This Company Creates Custom Wedding Dresses That Are Actually Affordable

Jennifer Chen
Apr 13, 2018

Weddings are a big business. If you adore everything about weddings, you might want to consider a career in this constantly evolving and growing industry. Intrepid female entrepreneurs have recognized ways to modernize the wedding planning process, from custom wedding registry sites like Zola to popular wedding aesthetic blogs like Rustic Wedding Chic. Leslie Voorhees, the co-founder of Anomalie, a company that custom-designs wedding dresses, found shopping for her own wedding dress to be so tedious that she reinvented the process for future brides. In this week’s How to Quit Your Day Job, we chat with Voorhees about how she married her background in product development and manufacturing to create dream dresses for blissful brides.

(Photo via Summer Wilson)

Meet the Wedding Dress Pro: Leslie Voorhees

When Voorhees was looking for her own wedding dress in 2016, she couldn’t understand why there wasn’t an affordable online alternative to expensive boutique wedding dress shops. With extensive experience as a product developer — first for Nike, then Apple’s Watch — Voorhees applied her career knowledge to a new industry: wedding dresses. After she obtained her own custom-made dress from China, friends of friends started requesting dresses too, and Voorhees and her husband Calley knew that they had an idea that was worth pursuing. Now, Anomalie is helping connect hopeful brides with the designs they want at the fraction of the price of a designer gown. Voorhees shares with us how she and her co-founder husband built their startup from the ground up.

(Photo via Maddie Blecha Photography)

Brit + Co: What’s your morning routine?

Leslie Voorhees: Since half my team and all our workshops are in China, I usually stay up pretty late (since it’s their daytime), so I don’t wake up until around 8am. Quick check-in with the team on the day’s production, then our Instagram, then always coffee and a hearty breakfast; usually I’ll make scrambled eggs, but sometimes I’ll treat myself with a donut (there’s an amazing shop in our building, and it’s so tempting!). I shower at night to save time in the morning, so I’m out the door quickly, and my commute is just a three-block walk.

(Photo via Reny Preussker)

B+C: What inspired you to start your company?

LV: Anomalie came out of my personal experience wedding dress shopping. I was so surprised during my wedding gown search in 2016 about how hard it was to find a dress that aligned with my style, fit correctly, and didn’t have an offensive price. I didn’t understand why there were no online options that brought more transparency and customization than the mom-and-pop boutiques.

At the time, I was working for Apple in China for the Watch. I learned that the city nearby the Apple factory produces 80 percent of the world’s wedding dresses. I visited on a weekend and used connections to find some top workshops that make dresses for the expensive boutique brands. The lightbulb occurred when I saw a dress I recognized that sells in the US for thousands and realized it cost only hundreds to make.

I made my dress at this factory and mentioned it to a couple friends. Within a week, I had 30 emails from friends of friends asking to make them a dress on my next China trip. My husband and I became obsessed with wedding dresses and realized a brand with great design support, great operations/supply chain management, and great tech could bring more customization, value, and transparency to this broken market. We both quit our jobs within three months, and I basically started living overseas to make relationships with workshops and manage production of our dresses.

(Photo via Reny Preussker)

B+C: How do you challenge yourself as an entrepreneur?

LV: I’m an introvert and am most comfortable rolling up my sleeves in a factory. I think constant and effective communication from the CEO about a company’s vision (to employees, investors, customers, etc.) is vital for any successful startup, so I’m constantly challenging myself to get out of my comfort zone of this public element of being a startup founder.

B+C: Tell us about how your family and friends help support your business.

LV: My husband Calley is also my co-founder, so we’d be nothing if we weren’t both supporting each other. It is difficult to articulate how amazing our families are — whether my parents are flying from Portland to help us move into our office or Calley’s parents are dropping off homemade food. Our friends have been incredibly supportive as our earliest customers, investors, and cheerleaders.

