HR Real Bride Krystel wearing 'Florence' by Lee Grebenau

Bride & Groom: Krystel & Luke
Gown: Lee Grebenau ‘Florence’ gown from Helen Rodrigues Bridal
Photography: The Pepper June Film Company
Planning & Styling: Ginger & Floss (Belle Retallick)
Venue: Holy Catholic Church Kincumber & Bells at Killcare
Accessories: HR Bridal Accessories - HR Holly veil
Florals: Flowers by Nicola
Hair & Make-up: Gemma Nichols Hair & Make Up
Music: The Kahuna Duo

How did you and your husband meet?

Our first date was at Huberts in Sydney CBD. A fancy, underground French restaurant, with live music. We went one-for-one beers and ended up having a really fun night out. I did think there was something special about Luke, and I’m pretty sure it was love at first sight for him (wink wink). The rest is history.

How did he propose?

Luke is from the Central Coast and we had spent a lot of time up there visiting different spots where he grew up. Our favourite spot is the secluded Maitland Bay, where we had made many trips to for beach days in the summertime.

Naturally this became ‘our spot’ and that’s where Luke proposed. It’s a bit of a hike down to the beach items, so must have been a very nervous walk down for Luke. We got up early that morning to ‘go for a walk’ but I had no idea what was about to unfold. Like we usually would, we walked down the beach, and when we got down the end to turn around, he got down on one knee. It was very romantic.

We Faced Timed my family back in NZ and celebrated on the beach with champagne.

What was your vision for your wedding day?

Classic, sophisticated, floral and fun. We didn’t get to have the big wedding we’d originally planned - but what we ended up with was perfect. A smaller 40 ppl wedding, with our closest family and the bridal parties only. Getting married in a church was important to Luke and I.

Where did you look for your wedding inspiration?

Online, friends weddings, and my best friend Jo was amazing with all her Pinterest boards and scrapbooking. We’d been waiting to plan this wedding for a while you see!!

What drew you to your gown from Helen Rodrigues Bridal?

I’d heard amazing things about Helen Rodrigues. And I remember walking into the boutique, meeting Helen and saying, “I don’t want anything sparkly”. I picked a few dresses, popped them on and was kind of feeling the vibe. Helen encouraged me to try a very sparkly Lee Grebenau… “just give it a go” she said. Minutes later I had the “this is the one” moment. It was meant for me, the perfect fit, sparkle and made me feel amazing.

What was your wedding planning journey like for you? How far out did you start planning?

The journey to the wedding was challenging, given the uncertainties around border restrictions and travel. This added a layer of huge complexity and drama we probably didn’t need. The decision making on venue, florals, photography etc were really easy. We had a plan sorted within a couple of months.

What was the biggest decision you had to make?

Definitely the dress. And I was lucky to have that sorted early on. Flowers were a close second, and there was a lot of convincing to get what I wanted across the line with Luke. Guys just don’t get flowers!

What was the highlight of your wedding day for you?

Arriving at the Church and walking down the aisle. It was surreal and I had a mix of different emotions, but largely excited and eager to see Luke and get down that aisle to be married.

Is there anything you would do differently?

Try not to sweat the small stuff. And pick my battles. LOL

Is there any advice you would give other #HRBride’s?

In terms of the dress, I’m so pleased that I trusted the process, and listened to the experts (Helen) to try things that I may not have usually.

In terms of the wedding prep, just enjoy the ride. Engage your fiance in the decision making, as it is fun working through it together as a team effort.

Also, don’t let stuff happening in the world stop or ruin your plans - it’s the marriage that is the most important part of the day.

On the wedding day, savour every moment - the day does go very fast.

Helen and her team were an absolute delight to work with. Her collection is luxurious, and my sparkly Lee Grebenau dress was everything I’d ever dreamed of. From the first visit I knew I could trust and was in good hands with Helen - she knows her stuff. She listended and was very accomodating and made me feel very comfortable (and my Mum too). Thank you so much Helen, it was such a special and memorable experience.

HR Real Bride Elpiniki wearing Lee Grebenau 'Bella'

Bride & Groom: Elpiniki and Emmanuel
Gown: Lee Grebenau ‘Bella’ from Helen Rodrigues Bridal
Photography: Inlighten Photography
Venue: The Linseed House, The Grounds of Alexandria
Floral: The Grounds Floral by Silvia
Accessories: HR Bridal Accessories
Bridesmaid dresses: Oleg Cassini
Makeup: Simone Forte
Videography: Soda Films
Invites: The Distillery
Hair: Hair by Nala

How did you and your husband meet?

Emmanuel and I met at a friend’s wedding 4 years ago - he knew the groom, and I knew the bride. Despite it being a Greek wedding with a guestlist of 500 people, Emmanuel said he noticed me across the room. He walked over to me, said I looked familiar (a carefully constructed opening line) and the rest was history. He messaged me at midnight after the wedding and we went out on our first date three days late.

