HOW - The Intimate Edit

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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.

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’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’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.

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.

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

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

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

2019 Bridal Trends

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

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 statement Pearl Crowns on the Inbal Dror runway

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

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

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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

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

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

Newly Engaged? Where do You Start!

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The Australian Summer is often when a large number of engagements take place during the Christmas and New Year period.

Helen shares her knowledge to help make your wedding planning journey as stress free and enjoyable as possible!

Where would you suggest a newly engaged bride start her wedding planning journey?

I believe it is always important to start with the key big ticket items to help the planning journey begin.

This would be to set a date, book your venue, set a budget and then of course the most exciting of all, to start looking for your gown! We are here to guide you through and style your entire wedding look.

What tools does one need?

Things have certainly changed since I got married nearly 20 years ago when you would buy a few bridal magazines and create a physical scrapbook of torn out pages that we have loved!

The major tool that brides use today is Instagram for inspiration. Create a mood board using Pinterest, screen grab some of your favourite weddings, gowns and beauty looks as this will help guide suppliers and also assists our team when you visit the boutique so we have an idea of your style and what you are trying to achieve. That said, it is always important to have an open mind as well!

HR Real Bride Tiarne’s cliff top wedding in Positano in her Inbal Dror gown

HR Real Bride Tiarne’s cliff top wedding in Positano in her Inbal Dror gown

Where is the best place for brides to seek wedding inspiration for photographers, venues etc

Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest. Social media is king!

HR Real Bride Tiarne, planned her entire Positano wedding herself drawing inspiration from Instagram and Pinterest

HR Real Bride Tiarne, planned her entire Positano wedding herself drawing inspiration from Instagram and Pinterest

Do brides usually have their wedding venue booked when they visit the boutique for the first time?

In the most part yes, but sometimes brides do not have their wedding venue. They are so excited and for them the gown is the most important part of their day. After all, it does not really matter where your venue is, it is all about how your gown makes you feel. If you are having a formal wedding with hundreds of guests or a small intimate wedding as long as you love your gown it will work everywhere!

How long does it usually take between first visit to Helen Rodrigues Bridal and final gown collection?

It really depends on how far in advance brides book their gowns from their wedding. We usually require 8-10 months production time for our designers and like to receive gowns at least 8 weeks prior to the wedding date so we can schedule appointments to look at accessories if need be to complete their wedding look and then also to book all fittings and alterations appointments.

HR Real Bride Louise, at The Grounds of Alexandria in her Monique Lhuillier gown

HR Real Bride Louise, at The Grounds of Alexandria in her Monique Lhuillier gown

Do most of your brides have skincare and fitness regimes in place in the lead up to the wedding?

Yes, I am sure they do have skincare regimes in place. They certainly seem to have health and personal training regimes in place. They often are eating really healthy and working out to be and feel their best on their day. They want to feel physically and mentally strong, which is important in life not just their wedding day.

From your experience, what area of the wedding planning journey do brides usually find the most stressful?

Seating arrangements seems to always create a heightened level of stress! Who should sit next to who, or more often who should not sit next to each other. Sticking to the budget also creates a little stress. Usually just before the wedding is stressful for brides, as so many suppliers are wanting final decisions from them. They are also having to work extra to ensure everything is wrapped up for when they take time off for their wedding and honeymoon. Nowadays, with Instagram brides want perfection. But as far as I believe, perfection does not exist. To strive for it will wear you out, it is just important to enjoy and live in the moment!

The best piece of advice I usually tell my brides is “if things don’t go to plan, no one else knew what the plan was anyway!” to relax and enjoy every moment. That family and friends are there to support you and enjoy your special day and share your love!

HR Real Bride Montarna Pitt at Redleaf, Wollombi in her Inbal Dror gown

HR Real Bride Montarna Pitt at Redleaf, Wollombi in her Inbal Dror gown

“I love these wise words from Helen Rodrigues at my final wedding dress fitting,” shares the bride. “Don’t worry if some things don’t go to plan, as nobody knows the plan!” Montarna Pitt, #HRRealBride

Iconic Sydney: Behind the Scenes with Helen Rodrigues

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Location: Pier One Sydney Harbour Hotel
Photography: Keegan Cronin

What was your vision when you first started Helen Rodrigues Bridal in 2001?

I wanted to offer the opportunity for brides to be able to try on beautiful designer gowns in a personalised, small boutique. I wanted to offer these gowns so brides could try on a gown and know exactly they were getting.