Our families and friends have also been very patient with us, because we’ve been fully consumed with wedding dresses. For anyone considering the startup road, I think it is important to mention that Y Combinator is right that startups are not the choice if you care about work/life balance and being the best friend, spouse, or parent. It’s all-consuming in a way that is hard to describe, and it is important to understand this, lean into it, and not complain about it (we signed up for it!). Calley and I feel we are the luckiest people to have this opportunity, and there’s nothing we’d rather be doing at this stage in our lives.

(Photo via Asia Dore)

B+C: What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten?

LV: When I asked my mom what I should do in college, she recommended that I become an engineer — I was good at math/science and she predicted (rightfully so) that it’d be easier to get a job. This led to amazing opportunities living around the world helping to build products I love — first Nike shoes, then an Apple product, and now wedding dresses!

B+C: What do you love about your job?

LV: Hearing from our brides that we made a positive impact on their wedding experience. We have made dresses from size 00 to size 30 and for women from 4′ tall to 6’6″ — women throughout these spectrums experience pain points with wedding dress shopping, and it is so gratifying to offer them a better solution. Stories that stand out include recently hearing from a bride who was experiencing weight fluctuations before her wedding due to chemotherapy and didn’t think she’d get a dress to fit her until she met us; receiving a text from a bride on her wedding day, saying she had been dreading wedding dress shopping for years (because she was plus-sized) and has never felt more beautiful than she does in her custom dress; and hearing from a bride saying she had dreamed from the time she was a little girl of a wedding dress that incorporated Western and Indian influences but never thought it was possible until Anomalie. We’re making the most gorgeous, important, and emotional purchase a woman will ever make — it’s impossible to get bored or demotivated here!

(Photo via Julia Lexx Photography)

B+C: Name two female heroes who you think should get a shout-out.

LV: I think about Glossier and Stitch Fix every day, so Emily Weiss and Katrina Lake. These companies are on the leading edge of trends that will shape retail going forward. For Glossier, Emily understood better than anyone that an ongoing conversation/feedback loop with the customer needs to be in the operational DNA of a brand. I admire Katrina and Stitch Fix so much because they understand that the future of fashion is in data/operations. I think the trend of “mass customization” (i.e., consumers demanding more choice rather than selecting set options) is going to uproot how clothes are sold, and Katrina saw this very early.

B+C: If you could tell aspiring creative women anything, what would it be?

LV: First, this is the golden age to be a female entrepreneur, particularly in e-commerce. There are so many pain points women face and still so many secrets to be discovered. The best thing Calley and I did before starting Anomalie was brainstorm ideas and pain points every night at dinner for about a year. We went through many bad ideas, but eventually came up with the idea for Anomalie after I found the workshops in China. If you have a physical product idea, don’t worry about investors early on: Make it as leanly as you can and try to sell it to your friends. If your friends pay money for it and tell other people to, you have a good business. This traction will be validation to you that you have something and helpful for fundraising. Investors see that there are massive markets where women have been experiencing inexplicable pain points for too long — from bras (Third Love), to home design (Houzz), to athletic apparel (Outdoor Voices), to makeup (Glossier), to retail (Stitch Fix).

What’s your dream career? Tweet us @BritandCo to let us know, and we could feature it in the next column!

PlantYou’s Food Hacks Can Save You Over $1K On Groceries

It's no secret that groceries feel more expensive than ever right now, and compounded by the fact the average American home throws away 322 cups of food a year, I'm determined to use up every bit of the food, sauces, and other cooking basics I buy. That's how I found Carleigh Bodrug. Her PlantYou page, and her Scrappy Cooking series (plus her new cookbook!), makes creating delicious recipes easier, and more fun, than ever.

What is scrappy cooking?

Image via SB Creative Studio

"Scrappy Cooking is the concept of transforming the world’s most commonly wasted foods into delicious recipes — and starting is as easy as chopping up a broccoli stem into a stir-fry," she tells me over email. "Seriously, it doesn’t have to be complicated. Look at the plants you have that you bring into your home every week, and see if there are ways to repurpose them."