How did he propose?

It was the most beautiful, funny and unexpected proposal! Emmanuel had to complete a training course in Singapore for two weeks and surprised me with tickets to join him on the second week. He planned activities and day spa for me to do during the day whilst he was working. The surprise was nearly spoilt as the staff members had decorated my room with petals and streamers before he had even ‘popped the question.’ Lucky, Emmanuel realised the mistake before I entered the room and dragged me downstairs to get another coffee with him. The staff managed to clean up the room before we returned to have a nap. To Emmanuel’s relief and my surprise, he proposed in the evening in a beautifully decorated gazebo at the Singapore Botanical Gardens. He gave the best speech and it was the best day ever.

What was your vision for your wedding day?

We envisioned a romantic, elegant, garden-themed wedding which was fun and full of love. Emmanuel is a singer so the music and entertainment for us was key. On the day, it felt like a fairy tale and was better then we ever expected.

Where did you look for your wedding inspiration?

I looked on Pinterest and Instagram pages for inspiration which had a romantic, industrial slightly rustic and garden vibe. The vendors at the Grounds of Alexandria were amazing, so I really trusted in them and following their guidance with the styling.

What drew you to your gown from Helen Rodrigues Bridal?

I really wanted a gown that was elegant, feminine, lacey with a leaf design in order to suit the theme of my wedding. As soon as I stepped into HR Bridal room, I noticed my Lee Grebenau dress. I just love the fine leaf embroidery with the beautiful beading. It was the first and the last dress I tried on!

What was your wedding planning journey like for you? How far out did you start planning?

My wedding event and all the planning happened during COVID-19. We moved our wedding date but surprisingly it was not as stressful as we expected; I had lots of help from my sister, mum and husband to be, and our vendors were so accommodating. Importantly, COVID-19 really put things into perspective for us and we realised the priority was our marriage and we just wanted to start the next chapter of our lives. It was also helpful that my main vendors were booked 8-10 months from the wedding day. However, I am a very last- minute person, so all the other details including my shoes, accessories, centrepieces were organised 2 weeks out. EEK!

What was the biggest decision you had to make?

The biggest decision we had to make was taking the risk to move the wedding day. We had 20 family members from overseas who were planning to attend, including my grandmother. We moved the wedding date from July to November 2020, in the hope that they would be able to make it. We were devastated they could not be there and although we considered moving the date a second time, we had to accept the uncertainty of life.

What was the highlight of your wedding day for you?

The highlight of the wedding day for both of us was the ceremony. I felt so many different emotions and my cheeks were genuinely sore from smiling the whole hour. We were blessed to have the Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Church there and we just felt so much love in the room and from a far (as our family were watching from overseas).

Is there anything you would do differently?

In hindsight, I would have organised details of my wedding sooner and taken at least a week or two off before the wedding. You don’t want to feel rushed and you need time to enjoy the wedding planning journey.

Is there any advice you would give other #HRBride’s?

Be open-minded and choose the dress that makes you feel beautiful and comfortable. You will know the dress when you see it on you. And more importantly, don’t look back; there are a lot of beautiful dresses out there but you’ve got to remember yours is the perfect one for you.

The HR bridal team were so lovely and helpful! They showed such enthusiasm in helping me find my perfect dress and I felt supported throughout my wedding journey.

HR Real Bride Julijana wearing Lee Grebenau custom 'Alessia'

Bride & Groom: Julijana and Patrick Dunn
Gown: Customised Alessia by Lee Grebenau from Helen Rodrigues Bridal
Photography: Blumenthal Photography
Venue: Sergeants Mess
Floral: The Faux Fernery
Hair & Makeup: Natasa Manojlovia Hair and Melissa Gigliotti
Bridesmaid dresses: Jador evening from Widnsor and Lux
Videography: T one

How did you and your husband meet?

Online! Through a dating app.

How did he propose?

Patrick had secretly booked us to go kayaking from Manly one Saturday but sprung it on me last minute! I think he did this to throw me off the scent… We kayaked to Store beach where a picnic was set up for us ready with a beautiful platter and champagne. He presented a photo book of our time together and the last page read that he only had one last question to ask… We spent the rest of the day out in the sun, on the sand and water which is where we love to be.

What was your vision for your wedding day?

We wanted something that was romantic yet sophisticated with a soft colour pallet. We also wanted it to feel like a real celebration and party. Food and music were very important to us as well as feeling like the best versions of ourselves.

Where did you look for your wedding inspiration?

Instagram was a powerful source of inspiration for us.

What drew you to your gown from Helen Rodrigues Bridal?

As we were picking out the gowns to try on from the display, I quite liked the fine detail throughout the whole dress and what looked like at the time, the light feathery off-the-shoulder look. This is what drew me to picking the dress of the rack. It wasn’t one I shortlisted before coming to the store however when I tried it on, it was just magic. It made me feel feminine, romantic, and the most beautiful version of myself. It was the only time my mum, hands down said ‘you have to get this dress!’. The sample dress fit me perfectly, it was as though it was specifically made for me.

