HOW - 'The Wedding Shoes'

It’s a question we get asked by all of our brides - ‘What shoes do you recommend to go with my gown?’. The answer is always ‘shoes that you are comfortable in!’.

Once the dress has been found, the next step would be then to go and find ‘the shoes’. Our advice would be to start with brands that you already own and wear so that you know you can survive all day and all night in.

With brides opting for shoes that they will wear beyond the wedding day, the options these days are vast. We of course have some favourite brands and style which compliment our gowns, and the main thing to ensure is that you can walk, mingle, and dance comfortably (as to be expected!).

There are a number of statement shoes brides gravitate towards which have embellishments or bows. You need to be careful with these as, although they look fabulous for the iconic ‘shoe shot’, they can cause your gown to catch or potentially tear the lining and hem of your gown (less than ideal!).

If you are considering changing your shoes once the ‘formalities’ are over to be more comfortable at your reception, please keep in mind (unless you are changing your gown), your gown’s hem has been tailored to the height of the shoes you’ll be wearing for your ceremony. So, if you’re thinking of changing into a pair of Stan Smiths or a shoes with a lower heel height, you need to be conscious that your gown length will be longer. It’s worth thinking about changing into a block heel or even a wedge in the same/ similar height to your first pair as a more comfortable option.

HOW - The Intimate Edit

If the recent Covid outbreak in NSW and lockdowns have you thinking of postponing or rethinking your big wedding plans for 2021 and considering an elopement or more intimate celebration, here at Helen Rodrigues Bridal we are here to help with our Intimate Edit of bridal looks including gowns, accessories, veils and shoes that can all be perfect for a smaller but incredible celebration of love.

Halfpenny London Iris Slip gown

Halfpenny London Cheryl gown

Our beautiful designers Halfpenny London, Suzanne Neville and for a limited time Viktor & Rolf all have an exquisite selection of gowns perfect for an intimate celebration and are available to order with a shorter leader time of less than 6 months.

Halfpenny London Daffodil gown

Halfpenny London Oliver gown

Halfpenny London’s collection includes a stunning array of modern gowns, tops, skirts, jackets, pants, bows, sleeves, and capes that you can combine together to create your perfect intimate wedding look, with all pieces lovingly handmade in London. Kate Halfpenny understands the desire as a bride to be the best version of yourself and to express that in your own way.

Suzanne Neville Adair gown

Suzanne Neville Zarina gown

Suzanne Neville’s collection are hand crafted using the techniques of contemporary couture. Most well know for beautifully constructed gowns with signature-structure bodices, Suzanne’s gowns are elegant and timeless perfect for an intimate celebration.

Viktor & Rolf VRM111

Viktor & Rolf VRM081

The Viktor & Rolf Mariage collection represents Viktor & Rolf’s artistic interpretation of bridalwear, adhering to three key pillars: unexpected elegance, conceptual glamour and provocative couture. Each dress has an individual character giving the bride wearing it a fashion edge. The Viktor & Rolf collection is only available at Helen Rodrigues Bridal until the end of September 2021.

Viktor & Rolf VRM046

Viktor & Rolf VRM247

The other appealing option for those brides that can’t wait is buying one of our stunning sample gowns off the rack, from our sister store Luxe Bridal Samples. Sample gowns are a perfect option for brides who are getting married with a short planning time as you can take the gown home with you on the day you purchase it! It is also an incredible option for brides that already have a gown but have decided to wear something different from their original gown for their intimate celebration, or for those brides who are just wanting to secure a designer gown for a great price.

Suzanne Neville Venus gown available to purchase off the rack from Luxe Bridal Samples

Make our Intimate Edit gowns your own by perfectly pairing your gown with our exclusive designer accessories and veils by Jennifer Behr, Keren Wolf, Peter Langner and silk robes for getting ready in by Canandian designer Daphne Newman. All our designer accessories are available to order online and be delivered to your door from HR Bridal Accessories.

If you would like to find out more about our Intimate Edit for your wedding day please email our stylist team HERE.

