Luxe Bridal Samples Meant I Could Afford One of Your Dresses Which Was a Dream Come True
“I simply cannot thank Helen Rodrigues enough for helping me choose my stunning wedding gown. It is now preserve-wrapped and ready to hand down to my daughters. Helen, thank you for your expert advice and kindness. I never felt pressured as I did in other stores. Your dresses speak for themselves and the Luxe Bridal Samples meant I could afford one of your dresses which was a dream come true. Your super fitter ensured the dress was tailored to perfection and on the day I could not have imagined wearing any other dress. Thank you Helen and team.”
Bride & Groom: Lucy & Richard
Planning & Styling: Kate O’Shea, The Wedding Series
Gown: Alexandra Grecco “Isla” Gown from Luxe Bridal Samples
Venue: Ceremony - The Goat Paddock | Reception: Cucinetta, Woolwich
Photography: Justin Aaron Photography
Videography: Loop Studios
Floral: Belinda Brett, The Curated Life
How did you and your husband meet?
We met at the Paspaley Polo in Melbourne. My sister was the PR Manager for Paspaley in Sydney at the time and I accompanied her to the Polo as I lived in Melbourne. Richard was driving through Albert Park after work and saw the banners advertising the Polo. He remembered seeing on Facebook that Kate was in Melbourne for it - they had been friends for ten years - so popped in at the end of the event to say hello. She introduced us and we all went to the After Party. He got in touch with me a few days later and the rest is history!
How did he propose?
We were walking along Four Mile Beach in Port Douglas on our way to Nautilus restaurant and he suddenly dropped to one knee and pulled out my stunning ring. I was not expecting it! People stood around smiling and clapping.
What was your vision for your wedding day?
Intimate venue, great food and wine. Lots of flowers and candles.
Where did you look for your wedding inspiration?
I followed several makeup artists, photographers and wedding hair stylists on Instagram. I think Helen Rodrigues was the only dress page I followed.
What drew you to your gown from Luxe Bridal Samples?
Despite following Helen Rodrigues on Instagram for months, I thought her dresses were out of my price range so didn’t enquire. My sister told me that she had beautiful Luxe sample dresses. I rang to organise a viewing and sent Helen a photo of the dress I loved the most from her Instagram page. She had a sample that was extremely similar. It was the Alexandra Grecco Isla gown. It was perfect.
What was your wedding planning journey like for you? How far out did you start planning?
I started planning about 8 months before the wedding - researching venues, photographers, getting inspiration for makeup, hair, dresses and flowers. I found planning the wedding to be extremely stressful to be honest. I felt like a deer in headlights with all the decisions I had to make.
What was the biggest decision you had to make?
The guest list was stressful and created a lot of friction within the family. We were on a strict budget so didn’t have the luxury of inviting everyone we and others wanted to.
What was the highlight of your wedding day for you?
Seeing family and friends who came from near and far to share our day with us and having them all in the one place. We were also graced with a full moon! It was huge and exquisite.
Is there anything you would do differently?
So many things! I’m normally very chilled so I look back with a level of shock and surprise at how stressed out I got over little things. I would have had a different DJ as ours did not play many songs from our play list and he rushed through songs too quickly.
Is there any advice you would give other #LuxeBride’s?
You probably hear this advice from everyone but no.1 advice would be: the day will FLY so make sure you enjoy every minute! Delegate tasks to friends and family members who are able to help you with things before the wedding and on the day, such as if musicians, photographers etc want cash on the day, who is doing that? Make sure it’s not you and your partner as it will be the last thing on your mind.
