Real Bride Sophia wearing Lee Grebenau Taylor

Bride & Groom: Sophia and Ben
Gown: Lee Petra Grebenau Taylor
Accessories: Veil – Peter Langner Pearl Veil + Jennifer Behr Pearl Pins
Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Bridesmaids dresses: Bec + Bridge
Venue: St Josephs College Hunters Hill (church) and Doltone House Jones Bay Wharf (Reception)
Photography: Salt Atelier
Videography: Salt Atelier
Floral: Sydney Wedding Flowers (florals and styling)
Cake: Something Blue Wedding Cakes
Cars: Roll Up In A Rolls
MC: Joseph Dimento

How did you and your husband meet?
Ben and I met just after high school through mutual friends. The first time we met was at a party where we chatted for a while but left things there. It wasn’t until a few months later where we bumped into each other at the shops and things kicked off from there.
How did he propose?
Ben organised the whole thing which was so sweet! He got my friends and our family involved so that everyone was on board. He had a gorgeous set up down at McMahons Point where he proposed. My friends had organised to go for lunch with me that day, so I was unsuspecting of the proposal. I believed Ben was at his usual Saturday soccer game at the time and when I arrived to McMahon’s Point he was there, amongst the beautiful set up, waiting for my arrival. We celebrated with our family and closest friends afterwards and had a gorgeous lunch at Catalina in Rose Bay.

What was your vision for your wedding day?
Classic and elegant. I wanted all of the elements to be classic and timeless – particularly my gown. I wanted to be able to look back in 10 years and still be in awe of every detail, which I am confident that I will be.
Where did you look for your wedding inspiration?
I had some ideas in mind already, however, my Instagram account was flooded with wedding content from the moment I got engaged!

What drew you to your gown from Helen Rodrigues Bridal?
The amazing material. The hand-beaded gown caught my eye instantly. Surprisingly, it was the last gown I tried on, but I immediately knew that it was going to be the gown for me.

What was your wedding planning journey like for you? How far out did you start planning?
I started planning immediately after we got engaged. We had booked in the date and locked in the venue a couple of weeks after our engagement. The whole process was super exciting for us, and I managed to keep quite organised throughout the process which reduced a lot of the stress.

What was the biggest decision you had to make?
The biggest decision was definitely my gown!! I wanted it to be absolutely perfect – and it was! I remember being in awe of my gown every time I came to Helen for a fitting. I had also kept my gown a surprise from all of my friends and family – including my bridesmaids and maid of honour. This was so hard to do but it was absolutely worth it! We did a big reveal on the day which was so special.

What was the highlight of your wedding day for you?
The most memorable moment was walking down the aisle. Seeing Ben for the first time at the end of the aisle was such an emotional moment. Also, having my dad walk me down the aisle was so special to me. It was definitely the moment with the most anticipation and the biggest highlight of the day. I felt so beautiful walking down the aisle in my gown and having all the most important people in my life seeing me for the first time on the most important day of my life.

Is there anything you would do differently?
Definitely not! No regrets!

Is there any advice you would give other #HRBride’s?
Enjoy the process and enjoy the moment! Helen has the most amazing gowns and she made the process so seamless and stress free! During some of the stressful moments of wedding planning, you sometimes wish for time to move quicker. However, now that the day has come and gone, I wish I could go back and enjoy those moments again because it’s something you only get to experience once. The process leading up to the wedding is just as exciting as the day itself! Everybody tells you that your wedding day is going to be the best day of your life, and they are absolutely right! Soak it all in because it will truly be the best day of your life!

I could not speak higher for Helen and Nicole at Helen Rodrigues Bridal. They were incredible and patient when helping me choose my dream gown. All the gowns are of exceptional quality and are absolutely stunning. I was able to take my time in the initial appointments to ensure I was certain with all my decision. Every appointment was easy and stress free. Helen made every interaction so personal, and it was very clear that she wants every one of her brides to have the ultimate bridal experience and feel their very best on their wedding day. I couldn’t imagine going through this process without Helen and I can’t recommend her highly enough!

HR Bride Cayli Wearing Lee Petra Grebenau Sophie

Bride & Groom: Brett Rosenberg & Cayli Shubitz
Planning & Styling: Styled by Sting
Gown: Lee Petra Grebenau ‘Sophie’ from Helen Rodrigues Bridal
Accessories: Veil from HR accessories, Jimmy Choo Shoes & Keren Wolf Earrings
Bridesmaids Dresses: PatBO
Venue: The Grounds of Alexandria
Photography: Jack Henry Photography
Videography: Soda Films
Floral: Wilder
Make up: Katie Angus Makeup
Hair: Diane Gorgievski

How did you and your husband meet?

