Exclusive Interview with Hayley Paige at NYBFW
Written and Photography by CHI thee WED Curator, Emma Mullins Photography
This month I had the opportunity to attend New York Bridal Fashion Week for the first time, and loved every (New York) minute of it. I was particularly excited to secure tickets to the Twice Upon a Time runway show by Hayley Paige Bridal... not to mention an exclusive interview with Hayley herself! We talked about her new collection, the importance of personal brand, her Bulldog Winnie, and New York vs. Chicago style pizza.
If you're not familiar with Paige's story, here it is in a nutshell: Miss Hayley Paige has recently overcome a seven-year legal battle with a former employer, that prevented her from using her own name as a designer, among other challenges. She testified before Congress, guys! Twice Upon a Time is Paige's much-anticipated collection since regaining the rights to design wedding gowns as Hayley Paige, debuting in July 2025. Some notable features of the new collection include inclusive sizing (fleur couture), skin-tone matching, COLOR, textured petals, and mini dresses - aka the After Party Edit!
The fact that Paige persevered through the challenging years, never gave up the fight to regain control of her name, and ultimately succeeded, has served as a source of inspiration for countless creatives and independent business owners. It was an honor to meet her and gain some insight into her world. Spoiler alert: Hayley Paige is HAPPY to be back!
The Interview
EM: Alright, so I'm here with Hayley Paige! This is me, Emma from CHI thee WED. Say hi, Hayley!
HP: Hi!
EM: So our first question is: At CHI thee WED, we do not only service couples planning their weddings, but also many wedding vendors that have joined our network and community. Speaking directly to those business owners and wedding vendors, what is the best piece of advice that you would give to a fellow wedding vendor or independent business owner in 2025?
HP: The landscape is changing faster than it ever has. And I think with the adaptation of AI and technological advances, there's so much you can do to improve and make your business more efficient. So it's really important to be a shapeshifter and to be adaptable while still maintaining the key nutrients of what your business is. Because it's very easy to get distracted and hold on to a million different things - “Oh, I have to go do this TikTok video. Oh, I've got to go do this because it's viral” and everything. And a lot of times it's not actually serving your purpose. So it's really important to hone in on, you know, what value you're bringing, in terms of your service or your product and enhance it using all these tools that we've got.
EM: Awesome.
HP: Yeah.
EM: Okay! How important is personal brand in 2025? And any advice on where to start when creating a personal brand?
HP: Personal brand is paramount. It's a great way to offer personality to your business and know that there's a real human behind it, and that there's a thoughtfulness that goes into everything you create. It's a big competitive advantage, especially with a lot of homogenizing and stuff starting to look the same. Every industry is a bit diluted, so that can be the one thing that sets you apart.
EM: Yeah, cool. What's the best business advice you've ever received?
HP: Oh, hold on to your whimsy through the wicked.
EM: Yes, of course, of course. I wanted to ask you. So your case was settled in May 2024. Is that correct?
HP: Yes.
EM: So it's been almost a year and a half. Have the past 17-18 months gone as expected for Hayley Paige Bridal or any surprises along the way that you can tell us about?
HP: It's just been such a delight to not only have the freedom to get back to doing what I love, but also a craft that I spent my entire childhood, education and industry experience just dedicated to. And it's wonderful to not feel jaded by what I've experienced, but also I feel like it's riding a bike. You know, like there is still the reputation and the credibility that was everlasting.
And moreso than that, it was the connection to the bride and the stores that have just really had my back and the sense of like, comradery is, it's just been so empowering. So it's tough to kind of say that has gone as I planned, like it has just been such a whirlwind of delight and like, my hope is to get burned out because, you know, I prayed for this. I prayed for getting back to where I'm at. And, you know, I'm just taking a “everything and the kitchen sink” approach and just can't wait for the next drop and the next drop and the next collection, and the next dress. And then I'll get married somewhere in between there.
EM: Yeah! Yay! Cool. You are such an inspiration to so many small business owners and independent business owners, as you know, it's really an honor to meet you and talk with you today and to have seen your dresses and your show.
One question is about Winnie, of course!
HP: Of course.
EM: How is Winnie taking the Twice Upon a Time and everything that goes along with that?
HP: She is the star of the show. She loves it so much. We have this new atelier that we've, opened up just down, actually, the hall from where I live. And it's just been this really fun environment.
She gets into every single train, every single piece of tool. You know, everything is Bulldog-proof at this point. The dresses are not delicate, even though they look it. I'm like, they're Bulldog tested and approved. But she just brings so much love to my environment. And whenever you're having a day, you know, just looking at the dog and you're like, oh, everything is right with the world.
EM: Absolutely. I'm a wedding photographer. I particularly love when couples include their animals in their engagement photos and wedding day, of course. So we love the fur babies.
HP: Yeah, it is dog robust.
EM: Yes! At this point in your career, having gone through everything you've gone through and with Twice Upon a Time and everything that that represents, what are you most looking forward to with the future of Hayley Paige Bridal?
HP: I think what I'm most looking forward to is really being in the moment, because so much of being a designer is you're kind of always on to the next thing, and that is also something that's important to keep in mind is like, there's always another great dress and another great bride right around the corner. But for how long it took me to get here, I want to make sure I'm really present and I'm enjoying it. And so while it's fun to think about like, oh, five year plan and all this stuff, it's like, oh my gosh, I want to just go hug all my dresses and I'd cry all over my bride. So like, just be here in this moment. So I think that's what I'm most looking forward to is just being here in the now.
EM: We love you, Hayley.
HP: Love you back.
EM: Final question is: New York or Chicago style pizza?
HP: Oh, Chicago.
EM: Yes!!
HP: Okay. Totally Chicago. And I say that as a New Yorker. I was more of like a late night bagel person in New York. And I lived in New York in my 20s. Okay. So, like, I go the late night bagel. I did not go late night pizza. Chicago, I think has the best pizza.
EM: Yes. Oh, Chicago loves to hear that.
HP: Oh, I might get burned for that. But I don't care! I don't care, I like the deep dish.
EM: Awesome. Same! Thank you so much, Hayley.
HP: My pleasure. Thank you.
Huge thank you to Hayley, Elyse, and the Hayley Paige Bridal team for the experience and the opportunity!
CHICAGO BRIDES: Hayley Paige is coming to Chicago! Don’t miss your opportunity to view the new collection and meet Hayley in person. RSVP here for a very special trunk show at Bella Bianca River North on Friday, November 21 and Saturday, November 22, featuring a meet and greet with Hayley Friday evening.
Want to see more of Emma's NYBFW experience? Check out her latest post on emullinsphoto.com!
Listen to the interview below: