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Bridal Designer Mark Zunino Defends the Wedding Dress He Made for Denise Richards

denise richards engagedAaron Phypers Cameron and Denise Richards attend the Eastwood Ranch Foundation's Wags, Whiskers and Wine Event on May 12, 2018 in Malibu, California. (Photo by JB Lacroix/ Getty Images)

Designer Mark Zunino is not here for the negative opinions. With less than 24 hours to design a wedding dress for a celebrity, Zunino rose to the occasion this weekend to craft, what he believed, was the perfect fit for actress Denise Richards.

The internet, however, had other opinions. Fans and critics were split over the piece—a short, strapless lace romper embellished in floral appliqués which included a detachable, sheer tulle skirt that included a jeweled brocade at her waist. “24 hours to make a wedding dress? NO PROBLEM!!” he wrote over the weekend. “Congratulations to Denise Richards and Aaron Phypers! Thank you for letting us be a part of your special day!”

While Zunino’s rapid turnaround of a design was a feat from a creative perspective, various people still had a few thoughts about the leggy look, which prompted another post from the designer.

“I don’t think we’ve ever had a wedding dress create more split opinions than the dress we just did for Denise Richards,” Zunino wrote in a now-deleted Instagram post on Monday. “Here’s our thought: we work for the bride/client. As long as they’re in love with the design, we feel we’ve done our job. Unless you’ve paid for it or are the one wearing it you don’t have to worry about it! We are thrilled that Denise felt beautiful on her special day and love how the dress 100% fit her personality and the setting.”

Days after multiple outlets reported her engagement, Richards married Aaron Phypers in Malibu, California, on September 8. “So this happened,” she wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of the couple’s wedding bands wedged in the sand within a heart.

 

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So this happened 9-8-18 @aaronwilliamcameron

A post shared by Denise Richards (@deniserichards) on

This will be the second marriage for both Phypers and for Richards, who shares two daughters, Sam and Lola, with actor Charlie Sheen, and a third adopted daughter named Eloise.

Secure your ideal wedding vision by starting with The Knot’s Style Quiz, here.

About the Author

Esther Lee
Esther Lee
Esther is the Senior News Editor at The Knot. A self-proclaimed pop culture enthusiast, she appreciates a good celebrity interview just as much as she adores Nancy Meyers movies. You can find her kicking off her mornings with barre and a green juice, traveling and exploring new cultures, and rapidly scrolling her feed for the latest and greatest news. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter at @theestherlee.