Daphne Newman Grace, Sophia, Capri, and Elle silk robes & the Lola silks set - all available to order online from HR Bridal Accessories

HOW - Wedding Planning Tips & Tricks with Benita Kam

With more than two decades of experience in the Australian event and wedding industry, Benita Kam of BNT Management remains one of the most stylish and respected planners in the event space. Founded in 1999, BNT Management has a reputation as a leader in the field of luxury events. BNT offers a full concept design, styling, coordination and planning service across the board - strategically and creatively producing custom events to reflect each and every client.

It is easy to organize a wedding in terms of hiring - choose a tablecloth, book a band, hire the candelabras and pay the deposits to the photographer and videographers.

BNT Management however has that something extra; creativity, imagination; flair. Ingredients that turn a wedding into ‘the most talked about wedding of the year.”

8 Tips and Tricks for your perfect day

1. The top tip is to engage a wedding planner. The perfect wedding celebration is a beautiful idea. Designing it can be overwhelming. Wedding planners are there to take a couple’s vision and then they will execute it with originality that pertains to each individual couple and will pay attention to all of the details that have been mentioned to them so that everyone especially the bride and groom have the best time.

2. Don’t listen to everyone’s advice and don’t ask for too much of it as this will make everything really stressful. It is important that couples remain true to themselves. The best way to plan a wedding efficiently and easily is to engage a top team.

3. Make sure that the planner you engage will book vendors that you trust. If you trust the planner then you in turn will trust the vendors. This way you don’t need to second guess any choices. Ask your planner to look after the timeline and the budget so that they will inform you when decisions need to be made and what is to be expected. I always say a happy bride is a well-informed bride. The same applies to guests. A happy guest is a well-informed guest - make sure they know all details.

4. Don’t have a set budget as a wedding is a bit like building something. It is important to have a range for a budget and as long as it is realistic, and you can have some flexibility then no one will be disappointed. BUT determine a budget based on what you can afford. Do not put a rope around your necks for one night. Nobody in the room will know about the things you wanted and couldn’t have.

5. Don’t expect absolute perfection and prioritize on what is important - as something can always go wrong, but this needs to be put into perspective. What is important is your future lives together as partners - not the tiny details of the wedding celebrations (that only you know should have been different in the first place!)

6. When you get to the beginning of the aisle - STOP, and silently count to ten before you take your steps forward. This provides for a great photo opportunity.

7. Before you leave for the ceremony it is really important to stop and breathe and just savor the moments as they go so fast. This is the dream you will have had in your head for so long, so, stop for a minute and appreciate it.

8. Make sure you give a list to your planner or to the photographer of special people you want in your photographs as they can’t guess who those people are. This way important guests won’t be forgotten, and you won’t regret any missed opportunities to capture the moments with those closest to you.

Designer in focus: Kate Halfpenny

With the arrival of the exquisite HALFPENNY London edit in store this week, we spoke for designer Kate Halfpenny about her excitement to bring her beautiful designs to the Australian bride and how COVID-19 has changed her approach to design.

How did you get into bridal design?

I was always obsessed with dresses and fashion. School wasn’t the dream for me that it was for many people,  I wasn’t academically driven so as soon my exams were over I ran as fast as I could to Art college where I just had the best time.  I then was lucky enough to go to University where I did a four year degree in fashion with marketing and manufacture where I specialised in bridal wear for my final show and designed and made a collection of bridal separates.  No one was doing anything like that back then. I saw a gap in the market and knew it was for me. I sent models down the catwalk with huge tulle overskirts. They undid the clasp and dropped the overskirt to reveal a short, fitted cocktail dress underneath.  It was a lot of fun!

