started my
brand while I was working here Iwas hustling, I was doing
custom dresses on the side.
You know, ballgouncer, I wouldcall it prom, prom dresses.
And then naturally peoplestarted asking do you do wedding
(04:39):
dresses?
I was like it's just whiteright, yeah, it's all different.
It's a whole different ballgame, but I fell in love with it.
Yeah, I'm falling.
I love what I did.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
And then so when you say you were in school and you
started doing it on the side andthen you just like started your
company like you never workedfor any other designer.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Like I interned wherever I could.
Well, you know, I was doingthree internships at a time
worked for a kind of ready towear clothing designer okay, for
five years, but not bridal.
Like I actually didn't studybridal, I didn't work for a
bridal store.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Honestly, do you think that that plays into some
of the success in your brandthat you weren't as influence
because you didn't come from thebridal world necessarily?
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Potentially, potentially.
I think I've always stuck withmy aesthetic as a designer,
which is feminine, elegant,beautiful with a little bit of
modernness, but timeless.
You know, I design things thatyou look at 10, 20 years time.
You're like I still love it.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So how would you describe mostof this season's line?
Do you feel like it's, you know, in alignment with all of your
previous seasons, or is it verydifferent?
It's just, it just gets betterand better.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Yeah, so I designed with my team back home.
There's three of us and thiscollection is just elevated
again.
It's.
It's.
What I've noticed is,especially in New Zealand, ever
since Megan Markle got married,everyone's going for that plain.
Look right.
Yeah, as a designer, I was sobored of it.
So so I, you know, I've beendoing still that classic plain,
(06:28):
but you know, Ruching, playingwith fabric manipulation to put
some interest in it, Mm, hmm,but then elevating it,
introducing a little bit of lacedetails, that's like a ha ha,
oh, and then full lace as well,full beading and cause.
I mean, that's what I love.
But you've got to cater for thebrides as well as your own
(06:50):
aesthetic.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
Right, that's a designer.
Yeah, because, like you said,well, I have to ask you now,
when people come in, do you havean atelier?
Yes, so when they come in, domost of your brides come in and
they think that they want moreof that, like you said, more of
a look, and then they try onsomething that's just a little
(07:11):
more luxurious, has a littlemore going on.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
They're like, oh, maybe they do like this
Absolutely Okay.
So my number one thing tobrides is when you go and try
dresses on, definitely keep anopen mind, because it's always
something that you think youdon't want.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Don't want exactly.
Oh, that is amazing.
And how many dresses do youhave in your collection now?
Speaker 2 (07:35):
So we've got about 13 in our new collection.
And then we've brought our bestsellers from last year in.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
Cariovas.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
So we've got those as well.
So, yeah, we're showing onlevel seven here and it's just
been incredible seeing ourexisting stockers and their new
stockers coming in and it's beenalso quite fascinating.
This is day two, morning of daytwo, but yesterday but stores
have been like.
I feel like I know you becauseyou know you're the face of the
(08:05):
brand and I've been followingyou for years.
I'm like me, like I'm a NewZealand.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
How do you know?
Speaker 2 (08:11):
about me, but it's been really good to know that
because I put myself on there.
They know my fiancee like youknow.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
they know me I think it makes the biggest difference
when people do like social mediais so, oh my gosh, the way that
it is wrapped itself around thebridal industry.
I've been doing this for 20years, so I've seen it from the
internet to God Exist, where wewere just flipping through
(08:41):
magazines, to now, just like yousaid, like you can actually
have faces to the brand beyond,like Martha Stewart Do you know
what I mean?
Like you can see who is makingthe shoes, like famous footwear
we have over at your right, andpeople like you who actually do
put themselves out there and sothey feel like they know you and
(09:02):
it's even more draw to yourdresses because I think that,
like you said, you lean into theaesthetics that you like.
That's then that draws thosebrides in there.
Is they like you?
They're like your aesthetic.
Let me come go?
Cheers, exactly so, okay, somost of our not all, but most of
(09:22):
our listeners are in the US,right?
So if they wanted to try onyour dresses or see more than
they can on your website it'sbeautiful, by the way, thank you
what would be their best bet todo that?
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Yeah, so follow us on Instagram, the website, and
you'll see our Stalker's page.
We've got I mean, we reallyhave.
So I've been in business 10years and I started off doing
custom like the spoke dressesand that's what I was known for
in New Zealand.
And then you just you gottagive people what they want.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
So yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
I thought you know what, let's scale.
I've always had big dreams andI always say, like if you just
say in two words like what's mygoal, it's fair way, you know,
like that like globallyrecognized type thing.
And so just in a year we'vegrown to 32 Stalkers around the
(10:15):
world.
Wow okay, so Stalkers.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Stalkers, meaning stores yes, stores, boutique
stocking yes.
I will say that the most peoplethat are listening don't know
what that word is, so I justwanna explain, oh, okay yeah,
yeah, because they know usRetailers, retailers, the salon
owners, you know.
Yeah, so the whole thing aboutmelange the melange, you guys,
is that it's a market where allof the salon owners come in and
(10:43):
they buy the dresses to have onthe shelves.
They buy the line, you know, ormaybe they already own your
line.
Right so Is that how it's turned?
Yeah, okay, or, and they'recoming to get see what of the
new dresses they wanna have intheir shop for you to try on in
(11:04):
the end.
So it's really cool.
Do you come over here for trunkshows or anything?
Speaker 2 (11:08):
like that.
Yes, so my collection justtravels around.
Okay, I've got a set thattravel around the US, travel
around Australia, and that theywill travel to each of our
stockers or even potential onesthat aren't our stockers.
Okay, and that way you get totry on the full collection.
You know, maybe it's just aweekend only, but it's a good
(11:29):
chance for you to, you know, getto know our brand.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Yeah, so if they like fall in love with you, like
through Instagram, let's say,they can seek out one of the
trunk shows, knowing, like Ihave a feeling, it's gonna be
one of our dresses, like, eventhough it might mean, like
getting on a flight to go toDallas, or something like that
Brides travel, which is likeincredible.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
They make it a full experience.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
Yeah, and that's, you know, the part of being like
engaged and like the fun partsof it that you could you
absolutely take part in.
So, Trish, thank you so muchfor coming in this morning.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
This was a great interview.
Thank you for having me, and Ican see you'll gonna catch up
with us again.
And I'll definitely stop by tosee you dressed, as I'm going to
do this couple of days.
Yeah, I'll see you.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
Thank you.
I'm so glad to be able to sharemy wedding experiences and
expertise with you, and that myco-hosts are so giving it theirs
.
We truly do want you to havethe best time at your wedding,
and our hope is that thispodcast is helping you to make
your engagement time whileplanning your wedding that much
easier.
(12:29):
May I ask a favor of you?
If this is the case, would youjust take a moment to leave a
review of this podcast on yourlistening platform?
It helps people just like youto find the podcast and to also
find out their answer so theycan make decisions.
I would also absolutely lovefor you to give this versus that
(12:50):
podcast a shout out on yoursocial media.
You can find us at this versusthat wedding podcast on
Instagram, and if you would likeme to help you with a specific
question a wedding decisionplease by all means ask.
Send me a DM.
I would love to hear from youand maybe, just maybe even have
(13:11):
you as a wedding guest on afuture episode.
How fun.
Here's to another great wedding.
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