Bride & Groom: Alexandra & Benjamin
Gown: Lee Grebenau ‘Bella’ from Helen Rodrigues Bridal
Venue: Gibson’s Beach Reserve (ceremony) & The Sunset Room at Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel (reception)
Photography: Damien Milan
Floral: Kashaya & Co
Videography: Story of Us
Planning and Styling: Little Lane
Bride’s Shoes: Rene Caovilla
How did you and your husband meet?
We met in Singapore where we were both working and living. After weeks of texting, we finally set up a first date at Lantern Bar. Initially, it was a disaster - despite having covered so much ground in the lead-up, the first few minutes of our date were excruciating stilted and formal. We were both cringing internally - until Ben turned the tables. Out of nowhere, he stood and kissed me full on the lips before grinning and swaggering off to the bathroom, leaving me blushing and in fits of laughter. Ice officially broken, the rest of the date was a breeze.
How did he propose?
We relocated to Sydney in 2018, but still have a lot of close friends and family in Asia. On a stopover in Singapore in February 2019, Ben lured me back to the site of our first kiss whilst pretending we were meeting my brother for dinner. Somehow I didn’t catch on until he was down on one knee!
Ben must have been fairly confident I’d say yes, because he’d arranged for my brother and our best friends to be waiting at Lantern Bar with champagne on ice to help us celebrate afterwards, which was the best. We flew out of Singapore the next day with sore heads and happy hearts.
What was your vision for your wedding day?
We had lots of international guests - many of whom hadn’t been to Sydney before - so it was important to us that we chose a venue that showcased Sydney’s natural beauty. We also wanted to create a convivial, relaxed atmosphere so guests didn’t feel they needed to stand on ceremony and could enjoy themselves fully.
Florals were very important to the vision. We chose a rose-focused theme because it has special significance to our family (my grandmother grew a different rose variety for each daughter) and I had my heart set on an organic, rambling arch made entirely of foliage and florals for the ceremony.
Where did you look for your wedding inspiration?
I went down deep Instagram and Pinterest rabbit holes! I looked at a couple of magazines, but because we had a feel for our theme, Pinterest was the easiest way for me to collate all my inspiration for various elements of the wedding.
What drew you to your gown from Helen Rodrigues Bridal?
My first appointment with Helen Rodrigues felt like I was entering a fantasy land - there were so many beautiful gowns to choose from! But as soon as I stepped into the Lee Grebenau gown, I caught my Mum’s eye and we were both lost for words.
The leaf motif in the ‘Bella’ gown was reminiscent of the details on my Mum’s wedding dress, and echoed our garden party theme, so it was the perfect choice for many reasons. The gown made me feel incredibly feminine and elegant but I still felt very much like ‘me’. I was honored to wear it on my wedding day.
What was your wedding planning journey like for you? How far out did you start planning?
It was fairly smooth sailing, all things considered! We were engaged in February 2019 and married in February 2020, which we felt was a reasonable timeline. Luckily Ben and I had similar ideas on most things!
We came out of our happily engaged bubble around April 2019 to start getting things organised. The first thing we did was finalise a venue and a date, as it influenced every other decision we made.
When we chose our ceremony spot, we knew florals would play a big role in transforming the sandy patch of grass into a venue, so I put a lot of time into finding the perfect florist. As soon as I saw Kashaya’s work I knew she was the perfect vendor for us. She took our concept and created a sprawling dreamscape of blush, pink and luscious greenery. The quality of the flowers she uses is exceptional, and the arch she created for us was exactly what I’d hoped for.
We had Little Lane to assist with styling and coordinating the ceremony and reception, and it was one of the best decisions we made! We cannot recommend them highly enough. Kirra was like a fairy godmother; she made our vision of the day come true. She went above and beyond to ensure everything ran smoothly and shared in our excitement and emotion on the day. Knowing such a competent person was liaising with the florist, celebrant, hotel, grooms party etc on the day made a huge difference.
What was the biggest decision you had to make?
Probably the venue. It was important to us that we chose a place that was quintessentially ‘Sydney’ whilst being easy for all guests (but especially international ones) to access and find accommodation nearby. The fact that Watson’s Bay Hotel has accommodation on-site was a big drawcard.
What was the highlight of your wedding day for you?
The highlight for me was having our loved ones together in one place. Ben is British, I’m Australian, and we have both lived abroad for a long time. I was moved by the effort our family and friends made to be there with us. We felt surrounded by love, and it reinforced how lucky we are to have such special people in our lives.
Is there anything you would do differently?
I had been unsure whether or not to make a speech at the reception. We already had a number of speeches confirmed, and although I believe modern brides should have a voice, I didn’t want to delay the dancefloor action any further! But, looking back, I would have loved to have thanked everyone in my own words.
Is there any advice you would give other #HRBride’s?
Order your ‘Thank You’ cards as soon as possible, whilst you’re still on that super-organised high and get them out ASAP! I’m embarrassed by how late ours were!
Choosing a wedding gown is such an important part of the bridal experience. I had been to two other places before Helen Rodrigues and was feeling fairly deflated and anonymous. From the first appointment, I was struck by the team’s professionalism, attention to detail and warmth. Helen and her team were so attentive and genuinely invested in helping me find the perfect gown. I felt so beautiful and special in our appointment. My experience with Helen and her team is one I will remember for a long time.