After university, I relocated to London to go to St Martins where I studied on the MA design for textiles futures to expand my knowledge of fabrics. I also started working as a stylist, which evolved into an incredible career dressing some of the world’s most iconic, wonderful, inspiring women like Cate Blanchet and Kate Moss, Rihanna and Erin O’Connor, also some brilliant gents too from George Michael to Mick Hucknall.  It was such an amazing job, a career I didn’t believe even existed growing up in a small town, pre-internet. I mainly worked on high profile TV commercials and music videos with huge named directors so the pressure was on.  I was like a sponge soaking up all the knowledge and experience I could get and I truly believe that it helped shape who I am as a designer.  I designed my lovely friend, British Actress Emilia Fox’s wedding dress back in 2005, Vogue mentioned me and then my website launched and the rest is history!  I worked from home until I opened my boutique in Bloomsbury in 2012, A dream come true.  The demand for my dresses grew and I started recruiting more and more staff, it was so exciting.  I had Sylvester in 2015 my precious IVF son so focused all my energy into being a mother and growing my beautiful Bridal brand, we’ve grown so much in the last 16 years. I now have 3 shops in Woburn walk with an 18 strong team. 

How long have you been designing bridal for?

I’ve been designing bridal wear since my degree in the late 90’s, although I guess you could say ever since I could draw as that’s what I used to do as a child. I’d draw big ballgowns with nipped-in waists when I was tiny, so the obsession started early!  Halfpenny London was officially born in 2005 when I launched my website,  I’ve loved working with every single bride since then. It’s a huge privilege being entrusted to make such a special garment.

Can you describe the Halfpenny bride in your own words?

We honestly don’t have a typical bride. My collection is so diverse so there really is something for everyone. I have gorgeous dresses to suit every body shape and a huge range of interchangeable separates so brides can truly express themselves on their big day and be the best version of themselves. I always say “be the bride you want to be” and that’s the cornerstone of Halfpenny London. We are all unique so it would be crazy to expect one style to suit all people! In my opinion, a woman should wear whatever she likes on her wedding day as long as it makes her feel good.  

Where do you normally get your design inspiration from? and has it changed/ developed since covid?

I’m inspired by everything! I love art and architecture, nature and flowers… There’s so much to find beauty in if you lift your head. More often than not, my designs start with a magnificent fabric and the shape grows in front of my eyes, but when we went into lockdown here in the UK, I started looking closer to home for my inspiration. Instead of looking out, I started to look in and realised I had everything I need right here in front of me.
Out of this World, the last collection, was going to be completely different. It was all conceived pre-pandemic and was going to be a celebration of my love affair with textiles, full of decadent beading and textures. Instead, I took the silhouettes and married them with existing Halfpenny London hero fabrics, showcasing the exquisite patterns and expert construction by adding piping, accentuating the seams. It looks very different to how I initially imagined it would but I’ve kept the name as a reminder that things don’t always turn out how you planned, and beauty, like love, often looks quite different to how you imagined.  It can be right under your nose and all you have to do is stop for a moment and look for it.

Are you excited to be able to reach the Australian bride through Helen Rodrigues?

We are so excited to finally have a presence in Australia and, more importantly, with our favourite store Helen Rodriques Bridal. Being a Brit, Helen totally understands my ethos and it brings me great joy that we’ve finally aligned and made this partnership a reality. 

How did you decide on the pieces for the Australian bride?

My team and I worked with Helen and her team to bring together the ultimate, interchangeable edit of pieces to maximise the number of choices Australian brides will have by styling the pieces in different combinations. There’s something for everyone in this gorgeous edit and I’m so excited to see what the brides and the HR team create!

Any predictions for bridal trends in 2021?

I think couples are going to go bigger after the pandemic and celebrate the joy of actually being able to get married again. I think brides will go for that transformation moment and choose layers upon layers of pieces to peel back throughout the day, truly enjoying celebrating themselves and their bodies. 

Book your exclusive appointment to try on the HALFPENNY London collection in store HERE.

HOW - Little Lane Events

Helen on Weddings (HOW) is back for 2021! The blog where Helen shares 20 years of knowledge in the bridal industry with our beautiful ‘brides to be’. Over the holidays we spoke to the amazing team at Little Lane Events to get their tips and tricks for all things planning and styling from why you need a planner to advice on finding your wedding style.

Who is little lane?

