Texan Tracy Uomoleale can’t remember a time when she wasn’t wowed by wedding gowns. “Since a very young age, my interest in design, and more specifically bridal design, has been ever-present,” says the creative mind behind Priscilla of Boston—one of Houston’s, and the nation’s, most coveted bridal lines.

Fortunately, Uomoleale explains, “I grew up in Dallas, and since shopping is a favorite pastime there, I was always shopping with my sisters and mom.” In particular, the attraction to bridal departments and salons, she recounts, “was like an irresistible gravitational pull!” Wed that love of bridal gowns to Uomoleale’s lifelong talent for sketching and illustration, and it’s no surprise that the University of North Texas grad wound up at famed Parsons school of design in New York City, and, eventually, at Priscilla of Boston, as an assistant designer, in 2003.

In 2006, Uomoleale took the design helm at Priscilla of Boston, and has been bringing her passion for interesting fabrics and exquisite adornment to the classic collection ever since. Explaining the process by which she creates each breathtaking new design, she says, “I always develop the trim and beading first, and then once I’ve mastered the layout, I begin to conceptualize the gown design around the embellishment/adornment.” She adds, “Before I put a collection into work, I tuck myself away in my office and simply sketch for days. When I have an initial gown design in mind, I can ‘push’ the design concept forward into unknown territories as I continue to sketch and design multiple translations or versions of the initial concept. It’s a beautiful discovery process.”

That process has yielded some truly spectacular gowns, including the current collection’s Style 4403, a strapless silk radzimir A-Line gown with vintage-inspired silk radzimir rosebuds that “bloom” from the center of the fan-pleated bodice; Style 4505, a strapless silk satin A-line gown with a hand-pleated skirt and twisted back train detail; and Style 4512, a romantic, multi-layered tulle ballgown adorned with crystal-encrusted alençon lace—a Priscilla of Boston signature detail—on the entire bodice and full skirt.

An avowed fashion fanatic, Uomoleale also is a huge fan of accessories, especially jeweled hair-pieces. “Whether they’re placed on a comb, pinned in the hair or implemented as headbands, I love the idea of jewelry in the hair coupled with simple diamond studs,” the designer says. “This looks elegant and romantic, and because the jewelry adornment is in the hair and/or on the ears, the sparkle and luster does not compete or become overdone with an embellished gown.”

She also likes the look of “‘black-diamond’ or ‘smoke’-colored stones set into ‘antique silver’ or ‘gunmetal’ castings,” she says. “This color combination for jewelry offers a vintage yet modern aesthetic and an updated look compared to the traditional clear ‘crystal’ stones set into ‘platinum’ or ‘silver’ castings. I also love the idea of pairing the jewelry pieces with feathers or silk chiffon flowers, which offers a hint of glamour and romance to your look.”

Most importantly, Uomoleale says, when choosing her gown and accessories, a bride should take into account her wedding location, the time of year and her own personal style, “because at the end of the day, she should feel comfortable [and] be able to express herself in a way that is true to herself.” Her bridal ensemble “should perfectly complement the formality or informality of the venue she’s getting married in.”