I had visited beautiful stores in the UK when I got married in 1999 - I was able to go in, try gowns on and decide and know exactly what I was getting. When I did my initial research in Australia, there were lovely designers that you could go and see and they would sketch something for you. This is fine, if you are good at visualising things ... but like me not everyone can! There was no store that offered any international designers in Australia, let alone more than one designers under one roof. This is how Helen Rodrigues Bridal was created nearly 2 decades ago! The vision was to open up the first exclusive boutique, offering luxury international bridal designers.

What draws you to a particular Bridal Designer?

The designer needs to be offering something unique that is not available anywhere else. Their gowns also need to complement the rest of our gowns, so they sit well in the boutique. They need to use beautiful fabrics and be well made. In addition, they need to be boutique and international as this is our point of difference. We have always offered international designers.   

What does it mean to you to bring these incredible International Designers to Australia?

My designers become part of my extended family and is wonderful to work with them on collections and see your input come to fruition. It is wonderful that we can bring all these masterpieces under one roof, which enables brides to be able to come in and try gowns on in the home country instead of having to fly to USA, Israel, Lebanon, UK to name but a few. It is so rewarding to share these gowns with Australian brides. 

Often brides will say they saw a beautiful gown in a magazine or Instagram and thought they would never be able to see it in real life let alone wear it on their day - then they did some research and realised we actually stocked it!  That makes me really happy that we are constantly being able to fulfil girls dreams.

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From your extensive experience with bridal gowns what advice would you give a new bride to be embarking on the journey of finding her perfect bridal gown?

I think it is always best that brides have their wedding date and venue booked. This helps them know what season/ weather they can expect and also the theme the wedding will be. That said, we often see brides who do not have either of these booked and they find their gown. At the end of the day - when brides love a gown, they will love wearing their gown anywhere and in any weather!  

Its also good for brides to have an idea of a budget they would like to keep their gown to and check with boutiques they intend to visit prior to see they can work with them. We often recommend brides have had a look at our website and Instagram so they are aware of what we offer. I believe the main point is to come to the appointment with an open mind.

I had a bride who came in the other day and wanted a high neck, long sleeve lace and no strapless gown. I can confirm this is not what she ended up with. Since 2001 we have helped thousands of brides - so brides should be open to trust us to try on something a little different.

I would say don't look to much - it can be very overwhelming. Maybe select a couple of your top boutiques and then see how you go. Also don't bring too many people to your appointments as it can be very overwhelming again and too opinions can be tough!

Be relaxed, have fun and trust your gut. Buying a wedding gown is not about doing a spreadsheet on the pros and cons but about how you feel. How would you feel waking up on the morning of your wedding and seeing your wedding dress waiting for you. Would it make you excited and smile!

I would recommend start looking 12 months before your wedding but we often help brides who have a longer lead time and also who are getting married in a few months!

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What does the 2019 Iconic Sydney editorial shoot represent for you?

We have access to beautiful imagery from all our designers who do amazing shoots throughout the world. I wanted to take our gowns and shoot them in Sydney so they were more relevant for our Australian bride. We have such iconic landmarks in Sydney that I very much wanted to have them as a backdrop to our gowns.

Helen Rodrigues Presents Iconic Sydney

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Helen Rodrigues Bridal together with The Wedding Series bring you ‘Iconic Sydney’ - an editorial inspired by the exceptional beauty of Australia’s famed Sydney Harbour, home to Helen Rodrigues Bridal Boutique since 2001.

Set aboard luxury Super Yacht OSCAR II and captured by wedding photographer Keegan Cronin, the editorial features stunning beauty Olena Khamula wearing an edit of exceptional bridal gowns featuring International Designers exclusively stocked at Helen Rodrigues Bridal.

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Creative Direction/Styling – Kate O’Shea, The Wedding Series Agency
Photography – Keegan Cronin
Film – Motion Reel Films
Hair/Make up – Sonia Allen Make Up
Super Yacht – OSCAR II

Focus Feature: Angelina Le from Style Me Wedding

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Recently, Angelina Le from Style Me Wedding came into the boutique and created a stunning window display to complement the gowns on display in our windows. We sat down with Angelina to find out more on where she gets her inspiration and advice for brides when it comes to styling.

Tell us how you began making your gorgeous flower arrangements for weddings and events?
I have always loved styling and transforming an empty space into something beautiful and magical. I love working with flowers may it be fresh or silk, I just find them so uplifting and can bring a smile on people’s face. 