Located on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Little Lane are a team of unapologetically obsessed wedding professionals. Just like truffles pair perfectly with Dom Perignon, our talented and creative team of stylists, designers, planners and florists work harmoniously together? Well, they are nothing short of magnificent.

At Little Lane we have a reputation for our ‘difference’ among the wedding community. We don’t just style, we listen, we personalise and then we create the most amazing and thoughtful weddings. All the while staying on-site to coordinate your ceremony and reception so all you have to do is enjoy your special day.

Little Lane is owned by two gorgeous, strong and completely devoted women. They are each other’s Ying and Yang, and they direct the most talented crew of creative magicians.

Kirra is the director you will speak to first. She has a tonne of experience and is a wedding planner and stylist extraordinaire. Not only has she styled for the stars, she was also an interior designer in her previous life. She is all about tones, textures and layers, and most of all she has a true knack for bringing any concept to life. She is responsible for making dreams come true for so many of our beautiful couples - and is guaranteed to shed more than a couple of tears as she watches her brides walk down the aisle.

Lauren is the director of perfection. Making sure her couple’s big day is as stress free as possible and that every little detail is absolutely on point. To say she loves weddings is the understatement of the century. After all she was the girl who would buy Cosmo Bride every month as soon as it came out, when she wasn’t even engaged!

What does a Planner do and why do you need one?

A Planner can do as much or as little as you want, the decision is completely up to you. You can be totally involved, or you can hand it over to those that do it every day. BUT, no matter the type of planning assistance you chose, you will experience moments of overwhelm before the big day and this is when you really want and need a good Planner. They are the one person by your side on this amazing journey, who will provide insightful knowledge and little tips along the way. They will remind you to enjoy the planning process, but most of all, they will allow you to enjoy your special day, because you feel completely comfortable that they will make sure, it is all just perfect.

The whole idea of luxurious dresses, delicately handcrafted stationary and blush blooms makes us go weak at the knees. There is not one detail we won’t want to get our cheeky little hands on. This is what you want in a Wedding Planner!

There are many different levels of wedding planning that you can have, depending on how much support you want for the big day. Did you know that Little Lane include ceremony coordination in all our ceremony packages? This means our team will welcome your guests and personally meet you at your car to calm any nerves, fluff your dress, give the nod to start the music, repurpose your florals and move your welcome sign to your reception, ready for when your guests arrive!

We also offer On the Day Coordination, which is popular for those still wanting involvement and perhaps have done all the hard work planning the main details, but need help pulling together the logistics, and coordinator on the big day.

Or if you really don’t know where to start, or simply don’t have time (or desire!) to plan the whole thing, then we can handle everything from start to finish with our Wedding Planning package. We won’t leave your side until you are exiting your reception venue through a tunnel of sparklers!

Tips and Tricks for choosing a Planner

If you think you need a Wedding Planner, then chances are you definitely need one. Planning your own wedding can be a roller coaster of emotions and at some point will leave you feeling a little overwhelmed. But don’t worry, there is always help, the trick is in finding the perfect help.

Little Lane have been planning and styling weddings for years and the main thing we have learned is that no two weddings are the same. There is always something that just ‘pops up’ And this is when you wish really wish you had a Wedding Planner.

Our top tips for finding the right Planner for you and your fiance.

1. Referrals, this is the best way to start. If you have a friend or family member who used a Planner, and you loved their wedding, chances are you’ll love this Planner.

2. Start by research three local Planners. Any more and it just gets confusing. Check out their websites and socials (Instagram and Facebook) look at their photos and read client testimonials. Which one do you feel suits you best (rate them 1-3).

3. Be organised! If you’re not the organised type, that’s ok too. But at least know your wedding date and if you don’t have anything else locked in, have some ideas around where you would like to have your ceremony and reception.

4. Personal vibe. Oh my gosh this is so important. Trust yourself, call or email your selected Planners. Discuss your date, your locations and wedding style/ theme. Is the conversation easy, did they freely offer little tips about your chosen location? Did they feel like your people? Are they within your budget?

