Meet Gabrielle Hurwitz | Bridal Fashion Stylist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gabrielle Hurwitz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gabrielle, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I honestly never thought I would start my own business but in 2018, the media company I was working at nearly went under and in the process, let go of most of the staff. At the time, I was overseeing the brand’s editorial content and social media. I had studied journalism and college and always thought I would work in magazines or digital media. I even wrote my college application on how I wanted to be the nice version of Miranda Priestly in “The Devil Wears Prada.”

When I lost my job, I interviewed for other positions and got an offer to do social media full-time for a jewelry brand. But after working in social for a year-and-a-half, I knew I didn’t want to do that again. I had no work-life balance and resented being on my phone all the time. I had started doing fashion styling for photo shoots on the side and really loved it, so on a whim decided to pursue it full time. I had no business plan, no savings, and no idea what I was doing, but five years later, here we are.

What should our readers know about your business?
As a bridal fashion stylist, my job is to help couples curate cohesive and intentional wardrobes for their wedding weekends and various wedding activities. I work with my clients to make sure the fashion speaks to the overall design and aesthetic of the event and most importantly, that the client feels like the best version of themselves as they walk down the aisle. We talk through clothing, accessories, and even hair and makeup to create a head-to-toe look that feels effortlessly chic and fashionable.

I started my business at 26 with no idea what I was doing. At the time, bridal styling was still a relatively new concept and I couldn’t Google “how to start a bridal styling business.” I was naive and thought it would be instantly successful. Instead, I ended up moving back home with my parents to save money while I tried to get the business off the ground. Two years after I started my business, COVID hit. All the momentum I felt I had built suddenly came to a halt as weddings and events were on hold. “Pivot” was a buzz word in the wedding community at the time, but I honestly didn’t really pivot. I rode it out, taking on smaller projects, like a bride who already had purchased a gown but wanted help accessorizing it, to keep myself a float. But 2020 was honestly extremely hard and I was lucky to be able to live at home to keep my expenses down. Things started to slowly pick up in 2021 and by 2022, weddings were back and bigger than ever.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Unfortunately, I don’t know LA as well as I wish because I moved there in February 2020 (right before the pandemic hit) and left in September 2021 before things had fully gotten back to normal.

That said, some of my favorite things in LA include: NOMA Sushi in Santa Monica, Jon & Vinny’s, going for a walk or bike ride along the beach, Angel City soccer games, shopping on Melrose Place.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The wedding industry as a whole has been so supportive of my path to entrepreneurship. I never would be where I am today without the support of other wedding professionals, like photographers and planners, who brought up my name in the right rooms. They took a risk by bringing me onto projects when I was first starting out, and through working with them, was not only able to build up my portfolio but also build association with them.

Website: https://gabriellehurwitz.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabriellehurwitz/

Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gabriellehurwitz

Image Credits
Lauren Fair Photography Shawn Connell Rebecca Yale Photography KT Merry Photography Mon Soleil Photography Cinzia Bruschini Photography