Food Network Star Kardea Brown Reveals She Chose Wedding Gown byProject RunwayAlum: 'I Said Yes to the Dress!'

Mar. 15, 2025

Kardea Brown.Photo:Marcus Ingram/Getty; Kardea Brown/Instagram

Marcus Ingram/Getty; Kardea Brown/Instagram

Kardea Brownhas checked one important task of her wedding to-do list: her dress fitting!TheFood Networkstar, 37, shared a video onInstagramon Monday, Jan. 27, documenting her visit to theLaury Bridebespoke bridal shop in Chicago. The clip — set to the Eric Benét song “Spend My Life with You” — gives fans a glimpse of the elegant salon and its racks of gorgeous dresses, before ending with owner and designer Laurie Underwood opening a set of shimmery curtains to reveal Brown.TheKids Baking Championshiphost can be seen standing with a big smile as she holds a circular sign that reads, “I Said Yes at Laury Bride.” It seems Brown is keeping her dress under wraps, as she posed in a black sweatshirt, sweatpants and a Yankees cap.In the post’s caption, Brown — who is engaged to partner Bryon Smith — detailed why she chose Underwood, who was a contestant in season 14 ofProject Runway— to create her one-of-a-kind wedding gown.“I SAID YES TO THE DRESS at@laurybride!!!!” she began, before explaining that she’s been “very intentional” during her wedding planning process to work with “small businesses and entrepreneurs, particularly minority women-owned businesses.“Brown wrote that she feels “so blessed” to have discovered Underwood’s shop, located in Chicago’s Southside, “a neighborhood where there are practically no wedding dress stores.““Laury’s mission is truly inspiring — to show young black and brown girls that being a blushing bride is realistic and achievable,” the chef noted.Brown went on to share that she gave Underwood a series of inspiration photos for her dream dress, and the designer executed her vision “in a remarkably short period.” Then, she and some girlfriends traveled to Chicago to do her first — and final — fitting.“I couldn’t be happier with the entire process,” she wrote.Kardea Brown excitedly prepares to try on her wedding dress at Laury Bride in Chicago.Kardea Brown/InstagramNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Brown announced her engagement onInstagramon New Year’s Day in January 2023. Alongside footage of Smith getting down on one knee and presenting her with a ring as loved ones cheered from off-camera, she wrote, “And this is how I brought the New Year in……Cousins I’M GETTING MARRIED!!!!! The best night of my life ❤️.“She also included a sweet shout-out to her fiancé: “To the love of my life…. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you 🥹.“Kardea Brown and Bryon Smith.Kardea Brown/InstagramOn New Year’s Day two years later, Brown teased her upcoming wedding. “2025….. the year we become one! Looking forward to the many blessings this year will bring,” she wrote onInstagram, sharing a black-and-white photo of herself and Smith.In a December 2023 episode of her Food Network showDelicious Miss Brown, the former social worker-turned-chef highlighted a series of “tasty bites” for a bridal shower her friends and family were throwing for her, including mini salmon BLTs and chocolate coconut nests.Smith apparently is happy to pitch in with his fiancée’s food projects, as Brown shared a lighthearted video onInstagramof her future husband playing “a pivotal role” in a photo shoot for her new cookbook: “nacho coordinator.” The clip shows Smith gently pouring what appears to be hot sauce onto a nacho chip as a photographer took shots from above.

Kardea Brownhas checked one important task of her wedding to-do list: her dress fitting!

TheFood Networkstar, 37, shared a video onInstagramon Monday, Jan. 27, documenting her visit to theLaury Bridebespoke bridal shop in Chicago. The clip — set to the Eric Benét song “Spend My Life with You” — gives fans a glimpse of the elegant salon and its racks of gorgeous dresses, before ending with owner and designer Laurie Underwood opening a set of shimmery curtains to reveal Brown.

TheKids Baking Championshiphost can be seen standing with a big smile as she holds a circular sign that reads, “I Said Yes at Laury Bride.” It seems Brown is keeping her dress under wraps, as she posed in a black sweatshirt, sweatpants and a Yankees cap.

In the post’s caption, Brown — who is engaged to partner Bryon Smith — detailed why she chose Underwood, who was a contestant in season 14 ofProject Runway— to create her one-of-a-kind wedding gown.

“I SAID YES TO THE DRESS at@laurybride!!!!” she began, before explaining that she’s been “very intentional” during her wedding planning process to work with “small businesses and entrepreneurs, particularly minority women-owned businesses.”

Brown wrote that she feels “so blessed” to have discovered Underwood’s shop, located in Chicago’s Southside, “a neighborhood where there are practically no wedding dress stores.”

“Laury’s mission is truly inspiring — to show young black and brown girls that being a blushing bride is realistic and achievable,” the chef noted.

Brown went on to share that she gave Underwood a series of inspiration photos for her dream dress, and the designer executed her vision “in a remarkably short period.” Then, she and some girlfriends traveled to Chicago to do her first — and final — fitting.

“I couldn’t be happier with the entire process,” she wrote.

Kardea Brown excitedly prepares to try on her wedding dress at Laury Bride in Chicago.Kardea Brown/Instagram

Kardea Brown/Instagram

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Brown announced her engagement onInstagramon New Year’s Day in January 2023. Alongside footage of Smith getting down on one knee and presenting her with a ring as loved ones cheered from off-camera, she wrote, “And this is how I brought the New Year in……Cousins I’M GETTING MARRIED!!!!! The best night of my life ❤️.”

She also included a sweet shout-out to her fiancé: “To the love of my life…. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you 🥹.”

Kardea Brown and Bryon Smith.Kardea Brown/Instagram

On New Year’s Day two years later, Brown teased her upcoming wedding. “2025….. the year we become one! Looking forward to the many blessings this year will bring,” she wrote onInstagram, sharing a black-and-white photo of herself and Smith.

In a December 2023 episode of her Food Network showDelicious Miss Brown, the former social worker-turned-chef highlighted a series of “tasty bites” for a bridal shower her friends and family were throwing for her, including mini salmon BLTs and chocolate coconut nests.

Smith apparently is happy to pitch in with his fiancée’s food projects, as Brown shared a lighthearted video onInstagramof her future husband playing “a pivotal role” in a photo shoot for her new cookbook: “nacho coordinator.” The clip shows Smith gently pouring what appears to be hot sauce onto a nacho chip as a photographer took shots from above.

source: people.com