Sophie - A Real Bride Story

Who: Sophie & Arie
When: 1 July, 2016
Where: Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin, Ireland
Dress: Zuhair Murad from Helen Rodrigues Bridal

For Irish-born Sophie, not having her mum here in Australia to join her on her bridal gown journey meant she was incredibly grateful for the family-like support given by Helen and her team in selecting, styling and fitting her dream wedding dress.

From the moment she first walked into the boutique she felt very supported and spoilt. After feeling very excited and in awe of all the gorgeous gowns available she ended up choosing a gorgeous dress from iconic Middle Eastern designer, Zuhair Murad.

“When I tried it on I felt very much like myself...just a shinier version. The quality of the gown was sublime and it was very much about how it made me feel more so than the name, that was an extra added plus!” says Sophie. “I was so excited for it to be the one I was going to be married in and to have all the beautiful memories of it from our photos. I couldn’t wait for the wedding day to come so I could wear it.”

It was the styling advice from Helen and her team however that Sophie found particularly thorough and helpful.

“I was not even considering a veil until Helen suggested it; I tried one on and was so grateful she did as I would have regretted not wearing one for sure. And during fittings, every tiny detail was attended to, to ensure I felt comfortable on the day,” says Sophie.”The seamstress Julie is so wonderful at what she does and made me feel so at ease and so well looked after.”

According to Sophie her favourite memories from her wedding day were celebrating her marriage to Arie with family and their closest friends....and of course wearing her fabulous gown!

Her advice for other brides-to-be? 

“Don't start too early – 11 or 10 months out is a good starting point. Make sure you have your venue and date chosen so you can visualise yourself on the day in the gown, and make sure you feel like yourself in the gown. The gown that's yours is the one that makes you feel the most special, beautiful and like yourself.”

All photography by Rory O’Toole.

Get the Look: Fairytale Dream Wedding

Inbal Dror silk embroidered gown available from Helen Rodrigues.  (Image courtesy of Inbal Dror)

If you’re one of the lucky women who became engaged this Valentine’s Day then congratulations! It’s a special time and never too early to begin planning your big day. Check out our ‘Get the look: fairytale dream wedding’ below for some inspiration to get you started.

Jimmy Choo: Cloud embellished organza clutch

Miu Miu: Bow embellished satin pumps

Jenny Packham: Marquise earrings IV

Susan Avery bouquet

Smythson: 'Tying the Knot' panama notebook

An Appointment to Remember – Finding Your Wedding Dress

Welcome to the first article in our new Helen On Weddings (HOW) blog series – where Helen shares her unrivalled wisdom and stories on all things bridal, starting with the all important initial appointment to find your dream wedding dress. 

An exciting event in itself, at Helen Rodrigues your first appointment is for an hour and you have the boutique to yourself to ensure you receive personal service with our utmost attention.

Here are Helen’s five top tips on how to make your first bridal gown appointment as special and successful as possible.

Have your date and venue already set – although not always possible, ideally it’s best to have your wedding date and venue locked in prior to commencing your dress search. This really helps with selecting the perfect gown for your setting.

Decide on your budget – know how much you have to spend and be sure to check the price range of dresses on offer prior to your appointment. This way you can stay within your budget. At Helen Rodrigues, most (but not all) of our dresses start from $8,000 and we always help our brides to stay within their budget.

Come as you are – don’t wear any fake tan or too much make-up to your appointment as you could be trying on a lot of dresses.

Don’t bring too many guests – it’s a good idea to have someone with you to provide feedback, however only bring a maximum of 2-3 guests whose opinions mean the most. Too many different views can be overwhelming and possibly even stressful or confusing. 

Come with an open mind – feel free to bring some pictures or screen shots of styles you like but be open to new possibilities. There might be other styles you haven’t thought of which could be recommended to you, one of which might end up being the perfect choice.

Helen on Weddings: After 16 years in the bridal business fitting thousands of brides personally, Helen Rodrigues certainly knows a thing or two about weddings. Follow our new Helen on Weddings (HOW) blog series as Helen shares her knowledge and stories to help make your big day as beautiful and memorable as possible.
 

Designer Sample Sale - 11th December 2016

Announcing the last Designer Sample Sale for 2016 - Sunday 11th December 2016 in Sydney.

The sample sale includes gowns from size 8 to 12, This is a perfect for brides who are ready to purchase their designer gown at a discounted price! Designers include Inbal Dror, Oscar de la Renta, Mira Zwillinger, Monique Lhuillier, Naeem Khan, Zuhair Murad and more.

Prices start from AU$5,000.00

Book your appointment today to make use of this exclusive opportunity. Call Helen Rodrigues on 02 99045700 to make your appointment.

