Inside the studios of three local couture designers shaping the bridal landscape with craft, creativity, and heart.
Our region has long been a place where creativity, meticulous craftsmanship, and attention to detail flourish. In wedding couture, that ethos becomes deeply personal. Designers pour countless hours of artistry and intuition into garments that carry extraordinary emotional weight. A wedding gown is more than fabric and fit – it is memory, identity, celebration, and story.
For this feature, we spoke to three of our leading couture designers: Ché Couture, Maryke Schroeder, and Hanrie Lues. Each designer brings a unique vision, yet all share a devotion to creating gowns that brides will remember for a lifetime.
Bold, Creative & Personal
Ché Couture began when Cheline Redelinghuys could not afford her dream dress for her matric prom, so she made it herself. That spark ignited a passion that led to sewing hundreds of garments by the end of her schooling career, winning the prestigious Gert Johann Coetzee Bursary, and eventually opening Ché Couture in 2022. Her studio now thrives in the Creative Studio – a collaborative hub with other wedding vendors – providing brides a one-stop destination for planning their perfect day.
Over the next five years, Ché Couture aims to expand into dress rental services, ready-made bridal collections, and an elevated, exclusive couture line while continuing to craft signature statement pieces and novelty designs. Every gown is a chance to combine bold innovation with emotional storytelling, delivering an unforgettable bridal experience.
Wedding dresses – what do they mean to you?
Wedding dresses are special because they’re a symbol of who you are as a person. They are made up of years of dreams from childhood leading up to your big day, an investment that represents the most important day of your life. Reflecting your personal style and personality – a wedding gown is an extension of the bride’s story; it is meant to be lived in, felt, and remembered for a lifetime.
What do you love about what you do?
I love the confidence and the outcomes of the work we create. Seeing a woman’s face light up and watching her feel her best after creating a beautiful piece is the highlight for me. Each bride’s moment is unique, and being part of that experience is incredibly rewarding.
Why couture?
Couture allows creativity and luxury. It lets you move away from the typical fast-fashion industry and express individuality in every garment. Every dress is a personal journey, crafted to reflect the bride’s style and personality.
What is the most interesting item you’ve ever made?
I’ve made some interesting things before, but I think the weirdest would be a thong as a joke gift for a groom!
Ché Couture stands out in the Midlands bridal scene for its youthful energy, bold statements, and ability to combine technical skill with emotional resonance. Every gown is a visual spectacle but deeply personal, ensuring each bride feels uniquely celebrated.
Instagram: @che.couture
Photo: Vicky Van Der Watt
Timeless, Emotive & Connected
Maryke’s journey began with sewing as a child, selling handmade items at ten, and creating her first bridal gown at 19. By age 21 (2001), she had launched her business, Bespoke by Maryke, long before social media and smartphones redefined marketing and outreach. Today, she operates from her home studio with three full-time employees, producing bespoke gowns and her wedding dress collection, including Curves collection, designed for sizes 22-30. She also caters to long-distance brides from across South Africa and abroad.
After experiencing severe burnout, Maryke’s five-year plan focuses on intentional, meaningful couture experiences, prioritising time and quality over scale. She aims to expand her Curves Collection and reintroduce seasonal summer dresses while maintaining intimate, personal experiences for each client.
Wedding dresses – what do they mean to you?
My love for sewing wedding dresses began at age nine. A gown is something you feel with your whole being; it’s a story, an heirloom, a celebration of beauty and femininity. Each gown tells the story of the bride and my own journey in creating it. There is an unspoken magic in seeing a bride step into a dress and light up with confidence and joy.
What do you love about what you do?
The magic of lace, the tactile energy of creation, and the deep conversations with brides as their dress story unfolds are what I love most. Every gown is an emotional journey as much as a creative one.
Why couture?
Couture embraces authenticity and individuality. It values skill, time, and intention, allowing both the bride and me to fully express ourselves. Every stage of creation – from initial sketches to fittings and final reveals – is built on trust and connection.
What is the weirdest/most interesting item you’ve ever made?
I once hand-painted guipure lace for a bride who wanted autumn shades of brown and bronze. The result was a one-of-a-kind gown, and attending her wedding to see it come alive was unforgettable.
Maryke’s gowns are renowned for their emotional resonance. Each piece balances romance, craftsmanship, and timeless elegance, while the relationship with the bride remains at the heart of every creation.
Instagram: @bespoke_by_maryke
Photo: Tuhi Photography
Refined, Modern & Precise
Hanrie completed her three-year fashion and design course in 2005, which was also incidentally when she made her very first wedding gown. Since then, she has gone on to work in the fashion industry designing daywear, matric dance gowns and other various garments for clients. But in 2014 she launched her flagship couture studio in DBN North, focusing exclusively on bridal gown design. Since then Hanrie and her team have created over 500 bridal gowns for brides all over the world.
Hanrie Lues Bridal specialises in bespoke couture gowns and demi-couture off-the-rail styles. Her work blends technical mastery with personal, heartfelt service. Each gown is drafted, cut, and fitted under her supervision, ensuring every client’s vision is realised. Her five-year focus is to maintain the integrity of her couture work, providing high-quality, individualised gowns while continuing to celebrate each bride’s uniqueness and personal narrative.
Wedding dresses – what do they mean to you?
It’s the most special dress you will ever wear. It carries memories that can never be replaced or replicated. Every detail, every seam, every silhouette is considered for the bride and her story. It’s not just a garment; it’s a memory in fabric.
What do you love about what you do?
Bringing the dreams of my brides to life from scratch. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a vision become a tangible gown that carries meaning and beauty.
Why couture?
With cheap imports flooding the South African market, daywear is not a viable path for local designers. Bridal couture allowed me to pursue meaningful work, showcase my skills, and maintain high standards of craftsmanship.
Hanrie’s work prioritises technical precision and modern elegance. Each gown is considered an architectural form, yet deeply personal, ensuring every bride feels celebrated and unique.
Instagram: @hanrieluesbridal
Photo: Wilma Towell
Che Couture, Maryke, and Hanrie Lues each bring a distinctive voice to the Midlands bridal landscape. Yet, all three share the philosophy that a wedding gown is not simply worn – it is lived, felt, and remembered.
Words: Accacia Foggin
Opening Photo: Courtney Warren