AWARD WINNING ARTIST MARIE CORDELLA
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BRIDAL & EVENT DRESSMAKER

coordinator@mariecordella.com

MASTERFUL VENITIAN LACE AND TULLE COMPLETE REDESIGN

EXQUISITE HAND-CRAFTED LACE

marie cordella

Hand lacework is my absolute passion. I specialize in custom overlays, heirloom redesigns, garment modifications, and tulle and lace adornments. What truly excites me is the precision with which I can place each element within a design. It’s all about the subtle balance—making sure each stitch and detail aligns perfectly to enhance the garment. There’s something deeply satisfying about transforming a piece with that level of meticulous attention, and knowing that every placement has a purpose.

VERIFIED: STYLE ME PRETTY

I’m proud to be a verified creative on Style Me Pretty, a trusted and highly respected platform in the wedding and design industry. This recognition reflects my commitment to quality, artistry, and meaningful connections with clients. Being part of the Style Me Pretty community allows me to share my work with a discerning audience who values intentional, bespoke design.

“Cordella Bridal, located in Raleigh, North Carolina, is a premier boutique known for its exceptional expertise in custom bridal gowns and intricate alterations. Founded by Marie Cordella, a master seamstress, tailor, designer, and artist, the boutique provides a one-of-a-kind, personalized experience that focuses on every detail of the bridal journey. With years of experience in the fashion industry, Marie has cultivated a reputation for creating stunning, high-end dresses, specializing in transforming bridal dreams into reality with unmatched craftsmanship and artistry.”

LIFETIME TELEVISION SHOW:
24 HOUR CATWALK

I had the incredible opportunity to connect with Derek Blasberg, fashion editor and cultural commentator, and the renowned designer Cynthia Rowley, whose feedback and presence brought both gravitas and joy to the experience. It wasn’t just a show — it was a celebration of creativity, and a reminder that my work belongs in rooms like that.

Marie Cordella was a competitor on Lifetime’s television show 24 Hour Catwalk, a fashion competition series where designers compete to create a garment within 24 hours. She was selected to be one of four national designers to appear on the finale episode of the show’s first season in 2012.

CUSTOM LACE SLEEVES

NEWS & OBSERVER:
WINNER RALEIGH'S BEST, 2024

I’m honored to announce that Cordella Bridal has been awarded First Place in The News & Observer’s annual Raleigh’s Best rankings. This recognition is a meaningful milestone in my journey as a designer and creative consultant. I’m deeply grateful to the incredible clients and collaborators who have supported Cordella Bridal over the past decade — your trust, loyalty, and enthusiasm have made this possible. It’s a privilege to live and work in the Triangle, where the creative community continues to inspire and uplift. I’m proud to be included among such talented and accomplished peers. Thank you for this honor — and for the continued support of my work and vision.

Being voted “Raleigh’s Best” by The News & Observer is an honor that runs deeper than just a title. It means being chosen by the people — by this wonderful, discerning Raleigh community — as a standout among hundreds of businesses committed to excellence.

This recognition means that over years of doing the work, creating intentionally, and showing up with honesty and craft, people have seen me, trusted me, and elevated my name. It’s a public affirmation that what I do matters — not just to me, but to all of you who believed, supported, shared, and showed up.

Being named Raleigh’s Best is a reminder that quality, service, and heart are noticed — and that when you anchor your work in truth and beauty, your community holds you up. I’m proud. Deeply grateful. And more committed than ever to designing, consulting, and creating in a way that honors this trust.

ELITE RESIZING & LACE DETAILS

VERIFIED: INSTAGRAM

The power of analytics has been paramount in my journey — especially as I study data to understand how best to grow and spread my story. Insight into audience behavior and engagement allows me to connect more meaningfully, tailor my message, and amplify the impact of my work. It’s not just about numbers; it’s about using those insights to build authentic, lasting connections.

WALTER MAGAZINE:
FEATURED DESIGNER

Marie Cordella — designer, founder of Cordella Bridal, and proud NC State alum — was spotlighted in WALTER Magazine for her intentional, heirloom-quality work. From studying at Parsons and VCU to earning a master’s in product design at NC State, her path has always centered around craft, narrative, and deeply personal design.

Being featured in WALTER Magazine was an honor that carried real weight — it recognized not just dresses, but the narrative, study, and heart behind them. The piece placed my work in a broader context, connecting my educational roots, design journey, and evolving identity in one public frame. It affirmed that the depth I pursue in design — from intention to impact — is seen, respected, and resonant beyond just bridal circles.

