Our Designer
Heidi Elnora - Founder | CEO
Heidi Elnora is an Alabama-based wedding dress designer, female entrepreneur, television personality, industry leader, and most importantly, wife and mother of three children, Jack, Bo and Eleanor. Heidi’s journey began upon graduation from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2002 where Heidi was taught the couture techniques of the fashion industry. Upon graduation, Heidi was offered a position as an assistant designer at Carters, Inc. in Atlanta. While in Atlanta, Heidi auditioned and was selected for the 2nd season of Project Runway. In 2006, Heidi decided it was time to turn her dream into a reality. She moved back home to Alabama and created her company, heidi elnora.
Heidi’s trademark brand, Build-A-Bride™, reflects Heidi’s raw, Southern heritage, and appeals to a wide range of brides. Through a customizable design process, each dress transcends traditional wedding dress options, allowing brides the ability to have ownership in designing the most cherished garment they will ever wear--their wedding dress. Heidi’s dresses are recognized for their progressive simplicity, fine attention to detail and warm feminine relevance. Each dress is a direct reflection of our company’s commitment to quality construction, down to each hand-sewn stitch and detail. Designed with careful consideration, our dresses are elegant, delicate and full of life.
With over 15+ years of bridal industry experience, Heidi has dressed thousands of brides from across the globe. She has sold wholesale to over 30+ stores nationally and internationally, including Nordstrom for 5+ years. She has had an internationally acclaimed reality tv show entitled, Bride By Design, that aired on TLC while showcasing the Build-A-Bride™ collection. Heidi’s work has been featured in numerous media outlets including: The Today Show, The New York Times, Glamour Magazine, Inc.com, Martha Stewart Weddings, BRIDES Magazine, The Knot, The Huffington Post, Southern Living, Inside Weddings, to name a few.
Over the years, Heidi has noticed a change and shift in the way women shop for their wedding dress. They want a more personal and convenient approach. This is where Build-A-Bride™ comes in. Though Build-A-Bride™ was conceived in 2008, it was not until January 2, 2018, after years of planning, tweaking, and editing the line that the brand came full circle. As of today, Heidi Elnora has created the FIRST “Direct to Consumer, In-Home Bridal Boutique Experience” (IHBBE - for short) through her highly acclaimed and sought after Build-A-Bride™ collection. On October 4, 2019 Heidi added a new edition to the Build-A-Bride™ family with her first line of flower girl dresses, Paperdolls.