Olympic Gymnast Shawn Johnson Shares Wedding Details

You may know Shawn Johnson as the Olympic gymnast who won the gold medal in 2008 or for winning season eight of Dancing with the Stars with her partner Mark Ballas. But her latest feat? Walking down the aisle! Shawn and her beau Andrew East will be saying "I do" on Saturday, April 16th in Nashville, and we're so excited to see all of the details of her big day!

While Shawn and her bridal designer Olia Zavozina are staying relatively quiet about the details of the gown, we did get a chance to ask Shawn a few questions about the process of finding her dream dress.

Inside Weddings: What made you choose an Olia Zavozina gown for your wedding day?
Shawn Johnson: As soon as I met with Olia, we had an instant connection! She has truly made this experience a dream come true and I have been so honored to work with her. She has made me feel like a modern day princess throughout this entire process!

IW: How did you know it was The One when you tried on your wedding dress?
SJ: Olia is actually creating a custom dress for me, so I tried on many different styles and we created my absolute dream gown! 

IW: What's your advice for brides looking for their dream bridal gown?
SJ: Go in with an open mind! You will try on styles that you may have never thought you would like and you'll end up falling in love.

Though Shawn didn't share specific details of her dress, Olia hints that "she will look timeless and spectacular." Her favorite part of the gown? "The unique custom embellishments – you'll see," she smiles. Since the bridal designer spent time with Shawn choosing the specifications of her wedding gown, we talked to Olia about the Olympic gymnast, her process for finding The One, and the advice she would share for other brides preparing to walk down the aisle.

Take a look, below:

Inside Weddings: What were your first thoughts when you found out Shawn wanted you to design her wedding dress?
Olia Zavozina: Flattered and excited that someone like Shawn Johnson, who could have picked any designer, chose me.

IW: Which styles/silhouettes did you recommend for Shawn?
OZ: There are so many options, I believe that every bride should try one of several silhouettes to see which fit is best for her body. I wanted Shawn to feel like a bride in her dress, so we tried on several styles.

IW: What was the process to perfect the gown for Shawn?
OZ: Shawn was there to choose the fit, the fabric, and the lace. The dress was completely custom.

IW: What did you do to personalize her bridal gown and make it special?
OZ: Having Shawn come in and choose the little details herself is what truly made it special. We also brought in a European jewelry designer to custom design her headpiece and jewelry.

IW: What's your advice for brides looking for their own dream wedding dress?
OZ: Don't settle! Be open minded to try different silhouettes.

What wedding dress style do you think Shawn Johnson will wear on her walk down the aisle? Let us know in the comments!

To see more wedding dresses from Olia Zavozina, view her fall 2016 collection. For additional bridal fashion, click here and be sure to see the gorgeous gowns chosen by real brides in our photo galleries!