Brett and I had known each other for many years as we went to the same high school and had many mutual friends. After school, Brett played soccer with my brother and kept begging him to allow him to date me. After relentless perseverance, my brother finally agreed. We went on a first date and here we are today.

How did he propose?

Brett and I had been doing long distance for 18 months, as Brett was living in Toronto, Canada. The plan was for Brett to come to Sydney, so that I could fly back with him to move there to be with him. He arrived on an early morning flight in February 2020 and unfortunately, I was at work that day. That afternoon we went for our usual sunset walk along the Rose Bay marina and towards the end of the walk out of nowhere he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. He had organised for our families to have a big dinner together and for all our friends to come for a drink later, it was really just the best day!

What was your vision for your wedding day?

We wanted our wedding to be a representation of “us”. We wanted every guest that attended to feel connected to us as a couple, so they could share in our love and create one big party! I have an eye to every little detail, so it was also important to me to have the little extras bits of detail that gave our personal touch.

Where did you look for your wedding inspiration?

I did a lot of research, using both Pinterest and Instagram to create mood boards for every aspect of the wedding.

What drew you to your gown from Helen Rodrigues Bridal?

I had especially made an appointment with Helen to come and try the’ Sophie’ gown, as there was a Lee Petra Grebenau truck show. I had seen so many images of the dress and was already in love with it before even trying it on. The gown was so me – simple, understated yet exceptionally detailed, timeless and had the most beautiful statement sleeve. Immediately putting it on, I fell in love with it straight away and simply just knew it was the one.

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

We got engaged just before COVID hit and had originally planned to get married the following March 2021. This then became November 2021 and finally February 2022. This meant that the wedding planning process started 2 years before we actually got married. I am exceptionally organised and love to plan/organise things, so for me, I had the absolute best time planning my wedding with the help of my wonderful wedding planner Steph.

What was the biggest decision you had to make?

The biggest decision we had to make was whether to post-pone our November 2021 Wedding date given the ongoing uncertainty of COVID and the restrictions in place. It was the best decision we made as by February 2022 we were able to have our perfect day.

What was the highlight of your wedding day for you?

Part of Jewish tradition is the bride and groom spend 7 days apart before the wedding. Therefore, I would have to say seeing my husband, Brett for the first time after being apart for 1 week was the absolute highlight.

Is there anything you would do differently?

Absolutely nothing!!! My husband and I, truly still feel as though it was the best day of our lives – we have never felt so happy and content.

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

Don’t let that wedding planning process stress you, it’s seriously not worth it. From my experience, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to have all the people you love in one room and at the end of the day, so your wedding should only bring happiness not stress.

My experience buying my Lee Petra Grebenau wedding dress from Helen was absolutely seamless from start to finish. The moment my mum and I stepped foot in the door, we instantly felt so comfortable and at ease with Helen. I fell in love with the "Sophie gown" instantly and knew that this was my dress - it was SO me. It was such a pleasure to work with Helen and I absolutely trusted her with every step of the process. Not only did she help me find my gown, but my magnificent veil and earrings too. Thank you, Helen and her team, for the most wonderful experience and service.

Leith in a Custom Lee Petra Grebenau Bella Dress and Ava Jumpsuit

Bride & Groom: Leith Wilson (now Rae) & James Rae
Planning & Styling: Diane Khoury Weddings & Events
Gown: Lee Petra Grebenau
Accessories: HR Bridal Accessories
Bridesmaids dresses: Maria Lucia Hohan
Venue: Rivermead
Photography: Erin & Tara
Videography: Soda Films
Floral: John Emmanuel Floral Events
Marquee & furniture: Harry The Hirer
Ceremony arches: Whitelabel
Makeup: Mia Connor

How did you and your husband meet?

James and Leith's story began back in 2014 when the two, both 20 year-old college students, were out at their local bar, The RE (Royal Exchange). Leith had drawn the short straw this week and was the designated driver for her college roommates. Undeterred Leith noticed a group of young gents and more specifically the strikingly handsome James in the corner. Deciding to play matchmaker, Leith marched over to the group introducing herself and her friends. Striking up a conversation with some of Leith’s friends, James was determined to find out more about this young lady in black, who appeared to be striking up a friendly conversation with one of James’ friends.

Later in the evening, the well-intoxicated James ran into the well-sober Leith at the bar. Having had a couple of hours to find out a bit about Leith – her name, where she was from and what she was studying, James used the best pick up line he could conjure up… Something about his mum having the same name (yes there will soon be two Leith’s in the family). Safe to say Leith (not Mother) was unimpressed with the effort and preoccupied with herding cats (intoxicated Uni students) swiftly ended the conversation and began the taxi run home.

