STYLE: Magnolia Laine Owner, Sophie Dod
She marries her love of fashion and entrepreneurship
Sophie Dod is just 28, but she carries herself like an industry veteran. In May 2024, she opened Magnolia Laine Charlotte, a made-to-order bridal boutique that serves brides-to-be from all over the Southeast. Her Dilworth salon is in a mint-green bungalow on Kenilworth Avenue, and her curated collection of gowns includes the work of designers like Kate McDonald, Kelly Faetanini, and Madi Lane.
Charlotte has plenty of bridal salons—The Knot lists 48—but Dod knew she could bring something special to this market. “I did a lot of research in different cities,” she says. “Charlotte was missing the super-personalized bridal experience. I picked a very quaint, cottage-y house. The dressing rooms are the bedrooms upstairs. There was nothing like it in Charlotte. The brides have really loved it because it’s so personal and so quiet when you’re here. You don’t see all the other brides lined up next to you.”
When we speak in April, she’s just returned from Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week, an invitation-only event for buyers, wedding planners, and fashion professionals. Dod and her three employees saw hundreds of designs from more than 85 countries. “I just got back from Spain, like, yesterday, basically,” she says, smiling like someone who’s still pushing through the jet lag. “We spent the week, got to see all the new collections, and picked out the dresses we wanted to bring back for our Charlotte brides.”
“Europe tends to be about a year ahead of the U.S.,” Dod says. “I’m seeing dresses that read very simple but have a cool fabric. Lace is coming back—like fine, Chantilly lace. And strapless is still here.”
It’s an impressive ascent for someone who was a fashion major at The University of Alabama just six years ago. Dod always had an interest in apparel and textiles but says she fell in love with bridal after she helped her cousin choose a wedding dress at The White Magnolia in Atlanta, her hometown. Dod did a summer internship there, and co-founder Mallory Thorburn invited her back for the next summer, then hired her as a stylist. “I changed my major to fashion, entrepreneurship, and business,” Dod says. “After college, I became a full-time employee. Then I became a manager within the company. So it was a natural progression to continue with the journey.”
In 2021, The White Magnolia added Magnolia Laine, a more price-conscious version of the original store. It became so popular, customers requested more boutiques in additional cities. Hileman chose Dod to head up the first franchise location. Dod had lots of extended family in Charlotte and knew the city would be an ideal market. “When (the Dilworth location) popped up, I messaged the broker myself,” she says. “I was in Atlanta at the time and drove up the next day.”
Dod began with one employee and 75 dresses. The boutique carries sample sizes from 10 to 24 (bridal sizing runs two or three sizes larger than regular clothes), and gowns range from $1,500 to $6,000. Brides fill out questionnaires before their appointments so their stylists can pull a few gowns based on their preferences. Brides are allowed to bring up to five people to their appointments; more than that, Dod says, brings too many opinions and personalities into one room.
Dod with stylist Piper Allen.
Most brides she’s worked with have a good sense of what they want. “Eight out of 10 times, she comes back to the first dress she tried on,” she says. “Some girls say, ‘We trust you, pick it out for me,’ so we’ll try a ball gown, A-line, and a fitted style and see what they feel best in. Certain waistlines, like a Basque waist, are so flattering on everybody. That is a massive trend right now.”
Once a bride decides on the right design, silhouette, and shade of white, a stylist takes her measurements and places the order for her custom dress. Turnaround time is typically six to eight months. “When they find the one,” Dod says, “we start to accessorize, celebrate, and pop the champagne.”
Today, Magnolia Laine carries about 200 dresses, and Dod employs three full-time stylists. In November, she opened a second location in Raleigh, and she hasn’t ruled out more. “It’s the best, being able to be that small part of a bride’s big day,” Dod says. “It never gets old, seeing their face when they’ve found their dress.”
