Bride & Groom: Sophia and Ben
Gown: Lee Petra Grebenau Taylor
Accessories: Veil – Peter Langner Pearl Veil + Jennifer Behr Pearl Pins
Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Bridesmaids dresses: Bec + Bridge
Venue: St Josephs College Hunters Hill (church) and Doltone House Jones Bay Wharf (Reception)
Photography: Salt Atelier
Videography: Salt Atelier
Floral: Sydney Wedding Flowers (florals and styling)
Cake: Something Blue Wedding Cakes
Cars: Roll Up In A Rolls
MC: Joseph Dimento
How did you and your husband meet?
Ben and I met just after high school through mutual friends. The first time we met was at a party where we chatted for a while but left things there. It wasn’t until a few months later where we bumped into each other at the shops and things kicked off from there.
How did he propose?
Ben organised the whole thing which was so sweet! He got my friends and our family involved so that everyone was on board. He had a gorgeous set up down at McMahons Point where he proposed. My friends had organised to go for lunch with me that day, so I was unsuspecting of the proposal. I believed Ben was at his usual Saturday soccer game at the time and when I arrived to McMahon’s Point he was there, amongst the beautiful set up, waiting for my arrival. We celebrated with our family and closest friends afterwards and had a gorgeous lunch at Catalina in Rose Bay.
What was your vision for your wedding day?
Classic and elegant. I wanted all of the elements to be classic and timeless – particularly my gown. I wanted to be able to look back in 10 years and still be in awe of every detail, which I am confident that I will be.
Where did you look for your wedding inspiration?
I had some ideas in mind already, however, my Instagram account was flooded with wedding content from the moment I got engaged!
What drew you to your gown from Helen Rodrigues Bridal?
The amazing material. The hand-beaded gown caught my eye instantly. Surprisingly, it was the last gown I tried on, but I immediately knew that it was going to be the gown for me.
What was your wedding planning journey like for you? How far out did you start planning?
I started planning immediately after we got engaged. We had booked in the date and locked in the venue a couple of weeks after our engagement. The whole process was super exciting for us, and I managed to keep quite organised throughout the process which reduced a lot of the stress.
What was the biggest decision you had to make?
The biggest decision was definitely my gown!! I wanted it to be absolutely perfect – and it was! I remember being in awe of my gown every time I came to Helen for a fitting. I had also kept my gown a surprise from all of my friends and family – including my bridesmaids and maid of honour. This was so hard to do but it was absolutely worth it! We did a big reveal on the day which was so special.
What was the highlight of your wedding day for you?
The most memorable moment was walking down the aisle. Seeing Ben for the first time at the end of the aisle was such an emotional moment. Also, having my dad walk me down the aisle was so special to me. It was definitely the moment with the most anticipation and the biggest highlight of the day. I felt so beautiful walking down the aisle in my gown and having all the most important people in my life seeing me for the first time on the most important day of my life.
Is there anything you would do differently?
Definitely not! No regrets!
Is there any advice you would give other #HRBride’s?
Enjoy the process and enjoy the moment! Helen has the most amazing gowns and she made the process so seamless and stress free! During some of the stressful moments of wedding planning, you sometimes wish for time to move quicker. However, now that the day has come and gone, I wish I could go back and enjoy those moments again because it’s something you only get to experience once. The process leading up to the wedding is just as exciting as the day itself! Everybody tells you that your wedding day is going to be the best day of your life, and they are absolutely right! Soak it all in because it will truly be the best day of your life!
I could not speak higher for Helen and Nicole at Helen Rodrigues Bridal. They were incredible and patient when helping me choose my dream gown. All the gowns are of exceptional quality and are absolutely stunning. I was able to take my time in the initial appointments to ensure I was certain with all my decision. Every appointment was easy and stress free. Helen made every interaction so personal, and it was very clear that she wants every one of her brides to have the ultimate bridal experience and feel their very best on their wedding day. I couldn’t imagine going through this process without Helen and I can’t recommend her highly enough!