The next day the two, unbeknown to each other, set out to find out more information about one another through mutual friends and some heavy social media stalking. A week went by with neither willing to make the first move until Leith's 21st birthday with a few vodka fire-engines under her belt and the peer pressure of ten screaming girls, built up the courage to add him on Facebook and send a super endearing message: "Hi". James, who was playing Nintendo with his mates at the time stopped, smiled and said, "Fellas, she messaged me".

The two met up for coffee the next day, and as they say, the rest is history. Seven years on and the two have travelled the world together, moved cities, bought a house, formed life-long friendships, somehow kept their beloved dog Archie alive, and survived many ski trips of Leith yelling at James when he encourages her to challenge herself (to the amusement of bystanders). To cement their love for one another James dropped one knee while the two were eating nachos in their backyard in May 2020.

How did he propose?

It was May 1st 2020 in the backyard while eating nachos. It was perfect.

What was your vision for your wedding day?

We wanted an outdoor wedding on a private property, where we had the freedom to create a day we and our guests would always remember. After months of looking online and Instagram, we stumbled upon Rivermead Estate which looked magical.

Where did you look for your wedding inspiration?

Pinterest and a lot of Instagram stalking haha! @vincenzodascanio, I was obsessed with @chiaraferragni wedding, @wedding.inspiration, @whitelabelhire, @weddingchicks, @weddingdecorinspiration, @wedding.pages, @dianekhouryweddingsandevents

What drew you to your gown from Helen Rodrigues Bridal?

My beautiful sister-in-law found her dream dress with Helen 10 years prior. It was a no-brainer when it was my turn to look for a dress that Helen Rodrigues was top of the list. Helen Rodrigues has beautiful one-of-a-kind dresses, but the experience from start to finish was flawless. Helen, Sophie and Nicole made me feel very welcome, comfortable and extremely excited and beautiful in the dress/jumpsuit we chose for the day.

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

Wedding journey was fantastic, I feel like this would have been very different without the amazing DK team. Diane, Chris, Nick & Veronica from DK Weddings and Events made James & my wedding process a breeze. I could not recommend them highly enough. From invites, wedding website, styling, logistics, menus, seating plans, and everything in-between DK was there helping to guide and provide their expertise which was very welcomed by James & I. We started planning about two years out (thanks to COVID), but it was probably a blessing in disguise as everything was changing so often it meant that a lot of vendors & suppliers were fully booked so it helped to start to plan so early.

What was the biggest decision you had to make?

There were many decisions made haha, our wedding was four days so the logistics behind this were quite in-depth. This was probably the biggest decision in itself, how we wanted everything to flow. Where we were going to base everything. We fell in love with the Rivermead property (about 35 min drive from Gold Coast) and then decided to plan the welcome party, wedding day, afterparty and recovery party around this. There were a lot of moving parts in terms of transport. So logistically there were a lot of decisions in this to make sure it was seamless and our guests had the most comfortable and memorable experience possible

What was the highlight of your wedding day for you?

Without a doubt the ceremony. This is ironic because it was the bit James and I were most nervous about, standing in front of 100+ people and confessing our love for each other isn’t our idea of fun haha! But, having my Dad walk me down the aisle, having James and my family & best friends by our side, and seeing our three nieces as flower girls (the cutest thing ever) was truly a highlight. Exchanging our vows was truly magical and something I will remember for the rest of my life.

Is there anything you would do differently?

Nothing! James and I hands down say our wedding day was the best day of our lives. In our eyes it was perfect. It was such a fabulous day surrounded by the ones we love the most.

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

Enjoy every moment, if you can get a wedding planner it will make your life a million times easier and you will be able to go into your big day stress free. Long engagements aren’t a bad thing as it gives you more time to plan and really work out what you are wanting.

Helen, Nicole and Sophie made my wedding dress experience absolutely amazing. From the moment we walked in for our first appointment, to the regular check-ins, reminders to bring my wedding shoes (I definitely needed these haha) and finally taking my dress home, the whole team was professional, warm and welcoming. The dresses they stock are truly magical, but the standout to me was how the team listens to your wants suggests ideas that they think will work and really gets excited and involved in the emotions leading up to your big day. I could not recommend working with Helen and her team highly enough, they are definitely the best in the business, but more than that they are kind and genuine people. If you are shopping around for wedding dresses definitely put Helen Rodrigues on the list. You won’t be disappointed.