What was your wedding planning journey like for you? How far out did you start planning?

I knew a couple of things:

1. Wedding venues book up years in advance

2. I really wanted an autumn wedding

3. That I didn’t want to wait more than a year as the proposal happened in March

As soon as we were engaged, we started looking for venues immediately. This was an important step as the rest of the wedding flowed from this base. We took every opportunity to enjoy the start of the journey as we knew it was going to get stressed as we got close to the date!

Once we booked the venue, I was onto the dress immediately. We had one year to plan and it was a relatively smooth journey up until covid hit about a month out from the wedding date.

What was the biggest decision you had to make?

Pre covid, I would say the venue was the biggest decision.

But then what to do when covid hit easily takes the cake as the most difficult decision we had to make. We had the option of proceeding with a micro wedding which was a huge change as we had 160 guests confirmed or delay the wedding. Either way, we were faced with potentially organizing the wedding from scratch again. We opted to delay the wedding by 6 months.

What was the highlight of your wedding day for you?

This is a difficult question to answer as we loved the whole day and wouldn’t change it even if we could. If I had to pick one, I’d say the ceremony. The lead up was intense as the emotional build up from our first wedding date was still with me as it drew out for a further 6 months. It was all bottled up, up until this moment in time. I don’t think anything can compare to the feeling I had when I locked eyes with Patrick as I walked down the isle - I’ve been looking forward to this moment for most of my adult life and honestly don’t think I’ve ever been happier. There is something special about the words that are exchanged during the ceremony, it’s the most sacred part of the day and something I will cherish for the rest of my life.

Is there anything you would do differently?

Absolutely nothing!

Is there any advice you would give other #HRBride’s?

Don’t sweat the small stuff as it wont matter on the day and certainly wont be a thing after the day. Focus on your big ticket items that mean the most to you both and make sure you get what you want in these, the rest is irrelevant. But of course, you only know this after the fact!

I am so grateful to have had Helen and her team by my side throughout that special time. The whole process was seamless and effortless and she made me feel comfortable and confident with my decisions. Plus, she has the most amazing range of gowns!

HOW - Little Lane Events

Helen on Weddings (HOW) is back for 2021! The blog where Helen shares 20 years of knowledge in the bridal industry with our beautiful ‘brides to be’. Over the holidays we spoke to the amazing team at Little Lane Events to get their tips and tricks for all things planning and styling from why you need a planner to advice on finding your wedding style.

Who is little lane?

Located on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Little Lane are a team of unapologetically obsessed wedding professionals. Just like truffles pair perfectly with Dom Perignon, our talented and creative team of stylists, designers, planners and florists work harmoniously together? Well, they are nothing short of magnificent.

At Little Lane we have a reputation for our ‘difference’ among the wedding community. We don’t just style, we listen, we personalise and then we create the most amazing and thoughtful weddings. All the while staying on-site to coordinate your ceremony and reception so all you have to do is enjoy your special day.

Little Lane is owned by two gorgeous, strong and completely devoted women. They are each other’s Ying and Yang, and they direct the most talented crew of creative magicians.

Kirra is the director you will speak to first. She has a tonne of experience and is a wedding planner and stylist extraordinaire. Not only has she styled for the stars, she was also an interior designer in her previous life. She is all about tones, textures and layers, and most of all she has a true knack for bringing any concept to life. She is responsible for making dreams come true for so many of our beautiful couples - and is guaranteed to shed more than a couple of tears as she watches her brides walk down the aisle.

Lauren is the director of perfection. Making sure her couple’s big day is as stress free as possible and that every little detail is absolutely on point. To say she loves weddings is the understatement of the century. After all she was the girl who would buy Cosmo Bride every month as soon as it came out, when she wasn’t even engaged!

What does a Planner do and why do you need one?

A Planner can do as much or as little as you want, the decision is completely up to you. You can be totally involved, or you can hand it over to those that do it every day. BUT, no matter the type of planning assistance you chose, you will experience moments of overwhelm before the big day and this is when you really want and need a good Planner. They are the one person by your side on this amazing journey, who will provide insightful knowledge and little tips along the way. They will remind you to enjoy the planning process, but most of all, they will allow you to enjoy your special day, because you feel completely comfortable that they will make sure, it is all just perfect.

The whole idea of luxurious dresses, delicately handcrafted stationary and blush blooms makes us go weak at the knees. There is not one detail we won’t want to get our cheeky little hands on. This is what you want in a Wedding Planner!

There are many different levels of wedding planning that you can have, depending on how much support you want for the big day. Did you know that Little Lane include ceremony coordination in all our ceremony packages? This means our team will welcome your guests and personally meet you at your car to calm any nerves, fluff your dress, give the nod to start the music, repurpose your florals and move your welcome sign to your reception, ready for when your guests arrive!