5. Trust yourself! It is your wedding, your Planner is there to make it just for you! No one else but you (and your fiance). If you feel as though a Planner is controlling, and you like that, choose them. If you don’t then move on. If you feel like your Planner is vague and that bothers you, don’t choose them. Trust.. your… self!

6. I know we said 5, but we can’t help ourselves! Remember to breathe through the ups and downs, find a laugh with your fiance when you have to make tricky decisions, and remember to enjoy the planning. It is just as important and just as much fun as the big day. Enjoy being engaged. It is a magical time.

Damian Milan Photography

We had Little Lane to assist with styling the ceremony and reception, and couldn’t recommend them highly enough. Kirra was the fairy godmother that made our dreams come true, and went above and beyond on the day. Knowing such a competent person was liaising with the florist, celebrant, hotel, etc on the day made everything a breeze. - HR Real Bride Alexandra

Advice on finding your wedding style

If you need advice on finding your wedding style, then Kirra is the lady to speak to. We have already mentioned she loves tones, textures and layers, but what we haven’t told you is she is the Queen of mood boards. She can whip up a perfectly balanced and bespoke mood board for your wedding like Nigella Lawson whips up a Cider and 5 Spice Bundt Cake!

In the meantime, here are some tips to get you started:

Prioritise: this is your starting line, we can’t stress the importance of setting aside some quiet time for you and your fiance to chat about what is important to you as a couple and individuals - write down each other’s wants versus likes.

Schedule and words: this is one you can do together or separately. Schedule some time to think about and write down what you did and didn’t like about the style of past weddings you’ve attended. Then find the words and write as many as you can that best describe your style, colour tone, or feeling that you wish to evoke on your wedding day.

Research: start your pinning! Now the fun really begins, and you probably have a good feeling of what you both like and don’t like. Start by breaking up your boards on Pinterest into the categories listed below. From the very beginning, I can assure you, Pinterest is like a delicious warm chocolate fountain, the goodness just keeps coming and you’re never ever going to want to stop!

• Ceremony styling

• Reception styling

• Florals

• Stationary, signage, invitations

• Wedding cake/ dessert ideas

• Bridal outfits

• Bridal party outfits

• Wedding cars

• Wedding exit

Now it is time to pin away! But don’t forget to take your time and get lost in the portal and have some serious fun. Feel free to pin everything and anything at this stage, I won’t reign you in this early.

Pulling it together: Now it is time to start it all together. Our favourite bit!

Find whatever works best for you. PowerPoint, Canva or simply printing out your images and scrapbooking them into a well-loved book. Find whatever works best for you. I always suggest being quite ruthless, but now it’’s time to reign it in! Start by going through one category at a time and just pulling a small handful of your most favourite images. Try your best to keep each category to one page of images so you can see them all laid out together. As you go through category by category you will find a beautiful organic flow of colour, tone and style.

Our final note, planning your wedding is going to be one of the most exciting, amazing, fun and overwhelming and scary experiences of your life. Yet we guarantee it will be the most rewarding because it is usually the first important experience you will achieve together as a couple.

You can get in contact with Little Lane Events HERE.

HOW - Wedding Wellness with Health and Fitness Entrepreneur Jess Sepel

All brides want to look and feel their absolute best on their wedding day, but what many don’t realise is that it starts with what you’re putting into your body. Good nutrition can improve everything from skin and hair to your mood and energy; so a healthy mind and body is what all brides should be aiming for.

As the second article in our Wedding Wellness series for our Helen on Weddings (HOW) blog series, we’ve gathered the top tips and tricks for you from one of the best in the business: expert nutritionist, blogger and author Jessica Sepel. Jess herself was a Helen Rodrigues real bride not too long ago, so we’ve included some of her own personal nutritional tips for the big day to help you out as well.

Begin with a healthy food relationship

According to Jess, the assumption is that all brides are trying to lose weight, with many guides and programs all geared towards dropped weight fast in time for the wedding. As a bride to be your can feel enormous pressure to look and feel perfect for the special day… but I also know that the complicated relationship with food that results from this doesn’t make you or your body good.