HR Real Bride Catherine wearing Lee Grebenau 'Taylor'

Bride & Groom: Catherine & Josh
Gown: Lee Grebenau ‘Taylor’ from Helen Rodrigues Bridal
Planning & Styling: Kashaya & Co
Photography: Blumenthal Photography
Videography: Soda Films
Venue: Swifts, Darling Point
Floral: Kashaya & Co
Accessories: HR Bridal Accessories Ruby veil by Peter Langner, Aquazzura shoes and wedding bands by Dracakis Jewellers
Bridesmaid dresses: Shona Joy
Hair: Bynormie
Make-up: Simone Forte

How did you and your husband meet?

We met 7 years ago as my roommates brother was Josh

How did he propose?

It was our second year anniversary and we had just moved into our new house, Josh made me a champagne breakfast to celebrate, and then he got down on one knee!

What was your vision for your wedding day?

My vision for our wedding day was black and white, simple and elegant with a touch of fairy lights!

Where did you look for your wedding inspiration?

For wedding inspiration I mostly looked at Instagram and Pinterest

What drew you to your gown from Helen Rodrigues Bridal?

The Taylor gown was the first dress I saw and the first dress I tried on. When I put it on, I could imagine standing next to Josh and getting married to him in it.

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

Our wedding planning journey was quite enjoyable and easy. Once we chose Kashaya as our wedding planner, booked in the church and location - everything just fell into place. We were extremely lucky to not be effected by Covid. We got engaged at the end of October 2020, and were married in May 2021 - 7 months of planning. I feel that it was easier to have a short engagement as once you made a decision, you couldn’t change it!

What was the biggest decision you had to make?

The biggest decision we had to make was the location - for Swifts, everything had to be bought in so lucky we had Kashaya to help with this.

What was the highlight of your wedding day for you?

The highlight of my wedding day was when I danced into our reception with my husband. Everyone was standing, clapping and smiling, I had the biggest smile on my face. Within 2 minutes, the whole wedding was on the dance floor dancing to Greek music.

Is there anything you would do differently?

No, there is nothing I would do differently, I was happy with everything!

Is there any advance you would give other #HRBride’s?

Make a decision and stop looking at other ideas, it makes it all confusing and then you can tick that item off your list!

I walked into Helen Rodrigues Bridal with my Mum and Mother in law. We were greeted by Helen and Sophie’s happy faces, ready to help me find my dream wedding dress. We all knew that the Taylor dress was the one. Every single time I went back, Helen and her team were just absolutely amazing, I definitely miss my fittings and seeing them all! I would 100% recommend Helen to anyone looking for their fairy tale dress.

HR Real Bride Elpiniki wearing Lee Grebenau 'Bella'

Bride & Groom: Elpiniki and Emmanuel
Gown: Lee Grebenau ‘Bella’ from Helen Rodrigues Bridal
Photography: Inlighten Photography
Venue: The Linseed House, The Grounds of Alexandria
Floral: The Grounds Floral by Silvia
Accessories: HR Bridal Accessories
Bridesmaid dresses: Oleg Cassini
Makeup: Simone Forte
Videography: Soda Films
Invites: The Distillery
Hair: Hair by Nala

How did you and your husband meet?

Emmanuel and I met at a friend’s wedding 4 years ago - he knew the groom, and I knew the bride. Despite it being a Greek wedding with a guestlist of 500 people, Emmanuel said he noticed me across the room. He walked over to me, said I looked familiar (a carefully constructed opening line) and the rest was history. He messaged me at midnight after the wedding and we went out on our first date three days late.

How did he propose?

It was the most beautiful, funny and unexpected proposal! Emmanuel had to complete a training course in Singapore for two weeks and surprised me with tickets to join him on the second week. He planned activities and day spa for me to do during the day whilst he was working. The surprise was nearly spoilt as the staff members had decorated my room with petals and streamers before he had even ‘popped the question.’ Lucky, Emmanuel realised the mistake before I entered the room and dragged me downstairs to get another coffee with him. The staff managed to clean up the room before we returned to have a nap. To Emmanuel’s relief and my surprise, he proposed in the evening in a beautifully decorated gazebo at the Singapore Botanical Gardens. He gave the best speech and it was the best day ever.

What was your vision for your wedding day?

We envisioned a romantic, elegant, garden-themed wedding which was fun and full of love. Emmanuel is a singer so the music and entertainment for us was key. On the day, it felt like a fairy tale and was better then we ever expected.

Where did you look for your wedding inspiration?

I looked on Pinterest and Instagram pages for inspiration which had a romantic, industrial slightly rustic and garden vibe. The vendors at the Grounds of Alexandria were amazing, so I really trusted in them and following their guidance with the styling.

What drew you to your gown from Helen Rodrigues Bridal?

I really wanted a gown that was elegant, feminine, lacey with a leaf design in order to suit the theme of my wedding. As soon as I stepped into HR Bridal room, I noticed my Lee Grebenau dress. I just love the fine leaf embroidery with the beautiful beading. It was the first and the last dress I tried on!

