As U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team World Cup champ Carli Lloyd trains for the Summer 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, she has a whole other event to get ready for–her wedding! Lloyd will say ‘I do’ to her long-time love of 15 years, pro golfer Brian Hollins. They’re waiting until after the 2016 summer games to exchange vows–one exciting thing at time!
Since getting engaged back in January, the soccer player has started shopping for a wedding dress. And who better to design the perfect gown for Lloyd than bridal designer Matthew Christopher who’s already outfitted the athlete in two incredible dresses, one for the ESPY Awards and one for the Kid’s Choice Awards. Lloyd looked stunning in two different black dresses at the events, remarking on Christopher’s talent for creating spectacular pieces without sacrificing comfort, that flatter her athletic physique and match her chic, yet down-to-earth taste. So it’s no surprise she entrusted the designer with her most important gown (a white one this time!).
With her seaside ceremony in mind, Lloyd recently attended Matthew Christopher’s Bridal Fashion Week show to get some design inspiration from his romantic Fall 2016 collection. After seeing the new collection, Lloyd shared her thoughts exclusively with The Knot.
“This is actually my first bridal runway show that I’ve been to, and I must say, it was pretty amazing,” Lloyd said. “I think his [Matthew Christopher’s] dresses are spectacular and unique, and I think he’s such a great guy. And everybody’s been so helpful with me…the dresses were beautiful.”
The bride-to-be did confess that there is one specific dress style that she’s favoring.
“I was into the lace ones,” she shared with The Knot. “Only because I’m going to be getting married on the beach and that’s kind of the style that I’m going for, but some of the other dresses that had a little bit more spunk to them were really gorgeous. I like the sweetheart cut. But they were all really amazing.”
Due to her busy schedule, Lloyd said she hasn’t started working with Christopher on designs just yet. “I have to kind of figure out the timeline because my schedule’s going to get crazy and I’m not sure when I need to do it,” the athlete explained. “I’ll have to start working out the details.”
When it comes to the details, Lloyd is taking a laid-back approach to her wedding planning.
“I think I’m more of a low-key bride,” Lloyd shared with The Knot. “I’m not really that difficult. I just want to have a good time with everybody, I just want to have a good night. I want my hair and makeup to look great, my dress to be beautiful, but other than that I’m not too particular on invitations and things like that.”
“But it should be fun!” she added. “Lots of people say it’s so stressful–this is a fun part! To be able to be able to plan, to be able to buy things. Just enjoy it because it’s gonna go by fast and it’ll be over in the blink of an eye!”