With the help of Carleigh's Instagram page, I turned some broccoli stems into French fries and used up the last of my peanut butter for a noodle salad sauce. If you want to turn your groceries into a one-of-a-kind meal but aren't sure where to start, Carleigh recommends looking at every single aspect of the plant.

"Whenever I bring a plant into my home, I think about what part of the plant is discarded, and then I research whether or not it’s safe to consume (this part is important)!" she says. "Once I identify it’s edible, that’s where the fun begins. A great example of this is something like celery, which I buy often. I was discarding the celery leaves for years, only to find out they taste almost exactly like parsley and make a great base for a tabouleh style salad."

Is PlantYou vegan?

Image via SB Creative Studio

Yes, a lot of PlantYou's recipes are vegan, and they're all plant-based! Some of Carleigh's favorite recipes include mocha chocolate granola with spent coffee grounds, "chips" made out of beet greens, and pickle juice as a marinade (which is something I learned Chick-Fil-A does!). These recipes might sound intimidating or time-consuming, but that's exactly why Carleigh's PlantYou social media exists.

I can speak from experience that the videos are easy to both understand and put into practice. (Plus, the recipes are super versatile, because "when you’re cooking with just plants, if you screw something up, you can almost always fix it!"). But there are a few steps that always make these scrappy processes easier.

"The low hanging fruit to reducing food waste in your kitchen actually starts before you grocery shop," Carleigh says. "I always recommend people sit down for an hour one day a week, and make a really basic meal plan, outlining what they plan to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Then, before they head to the store, shop their fridge and pantry to avoid duplicate buying. Now it’s time to compile a shopping list, and only buy what you have a plan for! Done right, this will take care of 80 percent of your food waste."

What can I buy to save money on food?

Image via SB Creative Studio

In addition to meal prepping (check out our favorite apps to reduce food waste, too!), the PlantYou chef + author recommends having a few recipes that use up a bunch of ingredients in one go. "It’s really important to lean on staple recipes that allow you to 'clean out the fridge,' which is really what my new Scrappy cookbook is about," Carleigh Bodrug says. "I wanted to arm people with great base recipes (like stews, curries and stir fries), where they can interchange the vegetables and produce items they have on hand every week to reduce waste and save money."

"By using up leftovers, repurposing ingredients, and being more mindful about the food you’re bringing into your home, you'll notice a decrease in your grocery bill," she continues. "The average American family of four wastes over $1700 worth of groceries per year — which is like a phone bill every month! Not only does being Scrappy benefit your wallet, but it also feels great knowing you're making healthier choices and contributing to a more sustainable planet."

Okay, so you know what you want to eat, and you've budgeted for groceries, what now? "I look for ingredients that are versatile and can be used in multiple recipes to minimize waste," Carleigh says. "Quality, longevity, and sustainability are key factors in my purchasing decisions."

What is the proper way to store food?

Image via B+C

After you've whipped up recipes like the Fiesta Fries below, it's important to store them properly to ensure they're fresh for as long as possible. "Use quality food storage and meal prep containers, and keep fruits and vegetables separate to prevent them from spoiling," Carleigh tells me. "Different types of food will require different conditions for optimum long-term storage. This applies to fresh produce, as well as dry and canned foods."

We all have days we don't want to cook (PlantYou's Carleigh Bodrug included), which is the perfect opportunity to support a local business. "On days when I don't feel like cooking, I usually rely on quick and easy options like smoothie bombs from my freezer, which are in my new cookbook," she says. "I also often have homemade soup ready to go that I’ve made in advance or have frozen in the freezer. Sometimes, my husband and I opt for ordering in from local restaurants in our small town in Ontario, especially on Friday nights after a long work week. It's a convenient way to support our favorite vegan small businesses while enjoying a hassle-free meal."