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

My wedding event and all the planning happened during COVID-19. We moved our wedding date but surprisingly it was not as stressful as we expected; I had lots of help from my sister, mum and husband to be, and our vendors were so accommodating. Importantly, COVID-19 really put things into perspective for us and we realised the priority was our marriage and we just wanted to start the next chapter of our lives. It was also helpful that my main vendors were booked 8-10 months from the wedding day. However, I am a very last- minute person, so all the other details including my shoes, accessories, centrepieces were organised 2 weeks out. EEK!

What was the biggest decision you had to make?

The biggest decision we had to make was taking the risk to move the wedding day. We had 20 family members from overseas who were planning to attend, including my grandmother. We moved the wedding date from July to November 2020, in the hope that they would be able to make it. We were devastated they could not be there and although we considered moving the date a second time, we had to accept the uncertainty of life.

What was the highlight of your wedding day for you?

The highlight of the wedding day for both of us was the ceremony. I felt so many different emotions and my cheeks were genuinely sore from smiling the whole hour. We were blessed to have the Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Church there and we just felt so much love in the room and from a far (as our family were watching from overseas).

Is there anything you would do differently?

In hindsight, I would have organised details of my wedding sooner and taken at least a week or two off before the wedding. You don’t want to feel rushed and you need time to enjoy the wedding planning journey.

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

Be open-minded and choose the dress that makes you feel beautiful and comfortable. You will know the dress when you see it on you. And more importantly, don’t look back; there are a lot of beautiful dresses out there but you’ve got to remember yours is the perfect one for you.

The HR bridal team were so lovely and helpful! They showed such enthusiasm in helping me find my perfect dress and I felt supported throughout my wedding journey.

HR Real Bride Gina wearing Lee Grebenau

Bride & Groom: Gina & Duncan
Planning & Styling: Olivia Warwick, YES Events
Gown: Lee Petra Grebenau from Helen Rodrigues Bridal
Venue: Glenquarry Park, Southern Highlight (private property)
Photography: Brendan Ottley, Brendan Woods Photo
Videography: BEAR DEER FOX
Floral: Caroline Miller, Flowers on the Mill
Hair: Nancy Mefaddi
Makeup: Eloise Proust
Catering: Simon Ekas
Cake: Cakes by Adrienne
Music: Clear Strings (Ceremony & Cocktail Party) & Scotty Sax (Reception)

How did you and your husband meet?

We met on Bumble. Our first date was at a wine bar in Surry Hills. What I thought would be a couple of hours quickly turned into ten - Duncan had found his Queen Bee! It was actually crazy we’d never met in person as we’d worked at the same company and there were lots of friends and things we had in common.

How did he propose?

Duncan planned a picnic at McKell Park - just down the road from where we live, to celebrate our anniversary. We sat in the sun eating, enjoying a nice bottle of wine, and taking in the view. He went back to the house at some point to grab another bottle of wine, but he returned with a vintage bottle of Krug - I was laughing and asking why he wanted to drink such expensive champagne - he then got down on one knee, explaining it wasn’t the only box we’d be opening that day, and asked me to marry him. I was so overcome with emotion I immediately burst into tears and said yes before I could even wipe the tears away enough to properly see the ring. It was the happiest day - and the memories of celebrating with family and friends over an impromptu ‘proposal party’ later that day are memories to last a lifetime.

What was your vision for your wedding day?

The most important thing for the two of us was that our family and friends had an amazing time, and with so many international and travelling guests we wanted to make sure it was worth their while. We’ve been to a lot of fabulous weddings - so we’ve had lots of opportunities to reflect on what would make our own wedding perfect when the time finally came.

The destination was the easy part! I’d always been drawn to the idea of having a garden wedding. Luckily for us, the gardens at Duncan’s family property, Glenquarry Park, are spectacular - so it was an easy decision. We wanted all our events to have a classic, elegant and traditional touch to them, as well as a clear narrative from start to finish.

Things we agreed on early were that we wanted a welcome cocktail party the night before the wedding at a local vineyard for guests to meet and mingle; and a Slim Aarons’ poolside recovery party to recharge after the big day where we would be able to really let our hair down and catch up with all our guests before everyone bid farewell.

The wedding itself involved celebrations across three distinct areas of Glenquarry Park. The ceremony was held under a purpose-built pergola by the house; the cocktail hour around the pool in the property’s walled garden; reception under a circus-style marquee on the croquet lawn; and dancing under the stars where later in the evening the sky was lit up by fireworks.

Where did you look for your wedding inspiration?

Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and Instagram were my go-to sources, as well as our friends’ own weddings - we pulled lots of inspiration from all of these to create the vision for our day.

What drew you to your gown from Helen Rodrigues Bridal?

I absolutely adore Israeli bridal designers and knew that if and when Duncan were to propose that I’d definitely have to visit Helen - as she represents some of the best!

After we got engaged I booked an appointment. I picked out six dresses to try and fell in love with the third from Lee Petra Grebenau - so much that I asked the others to be taken away - I knew I’d found the one! It was everything I could have imagined and perfectly fit the image I had in mind. It had 3D flower applique, a touch of sparkle, and felt ethereal and romantic - beyond perfect.

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

Planning a wedding on a private property can be challenging. We started planning about 9 months out. We had to bring in all the infrastructure to the property, have site and vendor meetings - the list goes on and on. My mother-in-law was amazing at overseeing a lot of things for us as we were in Sydney. We also employed an incredible event manager who already knew most of our vendors- all of whom were outstanding - so things naturally fell into place.

What was the biggest decision you had to make?

My parents have passed away so the biggest decision involved how we’d ensure it was the best day of our lives celebrated with family and friends whilst my parents were still remembered and acknowledged throughout the ceremony and reception. I know they were watching over us, and proud of what we created.

What was the highlight of your wedding day for you?

Of the three days of celebrations, every morning I would wake up and say, ‘that was the best day of my life!’

From the anticipation and excitement catching up with all our guests the night before the wedding, getting ready with my bridesmaids, to walking down the aisle, speeches and first dance, followed by our Slim Aaron’s Poolside recovery party - everything was perfect.

However, it was marrying my husband and watching the smile on his, my family and friends’ faces, that definitely stands out.

Is there anything you would do differently?

Absolutely nothing. We just wish we could rewind the clock and do it all again. I keep joking that we should host an annual vow renewal party!

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

Try not to sweat the small stuff. Whilst some problems seem to have great importance, on the day they really don’t matter. You are so swept up in the love and occasion, all the noise fades away.

My sister-in-law gave me the advice to take 5 minutes as a couple to step back and take it all in. It was great to see all our guests having such an incredible time - it definitely made all the hard work worth it.

From the moment I first visited Helen and her team I was blown away by how warm natured, understanding and helpful they were. The thoughtful touches - handwritten cards, emails, and advice - made the whole experience feel so personal. I wouldn’t change it for anything. Helen and her team are nothing short of exceptional! Thank you for helping me find my dream dress and contributing to our perfect day.

HR Real Bride Jaclyn wearing Lee Grebenau Emma

Bride & Groom: Jaclyn & Andrew Tilley
Planning & Styling: Kashaya & Co
Gown: Lee Petra Grebanau ‘Emma’ gown from Helen Rodrigues Bridal
Venue: Estate Vaucluse House & Catalina’s
Photography: Chris Prestige @Dusk
Videography: Mick Stillone
Floral: Kashaya & Co.
Makeup & Hair: Kelly Bowman & Liam Hubbard
Band: John Fields Band
Transport: 7th Heaven Wedding Cars

How did you and your husband meet?

We met through friends. There was an instant attraction and great banter straight away. We exchanged phone numbers but it took Andrew a few weeks to get me out on a date. It was Mother’s Day in 2015 and our first date was a lunch at Bondi Hardware.

How did he propose?

It was late December 2018. We were on a family trip down on the South Coast with Andrew’s family and he casually said “I am going to take you away for a night to have some time to ourselves, pack a bag.” And I didn’t think much of it. I don’t think I wanted to get my hopes up to be honest. So we hopped in the car and drove, and drove, and drove for hours until we got to Batemans Bay where we had a beautiful lunch at this seafood restaurant. I was thinking “this is really nice. Some quality time together.” Little did I know. After lunch, we drove further South again to Narooma and boarded a seaplane which was incredible. Andrew was more nervous having to face his fear of heights than proposing but then he simple said “Will you marry me?” and I screamed “Yes!” As we walked into Quarterdeck in Narooma, there was a bottle of champagne waiting for us and all of the restaurant patrons started cheering and whistling! It was very sweet.

What was your vision for your wedding day?

I have quite a simple, minimalist personal style so our choice of reception at Catalina was purposeful as it is quite minimal in itself. We booked the venue first and so that really helped to lay the foundation for the aethetic of the wedding. We wanted the wedding to be simple yet classic. I loved Kashaya’s style and knew that her vibrant arrangements would look stunning at Catalina so this was really the catalyst for the planning. I wanted the florals to be the focal point both at the Ceremony and Reception and so I worked around that. I really wanted my bridesmaids to feel beautiful and comfortable in their dresses so I decided early on that I did not want them to wear the same dress. I loved the idea of having shades of pink to mirror the stunning florals. With our photographer, we wanted someone who would blend in, take candid photos of us and just be really relaxed. That’s what we loved about Chris.