We also offer On the Day Coordination, which is popular for those still wanting involvement and perhaps have done all the hard work planning the main details, but need help pulling together the logistics, and coordinator on the big day.

Or if you really don’t know where to start, or simply don’t have time (or desire!) to plan the whole thing, then we can handle everything from start to finish with our Wedding Planning package. We won’t leave your side until you are exiting your reception venue through a tunnel of sparklers!

Tips and Tricks for choosing a Planner

If you think you need a Wedding Planner, then chances are you definitely need one. Planning your own wedding can be a roller coaster of emotions and at some point will leave you feeling a little overwhelmed. But don’t worry, there is always help, the trick is in finding the perfect help.

Little Lane have been planning and styling weddings for years and the main thing we have learned is that no two weddings are the same. There is always something that just ‘pops up’ And this is when you wish really wish you had a Wedding Planner.

Our top tips for finding the right Planner for you and your fiance.

1. Referrals, this is the best way to start. If you have a friend or family member who used a Planner, and you loved their wedding, chances are you’ll love this Planner.

2. Start by research three local Planners. Any more and it just gets confusing. Check out their websites and socials (Instagram and Facebook) look at their photos and read client testimonials. Which one do you feel suits you best (rate them 1-3).

3. Be organised! If you’re not the organised type, that’s ok too. But at least know your wedding date and if you don’t have anything else locked in, have some ideas around where you would like to have your ceremony and reception.

4. Personal vibe. Oh my gosh this is so important. Trust yourself, call or email your selected Planners. Discuss your date, your locations and wedding style/ theme. Is the conversation easy, did they freely offer little tips about your chosen location? Did they feel like your people? Are they within your budget?

5. Trust yourself! It is your wedding, your Planner is there to make it just for you! No one else but you (and your fiance). If you feel as though a Planner is controlling, and you like that, choose them. If you don’t then move on. If you feel like your Planner is vague and that bothers you, don’t choose them. Trust.. your… self!

6. I know we said 5, but we can’t help ourselves! Remember to breathe through the ups and downs, find a laugh with your fiance when you have to make tricky decisions, and remember to enjoy the planning. It is just as important and just as much fun as the big day. Enjoy being engaged. It is a magical time.

Damian Milan Photography

We had Little Lane to assist with styling the ceremony and reception, and couldn’t recommend them highly enough. Kirra was the fairy godmother that made our dreams come true, and went above and beyond on the day. Knowing such a competent person was liaising with the florist, celebrant, hotel, etc on the day made everything a breeze. - HR Real Bride Alexandra

Advice on finding your wedding style

If you need advice on finding your wedding style, then Kirra is the lady to speak to. We have already mentioned she loves tones, textures and layers, but what we haven’t told you is she is the Queen of mood boards. She can whip up a perfectly balanced and bespoke mood board for your wedding like Nigella Lawson whips up a Cider and 5 Spice Bundt Cake!

In the meantime, here are some tips to get you started:

Prioritise: this is your starting line, we can’t stress the importance of setting aside some quiet time for you and your fiance to chat about what is important to you as a couple and individuals - write down each other’s wants versus likes.

Schedule and words: this is one you can do together or separately. Schedule some time to think about and write down what you did and didn’t like about the style of past weddings you’ve attended. Then find the words and write as many as you can that best describe your style, colour tone, or feeling that you wish to evoke on your wedding day.

Research: start your pinning! Now the fun really begins, and you probably have a good feeling of what you both like and don’t like. Start by breaking up your boards on Pinterest into the categories listed below. From the very beginning, I can assure you, Pinterest is like a delicious warm chocolate fountain, the goodness just keeps coming and you’re never ever going to want to stop!

• Ceremony styling

• Reception styling

• Florals

• Stationary, signage, invitations

• Wedding cake/ dessert ideas

• Bridal outfits

• Bridal party outfits

• Wedding cars

• Wedding exit

Now it is time to pin away! But don’t forget to take your time and get lost in the portal and have some serious fun. Feel free to pin everything and anything at this stage, I won’t reign you in this early.

Pulling it together: Now it is time to start it all together. Our favourite bit!

Find whatever works best for you. PowerPoint, Canva or simply printing out your images and scrapbooking them into a well-loved book. Find whatever works best for you. I always suggest being quite ruthless, but now it’’s time to reign it in! Start by going through one category at a time and just pulling a small handful of your most favourite images. Try your best to keep each category to one page of images so you can see them all laid out together. As you go through category by category you will find a beautiful organic flow of colour, tone and style.

Our final note, planning your wedding is going to be one of the most exciting, amazing, fun and overwhelming and scary experiences of your life. Yet we guarantee it will be the most rewarding because it is usually the first important experience you will achieve together as a couple.

You can get in contact with Little Lane Events HERE.