PlantYou's Fiesta Fries — Delicious Loaded Fries You Can Make Today!

Image via SB Creative Studio

Ingredients:

  • 6 medium-size Yukon Gold potatoes, sliced to desired size, around 1/2 to 3/4 inch recommended
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 2 cups Vegan Ground Beef or your favorite vegan ground beef substitute
  • 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, pinto beans, or red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 yellow or red onion, diced
  • 1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons water or extra-virgin olive oil

Suggested Toppings:

  • 1 tomato, diced
  • 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and diced Handful of fresh cilantro (optional)
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 1/2 cup Sunflower Cream Sauce

Instructions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F, and line a baking sheet with a reusable baking mat or parchment paper.
  2. In a bowl, combine the sliced potatoes with the garlic powder and salt and toss until coated.
  3. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and roast for 35 minutes, or until crispy, flipping halfway through.
  4. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, combine the ground “beef” with the black beans, onion, red bell pepper, garlic, cumin, chili powder, and the water. Sauté over medium heat for 5 minutes, or until the onion starts to turn translucent.
  5. Assemble on a serving platter with the fries on the bottom, topped with the ground beef mixture and your desired toppings.

Excerpted from PlantYou: Scrappy Cooking: 140+ Plant-Based Zero-Waste Recipes That Are Good for You, Your Wallet, and the Planet by Carleigh Bodrug. Copyright © 2024. Available from Hachette Go, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

Carleigh Bodrug is the CEO and Founder of PlantYou, a New York Times Bestselling cookbook author and self-taught plant-based chef, famous for her simple take on low-waste and vegan recipes. Boasting over ten million followers between her social channels, Carleigh has gripped social media with her simple and delicious low-waste recipes that make plants the star of the show.

Her latest book, PlantYou: Scrappy Cooking: 140+ Plant-Based Zero-Waste Recipes That Are Good for You, Your Wallet, and the Planet, is out NOW!

Check out our Weekend Scroll for more delicious recipes!

Brit + Co. may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

Lead image via SB Creative Studio

sustainabilitymoneyrecipesinterviewfood

Kelly Bishop Is Emily Gilmore IRL, According To Lauren Graham

Lorelai Gilmore might be one of our favorite TV moms, but there's another mother in the Gilmore Girls universe that always makes the list: Kelly Bishop's Emily Gilmore! At first glance during the pilot, the character appears a little intimidating, but the more we get to know her, it's clear that she's caring and lovable (just like Paris Geller, TBH). And, with the right encouragement, she's a lot of fun — just like Kelly Bishop herself!


Who is Emily Gilmore in real life?

Image via Netflix

While promoting her new book Have I Told You This Already?, Lauren Graham gushes about actress Kelly Bishop (who you might also recognize from projects like Dirty Dancing, Bunheads, and even The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel). Lauren says she's "so disciplined and so prepared and never, ever complains."

"Once in a while if we were working until, like, two in the morning or something, she'd get a little glimmer in her eye and she'd be like, 'Do you want to split a bag of Cheetos?'" Lauren jokes. Stars Hollow feels like our home every time we do a Gilmore Girls rewatch, so it only makes sense that the cast of Gilmore Girls would feel that kind of camaraderie and family environment on set.

"I'd tell her some story of some date I had [and] she'd be like, 'He sounds awful! Drop him,'" Lauren says. "She's always telling me how young I am, which is so fun, and she's like, 'Oh you have so much time,' and she's just lived this wonderful life and just loves me, and is so kind to me."

How is Emily Gilmore described?

Image via Netflix

Similar to Emily Gilmore, Kelly Bishop has a fiery spirit I just love to see, but she also has a heart of gold. From Gilmore Girls season 1 all the way to Gilmore Girls season 7 and A Year In The Life, Emily's love for Lorelai and Rory, as well as her husband Richard, unfolds in a really beautiful way. And behind the scenes, Lauren Graham says Kelly Bishop's the kind of mentor and mother figure we could all use sometimes.