By appointment only
Date: Sunday, 11th December 2016
Where: Helen Rodrigues
Tel: 02 99045700

The Helen Rodrigues Elie Saab Bridal Presentation

We were beyond thrilled to host our Helen Rodrigues Elie Saab Bridal Presentation last Thursday evening, where we showcased a selection of gorgeous gowns from the inaugural 2017 Elie Saab Bridal collection ahead of our weekend trunk show for brides-to-be.

Available in Australia exclusively at our Helen Rodrigues boutique for two days only, it was a rare opportunity for members of the media and bridal industry to view Elie Saab gowns in person and see up close the magnificent quality and beautifully intricate design details that the esteemed designer is renowned for.

With gowns starting from $15,000, the exquisite new bridal collection features a gown for every type of woman with styles ranging from traditional and classic; to boho, retro and modern. All dresses are incredibly feminine, beautiful and sophisticated; and designed to highlight a woman’s silhouette.

As the exclusive Elie Saab Bridal stockist for Australia, we were so pleased to be able to showcase this stunning collection and formerly introduce the brand in such a special way. Whilst viewing the line, guests enjoyed French champagne and delicious canapés from Katering, with our boutique beautifully fragranced by divine peonies from Susan Avery. 

We can’t wait to fit all of our beautiful brides in their dream Elie Saab gowns and share the photos with you, but in the meantime feast your eyes on some of the images from our presentation evening below.

For any enquires regarding Elie Saab Bridal gowns please contact the Helen Rodrigues boutique on (02) 9904 5700.

Inbal Dror Designer Weekend - 2nd & 3rd Dec 2016

Announcing the Inbal Dror Designer Weekend on 2nd & 3rd Dec 2016 in Sydney.

The weekend will have gowns from Inbal's latest collection. This stunning collection will be in Sydney only for 2 days!

Book your appointment to be part of this exclusive event and buy your dream Inbal Dror wedding gown. There is a $50 booking fee that includes personal advise from Helen and a glass of bubbles! Call Helen Rodrigues on 02 99045700 to make your appointment.

By appointment only
Date: 2nd & 3rd Dec 2016
Where: Helen Rodrigues
Tel: 02 99045700

Elie Saab Bridal in Australia this November

Mark your diaries brides-to-be, because Helen Rodrigues is thrilled to announce the exciting arrival of Elie Saab Bridal in Australia next month. Wedding gowns from the stunning new 2017 collection will be available to purchase exclusively at our Neutral Bay boutique for two days only at our special trunk show happening on Friday 25th and Saturday 26th November – appointments essential.

An entirely new bridal line that joins the Elie Saab haute couture and ready-to-wear collections; in the air de temps of the modern bride, both feminine and daring silhouettes feature making our Elie Saab Bridal exclusive showcase a wonderful opportunity to find your dream gown.

A few things to consider before making your appointment:

• The Elie Saab Bridal range is between $14,000 - $50,000 (includes the cost of your fittings/alterations)
• There will be a one-off $100 fee for your personalised one hour appointment  The sample gowns are size AU10
• No makeup or fake tan can be worn to your appointment to uphold the integrity of the gowns
• No photographs are permitted during your appointment
• We kindly ask that you limit the friends/family members you bring with you to three
• As the Elie Saab gowns are only here for two days, we highly recommend that you have tried on gowns elsewhere before coming so that you can make your decision during your appointment knowing you have tried on other styles/designers prior

Elie Saab dazzles with his intricate details and strong sense of beauty, working with fine materials and delicate embroideries. He builds his fairytale creations using simple designs and precious resources, whilst always maintaining a form of sophistication. His specialty is the ultimate dress that highlights a woman's silhouette.

We are so honoured to have such an esteemed designer joining the Helen Rodrigues Bridal range and look forward to meeting all the lovely brides-to-be.

Appointments are limited, so book now to make sure you don’t miss out - (02) 9904 5700.

Helen Rodrigues Celebrates 15 Years

This year marked 15 years since the renowned Helen Rodrigues bridal boutique first opened its doors in Neutral Bay, Sydney – an achievement our family owned business is immensely proud of. To celebrate the occasion we held a special anniversary event to intimately thank all of our beautiful brides (both past and present), and our wonderful suppliers who have supported the Helen Rodrigues brand over the years. 

We also saw it as an opportunity to give something back to a cause close to our heart. Thanks to our designers who kindly donated beautiful gifts for our event auction, we were able to raise $10,000 for the McGrath Foundation and highlight the important work they do; with CEO, Petra Buchanan, also in attendance.

Held at the Park Hyatt Hotel with the lovely Catriona Rowntree as our MC; guests had delicious canapés and sipped on Veuve Clicquot champagne, while models showcased our luxury designer bridal gowns to jazz courtesy of The Moods. 

We were also incredibly honoured to have esteemed Israeli designer, Inbal Dror, create an exquisite, one-off gown for us to help celebrate this milestone for our brand. Something very special indeed.

Here’s to many more years of iconic bridal couture with Helen Rodrigues. 

Photo credits: All images captured by Society Photography.