NEWS & OBSERVER:
FRONT PAGE OF LIFE SECTION

Cordella believes commitment is an important quality for a custom gown designer. “I really care about my work, and the whole process is an emotional one,” she says. “I want my brides to feel heard, and I don’t let them leave until I feel that the energy at the end of the meeting is great.” Read more at: https://www.newsobserver.com/living/fashion/article84680687.html#storylink=cpy

Being featured in The News & Observer and selected as a featured designer for Charleston Weddings’ Spring Bridal Show was a defining early moment in my career. I launched Cordella Bridal in 2009 with a vision to create deeply personal, heirloom-quality pieces — and to have that recognized on such a visible platform affirmed that I was building something with lasting value.

The article highlighted two things I hold close: my love of lace and custom handwork, and my ability to blend classic silhouettes with modern storytelling. These elements still define my work today, and I’m honored to have been included in such a meaningful piece of North Carolina’s fashion narrative.

THE INDEPENDENT:
FEATURED DESIGNER

Featured in Technician, NC State’s student newspaper, for holding a prestigious artist residency at Artspace NC — an experience that helped shape my early career and deepen my interdisciplinary design practice.

Designer Marie Cordella, who showed at Art to Wear in 2006, has been a fixture at SPARKcon since the festival’s inception in 2006. She and about seven others ignited the first fashionSPARK, and she’s been a featured designer each year since then. The show has become a celebrated mix of a few better-known local designers and a collection of newer, fresh designers with new work and ideas to strut down the runway.

“Art to Wear is a relevant experience in relation to fashionSPARK because of its similarity in nature,” Cordella said, mentioning the parallel processes from applying to participate to eventually showing off that time-intensive hard work in a public space.

NEW RALEIGH:
FEATURE ARTICLE

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Featured in New Raleigh for headlining Charleston Fashion Week — an early milestone that affirmed my path as a designer at the intersection of innovation, heritage, and bridal eloquence.

Being featured by New Raleigh for headlining Charleston Fashion Week was immensely meaningful to me. That coverage recognized not just a singular show, but the vision I was nurturing: a fusion of craftsmanship, intentional design, and deep respect for bridal heritage. It affirmed that from early on, people saw both the artistry and heart behind my work — and it became a touchstone in proving to myself that I could stand beside esteemed names in fashion and be seen for my own voice and creative direction.

UNITED WITH LOVE:
FEATURED BRIDAL REDESIGN

Thrilled to have one of my custom gown transformations featured on United With Love — a wedding dress reimagined as a hand-dyed cocktail dress, giving it a bold second life full of color, intention, and story.

Being featured on United With Love for transforming a wedding dress into a vibrant cocktail dress was such a proud moment. I’ve always believed that garments can evolve — that the meaning stitched into them doesn’t end with a single day. In this piece, I hand-dyed and redesigned a wedding gown to give it a bold new chapter, one that reflected both memory and reinvention.

Having that work celebrated on a platform that honors love stories and personal style was a beautiful reminder that sustainability, sentimentality, and high design can absolutely coexist.

VOGUE MAGAZINE: CLIENT FEATURE

My clients come from near and far, with about 65% flying in to work with me personally. I feel incredibly fortunate to collaborate with some of North Carolina’s most recognized and talented creatives — a community that inspires and elevates every project we undertake together.

I’m honored to be regularly featured in some of the most notable press in the industry, including prestigious outlets like Vogue. These features not only celebrate my work but also amplify the stories and artistry behind every creation, inspiring a wider audience with intentional, meaningful design.

POST WEDDING REDESIGN + DYE

I love the artistry of redesigning a wedding dress once the celebration is over—turning something symbolic of one moment into a piece that can be worn and loved again. Dyeing bridal gowns always carries risk, but this one was different: its fabric and structure made it the perfect canvas for reinvention.

INDY WEEK: FEATURED DESIGNER

Last to show was the very gifted Marie Cordella. An originator in her own right, she presented whimsical capes and cocooned silhouettes. The collection pushed the boundaries of surrealism and was almost dreamlike in its display of quilt-like fabrics and prints, embellished with small white pompoms on the ends of the garments. One stellar piece was a cape that seductively and playfully engulfed its model with an exaggerated, curved collar that surrounded her head, functioning almost like blinders or a kind of shield from the outside world. Cordella has a rampant imaginationit seemed like we could all benefit from traveling to her dreamworld.

MIDTOWN MAGAZINE:
FACES OF RALEIGH

As a community leader, I am deeply committed to fostering connection, creativity, and empowerment. Whether through mentorship, collaboration, or advocacy, I strive to create spaces where voices are heard, talents are nurtured, and collective growth thrives. Leading with intention, I’m proud to support and uplift those around me as we build a stronger, more inspired creative community together.
Marie Cordella was featured in Midtown Magazine‘s “Faces of Raleigh” in 2023 for her work as the owner of the luxury bridal and clothing design studio MARIE CORDELLA. She was recognized as an influential business owner and community member in the Raleigh area.