The first time I styled up an event was for a friend’s photo shoot. I remember that day to be crazy and pretty busy however I enjoyed every minute of it. Just seeing my work on display at my client’s wedding and the appreciation on their faces makes it all worth the work involved. 

How long have you been styling weddings?
I have been in the wedding styling industry for about three years now. 

Where do you get your inspiration for your installations?
This might sound a little peculiar considering I am the stylist, but I get my inspiration form talking to my brides. Through our conversations where my brides would tell me the things she likes, the location of her ceremony, the venue and even the grown she has picked for the day, I would use all these things to inspire me to come up with a design that is personal to them. 

What advice do you have for brides regarding styling their weddings?
My advice to brides regarding styling for their wedding is to have a budget. By having one, your stylist can help you achieve your dream wedding without comprising your budget. This keeps the brides happy and a stylist’s job just that little bit easier. This will in turn minimise or even eliminate the stress that is associated with styling for your wedding.

My other advice is to consider the location of where their wedding ceremony and reception will be held. Consider the kind of atmosphere they would like to be surrounded by on their wedding day. Once the brides take all this into consideration, it will help them take the first step in styling their wedding. 

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What are your favourite styling trends of 2017 so far & any predictions for 2018? 
My favourite style trends of 2017 would be all the gorgeous floral ceiling installation and I love how they are couple with stunning chandeliers. 

My predictions for styling trends in 2018 is more ceiling installation of different styles. I believe that the style trend for 2018 is to the imagination of the stylist and their bride. 

You created a wonderful installation for our windows which we adore – what was your inspiration for this?
Thank you for your lovely comment. All the beautiful gowns you have in your store was my inspiration for your window display. I wanted to create a river floral effect running from one window to the next to complement the stunning gowns you have on display. 
 

Focus Feature: Lee Petra Grebenau

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One of Israel’s most prestigious fashion brands, Lee Petra Grebenau, is heading to Australia for the first time later this month. Known for its exquisite evening and wedding gowns, Helen Rodrigues has carefully handpicked a selection from the latest bridal collection which will soon be available at the boutique.

The designer, Lee Grebenau, discovered her passion for fashion and art at a young age with her family owning an international textile business. After graduating with honours from ‘Shenkar’ – one of the top fashion design colleges in the world – she then established her couture design house in 2011.

Attracting exclusive clientele by word of mouth thanks to her signature couture craftsmanship and hand-sewn embroideries; Grebenau’s gowns are now sold in over 11 countries including the USA, UK, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong and most recently Australia. 

According to Grebenau, her early inspirations were female Hollywood screen icons.

“In my youth, I was exposed to old movies my mother was watching. Powerful women like Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn and Sophia Loren influenced me, and to this day in my designs I draw inspiration from these characters,” she says.  “They represent something which is timeless and that’s what I wish people to think about my designs.”

Grebenau has always been interested in bridal wear, but it wasn’t until she got married herself that it took hold of her. “I’m a real romantic, dreamy person and I enjoy escorting my brides through the process of creating their dream dress and realising their fantasies,” says the designer.

And it’s her combination of special materials and couture craftsmanship that she believes is most evident with her work. “I also love using three-dimensional flowers, beading, Swarovski elements and lace combinations,” she adds.

Once the brand began to be recognised outside of Israel, it wasn’t long before Australian brides had their eye on her designs.
“Once our brand began to be recognised outside Israel, we received a lot of requests from Australian brides. Their only option was to buy online without even measuring, so I'm really happy about the partnership now with Helen and her stunning store,” she says.

Available exclusively at Helen Rodrigues from late July will be a selection of the leading gowns from the stunning Lee Petra Grebenau Swan Lake collection – perfect for anyone looking for impeccable quality and timeless, stylish luxury.

“The Lee Petra Grebenau bride appreciates quality, knows how to recognise the quality of our handwork and is passionate about it,” says the designer. “She is someone seeking a stylish, elegant but also timeless look – a fashion forward bride with a classic touch.  Our bride is definitely not one who doesn't want to feel unique with her choices.”

To celebrate the launch of Lee Petra Grebenau in Australia, Helen Rodrigues will be holding an exclusive Trunk Show on the 21st and 22nd of July. Spaces are limited so don’t miss your chance to be one of the first in the country to wear her incredible designs. 

For all the Trunk Show details click here and for further enquiries or to book your appointment please phone 02 9904 5700.