Like many brides, actress Leah Pipes had some trouble narrowing down what style wedding gown she wanted for her upcoming nuptials to fiancé AJ Trauth.

“I was having a hard time finding the right dress, because I wanted a little bit of everything,” the star, who plays Cami on the CW show The Originals, tells PEOPLE. “I wanted funky. I wanted drama. I wanted modern. But I also wanted to look bridal.”

Courtesy Anne Barge

With her mixed vision, Pipes decided to go the custom route, teaming up with wedding dress designer Anne Barge, who created a unique A-line design (see the sketch above) featuring eye-catching beading and capped sleeves.

“I wanted a dress that I could have fun in,” she shares. “I felt like ivory lace was too serious for me. So I went with sparkle and chiffon. I think this dress captures all of those things beautifully. I couldn’t be happier.”

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Now that she has the dress box checked, Pipes, 26, says she’s really read to just let loose at the party.

“The goal of my wedding is for everyone to have fun,” she says. “Neither my fiancé nor I take ourselves too seriously and we want our wedding to reflect our lightheartedness. With that said, we’re having our wedding at an old classic hotel so my dress needed to be formal enough to fit into that venue, but not so formal it felt stuffy.”

And of course can’t wait to marry the person who “brings out the best” in her.

“I have spent a decade of my life dating,” she says. “I am thrilled about never going on another bad date for the rest of my life. I’m also so excited to learn and grow with the person I respect most in this world.”

What do you think of the TV star’s dress design? Share your thoughts below.

–Brittany Talarico, with reporting by Julie Jordan