HR Real Bride Carmen wearing Lee Grebenau & Monique Lhuillier

Bride & Groom: Carmen & Gareth Chew
Planning & Styling: Carmen!
Gown: Bella gown custom made with Taylor fabric by Lee Grebenau & Etoile by Monique Lhuillier, both from Helen Rodrigues Bridal
Venue: Centennial Park, Paperbark Grove North & Hyatt Regency, Grand Ballroom
Photography: Two Peaches Photography
Videography: In A Maze
Accessories: Paolo Sebastian veil & Jimmy Choo shoes
Makeup & Hair: Captivate by Ellie
Bridemaids dresses: White Runway
Cake: Cakes2Cupcakes
MC: Dion Woo & Nicole He

How did you and your husband meet?

We met at ‘The Carter’ a restaurant/bar/nightclub dedicated to Jay-Z and Beyoncé. I was having dinner with my friends and Gareth was having drinks with his friends. Gareth was apparently already on his way to come and speak to me before my friend suddenly stopped him and said ‘Hey, come and meet my friend Carmen,” Gareth then immediately offered to buy me a drink.

How did he propose?

It was Valentine’s Day, Gareth picked me up from my house to take me to dinner. He arrived with a bunch of 2 dozen roses and when he gave them to me, I complained that there wasn’t a card. When we arrived at Eden Gardens, we were greeted by the restaurant host who escorted us to our table. However, we walked straight through the restaurant, past the outdoor dining area, through the garden and then she stopped and told us our table was a bit further up. So, we took a walk and it led us into an area filled with candles, roses and rose petals. At that point in time, I didn’t suspect anything because Gareth often organises romantic surprises. When we arrived in the middle of the arena, he suddenly stopped and got down on one knee and proposed! Gareth had organised a private candlelit dinner in the garden with a private chef and a live band playing in the background. On our dinner table was a gift. I unwrapped the gift and it was a book written by Gareth, about the journey of our relationship, and on the back page was his proposal because he knew I would forget what he had said at the time of the proposal. He told me he didn’t write me a card because he had written me a book!

What was your vision for your wedding day?

I would describe our vision as ‘simple elegance’ and we chose a white and gold colour theme to compliment this style.

Where did you look for your wedding inspiration?

I found Colin Cowie Lifestyle inspiration when styling our wedding.

What drew you to your gowns from Helen Rodrigues Bridal?

When I was browsing for wedding gowns, there was one common theme - I was drawn to the gowns created by Israeli designers. I knew that Helen represented some exclusive Israeli designers, so I made an appointment to visit Helen’s boutique. Before I had even visited the boutique, Helen already knew which wedding gown would be perfect for me and she was right, the first gown she had prepared for me to try on, was the one!

What was your wedding planning journey like for you? How far out did you start planning?

Being engaged is a really special period in life and I really appreciated that Gareth attended every vendor appointment and was very involved in the planning process, this made our engagement even more special. We were engaged for almost 2 years so we had quite a lot of time to plan the wedding. We were able to organize everything and think about all of the tiny details at a really relaxed pace. Overall, I really enjoyed planning our wedding, it was very rewarding seeing every detail come together on the day and receiving positive feedback from our guests appreciating all of the elements that we put a lot of thought into.

What was the biggest decision you had to make?

Whether or not to postpone our wedding date due to Covid19 restrictions. We were expecting to have a big wedding with a lot of guests attending from interstate and overseas but this wasn’t the reason we considered postponing our wedding. Our focus was on the meaning of marriage instead of the importance of a big reception. The beauty of our love and our story can’t be measured by the number of people who are there to hear it and regardless of the size of the wedding, the emotional, beautiful, heart warming moment would still be shared between Gareth and I. The only reason we were considering postponing our wedding date was because with the restrictions changing so often, it was difficult to know whether circumstances would worsen and if we would even be able to get married on our date even with just our immediate families attending. We kept positive, had faith and just in case, a plan B! At the time of our wedding, we were blessed and the restrictions allowed us to have 150 guests attend. Although no interstate or overseas guests could join the celebrations, it was the best decision to have gone ahead with our wedding date and not postponed.

What was the highlight of your wedding day for you?

Every part of our wedding was amazing but the main highlight would be, the whole wedding being able to go ahead as planned - with Covid19 impacting life so much, it’s been a solid reminder that nothing is guaranteed.

Is there anything you would do differently?

I can’t think of anything I would do differently, I really wish I could relive the day again!

Is there any advice you would give other #HRBride’s?

It’s okay if some things don’t go to plan because no one else knows the plan! The only thing that truely matters on the day, is that you and your soulmate are getting married.

Helen made sure the custom LPG gown ordered was exactly what I had envisioned, she made the process easy and smooth. All my fittings with Helen felt like a really special experience because Helen genuinely cared how the gown looked and felt on me and she would make sure that I was happy throughout the process. I knew I was in safe and capable hands. Buying my wedding gowns from Helen Rodrigues was an experience, not just a purchase.

