Part II: Where Art Meets Algorithms
At the Ottawa Wedding Edit today, we’re launching the follow-up of a two-part series with Nora Zabarah Pucci, the visionary behind Zarucci Bridal. Nora has been synonymous with elegance, having designed couture gowns for celebrities and even a gown for a royal wedding. However, her work is about more than just fabric and thread; it’s about a unique blend of timeless artistry and cutting-edge technology. Nora is the first designer in Ottawa to integrate artificial intelligence into her design process, and she is at the forefront of a quiet revolution in the bridal world.
I had the distinct pleasure of sitting down with Nora a few weeks ago to discuss her journey, her design philosophy, and how she’s navigating the future of bridal fashion with a Ph.D. in Entrepreneurship and AI.
The Evolution of a Brand: From Custom to Collection
Our conversation began with a look at Nora’s business model, which is undergoing a significant shift. For years, Zarucci was synonymous with bespoke, custom-made gowns. But that focus is changing.
“I’m probably only doing very, very few custom-made [gowns] because the prices are getting way up there,” Nora explained. For her, a truly custom gown requires the highest quality, high-end fabrics and fair wages for her team. This pushes the cost of a bespoke gown to over $8,000, a budget that not many brides have for a single piece.
The new focus will be on creating and selling collections through select bridal boutiques such as “Always Knew I Needed’ on Carling Avenue which carries Canadian only designs. Nora sees this as a way to make her designs more accessible to a wider audience without compromising on quality or her artistic vision. Her first collection will be carried by local boutiques here in Ottawa, and Nora expressed great enthusiasm for what’s to come.
The Practicalities of Planning: Timing and Veils
Beyond the design philosophy, Nora offered some practical advice for brides. I began by inquiring when a bride should start her dress search?
Nora Zarucci: You should start your search ideally 10 months before the wedding, with a minimum of six months. This allows ample time for fittings, alterations, and custom orders, which can take several months to fulfill. Planning ahead is the key to a stress-free experience.
We also discussed the timeless tradition of the bridal veil, which Nora has observed is on the decline. She noted that the traditional significance of the veil, especially the blusher—the part that covers the bride’s face—is diminishing as fewer weddings adhere to strict traditions. She has observed about half of brides still choose to wear a veil, but only half of those opt for a blusher, making it more of a style choice rather than a ceremonial necessity.
The AI Aisle: Where Creativity Meets Code
This is where our conversation took an exciting and truly groundbreaking turn. Nora revealed that she is using her Ph.D. research to introduce artificial intelligence into her design process, a move that is making her a pioneer in the industry.
When asked to describe how she was implementing AI processes & technology Nora responded, she was primarily using AI design programs to enhance her creativity, efficiency, and sustainability.
“For me, AI is an interactive design partner, I use something called prompt engineering to communicate with the program, which is essentially feeding it my creative vision. For example, I can ask the AI to create a mood board for a ‘modern gothic wedding dress with floral lace and a corset bodice.’ The AI then generates dozens of ideas, which helps me explore concepts faster than I ever could on my own.”
While the concept sounded revolutionary and definitely efficient,I remained apprehensive to some degree and had to wonder if this new technology was fail-proof. Was it always right? To this Nora replied, “It was unfortunately not, but it’s rapidly improving” She went on to add …AI can “hallucinate” or provide inaccurate information.
“You have to remember that AI is designed to please the user; this means it will always try to give you an answer it thinks you want to hear. Determining whether the answer is accurate is up to the user. You have to be the expert, and the AI is the tool.”
Meanwhile, the digital workflow is making her work more sustainable. Nora can test ideas and fabric choices virtually, reducing the physical cost and waste of traditional methods. The AI can even predict how a fabric will drape and respond on a body, which helps her understand the technical design aspects in minutes rather than weeks.
The Future is Now: A Competitive Edge
Nora sees AI as a significant competitive advantage for her brand. The technology will allow her to be faster to market and take more creative risks at a much lower cost. She anticipates a future where AI can create entire gowns from start to finish, including generating patterns and marketing content. I had to wonder whether this opportunity would allow the designer to return to offering custom gowns…going forward and it seems indeed it would be.
“Yes, that is a huge part of the vision. With AI, I can create seamless, efficient design presentations for clients. Instead of just showing them a sketch, I could show them a realistic digital rendering of their custom gown in minutes. This would allow me to bring back a limited number of custom gowns at a much more accessible price point.”
Beyond design, Nora uses AI for trend forecasting and consumer insights. By analyzing social media data, she can understand what trends and brand values resonate with today’s couples. She notes that AI helps her understand key demographic shifts, such as the current societal split where some individuals are marrying very young while others are delaying marriage. This insight helps her tailor her collections to the evolving bridal market.
Nora aims to launch her first AI-influenced collection in Spring of next year, 2026. The collection will feature new designs alongside her best-selling traditional gowns. Her work is a powerful testament to how AI isn’t replacing human creativity, but rather amplifying it. For Nora, this technology is a crucial asset that allows her to explore the breadth of her creativity enabling her to have a more sustainable work format all while given her the competitive edge she needs to keep up with retailers.
Will the rise of AI be something that attracts clients? It will certainly peak curiosity. AI would enhance sustainability and efficiency throughout the design and delivery process, inevitably boosting productivity. Ultimately it gives the artist more time to create. I for one am genuinely looking forward to seeing the Zarucci Collection of Spring 2026! Congratulations Nora!
xoxo
Nandini for TastersHUB Catering and Events
“If you find someone you love in your life, then hang on to that love.” —Princess Diana