Jess knows this first hand, her previous unhealthy relationship with food and subsequent recovery journey is what actually prompted her to start her JS health blog. Letting go of this controlling and restrictive strive for thin perfection also ended up being the key to making her wedding amazing. It was her secret to being a stress-free bride. I know that if I had still been caught up in that mentality I would never have gotten to where I am now, because when we’re trying to control our food and diets, we’re inevitably trying to control other parts of our lives too.

Jess believes that our relationship with food has a huge impact on our emotional and physical health - and the relationship with everyone around us too. Healthy eating is the key to healthy and happy living. If you know you are taking care of your body and giving it what it needs, it is so good to you in return. Don’t try to look or eat perfectly - eat in tune with your body and you will see results and most importantly feel the best you ever had.

Pre-wedding preparation

Jess believes it’s important for brides preparing for their wedding day to realise that real and everlasting beauty is from the inside out.

Jess’ top nutrition tips for the lead up to the wedding day

• Load up on veggies - add more greens and other vegetables to your plate as the nutrients will feed your skin and hair cells

• Include protein at every meal - to help with energy levels and other functions

• Eat lots of good fats - so many women are afraid of healthy fats and avoid them, but this is great for your skin and hair, so embrace and enjoy things like avocado, salmon, nuts, and seeds.

• Take care of your digestion

• Drink plenty of water - stay hydrated by drinking two litres of filtered water a day to achieve healthy skin and hair, flush toxins, aid digestion and generally feel better.

• Cut out processed sugar - also consider cutting back on fruit (two pieces a day is great)

• Add supplements - Jess has her own supplement line, find out more HERE

• Make time for sleep - Jess herself has a non-negotiable commitment to eight hours of rest every single day for a healthy mind and body, and believes sleep is even more vital for brides.

Tips for the actual wedding

According to Jess, most brides do their best to move and eat well in the weeks and months leading up to the big day, but it shouldn’t stop there. The way you fuel your body on your wedding day is just as important as the preparation you’ve put in during the planning process. It can be challenging and you’ll be excited, nervous and busy!

It’s easy to reach for sugary sweets bought in by your granny, champagne with your girls or for some brides, nothing at all due to nerves. But in order to feel and look your absolute best when you walk down the aisle, it’s essential to eat. On the big day ideally Kess recommends brides to eat clean, real whole foods - mainly fruits, lean protein and veggies - but in small amounts to avoid bloat and dehydration, and boost that bridal glow.

Jess’s ideal meal plan for a bride on her wedding day

Pre-breakfast: upon waking, sip warm water with the juice of one lemon squeezed into it along with some ginger. Both lemon and ginger are detoxifying on the liver and prepare the digestive system for the food to come. As tempting as a mimosa might be, it can cause a blood sugar spike on an empty stomach.

Breakfast: for a bride who loves her java, one cup of black coffee - no milk or sugar - is good. Too much more could cause extra jitters and there’s no time for that on your big day! Follow this with fresh papaya (which contains an amazing enzyme that soothes the digestive system) or grapefruit with a drizzle of lime juice.

Lunch: a piece of grilled fresh white fish with lots of herbs and spices and small green salad, or some steamed greens drizzled with lemon juice - no salt added - are great options for a light touch. Avoid salt to prevent fluid retention and opt for herbs and spices instead which are anti-inflammatory and natural detoxifiers.

Drinks: while loads of water is encouraging in the lead up to the wedding, it’s best to stick to small sips on the big day. This will prevent bloating and extra fluid retention, and mean fewer trips to the bathroom.

Jess’s magical wedding

The renowned nutritionist married her love Dean back in December 2015 in Thailand on a beautiful sandy beach with 170 of their closest friends and family watching on. Jess wore a stunning Anna Maier dress from HRB and their healthy wedding retreat like celebrations latest four magical days.

