Bride & Groom: Isabella & Stephen
Planning & Styling: Isabella!
Gown: Monique Lhuillier
Accessories: Keren Wolf Headband, Manolo Blahnik shoes and Cartier bracelet
Bridesmaids dresses: Bec & Bridge
Venue: Gardens House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne
Photography: Evia Zachariah
Videography: Film My Wedding
Floral: Lucie from Lulu Bird
How did you and your husband meet?
I was living in Sydney and had flown down for the weekend to celebrate the Melbourne Cup Carnival, and we met at Derby Day at Flemington!
How did he propose?
We had planned a staycation weekend at the Sofitel in Melbourne CBD, just before we were headed for dinner, he proposed in our suite! It was so lovely and private, exactly what I could have asked for – I hate a fuss and being around other people, so just being the two of us was so special. We didn’t tell anyone (including our parents!) for 24 hours so we could really soak it all in and enjoy the night just the two of us.
What was your vision for your wedding day?
We knew we wanted a wedding that was surrounded by gardens or greenery, given that many of our guests were flying in from other states; the Royal Botanic Gardens were perfect, being so close to the city! Once we had our venue, our vision was to be classic and timeless, with lots of personal touches and moments throughout to suit our beautiful venue.
Where did you look for your wedding inspiration?
Instagram! As a social media marketer, I spend most of my days on Instagram, so this was my natural inspiration tool – I looked at wedding planners and my vendor's pages to look for ideas that could suit our wedding.
What drew you to your gown from Helen Rodrigues Bridal?
When I first entered the boutique, Nicole suggested I walk around and pick a few dresses that immediately caught my eye. Remarkably, the very first dress I picked and tried on perfectly matched my vision and was the one I chose. Its classic silhouette and captivating off-the-shoulder neckline mirrored exactly what I had imagined.
What was your wedding planning journey like for you? How far out did you start planning?
I absolutely loved wedding planning! We got engaged in February and were married by that December, so we had 9 and a bit months of planning; it was perfect as it allowed me to have the time I needed to organise everything but not too much time to procrastinate or stall on making a decision!
Working in marketing and previously doing some events, I felt like I could put all my skills to good use – I loved having a project and really enjoyed not having a wedding planner/stylist (apart from our incredible planner at Gardens House, Melissa who made everything so seamless on the day!) in the lead up as it allowed us to really create and bring our own vision to life.
What was the biggest decision you had to make?
The venue! That felt like the most crucial and biggest wedding decision; once we had that chosen, everything else seemed to fall into place – it is also the first major decision you make for a wedding, so when you are just starting this big process, it can feel a bit overwhelming.
What was the highlight of your wedding day for you?
Apart from marrying my best friend? Having all our family and friends there to celebrate us! We stopped and reflected on how amazing it was that we had over 170 people, over half of whom had travelled from interstate to celebrate our wedding – it was really special.
Is there anything you would do differently?
Nothing! We were so thrilled with how it all came together both in the lead-up and on the day – something we have to thank our incredible suppliers for. Melissa from Atlantic Group at Gardens House was a delight to work with and had our wedding run seamlessly – a time when I didn’t have time to do anything; she was there to check all the details and ensure we would be happy.
Is there any advice you would give other #HRBride’s?
My top three tips for HRBride’s would be –
1. Everyone will give you their advice (wanted or not!); whilst it’s great to listen and take on board where you want, at the end of the day, it is your wedding, and you have to stay true to what you and your partner would like for your special day
2. Stay true to your personal style with your dress, hair and makeup – you don’t want to look back in 10 years and regret trying a trending hairstyle or look that isn’t you!
3. Enjoy every minute of your wedding day because it truly does go so quickly, soak every minute in and if you can steal a few minutes with your partner, just the two of you, after the ceremony and before the reception starts – take it, it’s nice just to take a moment together and realise you are married!
I couldn’t have asked for a better bridal experience with Nicole and Helen from Helen Rodrigues; as an interstate bride, they made the process so easy and enjoyable. I did not visit another wedding dress shop or designer because I just knew my dream dress was at HR, and I was so happy with my initial consultation with Nicole. The alteration process was seamless, and they allowed me to get all fittings done in one visit from Melbourne, making it stress-free – all within a short 7-month period.