Fashion design alumni Ruchi Ladd ’24 and Terrence Bridges ’23 remember the first time they met—over Zoom in a figure drawing class. “Not to sound too cliché, but it was love at first sight,” they recall.
The couple got married last year, with many of their Jefferson classmates in attendance. Below, Ruchi and Terrence share details on the fashion-forward wedding, their careers today and how the University has played such a special part in their lives.
When did you realize this was more than a “studio partnership”?
Terrence: We had an infamous moment when I lost part of a project right before the presentation. Ruchi dropped all her plans to help me find it. She knew about those fashion deadlines!
Ruchi: From there, the more we hung out outside of class and learned about each other, the more we realized we had a connection far deeper than just the studio.
A Match Made in the Jefferson Studio
Two fashion design alumni tied the knot last year.
Fashion design alumni Ruchi Ladd and Terrence Bridges invited many of their university friends to the wedding, making it a true Jefferson affair.
Terrence Bridges and Ruchi Ladd said seeing each other’s collection on the fashion show runway became a favorite Jefferson memory.
How did fashion show up in your relationship as students?
Terrence: Feedback and advice through experience became the biggest things for us.
Ruchi: We both understood each other’s worlds and could give encouragement, support and direct feedback in a more personal and meaningful way.
Tell us about your wedding style.
Terrence: Our wedding featured a fancy, fall-forward theme. We gave our guests a color palette that ranged from rustic browns and oranges to slate blues and dark grays. It was fun to see our guests interpret the theme and palette in their own unique way.
Ruchi: We didn’t design any of the looks, but we did enjoy styling and planning the outfits for ourselves and the bridal party. My bridesmaids wore rustic orange dresses, each with its own variations in design and fabric. Terrence’s groomsmen wore a uniform navy-blue tux with rustic orange ties to match the bridesmaids.
Terrence: A major highlight of the night was Ruchi’s second look, where she switched to a two-piece traditional Indian garb.
Was there a detail at your wedding that felt especially meaningful as fashion alumni?
Terrence: We invited many of our Jefferson friends to be guests and part of the bridal party. It was meaningful to look back on our time as fashion students and see the strong community we fostered.
Ruchi: Now, we have lifelong friends that we could share this important life moment with.
How has your shared creative background shaped your life together so far?
Terrence: Working together as a creative couple has been amazing. Ruchi has been a great addition to make my clothing brand, TRTL Collective, bigger and better. We have a major project coming up this year and love working on it together.
Ruchi: We have slightly different creative interests. For Terrence, it’s design- and storytelling-driven, and I’m more styling- and brand-marketing-focused. This makes the creative process much more fun and efficient, as we can make something greater together than we could alone.
“Now, we have lifelong friends that we could share this important life moment with,” says Ruchi Ladd (center), with fellow alumni Trevon Hall and Brianna Barry-Petgoup at her wedding.
What’s one thing you learned about each other during your time at Jefferson that still rings true today?
Terrence: Ruchi is super passionate about helping others. At Jefferson, she founded the Jefferson Christian Cornerstone club to bring together like-minded students and provide a space for them to grow their faith and community. Ruchi’s heart for others is just as evident now as it was then. She always makes those around her feel important and appreciated, whether at work, church or just a passerby on the street!
Ruchi: Throughout my time at Jefferson, I learned that Terrence is hardworking and truly lights up every room he’s in. His motivation and creativity truly inspire me. When we met, Terrence was just starting to make TRTL come to life. Every day, I could see the passion he put into this brand. With the help of Jefferson fashion classes and faculty, he presented at many pop-up shops and even Philly Fashion Week. Today, he carries himself and his brand with confidence as he continues to navigate the fashion industry and world at large.
What’s your favorite shared memory on campus?
Terrence: Attending each other’s senior fashion shows and seeing the collections created from start to finish. We officially started dating right at the beginning of my collection process, so going through mine and then helping Ruchi go through hers became a big part of our relationship.
Ruchi: The fashion shows were super meaningful and allowed us to celebrate our hard work.
What’s one word to describe your life together now?
Inspiring.