There’s Such a Beautiful Collection of Designers to Choose From, with Plenty of Styles to Suit All Shapes and Sizes

“Choosing your wedding dress can be an overwhelming and daunting experience. But it really doesn’t have to be. At Luxe Bridal Samples, the team make you feel completely at ease and make it a wonderful experience - exactly what it should be. There’s such a beautiful collection of designers to choose from, with plenty of styles to suit all shapes and sizes. And, all the accessories are stunning - I ended up getting my veil and headpiece there as well. Helen, thank you for making me feel so beautiful on my wedding day.”

Bride & Groom: Sophie Crenigan & Peter Edwards
Planning & Styling: Peonies Boutique
Gown: Inbal Dror from Luxe Bridal Samples
Venue: Circa 1876
Photography: Thomas Stuart
Videography: Timbrel Films
Floral: Peonies Boutique

How did you and your husband meet?

We met accidentally on a Saturday night in Sydney back in 2009. I was out with some friends and he must’ve heard my voice and without hesitation asked me, “are you from England?” and he might’ve used a few cheesy pickup lines. We spent the whole night chatting, getting to know each other and realising that we had so much in common. We’ve been inseparable ever since.

How did he propose?

The proposal was incredible. Peter and I travel a lot and wherever we go in the world, we always book a fine dining experience. It’s become a bit of a tradition and something we look forward to every time we visit a new country. In August 2018, we decided to visit Spain and book an incredible restaurant called Aponiente, on the Southwest coast in a town called El Puerto de Santa Maria. During our dinner, we were suddenly invited to go on a ‘tour’ of the restaurant and meet the team. Little did I know that this was all planned and something that Peter had been working on with the restaurant for months. Our ‘guide’, who was in on the whole thing, took us around the restaurant, telling us about the kitchen, the local area and invited us to the rooftop to take photos. When we were looking out over the ocean, my favourite song by Sam Cooke suddely started playing through the speakers. I turned around and there was Peter on one knee, holding the most spectacular antique ring. He asked me, “would you give me the greatest honour of being my wife?” and of course, I said “yes”.

What was your vision for your wedding day?

A day that was a perfect representation of who Peter and I are as a couple. We’re very private, so it was important that our day still felt intimate. Styling-wise, we wanted something that was elegant, classic but still personal. As we’re English, we’re used to more traditional weddings, so we included some of those elements. The day was black tie and a formal affair and we were married by the local reverend in the gorgeous on-site chapel, said traditional vows to each other and chose a sit-down meal style of reception. We’re foodies and the reception dinner was incredibly important to us. We designed a custom three-course menu and had our own wine list put together by the restaurant. Peter is also a very talented musician, so we really wanted to have live music throughout the whole day.

Where did you look for your wedding inspiration?

I followed a range of wedding blogs, read plenty of magazines and of course, used Pinterest to keep all of my ideas in one place.

What drew you to your gown from Luxe Bridal Samples?

It was one of the first ones I saw. All of Inbal Dror’s designs are exquisite, but I was particularly drawn to the long sleeves, the plunge neckline and the beautiful shimmer effect when t was hanging up on the rack. There was just something so different about it. Surprisingly, it was one of the last dresses for me to try on - and as they say, I certainly saved the best till last.

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

It was wonderful. We loved every second of it and did a lot of it together - grooms should have a say too! Everything from choosing the colour palettes to picking the menu and wine list. I’m a natural organiser, so it was a really enjoyable experience putting everything together, planning the different elements and seeing it come to life. We did use some incredible suppliers and put a lot of trust in them - and my goodness, it paid off. There were so many elements of the wedding that were a complete surprise for us both. It made the day even more special. For example, we didn’t really know what the cake was going to look like, nor did we have any idea of what the final styling and florals would be and the fireworks display was unbelievable. We left many of the elements up to the professionals who executed everything we wanted (and more) perfectly.

What was the biggest decision you had to make?

Whether or not to get married here in Australia or over in the UK. We did consider the idea of having our wedding in England, but there’s a lot of logistics involved when it comes to destination weddings and some of our Australian friends wouldn’t have been able to join us. In the end, we decided to get married here in Australia. It made more sense and much easier to plan and manage. Sadly not everyone could celebrate with us, but for some of our international guests, it was their first visit to Australia, so a magical experience for them.

What was the highlight of your wedding day for you?

Becoming Peter’s wife obviously! But I must admit seeing all of our family and friends come together to celebrate us were particularly emotional. We had people come from all over the world including Spain, Singapore, the UK and America and there were so many new friendships formed. To see everyone so joyous, so happy and celebrating the love that Peter and I share for each other was a dream come true for us both.

Is there anything you would do differently?

Not at all. It really was perfect. I really couldn’t have asked for such a beautiful wedding day.

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

Remember, your wedding day is about you and your partner - make sure it’s a reflection of who you are as a couple. On the actual wedding day, soak in every second, take as many mental pictures as you possibly can and enjoy every moment.