"She doesn't have biological children and she always says, 'I'm your TV mom,'" Lauren continues. "[When we text], she signs TVM and I'm TVD, and we've just been really special people for each other."

Did Emily Gilmore go to Yale?

Image via Netflix

Emily Gilmore went to Smith College, which is located in Northampton, Massachusetts, and majored in History.

Do Richard and Emily Gilmore divorce?

Image via Netflix

No, Richard and Emily Gilmore don't get divorced in Gilmore Girls. While they do separate for a bit, they come back together and end up renewing their vows.

What happened to Emily Gilmore?

Image via Netflix

In A Year In The Life, Richard Gilmore has passed away (due to the real-life passing of actor Edward Herrmann), and Emily Gilmore is learning what life looks like without him. While this is especially heartbreaking (considering in season 1, Emily tells Richard he's not allowed to go first. Pain!!), Emily does learn about friendship and independence in a new way — and she always has Lorelai and Rory, of course.

Who's your favorite character from Gilmore Girls? I simple cannot get enough about Emily Gilmore, and hopefully we'll see more in A Year In The Life season 2 ;).

Lead image via Netflix

pop cultureentertainmentgilmore girlscelebritytv

8 Stunning Abercrombie Wedding Guest Dresses To Get You Through The Busy Season

I still remember the days when I'd walk (albeit, hesitantly) into Abercrombie & Fitch – at my local mall no less, gasp! – and be enveloped by a dense, dark cloud of their signature musk. Now, the A&F styles of my youth are being re-sold on eBay as 'vintage' items. Eek!

The fashion powerhouse went through a massive rebrand in 2021, and turns out, I'm still obsessed with the mall brand that ruled my teen years. Abercrombie & Fitch still sells all the basics (tees, tanks, jeans, and more), but what's really been living rent-free in my head is their wedding guest dresses! There are so many styles to explore, which come at an especially great time since wedding season's about to get real busy.

These 8 Abercrombie wedding guest dresses are all you need to pull a look at this year's ceremonies. With more mature silhouettes, flattering colors, and a variety of sizes to suit everyone, there's a perfect Abercrombie wedding guest dress waiting for you below!

Draped Skirt Maxi Dress

This figure-hugging (but still stretchy) maxi dress features a flattering cinched detail along the waistline that falls down into a long straight skirt with a tall slit. The high boat neckline is more modest, but the back opens up, allowing you to show some skin.

The open back on this satin dress secures with a dainty bow tie that evens out the entire look! Not to mention, this butter yellow color is super trendy right now (and very fit for summertime), so you'll be absolutely slaying as a guest at the next wedding you go to.

This Draped Skirt Maxi Dress goes for $130 and is shoppable in 5 other colors in regular, petite, and tall sizes.

The A&F Giselle Pleated One-Shoulder Maxi Dress

Give 'em some shoulder with this elegant maxi! The satin material is finely pleated throughout, leading directly to the heightened waistline that shapes and cinches you in the best way. This luxe-looking dress doesn't feature any stretchiness or adjustable straps, though customers say it accurately fits true to size. It secures with a discreet zipper on the side.

This Abercrombie & Fitch wedding guest dress is $150 and shoppable in 5 other colors and regular, petite, and tall sizes.

Angel Sleeve O-Ring Gown

This serene green gown comes ready to wear in a smooth satin fabric, which is fairly breathable for the warmer months. The maxi-length hemline falls around the ankles and juts up to form a flirty leg slit. While the bottom half of this wedding guest dress is reminiscent of your typical maxi style, the top has all things fun goin' on. Flutter sleeves and a cheeky o-ring neckline make for the perfect picture-taking and post-ceremony dancing dress!

The Angel Sleeve O-Ring Gown costs $140. You can also snag it in a blue hue in regular, petite, and tall sizes.