Activities and aspects of their inspiring nuptials included: healthy gifts bags for guests, fresh healthy wholefood buffet and snacks, vitamin juice shots, sunrise yoga, organic wine and day spa massage and beauty treatments for the girls. Jess even managed a refreshing personal meditation for herself just before the ceremony - something she highly recommends for all brides on their big day.

HOW - Wedding Wellness with Beauty Expert Joclyn Petroni

One of the positives to come out of the covid lockdown has been the ability for some of our brides to be to slow down, take some time for self-love, and focus on becoming the best version of themselves for their wedding day.

As the first article in our ‘Wedding Wellness’ series for our Helen on Weddings (HOW) blog, we spoke to one of the best in the business, expert beauty therapist Jocelyn Petroni to get her advice for making your skin and nails wedding-ready. Jocelyn herself was a Helen Rodrigues bride not long ago so we’ve included some of her own personal beauty tips for the big day to help you out as well.

How to get your skin wedding ready?

Regardless of the bridal look you are going for, glowing skin is a secret weapon to not only look your best on your special day but to creating long-lasting memories captured in photos, videos, and social media.

‘Wedding-ready’ skin takes time and effort, a journey that should start 12 months out from the big day. I always suggest to clients to keep a skincare journal throughout this time and build up a programme of activity to deliver optimal results. At the time, seek the support of a qualified skin expert who can understand your individual needs and develop a rigorous programme to achieve your goals. This should involve an external and internal plan.

Externally, develop a routine of in-salon and at-home maintenance, supported by a tailored assortment of quality skin care products designed to achieve your goal. Amplify active ingredients in your products and regularly use machinery and massage through in-salon treatments like facial peels, Omnilux sessions, and microdermabrasion. Omnilux plumps out your fine lines and leaves skin super hydrated, while microdermabrasion is an excellent way to slough away dry and dead skin debris that can build up on the skin. Vitamin A peels leave the skin dewy and glowing, whilst also targeting pigmentation. The options available are varied and complex, suitable for targeted needs, so it is best to be guided by a skincare expert.

Internally, eating a diverse diet that includes whole foods and minimally processed foods will deliver a glowing complexion. Feeding the skin from the inside out is also essential, so look for ingestible supplements to support the skin internally. Water goes without saying, drink at least two litres a day to keep hydration in the skin at an optimal level. Our skin condition is in part a reflection of our inner wellbeing. By exercising and meditating daily, it sets the tone for your attitude and approach for the day and lowers your stress levels. The knock-on effect is lower cortisol levels, which means a glowing complexion - you rest better, eat better and generally have a more positive outlook on life. Sleep is also so important to delivering great-looking, repaired skin. Beauty sleep is not a myth but actually essential for the skin to repair, detoxify and synthesize collagen. Be really conscious of achieving adequate sleep, 6-8 hours, every night in the last month leading up to the wedding.

Plan to have a facial one week out from the big day and the night before using an energizing face mask with Vitamin A to stimulate the blood flow and oxygen in the skin to ensure you wake up looking well-rested.

What beauty tips would you give to other brides?

Enhance your own beauty and don’t try to create a look that isn’t just you. Take the time to work out what expert support you need to achieve your ideal wedding look with hair, skin, makeup and nails and then map out that journey in the lead up to the big day in your journal. Also, don’t forget the groom as men also suffer with skin issues like redness, sensitivity and pimples. It’s important for the photos for the groom to also have optimum skin health. In fact, it’s important for the beauty needs of the entire bridal party to be taken into account. Remember that makeup only looks as good as the skin it is sitting on.

Do you offer bride specific services at your Jocelyn Petroni salon?

We love to welcome brides and full bridal parties to the salon for their wedding preparation. Many brides seek our pre-wedding advice on skin and nails. We have also recently opened up a grand, luxe gallery space in the salon that caters to bridal parties. The gallery space is an oversized treatment room where 2 people can be treated with facials, manicures and pedicures happening at the same time. This opens to a beautiful outside courtyard/ balcony, where wedding parties can enjoy champagne, cupcakes and precious time together and reflect on everything in the lead up to the big day.

