DRESS, WHAT DRESS?: With her new job as Yahoo News’ global anchor and no-time-to-rest schedule, Katie Couric didn’t have eons of time to figure out which gown to wear for her wedding Saturday. In what seems like a stroke of happenstance, the former “Today” show cohost went with an ivory crystal beaded and embroidered Chantilly lace halter gown designed by Carmen Marc Valvo.
In an interview Sunday, the designer said he persuaded her to try on a version of the gown two or three months ago, during a showroom fitting for a potential dress for this year’s White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner. The bride-to-be wasn’t crazy about the plunging V-neckline, but he convinced her try it on backwards for a more modest look. Having been friends for 12 years, Valvo offered to have the dress made for his “perfect sample size 4” pal. Valvo then got back to business — not worrying about her possible wedding dress. About 10 days ago, his creation returned from the seamstresses and Valvo, having not spoken with Couric since their visit, thought she must have decided on a dress. But he had the frock messengered to her, and to his surprise, she went with it for her nuptials with John P. Molner.
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During a quick fitting last week, Couric described Valvo’s dress as “a miracle from the sky,” according to his front man Frank Pulice. The designer said, “I’m so happy for her. She looked beautiful, but she looked so happy. That’s how a bride should look.
“It was all very impromptu. If we had had 1,000 fittings, it probably wouldn’t have turned out so well,” Valvo said.
Valvo said he had first met Couric shortly after he was diagnosed with colon cancer. Couric’s first husband, Jay Monahan, died of the disease, and she has been an advocate for research to help fight it.
“So glad to be a part of this new chapter in her life,” the designer said, adding he plans to catch up with Couric in the coming weeks to share in the celebration. In the meantime, he has been fielding well wishes from all around the world. “I think of her as an American icon, but she really is an international one. We’ve been hearing from people in India, Europe and everywhere.”