Carmen also wore Etoile by Monique Lhuillier from Luxe Bridal Samples for her pre-wedding photoshoot.

HR Real Bride Clementine wearing Lee Grebenau Taylor

Bride & Groom: Clementine Davis & Riku Roslund
Gown: Taylor by Lee Petra Grebenau from Helen Rodrigues Bridal
Planning & Styling: Georgie, After the Rock
Venue: St Marks, Darling Point & Golf Club reception
Photography: Bayleigh Vedelago
Videography: Moon & Back Co
Bridesmaid Dresses: Maria Lucia Hohan
Accessories: HR Bridal Veil, Sophia Webster shoes & Enesea pearls
Hair & Makeup: Joelene Booth, La Boutique & Alexandra Penton
Floral: My Violet

How did you and your husband meet?

Riku is Finnish and I’m from Sydney - we were working in the same office for over a year but didn’t meet until we crossed paths at a mutual colleague’s going away party.

How did he propose?

Riku organised a surprise private open-door helicopter ride when we were on a holiday in New York City two years ago. Once we got out of the helicopter he knelt down on one knee and proposal. I had no idea, it was such an amazing surprise!

What was your vision for your wedding day?

We wanted to create a romantic, English garden party vibe but also keep it fun and elegant. We had lots of flowers, candles and fun elements like custom crowns for each guest and lots of balloons and a disco ball for the dance floor.

Where did you look for your wedding inspiration?

I am constantly pinning images on Pinterest and saving posts on Instagram so that was a big help when I was putting together all my reference inspiration images. A lot of them were from other weddings, events and parties.

What drew you to your gown from Helen Rodrigues Bridal?

I loved the Taylor gown as soon as I saw it. I wanted a more modern gown and the total embellishment, blush undertone and leg slit of the dress was perfect. The moment I tried it on I knew it was the one.

What was your wedding journey like for you? How far out did you start planning?

The planning of the wedding was really so much fun. We’ve been based in Helsinki for a couple of years now so I knew we needed some expert help based in Sydney to help us with our planning. About 12 months out from our date I got in touch with Georgie from After The Rock and she helped us put together our dream wedding.

What was the biggest decision you had to make?

I can’t really pinpoint one ‘biggest decision’, but one we had a little difficulty at first with finding the perfect venue for our reception. We looked all around Sydney and ended up choosing a beautiful golf club in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The amazing gardens and blank space caught our eye, it really allowed us to create our dream space.

What was the highlight of your wedding day for you?

There were many highlights of the day, but one of them was definitely being announced as husband and wife for the first time. Also seeing all of our ideas and plans for the day come to life was really quite amazing.

Is there anything you would do differently?

There really isn’t anything I would do differently, everything ended up being such a dream come true.

Is there any advice you would give other #HRBride’s?

Make sure to be present and really take everything in with your new husband on the day; it goes by so quickly… and have fun!

Finding my dress at Helen Rodrigues Bridal was such a great experience; from the moment I stepped foot inside the boutique, the team was always so helpful and attentive. The Helen Rodrigues team really excelled in creating the perfect atmosphere for an excited bride to be.

HR Real Bride Alexandra wearing Lee Grebenau Bella

Bride & Groom: Alexandra & Benjamin
Gown: Lee Grebenau ‘Bella’ from Helen Rodrigues Bridal
Venue: Gibson’s Beach Reserve (ceremony) & The Sunset Room at Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel (reception)
Photography: Damien Milan
Floral: Kashaya & Co
Videography: Story of Us
Planning and Styling: Little Lane
Bride’s Shoes: Rene Caovilla

How did you and your husband meet?

We met in Singapore where we were both working and living. After weeks of texting, we finally set up a first date at Lantern Bar. Initially, it was a disaster - despite having covered so much ground in the lead-up, the first few minutes of our date were excruciating stilted and formal. We were both cringing internally - until Ben turned the tables. Out of nowhere, he stood and kissed me full on the lips before grinning and swaggering off to the bathroom, leaving me blushing and in fits of laughter. Ice officially broken, the rest of the date was a breeze.

How did he propose?

We relocated to Sydney in 2018, but still have a lot of close friends and family in Asia. On a stopover in Singapore in February 2019, Ben lured me back to the site of our first kiss whilst pretending we were meeting my brother for dinner. Somehow I didn’t catch on until he was down on one knee!

Ben must have been fairly confident I’d say yes, because he’d arranged for my brother and our best friends to be waiting at Lantern Bar with champagne on ice to help us celebrate afterwards, which was the best. We flew out of Singapore the next day with sore heads and happy hearts.

What was your vision for your wedding day?

We had lots of international guests - many of whom hadn’t been to Sydney before - so it was important to us that we chose a venue that showcased Sydney’s natural beauty. We also wanted to create a convivial, relaxed atmosphere so guests didn’t feel they needed to stand on ceremony and could enjoy themselves fully.