What did you do for your skin before your wedding?

I started working on my wedding skin very early. I put myself on an intensive skin program for glowing, dewy and radiant results, it was important to me that my skin be more luminous than it has ever been. I booked into my salon as a client for a facial every 6 weeks. I alternated the skin brightening peel with the skin perfecting Azyme peel every two weeks and a 6 week intervals I had the Heart Chakra Prescribed Facial. I added an Omnilux booster to every peel or facial as well.

Jocelyn wore a stunning Elie Saab gown for her Sydney wedding - my very stylist friend, Nat was helping on reception in the salon and I asked her to browse around online for some wedding gown inspiration. She said her ‘heart fluttered’ when she came across this Elie Saab gown and her adoration was infectious, I instantly fell in love with it! I couldn’t get the dress in Sydney, London or Dubai, luckily Helen stepped in and helped me find it. I bought the dress before even trying it on!

Discover Jocelyn full Real Bride feature HERE.

2019 Bridal Trends

British Bridal Designer Suzanne Neville’s sleep and modern designs will be available in Helen Rodrigues Bridal from January 2019

Following Helen’s recent International trips to NYC Bridal Week and Paris she provides her insight into trends we can expect to see in 2019.

Are there any definitive bridal trends you are seeing for 2019?

After visiting NY in Oct and Paris in Dec there is a definite trend to the more classic gowns. The Clean lines and silhouettes and more simple fabrics give the modern, chic and elegant feel. However, the most important trend for a bride is to wear a gown that they love and makes them feel the “best of themselves” on their special day.

When it comes to accessories what can we expect in 2019?

As we see bridal gowns becomes more streamlined it allows for more dramatic accessories to be worn to complete the wedding look. A dramatic pair of earrings can always complete the look. A statement headpiece can also be added! Again, these pieces can become heirloom pieces and be passed down, or can be worn on another special occasion.

We are also seeing many of our gowns being teamed with different belts. This is always a signature of Mr Saab’s ready to wear bridal collection. Lee Petra Grebenau has also launched some stunning leather belts to take your look to the next level and also highlight your waist!

Keren Wolf’s statement Pearl Crowns on the Inbal Dror runway

Keren Wolf’s exquisite pearl and flower crown available in store

Do you find celebrity weddings influence this industry? Did Meghan Markle’s wedding gown noticeably influence or inspire bridal gown requests?

I think to some degree celebrities do influence the industry. However, my brides are woman who know their own minds and know what makes them feel good. So they are more influenced by that and quality rather than celebrities. I certainly believe that the simplicity of Meghan’s gown has inspired many designers. There was already a nod to have more simple gowns, but Meghan’s made brides feel it was chic to wear simple – “less is more”.

Which bridal designers are the ones to watch in 2019?

To be honest all of my designers are currently producing amazing collections! I loved Inbal Dror’s latest collection that she just launched – it is perfect for the Australian bride as it is very light and airy. Lee Petra Grebenau always produces unique gowns for the discerning bride. These often inspire other bridal designers but can never be re-created to the same detail and quality!

Exceptional details of the Lee Petra Grebenau ‘Karlie’ Gown

What can we expect from Helen Rodrigues Bridal in 2019?

As we enter into our 18th year of trading we plan to do continue sharing brides wedding journeys with them and delivering them their dream gown.

We are excited to extend our stable of designers to include British Designer Suzanne Neville. Suzanne is renowned for the exquisite fabrics she uses. Her gowns are simple, clean lines with amazing corsetry.

We are also excited to extend our accessory collection to include a collection of Daphne Newman’s handmade silk robes and slips. These are all made to order and will become a family heirloom.

We have extended our collection of Keren Wolf jewellery including more earrings and headpieces to create your entire bridal look

We have an extensive range of veils from Peter Langner in addition to our beautiful Helen Rodrigues Signature veils.

Welcoming Daphne Newman’s handmade silk robes and slips to the hand selected accessories available at Helen Rodrigues Bridal