Helen Rodrigues Shoots First Ever Campaign

It is with great excitement that we can now finally unveil the first look images from the inaugural Helen Rodrigues Bridal campaign photo shoot that took place recently. After being Sydney’s iconic bridal boutique for 16 years, we decided it was time to showcase our beautiful designer gowns in an incredibly special shoot produced exclusively for us by stylem and photographed by the amazing Amelia Soegijono.

A fine art photographer, Amelia chose to shoot the entire campaign on film – an extreme rarity these days. Able to achieve more sensitivity to light and softness compared to digital photography, it made the shoot even more magical for our brand. 

With Jess Berg on hand for hair and make-up and Susan Avery on floral headpieces, our model Alana looked stunning in the gorgeous bridal gowns from a number of our esteemed international designers such as Inbal Dror, Alon Livne, Jenny Packham, Elie Saab and Monique Llhuillier.

We’re delighted to now share our Helen Rodrigues Bridal images with you and hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

All photography credits: 
Photographer – Amelia Soegijono
Stylist / Producer – Emma Wood from stylem
Grooming – Jess Berg Hair & Make Up
Model – Alana Mia @ Chadwick Models
Studio – B2 Studios in Alexandria
Florals – Susan Avery Flowers & Events

Helen Rodrigues launches Alexandra Grecco

We are thrilled to announce that this month sees the arrival of the fabulous new Alexandra Grecco bridal collection, available in Australia exclusively at the Helen Rodrigues boutique.

Featuring ethereal gowns for the less-traditional and boho brides, the beautiful line was created when the designer herself was looking for a gown in advance of her own wedding in 2013 and saw an opportunity to pair her aesthetic with high-quality fabrics and intricate hand-embroidery.

According to Alexandra Grecco, she’s very excited to be working with Helen Rodrigues to offer a broad range of their gowns to Australian brides.

"Inspiration for our gowns can come from the tiniest details, whether it be a scrap of antique lace or embroidery.  Sometimes I pull ideas from a painting or an architectural detail. Most of the time though, I just create something that I would want to wear. Inspiration for me changes, but what's constant is that each season I am focused on the collection having a feeling of being effortless yet elegant," says Alexandra.
 
"It is really important to me that our brides feel comfortable in their gown and that our pieces move with the women who wear them. We use a lot of really lovely silks and create some subtle, yet striking embroidery.  I'm a big fan of gowns with strong, clean lines, but always with some detail that makes it truly special," she adds.

The gowns in the Alexandra Grecco bridal collection range from $4,500 to $10,000. To be one of the first in Australia to view her exquisite line, simply book your appointment now at the Helen Rodrigues exclusive preview launch day on Saturday 11th of March. Bookings are $50 and include a glass of bubbles.

For more information on Alexandra Grecco please visit her website here or for enquires on the collection simply phone the Helen Rodrigues boutique on (02) 9904 5700.

Three Bridal Events You Won’t Want To Miss This March

If you’re yet to find your perfect wedding dress then now’s your chance. With three exciting Helen Rodrigues events coming up in the next few weeks, there’s never been a better time to make an appointment at the boutique. With gowns to suit all styles and budgets, this is a fantastic opportunity to find your dream gown.
 
Alexandra Grecco Launch Preview – Saturday 11th March
Be one of the first in Australia to view the fabulous Alexandra Grecco bridal line at our exclusive launch preview day. The newest addition to the boutique, Alexandra Grecco’s gowns are exquisitely ethereal and perfect for the boho bride. Dresses range from $4,500 to $10,000. By appointment only, bookings are $50 and include a glass of bubbles.

Helen Rodrigues Sample Sale – Sunday 12th March
For one day only we will be selling sample gowns from a range of fabulous international designers such as Alon Livne, Jenny Packham, Inbal Dror, Monique Lhuillier, Sabrina Dahan, Naeem Khan, Zuhair Murad and Mira Zwillinger. A great opportunity to purchase a luxury gown at a more affordable price; all dresses are sample sizes 8-12 only and start at $5,000. Appointments essential.

Inbal Dror 2017 Trunk Show – Friday 17th & Saturday 18th March
Bridal gowns from Israeli designer Inbal Dror will be available in our exclusive appointment only trunk show held over two days. With a range of flattering designs crafted from the best fabrics, you’re bound to discover the perfect gown for you. 
 
To attend any of the above events phone the Helen Rodrigues boutique on (02) 9904 5700 to book your appointment today.

Image credit Jose Villa.
 

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.