Florals were very important to the vision. We chose a rose-focused theme because it has special significance to our family (my grandmother grew a different rose variety for each daughter) and I had my heart set on an organic, rambling arch made entirely of foliage and florals for the ceremony.

Where did you look for your wedding inspiration?

I went down deep Instagram and Pinterest rabbit holes! I looked at a couple of magazines, but because we had a feel for our theme, Pinterest was the easiest way for me to collate all my inspiration for various elements of the wedding.

What drew you to your gown from Helen Rodrigues Bridal?

My first appointment with Helen Rodrigues felt like I was entering a fantasy land - there were so many beautiful gowns to choose from! But as soon as I stepped into the Lee Grebenau gown, I caught my Mum’s eye and we were both lost for words.

The leaf motif in the ‘Bella’ gown was reminiscent of the details on my Mum’s wedding dress, and echoed our garden party theme, so it was the perfect choice for many reasons. The gown made me feel incredibly feminine and elegant but I still felt very much like ‘me’. I was honored to wear it on my wedding day.

What was your wedding planning journey like for you? How far out did you start planning?

It was fairly smooth sailing, all things considered! We were engaged in February 2019 and married in February 2020, which we felt was a reasonable timeline. Luckily Ben and I had similar ideas on most things!

We came out of our happily engaged bubble around April 2019 to start getting things organised. The first thing we did was finalise a venue and a date, as it influenced every other decision we made.

When we chose our ceremony spot, we knew florals would play a big role in transforming the sandy patch of grass into a venue, so I put a lot of time into finding the perfect florist. As soon as I saw Kashaya’s work I knew she was the perfect vendor for us. She took our concept and created a sprawling dreamscape of blush, pink and luscious greenery. The quality of the flowers she uses is exceptional, and the arch she created for us was exactly what I’d hoped for.

We had Little Lane to assist with styling and coordinating the ceremony and reception, and it was one of the best decisions we made! We cannot recommend them highly enough. Kirra was like a fairy godmother; she made our vision of the day come true. She went above and beyond to ensure everything ran smoothly and shared in our excitement and emotion on the day. Knowing such a competent person was liaising with the florist, celebrant, hotel, grooms party etc on the day made a huge difference.

What was the biggest decision you had to make?

Probably the venue. It was important to us that we chose a place that was quintessentially ‘Sydney’ whilst being easy for all guests (but especially international ones) to access and find accommodation nearby. The fact that Watson’s Bay Hotel has accommodation on-site was a big drawcard.

What was the highlight of your wedding day for you?

The highlight for me was having our loved ones together in one place. Ben is British, I’m Australian, and we have both lived abroad for a long time. I was moved by the effort our family and friends made to be there with us. We felt surrounded by love, and it reinforced how lucky we are to have such special people in our lives.

Is there anything you would do differently?

I had been unsure whether or not to make a speech at the reception. We already had a number of speeches confirmed, and although I believe modern brides should have a voice, I didn’t want to delay the dancefloor action any further! But, looking back, I would have loved to have thanked everyone in my own words.

Is there any advice you would give other #HRBride’s?

Order your ‘Thank You’ cards as soon as possible, whilst you’re still on that super-organised high and get them out ASAP! I’m embarrassed by how late ours were!

Choosing a wedding gown is such an important part of the bridal experience. I had been to two other places before Helen Rodrigues and was feeling fairly deflated and anonymous. From the first appointment, I was struck by the team’s professionalism, attention to detail and warmth. Helen and her team were so attentive and genuinely invested in helping me find the perfect gown. I felt so beautiful and special in our appointment. My experience with Helen and her team is one I will remember for a long time.

HR Real Bride Jaclyn wearing Lee Grebenau Emma

Bride & Groom: Jaclyn & Andrew Tilley
Planning & Styling: Kashaya & Co
Gown: Lee Petra Grebanau ‘Emma’ gown from Helen Rodrigues Bridal
Venue: Estate Vaucluse House & Catalina’s
Photography: Chris Prestige @Dusk
Videography: Mick Stillone
Floral: Kashaya & Co.
Makeup & Hair: Kelly Bowman & Liam Hubbard
Band: John Fields Band
Transport: 7th Heaven Wedding Cars

How did you and your husband meet?

We met through friends. There was an instant attraction and great banter straight away. We exchanged phone numbers but it took Andrew a few weeks to get me out on a date. It was Mother’s Day in 2015 and our first date was a lunch at Bondi Hardware.

How did he propose?

It was late December 2018. We were on a family trip down on the South Coast with Andrew’s family and he casually said “I am going to take you away for a night to have some time to ourselves, pack a bag.” And I didn’t think much of it. I don’t think I wanted to get my hopes up to be honest. So we hopped in the car and drove, and drove, and drove for hours until we got to Batemans Bay where we had a beautiful lunch at this seafood restaurant. I was thinking “this is really nice. Some quality time together.” Little did I know. After lunch, we drove further South again to Narooma and boarded a seaplane which was incredible. Andrew was more nervous having to face his fear of heights than proposing but then he simple said “Will you marry me?” and I screamed “Yes!” As we walked into Quarterdeck in Narooma, there was a bottle of champagne waiting for us and all of the restaurant patrons started cheering and whistling! It was very sweet.