The A&F Giselle Pleat Release Midi Dress

Since pleats are an instant giveaway to more elevated styles, it's no wonder most of the Abercrombie wedding guest dresses feature them. This strapless midi design (also comes with removable spaghetti straps) is pleated all over and partners up with an adorable contrasting floral pattern for added visual interest. The straight neckline hugs your bodice with a flexible stretch.

This Giselle Pleat Release Midi Dress costs $130 and is shoppable in 3 other colors and regular, petite, and tall sizes.

One-Shoulder Asymmetrical Hem Midi Dress

A solid navy blue can do no wrong, IMO. This midi boasts an asymmetrical hemline that's anything but bland! It's crafted from a "sculpting stretch-enhanced crepe fabric" that'll hug you in comfortably. The tiered design is definitely more fitted up top, while the bottom half swings freely. This pick is an easy one-and-done type of style, as it's free of any adjustable straps, ties, or zippers.

The One-Shoulder Asymmetrical Hem Midi Dress is also shoppable in black for $130 in regular, petite, and tall sizes.

Ruffle Strap High-Low Maxi Dress

Bury me in this ruffle dress! It has me wanting to bring back the high-low look in full force this year. This wedding guest dress has ruffles galore – on the straps and along the waist and bottom hem. The wrap-around bodice is super flatting and a bit more revealing with a classy v-neck shape. The drop waist detail mirrors the asymmetrical length of the skirt, elongating your midsection. This chiffon dress secures in the back with a thin zipper.

The Ruffle Strap High-Low Maxi Dress clocks in at $130, and you can shop it in 3 other colors in regular, petite, and tall sizes.

Drama Bow-Back Taffeta Gown

For a more casual wedding guest ensemble, this flowy frock is my #1 pick. It's less fitted than other Abercrombie wedding guest dresses, featuring a babydoll silhouette that hugs the chest more than the belly. This way, you'll have ample room to breathe during the big day! Though less structured, the cinching along each tier of this maxi brings forth the drama – plus there's an adorable bow in the back.

The Drama Bow-Back Taffeta Gown goes for $150 and is available in 3 other colors in regular, petite, and tall sizes.

Taffeta Off-The-Shoulder Midi Dress

The stretchy taffeta fabric this midi's made from hosts a nice, shiny finish for taking your look to the next level. The structured bodice is brought up to an off-the-shoulder neckline with elegant puff sleeves that don't feel too overdone. The straight skirt boasts an equally elegant leg slit that hits around the top of the thigh.

The Taffeta Off-The-Shoulder Midi Dress is also shoppable in a bright magenta color for $130 and regular, petite, and tall sizes.

Sign up for our newsletter to shop more seasonal styles!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

fashiondressesabercrombie & fitchwedding stylewedding guestwedding guest dressesshoppingstyle

Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell Totally Tricked Us During Anyone But You Press Run

Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell's rom-com movie is full of fun, color, and lots of behind-the-scenes gossip, courtesy of the co-stars' undeniable flirty chemistry both on and off-screen. Described most popularly as "steamy," here's everything you need to know about Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell's Anyone But You — plus all the 2024 movies to add to your list this year!

Here's everything we know about Anyone But You:

Where can I stream Anyone But You in 2024?

Image via Eddy Chen/Sony Pictures

Following its theatrical release, you can stream Anyone But You on Netflix starting April 23, 2024.

What are all the Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell rumors?

Image via Sydney Sweeney/Instagram

Sweeney calmly set the record straight in regards to the aforementioned gossip and those Glen Powell rumors. In an interview with Variety, she clarified what their relationship is actually like.

“It’s a rom-com,” she says in the interview. “That’s what people want! Glen and I don’t really care. We have so much fun together, and we respect each other so much; he’s such a hard worker, and I’m a hard worker. We’re excited for the press tour, and I literally just left ADR with him. We talk all the time like, ‘That’s really funny.’”

