Exclusive: Behind the Scenes of Gabriela's Wedding Gown with 'Fire Country' Costume Designer

Fire Country Costume Designer Started With 22 Dresses for Gabriela s Wedding Inside the Finale Looks

Stephanie Arcila as Gabriela Perez. Sergei Bachlakov/CBS

Costume designer Sara Byblow faced a big challenge when it came to dressing the cast of Fire Country, especially for Gabriela's season 2 finale gown. Byblow was thrilled to work on a wedding scene, a rare opportunity in the show. She enjoyed involving everyone in the process and hearing their opinions. When styling Stephanie Arcila's character, Gabriela, for the wedding scene on May 17, Byblow went through 22 dress options before finding the perfect one that truly matched Gabriela's character.

During the exciting season 2 finale of Fire Country, viewers were on the edge of their seats as Gabriela got ready to marry Diego. Her ex-boyfriend Bode, who had just been released from prison, was also in attendance at the church. However, the episode ended with Bode walking out of the ceremony just before Gabriela was about to say "I do."

But amidst all the drama, one thing that really caught everyone's attention was Gabriela's stunning wedding dress.

Byblow described Gabriela as someone they wanted to keep simple and classic, yet still effortlessly stunning in a silk gown that accentuated her toned physique.

Scroll down for more insights into the wardrobe choices for Fire Country's season 2 finale, with exclusive behind-the-scenes details from the set.

If at First You Don’t Succeed, Try Again

Fire Country Costume Designer Started With 22 Dresses for Gabriela s Wedding Inside the Finale Looks

Stephanie Arcila plays the character Gabriela Perez in the show. She shared her experience of finding the perfect dress for the character with Us Weekly. According to Byblow, the process involved a lot of trying on different dresses until they found "The One" that everyone agreed on. It was a moment of excitement and satisfaction when they finally found the dress that felt just right. Stephanie and the team were all in agreement that they had found the perfect dress for Gabriela.

The costume designer noted that even Gabriela’s veil took “about eight different styles” before the team landed on one that was “so perfectly Gabriela.”

It’s All in the Details

Fire Country Costume Designer Started With 22 Dresses for Gabriela s Wedding Inside the Finale Looks

Kevin Alejandro as Manny Perez and Stephanie Arcila as Gabriela Perez. Sergei Bachlakov/CBS

During the final scene, Gabriela’s father, Manny (played by Kevin Alejandro), was on the run from the law after getting into a fight with Luke Leone (played by Michael Trucco). Despite this, he managed to make a quick appearance at his daughter's wedding to present her with a special family heirloom: his grandmother’s bracelet.

As the costume designer, Byblow, revealed, the bracelet was already a part of the script when they were choosing the wedding dress for Gabriela. This influenced the selection of other jewelry to complement the bracelet on her wedding day. The goal was to keep Gabriela's look simple and classic, without overdoing the jewelry.

The Flowers Were a Surprise to the Costume Department

The wardrobe department decided to leave the bride's neck bare, opting for drop pearl earrings instead. Byblow, the designer, felt that the focus should be on the bracelet to highlight Gabriela's humble background with simple accessories.

Fire Country Costume Designer Started With 22 Dresses for Gabriela s Wedding Inside the Finale Looks

Stephanie Arcila as Gabriela Perez. Sergei Bachlakov/CBS

Gabriela wore her hair in a low braid with small white roses tucked in the back. Byblow recalled that the hair team put the look together and Gabriela was obsessed with it. She thought the roses were stunning and it was her way of going the extra mile without fancy jewelry.

Gabriela’s Turmoil Over Bode Influenced Her Gown

Do Fire Country s Max Stephanie Think Gabriela Married Diego or Chose Bode

Stephanie Arcila as Gabriela Perez and Max Thieriot as Bode Donovan. Bettina Strauss/CBS

Byblow suggests that Gabriela felt conflicted about marrying Diego after kissing Bode, causing chaos on her wedding day. She struggled with her emotions and tried to make sense of her feelings while on the campaign trail. Due to the emotional turmoil she was experiencing with her father, the costume team decided to keep her wedding attire simple to help alleviate the confusion and overwhelming emotions she was feeling.

Byblow added, “I think just like having the wedding be her trying to make it a simple thing versus just like this confusing ordeal that it was.”