What was your vision for your wedding day?

I have quite a simple, minimalist personal style so our choice of reception at Catalina was purposeful as it is quite minimal in itself. We booked the venue first and so that really helped to lay the foundation for the aethetic of the wedding. We wanted the wedding to be simple yet classic. I loved Kashaya’s style and knew that her vibrant arrangements would look stunning at Catalina so this was really the catalyst for the planning. I wanted the florals to be the focal point both at the Ceremony and Reception and so I worked around that. I really wanted my bridesmaids to feel beautiful and comfortable in their dresses so I decided early on that I did not want them to wear the same dress. I loved the idea of having shades of pink to mirror the stunning florals. With our photographer, we wanted someone who would blend in, take candid photos of us and just be really relaxed. That’s what we loved about Chris.

Where did you look for your wedding inspiration?

We discussed early on that we wanted a simple wedding that did not have ‘too much’ of anything. We knew that we wanted to have the Reception at Catalina within the first month of being engaged so that really established the style of the day. We did not have an inspiration board or anything like that. I know what I like in terms of florals and simple styling so I did not really plan it as such. I know a lot of brides do but it is not me. We knew that we wanted people to have a great time dancing to amazing music, have delicious food and enjoy a space with vibrant flowers! Andrew was really good at finding certain vendors such as our wedding cars which were a beautiful shade of pink.

What drew you to your gown from Helen Rodrigues Bridal?

It’s funny because I went to 4-5 boutiques in Sydney before going to Helen and I just had this feeling that I was saving the best to last. It was just a gut feeling I had. When I walked in, I just gasped because her gowns are exquisite. I had some ideas of what style I wanted, more of an A-line cut. When I was told to try the Emma gown I really was not sure as I wanted to be able to dance in my wedding dress and felt that it would be restricting. But when I put it on, I felt sexy and beautiful, and instantly said “yes, this is the one.”

What was your wedding planning journey like for you? how far out did you start planning?

We booked Catalina within a month or two of getting engaged. We knew we wanted to be married in the Summer holidays the following year when everyone is a little bit more relaxed and in holiday mode! Andrew really wanted to be involved so he had particular vendors he contacted and dealt with and I handled the aesthetics which I loved. It was stressful at points but my girlfriends kept saying to me “this is about the two of you so just remember that. All the other stuff doesn’t matter. Thanks Zoe!” It was important to keep reminding myself of that because it can get overwhelming at times. Andrew was so amazing at writing out the spreadsheets and run sheets and staying on top of all of the stuff I didn’t want to do!

What was the biggest decision you had to make?

There were many decisions and I am a Libra so decision-making is not my strong suit! Andrew is much more decisive so he was really helpful with the many decisions we had to make! The guest list was really hard to narrow down as the maximum at Catalina was 140 seated. We are both half Italian so this proved to be challenging!

What was the highlight of your wedding day for you?

Pulling up at Vaucluse House and walking down the aisle with my mum and dad on either side of me was truly a feeling like no other. I was nervous, excited and full of emotion. I was so proud to have both of my parents beside me and I could feel their happy and nervous energy too. Seeing all of our loved ones in one place, looking so excited and happy and then seeing Andrew at the end of the aisle was so emotional. It was like floating on a cloud. Then he held my hands and I just could not stop smiling. Then I saw some of my pre-school students from The Scots College in their uniform and that really tipped me over the edge as I did not know they were going to be there.

Is there anything you would do differently?

No, there isn’t. We were so lucky and thankful for our day. As luck would have it, our wedding fell in between the devastating Summer bush fires which was also accompanied by a huge Summer rainstorm and then COVID19. We will never forget how lucky we were to have our special day and will tell our children tales of this crazy time.

Is there any advice you would give other #HRBride’s?

Stick to your personal style and have your wedding reflect that. Think about you and your partner and what you enjoy. What kind of entertainment do you enjoy? What would your loved ones enjoy? Stay true to your personal aesthetic and it will be beautiful because it reflects you as a couple. Do not lose sight of your partner in all of this and remember what the purpose of the day really is. It is easy to get caught up in the planning but ground yourself as you can get lost along the way sometimes.

From the moment I met Helen and her team, I felt calm and confident that I had found what I was looking for. A place where I felt I could be open and honest throughout the whole process. Helen’s gowns are like no other and they truly are magnificent. I felt absolutely stunning on my wedding day, Helen and her seamstress adjusted the dress until I was completely happy and it was fitted but still very comfortable. I could dance the night away in it! I will tell every bride-to-be I know of Helen and her magical dresses.