Glen also jcleared up rumors of the alleged romantic connection in his interview with Men's Health. “When all that stuff happened, you know, publicly, it felt disorienting and unfair," he says. "But what I’m realizing is that’s just a part of this gig now.”

He went on to prove that he takes the idea of being an actor — and more importantly, a friend — really seriously, saying “the definition of a movie star is somebody you want to grab a beer with, and when you get too drunk and leave the bar, you can trust him with your wife."

Sydney Sweeney also talked about the rumors during her SNL monologue on March 2. "Me and my fiancé produced the movie together and he was there the entire shoot," she says. "And I just want to let everyone know that he's the man of my dreams and we're still together and stronger than ever."

When she asks the camera to cut to her fiancé, Jonathan Davino, they cut to Glen Powell, who made a surprise appearance during the episode!

If that wasn't enough, Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell embraced the rumors in order to market Anyone But You. During an interview with the New York Times, Sydney said it was all a part of their plan. "I wanted to make sure that we were actively having a conversation with the audience as we were promoting this film...Because at the end of the day, they’re the ones who created the entire narrative," she admitted.

This was a hilarious way to get viewers talking, and not take them too seriously, and I'm obsessed!

Is there an Anyone But You 2?

Image via Sony Pictures

"I'm just so thankful that everybody is loving [Anyone But You]...a little love, a little romance," Sydney Sweeney tells Jimmy Fallon. When Jimmy asks whether fans will get a sequel, Sydney teases "a high nine chance."

Glen Powell also confirmed the duo is trying to work together again! “Sydney is so easy to work with and so fun," he tells Variety. "We’re definitely trying to find the next thing. Please send us all the scripts you got...We’re reading everything and just trying to see what makes sense, what we can turn into something that audiences are going to respond to.”

What is the plot of the movie Anyone But You?

Image via Sony Pictures

Anyone But You follows two people whose hatred towards one another turns into love during a destination wedding, which is full of humorous hijinks. The movie serves as an homage to throwback romantic comedies like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and The Proposal. "[It's like] that early-2000s big blockbuster that people love to go to that made you feel good,” Sweeney told Variety.

When is the Anyone But You release date?

Image via Sony Pictures

Anyone But You premiered in theaters on December 22, 2023. It was one of our most anticipated winter movies! You can buy the film on Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime now.

Is the spider in Anyone But You real?

Image via Sony Pictures

Yes, the spider in Anyone But You is definitely real, and it actually bit Sydney when they were filming! In the clip she brings to The Tonight Show, you can hear the shift in her voice when she realizes she's in pain...and then tries to tell everyone on set she's not acting anymore.

How else was Sydney Sweeney involved in Anyone But You?

Image via Sony Pictures

Sydney is way more than just a blockbuster actress. Anyone But You is truly her baby, having developed the spec script (a non-commissioned and unsolicited screenplay, usually written by a screenwriter who hopes to have the script purchased) over the course of a year with screenwriter Ilana Wolpert (of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series) and Jeff Kirschenbaum (of The Gray Man), before hiring Glen Powell as her love interest and Will Gluck (of the cult-classic Easy A) as the film's director.

“She never left set,” Will tells Variety. “Never went to her trailer. She’s so blazingly smart, and she’s such a quick study, and she’s not afraid to ask questions. Her other superpower is that she doesn’t sleep. Two hours every night.”

According to Gluck, Sydney also acted as a “camp counselor" on set in Australia, scheduling group activities like an outing to the Sydney Opera House and a double-decker bus tour. Can we join this group on their next group hang?!

Watch The First Teaser For "Anyone But You"

Image via Sony Pictures

"In the edgy comedy Anyone But You, Bea (Sydney Sweeney) and Ben (Glen Powell) look like the perfect couple, but after an amazing first date something happens that turns their fiery hot attraction ice cold – until they find themselves unexpectedly thrust together at a destination wedding in Australia," the caption for the official movie trailer reads. "So they do what any two mature adults would do: pretend to be a couple." A classic trope! And we're here for it! Watch the first Anyone But You trailer here.