CHARLESTON MAGAZINE:
CORDELLA BRIDAL

I truly loved creating that lace-heavy collection — it was a labor of love and meticulous craftsmanship. There’s something deeply satisfying about the symmetry found in intricate lace designs; it’s where precision meets artistry, and every detail tells a story. Working with lace allows me to celebrate both tradition and innovation, weaving beauty and balance into every piece.

I had the distinct honor of being one of only three featured designers at Charleston Bridal Week, a pivotal moment that marked a significant milestone in my career. Sharing the runway with industry luminaries such as Kelly Faetanini, Kate McDonald, and Alvina Valenta was both humbling and affirming. These designers are renowned for their exceptional craftsmanship and innovative designs, and being grouped alongside them underscored the caliber of my work and vision.

This opportunity not only provided invaluable exposure but also solidified my place within the bridal fashion industry. The experience was a testament to the dedication and passion I pour into every creation, and it propelled my journey as a designer committed to delivering bespoke, meaningful pieces to my clients.

NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIV.: INFLUENTIAL ALMUNI

Participating in NC State’s Art2Wear show during my time in the Master of Industrial Design program was one of the most formative experiences of my creative life. That show gave me an early platform to merge fashion, structure, and storytelling — and to realize that clothing could be more than beautiful. It could be intelligent, intentional, and conceptual.

My education at NC State’s College of Design grounded me in a rigorous, research-driven approach to creativity. It taught me to design with systems, with purpose, and with precision — skills that continue to shape everything I create, from bespoke gowns to multidisciplinary art direction.

In the years since, it’s been an honor to return to the university — not only as a guest judge for Art2Wear, but also as a member of its oversight committee. To now support and help shape the next generation of designers at the very place that shaped me is one of the most meaningful full-circle moments of my career.

LOVE INC.:
FEATURED COLLABORATION

Being featured in Love Inc. is truly meaningful to me — not just as a mark of recognition, but as an affirmation of my values, vision, and craft. To be described as a “total designer” — someone devoted to every facet of design, modification, and storytelling — is exactly how I see my work. The feature’s acknowledgment of my education, creative breadth, and dedication to design is something I hold with pride and gratitude.

This kind of press helps amplify my voice and broaden my reach — connecting new audiences to the heart behind the dresses. When thoughtful publications like Love Inc. take the time to highlight my story, they help bridge the gap between intention and acknowledgment. They remind me — and others — that depth, care, and craft still matter.

I’m honored and humbled. And more than anything, I’m reaffirmed in my commitment to creating with integrity, intention, and purpose.

BESPOKE BRIDE:
FEATURED HEIRLOOM REDESIGN

Being featured in Bespoke Bride was an incredible honor that highlights the core of my work: transforming moments of challenge into timeless beauty. The feature celebrates not just the gowns I create, but the stories and emotions woven into every stitch. It’s a true reflection of my dedication to personalized craftsmanship and meaningful design.

In the recent Bespoke Bride feature, my journey as a designer was brought to life through the story of a bride whose wedding day didn’t go as planned. What could have been a heartbreak turned into an opportunity to create something even more special and personal — a gown that honored her story and heritage with custom lace overlays and heirloom redesigns.

This feature is deeply meaningful to me because it captures why I do what I do: designing more than dresses, but memories, legacies, and expressions of identity. Every piece I create carries intention, care, and a profound respect for the wearer’s journey.

I’m so grateful for the opportunity to share these moments and to work with clients who trust me with their most precious celebrations. This is what makes my work truly rewarding.

SUNGLASS HUT + Nell Alk:
2 PIECE FEATURE

Featured by writer Nell Alk for a two-part Sunglass Hut series highlighting innovative designers — honored to be recognized for my creative process, design philosophy, and commitment to redefining modern elegance.

Being featured by Sunglass Hut, through a two-part article written by Nell Alk, was a meaningful moment in my career. The series focused on innovation across creative industries, and I was deeply honored to be included as a designer whose work bridges tradition and forward-thinking artistry.

The piece explored my approach to design as both intuitive and intentional — from heirloom bridalwear to broader creative direction. Having my process and perspective highlighted by such a globally recognized brand reinforced the importance of thoughtful craftsmanship and the value of standing fully in one’s creative identity.

NCSU'S TECHNICIAN:
FEATURED ALUMNI

Featured in Technician, NC State’s student newspaper, for holding a prestigious artist residency at Artspace NC — an experience that helped shape my early career and deepen my interdisciplinary design practice.

Being featured in Technician, NC State’s official student newspaper, during my time as a Regional Emerging Artist in Residence at Artspace NC was a meaningful moment in my creative development. That residency gave me time, space, and resources to fully explore the intersection of fine art and design — something that continues to influence my work today.

The recognition from my academic community underscored the value of experimentation, collaboration, and thoughtful making. It also affirmed my commitment to creating work that’s not only beautiful but rooted in narrative, heritage, and artistic integrity.

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