Where did you look for your wedding inspiration?

We discussed early on that we wanted a simple wedding that did not have ‘too much’ of anything. We knew that we wanted to have the Reception at Catalina within the first month of being engaged so that really established the style of the day. We did not have an inspiration board or anything like that. I know what I like in terms of florals and simple styling so I did not really plan it as such. I know a lot of brides do but it is not me. We knew that we wanted people to have a great time dancing to amazing music, have delicious food and enjoy a space with vibrant flowers! Andrew was really good at finding certain vendors such as our wedding cars which were a beautiful shade of pink.

What drew you to your gown from Helen Rodrigues Bridal?

It’s funny because I went to 4-5 boutiques in Sydney before going to Helen and I just had this feeling that I was saving the best to last. It was just a gut feeling I had. When I walked in, I just gasped because her gowns are exquisite. I had some ideas of what style I wanted, more of an A-line cut. When I was told to try the Emma gown I really was not sure as I wanted to be able to dance in my wedding dress and felt that it would be restricting. But when I put it on, I felt sexy and beautiful, and instantly said “yes, this is the one.”

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

We booked Catalina within a month or two of getting engaged. We knew we wanted to be married in the Summer holidays the following year when everyone is a little bit more relaxed and in holiday mode! Andrew really wanted to be involved so he had particular vendors he contacted and dealt with and I handled the aesthetics which I loved. It was stressful at points but my girlfriends kept saying to me “this is about the two of you so just remember that. All the other stuff doesn’t matter. Thanks Zoe!” It was important to keep reminding myself of that because it can get overwhelming at times. Andrew was so amazing at writing out the spreadsheets and run sheets and staying on top of all of the stuff I didn’t want to do!

What was the biggest decision you had to make?

There were many decisions and I am a Libra so decision-making is not my strong suit! Andrew is much more decisive so he was really helpful with the many decisions we had to make! The guest list was really hard to narrow down as the maximum at Catalina was 140 seated. We are both half Italian so this proved to be challenging!

What was the highlight of your wedding day for you?

Pulling up at Vaucluse House and walking down the aisle with my mum and dad on either side of me was truly a feeling like no other. I was nervous, excited and full of emotion. I was so proud to have both of my parents beside me and I could feel their happy and nervous energy too. Seeing all of our loved ones in one place, looking so excited and happy and then seeing Andrew at the end of the aisle was so emotional. It was like floating on a cloud. Then he held my hands and I just could not stop smiling. Then I saw some of my pre-school students from The Scots College in their uniform and that really tipped me over the edge as I did not know they were going to be there.

Is there anything you would do differently?

No, there isn’t. We were so lucky and thankful for our day. As luck would have it, our wedding fell in between the devastating Summer bush fires which was also accompanied by a huge Summer rainstorm and then COVID19. We will never forget how lucky we were to have our special day and will tell our children tales of this crazy time.

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

Stick to your personal style and have your wedding reflect that. Think about you and your partner and what you enjoy. What kind of entertainment do you enjoy? What would your loved ones enjoy? Stay true to your personal aesthetic and it will be beautiful because it reflects you as a couple. Do not lose sight of your partner in all of this and remember what the purpose of the day really is. It is easy to get caught up in the planning but ground yourself as you can get lost along the way sometimes.

From the moment I met Helen and her team, I felt calm and confident that I had found what I was looking for. A place where I felt I could be open and honest throughout the whole process. Helen’s gowns are like no other and they truly are magnificent. I felt absolutely stunning on my wedding day, Helen and her seamstress adjusted the dress until I was completely happy and it was fitted but still very comfortable. I could dance the night away in it! I will tell every bride-to-be I know of Helen and her magical dresses.

HR Real Bride Emma wearing Lee Grebenau Noelle

Emma’s Story

Bride & Groom: Emma & Max
Planning & Styling: Kate Redgen at The Calile and Maree Whittle (Emma’s mum)
Gown: Lee Petra Grebenau
Venue: Ceremony: St Mary’s Catholic Church, South Brisbane
Reception: The Calile Hotel
Photography: Bayleigh Vedelago
Floral: Hacienda Flowers
Cake: Marina Machado
Wedding Stationery: Yesterday Creative

How did you and your husband meet?

We met on Tinder. I was the first girl Max ever went on a Tinder date with – his strike rate was much better than mine!

How did he propose?