Watch The Official "Anyone But You" Trailer

Image via Sony Pictures

The second trailer builds on the chemistry we saw in the first teaser, and it looks just as steamy, hilarious, and romantic as we hoped. Not only do Bea and Ben have to convince their families they're interested in each other, but they have to convince their exes too?! Yeah..that's going to be tough. My favorite part of the trailer is when Bea falls off the boat and Ben dives in to help her — it's giving The Proposal!

We love seeing their chemistry play out on the big screen. You can also get your Sweeney x Powell fill with plenty of Euphoria and Top Gun: Maverick.

Stay updated on all the latest entertainment news with Brit + Co, and check back here for the latest news on Anyone But You!

This post has been updated.

filmcelebritiescelebrity couplesentertainmentpop culturemovies

Can't Figure Out What To Watch? Try These Top 5 Trending Shows!

While I have plenty of comfort shows and Bravo to binge, I like to stay in-the-know about trending shows that are new and exciting! But with a plethora apps and platforms to pick from, it feels like there are just too many shows to flip through at the end of the day. Sure, I've found (and loved) shows like Shogun and The Girls On The Bus lately, but those are few and far between more and more. So now instead of doing the great app shuffle, I've rounded up the top five trending shows across the country to add to my watch list. Check 'em out!

Trending Shows To Watch Right Now

Photo by Philippe Antonello/NETFLIX

Ripley

Where To Watch: Netflix

When It Airs: All episodes out now

In case you didn't know, it's the Dakota-ssance and we're just living in it. While we're all eagerly awaiting her new movie The Watchers, she and Andrew Scott teamed up in this new Netflix show based on The Talented Mr. Ripley. If you can't tell by the black-and-white aesthetic, this show is artsy, dark, and so dang good. With all the episodes already out, why aren't you already binging it?!

Photo by Darko Sikman/Hulu

Under The Bridge

Where To Watch: Hulu

When It Airs: New episodes air on Wednesdays

Big fan of true crime over here, so I'm excited to add this trending show to my list. Riley Keough (Daisy Jones and the Six) and Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon) take on this thrilling drama that follows the murders of missing teens. As they get closer to unmasking the killer, you may be shocked to know who's behind it all.

Photo by Patrick McElhenney/Prime Video

The Baxters

Where To Watch: Amazon Prime Video

When It Airs: All 3 seasons out now

Sometimes you just need to sit down with a sitcom and have a good laugh. Starring Kathie Lee Gifford, Masey McLain, Brandon Hirsch, Ted McGinley, and more this show follows the Baxter family as they take on life together. From family troubles to faith, this is definitely a feel-good show to put on!

Photo via Apple TV+

Sugar

Where To Watch: Apple TV+

When It Airs: New episodes debut on Fridays

Another one for the true crime girlies out there! Colin Farrell and Amy Ryan star in Sugar, a mind-bending show that follows an investigation of a missing girl, Olivia Siegel. As everything unfolds, shocking Siegel family details come out of the woodworks, leaving you wondering what's really going on here. If you've binged every doc and pod you can, this trending show is definitely for you!

Smiling Friends

Where To Watch: Sling TV (free), Hulu, Max, Amazon Prime Video

When It Airs: Season 2 premieres on May 12

Cartoon lovers, rejoice! This animated series is about a company "Smiling Faces Inc." whose sole job is exactly what you think it is — to make people happy. These goofy little characters learn, grow, and navigate life together as they try to bring more joy to the world. If you're an Adventure Time fan, I'm sure you'll love this!

For even more movie and TV recs, be sure to sign up for our weekly email newsletter!

Header image via

entertainmentpop cultureshowstv