Pairings: a Lea-Ann Belter Bridal Gown paired with a Justine M Couture veil

“Once in awhile, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale.” - unknown

bride: Erica | gown: Annabelle via The Ivory Suite Bridal Boutique | photo: Heidi Ryder Photography | Lea-Ann Belter Bridal Gown designs can be found at The Ivory Suite Bridal Salon and The White Flower Bridal Boutique [both of whom carry Justine M Couture]

About the designer: 

Lea–Ann Belter has been making beautiful gowns for a select group of brides for close to two decades.

Forever painting and drawing, Lea–Ann knew from a young age her future lay in her creativity.

Upon graduation from an art–focused high school, Lea–Ann continued her formal education at the Sheridan College of Crafts and Design where she specialized in glass and textiles. She then studied fashion design at the International Academy of Design and Merchandising, becoming a finalist in the Dubonnet awards, given to Canada’s top fashion students.

Earning her diploma at IADM, Lea–Ann trained with a couturier where she further refined the characteristics that define her work: flawless execution and impeccable quality. That year, Lea–Ann’s commitment to perfecting her craft made her a finalist for the International Woolmark Prize, an award for emerging fashion designers.

But Lea–Ann really found her calling when she designed a wedding dress for her brother’s fiance. In creating that first bridal gown, Lea–Ann’s meticulous execution and timeless aesthetic harmonized with her inclination to design for modern, professional women. Before long, Lea–Ann opened her first designer wedding gown boutique in Toronto’s exclusive Yorkville area.

Five years later, Lea–Ann’s vision for a line of modern, timeless bridal dresses became a reality when she launched the Lea–Ann Belter Bridal gown collection through a network of retailers. In 2005, Lea–Ann opened the first Lea–Ann Belter Bridal flagship store on Toronto’s Queen Street East, and in 2007 she was named Wedding Gown Designer of the Year at the Canadian Wedding Industry Awards.

Since then, Lea–Ann has extended her reach, making her wedding dress collection available in a curated selection of bridal boutiques across North America and Europe. In 2012, Lea–Ann moved Lea–Ann Belter Bridal and her designer wedding gown boutique to their permanent home in Toronto on the corner of Dundas Street and Broadview Avenue, where she plans to spend another 20 years (or more!) designing and crafting wedding gowns.

See more of Lee-Ann Belter's classically beautiful gown designs here.