Bode’s Somber Mood Matched His Ensemble

Fire Country Costume Designer Started With 22 Dresses for Gabriela s Wedding Inside the Finale Looks

Max Thieriot as Bode Leone. Sergei Bachlakov/CBS

Bode was finally released from Three Rock’s convict camp during the finale of season 2. However, upon seeing his former girlfriend, Gabriela, getting married to another man, he struggled to process his emotions. This influenced his choice of attire for the wedding - a black suit jacket and gray slacks.

Byblow, the costume designer, shared that he wanted Bode to stand out from the crowd. He made sure Bode wore cowboy boots to add a unique touch to his outfit. Byblow mentioned that there was still a sense of sadness in Bode, so they decided to keep his look dark and slightly somber in terms of color tones.

Once a Firefighter, Always a Firefighter

Fire Country Costume Designer Started With 22 Dresses for Gabriela s Wedding Inside the Finale Looks

During the season 2 finale, the focus was on Gabriela and Bode's bond, as well as Gabriela's wedding. However, this wasn't the first time viewers saw the characters dressed up. In episode eight, which aired in May, Byblow had the opportunity to showcase the stars' personal styles outside of the firehouse.

Diane Farr portrayed Sharon Leone in the show. The picture shows her in character.

"I believe that deep inside, they all have a passion for firefighting and fire running through their veins. That was a big inspiration for the gala outfits, with each one incorporating colors representing flames. We also made sure to include small details that stayed true to their individual characters."

Fire Country Costume Designer Started With 22 Dresses for Gabriela s Wedding Inside the Finale Looks

Jules Latimer played the role of Eve Edwards, while Kevin Alejandro portrayed Manny Perez in the show. In a scene, Byblow remembered Eve wearing a rusty orange jacket. She chose this color to blend in and show her support for the inmates at Three Rock, who always wore orange uniforms.

Orange You Glad You Don’t Have to Wear It?

When it came to Vince (Billy Burke), his style was always laid back and casual. This meant that he didn't have any proper cuffs on his outfit. Instead, we opted for a super loose wide sleeve with a slit down the side. Additionally, Manny's Latin heritage was reflected in his wardrobe, particularly with his oversized dress pants that resembled Latin salsa dance pants.

Fire Country Costume Designer Started With 22 Dresses for Gabriela s Wedding Inside the Finale Looks

Max Thieriot as Bode Leone and Jordan Calloway as Jake Crawford. Sergei Bachlakov/CBS

In seasons 1 and 2 of Fire Country, Bode and his prison friends sported bright orange shirts and pants. This same color scheme was also seen in the firefighter gear in some episodes. Byblow mentioned that she had to buy yellow uniforms and then dye them to achieve the correct shade.

According to Byblow, the uniforms undergo a thorough process to give them a worn and well-loved appearance, making them look as if they have been through a fire. The inmate con Camp uniforms originally come in a neon orange shade, which is then stripped of its dye and recolored to the desired tone.

The Biggest Challenge Is the Canadian Weather

Fire Country Costume Designer Started With 22 Dresses for Gabriela s Wedding Inside the Finale Looks

Filming for the show involves shooting on location in Vancouver, Canada. According to Byblow, this is the most challenging aspect of the production. They film in deep forests where most of the scenes take place. The weather in Vancouver is also a challenge, with rain occurring 90 percent of the time.

The costumes endure a lot of wear and tear due to the constant movement of the actors. According to Byblow, the actors carry heavy weight on their backs and are always near fire, making it a challenge to keep them warm, dry, and safe amidst the flames.

To address these challenges, Byblow shared that she has various tricks up her sleeve to outfit the actors for their fiery and dirty scenes in the wilderness. She mentioned that each cast member has a personalized wetsuit and a custom-made Gore-Tex suit to protect them from the elements.

The process is “fun” for the designer and her squad, according to Byblow. “It keeps our minds going [to] try to be creative,” she added.

Editor's P/S:

The article provides a comprehensive look into the costume design behind the season 2 finale of "Fire Country." Costume designer Sara Byblow faced the challenge of finding the perfect wedding dress for Gabriela, a character who exudes simplicity and elegance. Through a meticulous process involving numerous dress options, the team finally settled on a silk gown that accentuated Gabriela's physique and reflected her humble background.

Beyond Gabriela's wedding attire, the article also delves into the wardrobe choices of other characters, including Bode, Manny, and the firefighters. Each character's outfit was carefully crafted to convey their emotions and personal styles. For example, Bode's somber black suit and gray slacks reflected his mixed feelings about Gabriela's marriage, while Manny's oversized dress pants hinted at his Latin heritage. The article highlights the attention to detail that went into every aspect of the costumes, from the delicate jewelry to the purposeful color choices.