Exclusive: How 'Southern Charm' Star Olivia Flowers Is Planning Her Dream "Pinterest Board" Wedding

The first time Southern Charm star Olivia Flowers met her husband-to-be, Alex Williams, they walked down the aisle of a church. No, seriously: She was running late for a friend's wedding, and he was an usher who helped her find her seat. "He came up and asked me if he could walk me down the aisle," Flowers says. "I made a corny joke, like, 'It's a little soon for that.' At the reception, he asked me to dance, and the rest is history."

Considering their love story began at a wedding, it's only fitting that their own is nothing short of perfect. While Flowers was in New York City for Bridal Fashion Week in April 2025, The Knot caught up with the Bravo alum during her first wedding dress shopping appointment at Pronovias' flagship salon. Not only did we capture her very first experience shopping for gowns (alongside her mom, Robin Flowers), we got the scoop on how she's bringing her "timeless" Southern wedding to life this fall.

Inside Olivia Flowers' Wedding Dress Shopping Appointment

Photo: Jess Kane for The Knot

Amid a busy week of runway shows and collection previews, Olivia Flowers joined The Knot editors to begin shopping for her wedding dress. With her mom by her side, Flowers began the appointment debating a common conundrum that plagues many brides-to-be: satin or lace? "I never thought I wanted a lace wedding dress until this trip," Flowers said as she perused racks of ball gowns and slip dresses with Pronovias' senior bridal stylist, Karina Pugliese. "I thought I wanted simple and satin, but we might have to go back to the drawing board."

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Scanning the salon's display of gowns, including some from their brand new 2026 collection, the former reality TV star noted her dream dress might be one with elegant floral lace (as a nod to her last name, of course).

Photo: Jess Kane for The Knot

While Pugliese brought Flowers' favorite picks back to the dressing room, her mom admitted that this particular day was one her daughter has dreamt about since she was a little girl. "She's been talking about her wedding since she was five years old," Robin said. When I asked her how she wants Flowers to feel on the big day, she became overwhelmed with emotion: "I just want her to feel special."

Photo: Jess Kane for The Knot

As Flowers slipped into the first dress, we discussed the vision for her fall nuptials. "Growing up, I had it in my mind that I was going to have the royal wedding," she said from behind the curtain. "But now, especially as I've gotten older and have a more intimate circle, I want it to be a reflection of me in the sense that it's simple and elegant. I want everyone to enjoy spending time together the whole weekend, rather than follow traditional formalities."

Photo: Jess Kane for The Knot

The first dress she tried on was Pronovias' Louelle design, a strapless ball gown with an oversized lace pattern and a sweetheart neckline. Although it was a stark departure from what she thought she wanted at the beginning of the appointment, it was an immediate contender. "I always thought I wanted one dress, but now I'm like, 'How many weddings am I going to have?'" she said while she twirled in front of the mirror.

Photo: Jess Kane for The Knot

The second dress was a complete vibe shift. Trading the ball gown for a mini-skirt, Pugliese styled her in the brand's sparkly Lulu frock with glittery sleeves. "This could be the after-party dress," she said. Thinking about the ambiance for her wedding, Flowers told me that entertainment will play an important role throughout the entire day. "I'm picky with the music," she said as she shimmied on the pedestal. "Having the high energy of a live band is definitely non-negotiable for me. I want the reception to feel like a dreamy upbeat celebration under a big Texas sunset," she added, noting that Elvis Presley and classic Motown hits will be "must-plays."

Photo: Jess Kane for The Knot

While changing into the next dress, she opened up about how her planner, Jessica Scott of J. Scott Weddings, has been an integral part of her wedding journey. "You hear so many horror stories about wedding planning, but I've been enjoying it, and I think that has a lot to do with having an incredible planner," she said. In fact, she noted that the event she curated on Pinterest is essentially what she and Scott are bringing to life…minus one small detail. "I've always wanted the same thing, but the only thing that's changed is the guy," she said with a laugh. "I wanted to marry Zac Efron!"

Teenage crushes aside, Flowers and Scott have been hard at work curating the "modern romance" aesthetic with "earthy elegance" touches. "She has this incredible ability to take the things I gravitate toward and translate them into cohesive themes that feel completely true to us," Flowers said. "What I've loved most is how she brings her professional insight to fill in the gaps without ever overriding our vision. Jessica helped bring clarity and direction to all the ideas floating around in my head. She's taken the time to really understand our style as a couple, and she's been so intentional in connecting us with vendors who align with that."

Photo: Jess Kane for The Knot

One of the vendors Flowers hopes to add to her team of pros is a customization station, which would allow her guests to take home personalized wedding merch: "The reception will take place on a beautiful golf course, so I want to give my guests little party favors to take home that will remind them of the venue."

The appointment took a shift when Flowers slipped into a classic satin ball gown that took her breath away. The gown, which we won't reveal too much about, in case it is the one, encapsulated her original vision and gave her a visceral reaction. "I'm getting emotional in this dress," she said while taking in her regal appearance. "It's my favorite." Pugliese agreed: "I can see it in her face."

As she strutted down the hallways of the showroom, Flowers opened up about how her mom's wedding look from the 1980s has inspired her search. "I loved my mom's dress," she said. "I want my dress to be something I'll still love in twenty years or fifty years."

Photo: Jess Kane for The Knot

In fact, she continued to reference her parents' incredible love story throughout the entire appointment, indicating the impact they've had on her wedding planning experience (and, frankly, her outlook on love). "My parents have always been the absolute definition of what I hope to have," she said. "They're best friends, and they have set such an example for me."

That sentiment won't come as a shock to Southern Charm fans, who occasionally watched Flowers' parents support her throughout her two-season run on the reality series, which documented her dating escapades and social life in Charleston, South Carolina. "They always told me to find my passion in life and do what I want, and that my person would come in time," she said. "That's exactly what happened. They always wanted me to be whole myself before the right person came along. As I get older, that's something that I really appreciate. Especially being from the South, there's a societal pressure to get married very young, but my parents never put that pressure on me."

Photo: Jess Kane for The Knot

Now that she's found that partnership with her fiancé, Flowers says the wedding moment she's most looking forward to is when they lock eyes for the first time during the processional. "I think Alex is going to cry when he sees me," she said. "He's the sensitive one in the relationship."

Photo: Jess Kane for The Knot

As the appointment came to a close, Flowers had a little more clarity on her style perspective than at the beginning of the day. And while she may not have made the final decision just yet, she's one step closer to finding the one. "Every dress I tried on had this balance of structure and softness. It's like they're designed to make you feel confident and beautiful without trying too hard," she said. "Now that I've tried on a range of styles, I'm leaning more toward something that feels timeless with a modern twist. I used to think I wanted something super dramatic, but now I'm finding myself drawn to clean lines, romantic silhouettes, and pieces that let me shine instead of wearing me."