My Gown Was Unlike Any I Had Ever Seen Before
“Truthfully, I really did not enjoy wedding dress shopping until I went to Luxe Bridal Samples in Neutral Bay. While at other stores I had felt ignored, unimportant and disheartened, here I was treated with the utmost respect and professionalism. I found the experience to be fun, enjoyable and stress free. Nicole was a wonderful, friendly, knowledgeable and professional saleswoman and she made the experience such a pleasure. The dresses there are all exquisite so it was no surprise that none of the other dress I had previously tried at other stores came even close to comparing with the dresses in Helen’s store, or that I decided to purchase my gown from there. I absolutely love my wedding gown and felt my best on my wedding day thanks to having such a stunning dress. Thank you to both Helen and Nicole for transforming my wedding dress purchase experience into such a positive one! I highly recommend Helen Rodrigues to anyone who is looking for a wonderful shopping experience and a gorgeous unique wedding gown.”
Bride & Groom: Louise King & Lachlan McKay
Planning & Styling: Louise & a friend
Gown: Alon Livne ‘Royal’ from Luxe Bridal Samples
Venue: Vinden Estate, Hunter Valley
Photography: Timothy Frawley - Taken by Tim
Hair & Make-up: Louise Antonjuk & Nicole Rosetto - Hayley Davies Nourish Me Beautiful
Floral: Miss Lucy Flowers
How did you and your husband meet?
We met through friends at The Pavillion in Coogee late one Saturday night. Lachlan was out celebrating with his rugby team after their last game of the season and my friend Rachael’s boyfriend was in the same rugby team. I was out with Rachael and some other friends in the city and we ended up going to The Pavillion to meet Rachael’s boyfriend and his friends. Lachlan and I then found each other near the bar and started talking.
How did he propose?
We were in Paris at the end of our holiday in the UK and we went to the Palace of Versailles for dinner and a show. After dinner we were in the gardens, which were lit up and had classical music playing in them, Lachlan then got down on one knee and proposed in front of the palace in the gardens.
What was your vision for your wedding day?
We wanted an informal day that was fun and enjoyable, without many of the wedding traditions that weren’t important to us.
Where did you look for your wedding inspiration?
Pinterest and Google in general.
What drew you to your gown from Luxe Bridal Samples?
My gown was unlike any I had ever seen before. I loved that the top was so detailed and delicate with all crystals. I instantly loved the dress when I saw photos because it was stunning and different.
What was your wedding planning journey like for you? How far out did you start planning?
It was fairly easy and not stressful. The most stressful part for me was the guest list. We ended up having a lot more people than I really wanted, although it did end up being one great, big party. We got engaged in August 2017 and really started planning in November that year so 11 months before the wedding.
What was the biggest decision you had to make?
Probably the guest list!
What was the highlight of your wedding day for you?
I don’t think I can pick one thing! I do remember doing a lot of dancing though, we have so many fun photos of people dancing and having an amazing time. The speeches were also memorable and alot of fun. We have a lot of photos of people laughing during the speeches, which is amazing.
Is there anything you would do differently?
Not really, aside from having fewer guests.
Is there any advice you would give other #LuxeBride’s?
Remember that your wedding is supposed to be about you and your partner, not about anyone else. Try not to worry about keeping other people happy and organise the day that you want. Most of all try to relax and have fun on your special day, enjoy every minute because it will all be over in a flash!