We were travelling in the north of Italy in September 2018. Max somehow convinced me to go on an overnight hike in the Texulgruppe Nature Park. We had spent all day hiking up a mountain. Once we reached the refuge we were staying at for the night, he insisted we go for a wander over to a nearby lake. I thought we had done enough walking for one day! We sat on a picnic bench designed for fisherman, tucked away out of view of the refuge. Max handed me a Kinder chocolate for us to share. He then insisted I close my eyes because he had another “sweetie” for me – I complained loudly that I didn’t want one of the free boiled sweets from the last hotel we had stayed at! I reluctantly closed my eyes, and when I opened them, I realised I was holding the most stunning ring, not a boiled candy! I burst into tears. We went back to the refuge to survey our sleeping quarters. Max had thought we would be in a shared room with two other travellers on bunk beds. It turns out the four person room was highly sought after, and in fact we were staying in a room for forty people with rows and rows of bunks! I can’t imagine what a hard time I would have given Max had he not just proposed! It was a funny, if unromantic, end to a very special day.

What was your vision for your wedding day?

I was very keen on having a church wedding. We settled on our local Catholic church. We particularly loved the Romanesque architecture of the building, and the fact it was the perfect size to accommodate our guests. In terms of the reception, the food and wine (particularly the champagne) needed to be fantastic! Once we settled on the The Calile as our venue, the styling for our day really took shape. I knew I wanted to play homage to the Palm Springs vibe of the hotel, and Yesterday Creative who designed our stationery worked this into their deigns, with subtle palm tree and flamingo motifs on our invitations. They also worked the recurring arches of the Calile building into the shape of the menus and the seating chart.

In terms of the flowers, we knew whatever Anneliese created would be absolutely incredible! So many of the comments we have had from guests after the day were about the flowers! I was so lucky to have the help of my mum in styling the event. She worked tirelessly on the tablescape design. She sourced dove grey tablecloths which provided warmth to the room. She also insisted on only beeswax candles. The candles interspersed between the metres of flowers running the lengths of the tables meant the room smelt divine!

For our cake, I had a romantic notion of recreating the coconut cake at Halekulani in Honolulu, a personal favourite. Marina Machado our cake designer was incredibly patient with me, and somehow managed to work my unrealistic notion of a coconut cake for 160 people into the most delicious and striking four-tiered coconut butter-cake with vanilla bean buttercream, which she served with a coconut crème anglaise and fresh raspberries. Apparently it took her two hours to wire all of the flowers to the cake – the final result was amazing!

Where did you look for your wedding inspiration?

I used Pinterest and Instagram for inspiration. I am usually quite decisive, but at times the constant decision making about the finer details was overwhelming! Mum was so valuable in helping to share the burden of the countless choices to be made!

What was your wedding planning journey like for you?

How far out did you start planning? We started planning about 12 months out. I found the dress 9 months before the day. Kate from The Calile was very helpful in planning our reception. As I mentioned earlier, mum was invaluable, and I can’t imagine what the journey would have been like without her! I think she found the process exhausting given she was working full time and was so obsessional about the small details, but her hard work really shone through on the day.

What was the biggest decision you had to make?

For me, it was the reception venue. I had always dreamed of having my reception at Quay in Sydney, but Max wasn’t interested in making our mostly Brisbane-based guests travel. He is much more thoughtful than me! In the end, The Calile was very special. I love being able to visit regularly for a drink or meal, it brings back such special memories.

What was the highlight of your wedding day for you?

There were so many special moments, I struggle to think of just one thing. Spending the morning with my best friends getting ready was wonderful. Walking into the church with my dad and seeing Max waiting for me. Being driven to the Calile in a vintage Citroën with Max. Our photo shoot outside the Calile with Bayleigh risking life and limb standing in the middle of the road to get the perfect shot. Walking into the reception room to our cheering friends and family! Tearing up the dancefloor with all of our guests with our favourite DJ playing our favourite songs. It was a series of amazing moments from beginning to end.

Is there anything you would do differently?

There were some small hiccups on the day – I was 30 minutes late to the church (I am usually never late and Max will never let me live this down) and everyone had been sitting expectantly for so long they forgot to stand when we arrived! Apparently this meant everyone had a much better view of my dress! A couple of other small details also went awry. In the end, it was the most incredible day of our lives, and I don’t think we would do anything differently. Besides, Max has said that we can travel to Sydney to eat at Quay once a year as a compromise, and I will definitely hold him to that!

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

Helen said to me that it doesn’t matter if things don’t go to plan, because no one else knows the plan. I reminded myself of this on the day when a few small details didn’t go as I had hoped. Ultimately you spend months and months planning for a single day and it goes by incredibly quickly. I think what everyone says about taking some time on the day just to be with your partner and have some quiet time together is so true. I wish we could relive our wedding day over and over!