It's a luxury label the Princess of Wales has worn to the Royal Variety Performance and Wimbledon, and one that, this spring, dressed a high-profile bride. Safiyaa, founded in 2011 by Daniela Karnuts, worked with Bettina Trump (née Anderson) to design an elegant French silk gown for her and Donald Trump Jr.'s intimate wedding ceremony in the Bahamas.
The design, featuring a hidden hand-embroidered message, was months in the making, with President Donald Trump's new daughter-in-law involved throughout the process. "From the very beginning, Bettina imagined something understated yet elevated- timeless, refined and effortless," Daniela exclusively told HELLO!. "She wanted the dress to feel sophisticated without ever feeling overworked, allowing her personality to shine through."
On May 22, 2026, Bettina walked down the aisle of a tiny chapel on Little Pipe Cay wearing her sleek Safiyaa slip dress paired with a birdcage veil headband. The gown's silhouette evoked memories of another minimalist bride who also married the son of a US president: Carolyn Bessette Kennedy.
The comparison may be inevitable, but Carolyn wasn't a source of inspiration for this bridal look. Bettina's gown was entirely her own, designed with the tropical setting in mind and to reflect who she truly is.
Continue reading for HELLO!'s exclusive Q&A with Daniela Karnuts about Bettina Trump's wedding dress and photos of the gown beautifully captured by photographer Laura Gordon.
© Laura Gordon PhotographyDid [Bettina] have a vision of what she wanted from the start?
Yes, very much so. She came with a clear sense of what felt right for her. She was drawn to clean, sculptural lines and understated elegance, and from there our role was simply to refine those ideas into a gown that felt entirely her own.
What was your initial vision for Bettina Trump's wedding dress?
Interestingly, the final gown stayed remarkably close to our earliest sketches. We wanted to create something that would feel just as beautiful in thirty years’ time as it does today. Every decision was made in service of simplicity, proportion and beautiful construction.
© Laura Gordon PhotographyHaving dressed Bettina before, did you approach her wedding gown differently than your previous collaborations?
Absolutely. Every piece we make is personal, but a wedding gown carries a different kind of significance. We looked at every seam, every proportion and every finishing detail with extraordinary care because this is one of the most important garments a woman will ever wear. It becomes part of her life story.
What was the collaboration between the two of you like this time?
Very natural. Bettina has wonderful instincts and expresses her vision with remarkable clarity. There was a deep sense of trust on both sides, which made every fitting feel collaborative rather than prescriptive. We refined the dress together until it felt exactly right.
When did the design process begin? How long did it take?
We began months before the wedding exchanging ideas. The months that followed were spent refining the gown through multiple fittings, making subtle adjustments until every detail felt resolved.
© Laura Gordon PhotographyHow involved was Bettina throughout the design process?
She was involved throughout. She brought thoughtful observations to every fitting while also giving us the freedom to do what we do best. It became a genuine collaboration built on mutual trust.
How would you describe Bettina’s style and how did you translate her personality into the dress?
Her style is elegant, polished and understated. She naturally gravitates towards beautifully tailored pieces rather than anything overly embellished. We wanted the dress to reflect those qualities so that it felt like an extension of her, never a costume for the occasion.
Did the venue influence the design? If the wedding had taken place at the White House rather than in the Bahamas, do you think the gown would have evolved differently?
Very much so. The Bahamas called for something that felt light, relaxed and effortless while still carrying a sense of occasion. Had the setting been the White House or somewhere more formal, the gown might have taken on a more architectural quality, while remaining true to its essential simplicity.
© Laura Gordon PhotographyThe birdcage headpiece was so chic. Whose idea was that? Why did she choose it over a traditional veil?
That was Bettina’s idea. It felt completely authentic to her style. She has always preferred a more modern interpretation of elegance, and the birdcage headpiece provided the perfect finishing touch without competing with the dress itself.
How did Bettina say she wanted to feel on her wedding day?
Above everything else, she wanted to feel like herself- beautiful, confident, relaxed and genuinely happy. The dress was never meant to define the moment; it was simply there to support it.
What inspired the overall look?
The inspiration was the belief that restraint can be incredibly powerful. When every proportion and every detail has been carefully considered, simplicity has a presence all of its own.
© Laura Gordon PhotographyWere there any particular references, eras or ideas that influenced the design?
We found ourselves returning to the understated elegance of the 1990s and a period when beautiful tailoring and exceptional fabrics spoke louder than embellishment. That sense of quiet confidence felt entirely right for Bettina.
When people think of iconic slip wedding dresses, Carolyn Bessette's often comes to mind. It's hard not to notice the parallels. Was she a source of inspiration?
Carolyn Bessette remains an enduring benchmark for modern bridal elegance, and it's difficult not to acknowledge her influence on minimalist bridal fashion. Bettina possesses a similar ease and quiet confidence, which makes those comparisons understandable. From the very beginning, though, our focus was simply on creating a gown that felt completely authentic to Bettina - one that reflected her personality with honesty, grace and effortless sophistication.
Knowing Don and Bettina's wedding would inevitably be viewed through a historical lens, did you feel pressure to create something that could stand alongside other famous first family wedding dresses?
More than anything, we felt a sense of responsibility to Bettina. Every bride deserves to feel completely herself on her wedding day, and that became our guiding principle throughout the process. If a gown feels completely authentic to the woman wearing it, that's what allows it to endure.
© Laura Gordon Photography
© Laura Gordon PhotographyWere there any meaningful details or personal touches sewn into the dress that aren't immediately visible to the eye?
Yes. One of the most meaningful elements was a hand-embroidered message hidden discreetly inside the gown. It was something deeply personal, known only to Bettina, and I think those unseen details often become the most meaningful.
What did Bettina want the dress to say about her without saying a word?
She wanted it to express confidence, elegance and authenticity. Nothing louder than that. The dress wasn't intended to make a statement. It was simply meant to feel completely true to who she is.
When people look back at this gown years from now, what do you hope they'll remember most?
I hope they remember Bettina herself. The most memorable wedding dresses are never remembered because they are extravagant; they're remembered because they seem inseparable from the woman wearing them. If people remember how happy, poised and completely at ease she looked, then I think we succeeded.
© Laura Gordon PhotographyFor more on Bettina and Don Jr.'s private wedding, see the latest issue of HELLO! available in your VIP Members' Area.
