Guys. GUYS. Stop what you’re doing right this minute. Go make a tea, or hey, it’s almost NYE, we’ve got through another crazy year, and maybe a cocktail is calling your name! Basically, do whatever you need to make the next little while a delicious moment for yourself to peruse this post all about showcasing our favourite brides and their vibes over the last year.
In no particular order, of course, we bring you the best in the style stakes to give you a little (ok, a lot) of inspiration for your own big day – from design gurus like Karen Willis Holmes to the powerhouse that is Grace Loves Lace and a bunch of incredible designers in between, you’ll find lush looks on tap. Make sure you follow the links under each gal, too, as you might just find phenom flowers worthy of a look, or a fall in love with a venue, finishing touches (hi, hair and makeup!), or photographer who captured the whole darn thing so beautifully that you want to book them, stat.
If we have published their wedding, you can also find personal pieces of advice from the brides, and an insight into the process of creating their look (and day) from start to finish, along with recommended vendors. Handy.
Things to note, friends – your wedding outfit is one that can be as out of the box as you like, or equally as traditional as you like. It should be defined only by the human wearing it, however, does not define you at the same time… You with us? Basically, you do you. If you’re keen to boast a black number, go for it. If you want to wear white from top to bottom, do it! Love a mini? Show those pins off, people! Just remember, that as important as it is to express yourself through your style choices, when the dust settles (or confetti is collected…) the most important thing is the love you two have shared and those you have shared it with… no?
And while we have you here, don’t miss the rest of our roundups for the year (after you’re done scrolling this one, of course) – ‘cause we’ve gone and put together a Best Of; Wedding Cakes & Desserts, Wedding Parties, Styling Ideas, Groom Style, and Bridal Bouquets with Real Weddings to come! Woo! Get amongst it, pals.
LILIA CASS CEREMONIAL
Who doesn’t love a bridal look that can be worn long after the wedding day and in a tonne of other ways? Lilia Cass Ceremonial is designed with that particular adage in mind and we are quite frankly, here for it every day of the week. What drew our attention to Nerija’s get-up (and you can find it in full at Nerija & Elvis’ Blue Mountains Wedding) was this luxe blouse, adding a layer (physically and metaphorically) to the simple but ever-chic silk dress option. The formidable Damien Milan captured this happy couples’ day, and the dress wasn’t the only thing that caught our eye – Nerija’s husband Elvis not only has a darn cool name but looked super dapper in his M.J. Bale suit. If you want more from this incredible designer, expect Lilia Cass Ceremonial to be littered through our content from blog posts about the Top 20 Bridal Designers & Boutiques To Follow On Insta to fashion shoots and more, thanks to her gorgeous designs, quality, and quite frankly, her lovely personality. We like to support nice people – it’s that simple sometimes.
KAREN WILLIS HOLMES
Calling all the girly girls who want to ooze romance, feel whimsical, or plain and simply want to vibe pretty as heck on their big day. You’ll find all of that and more with this Karen Willis Holmes number from Adriana & George’s Adelaide Wedding – in actual spades, we promise. The designer’s gown offering is endless and now there are detachable sleeves like Adriana is wearing above. We know, we know, detachable sleeves – the option you didn’t know you needed in your life, right? Well, YOU NEED THEM. You’ll find a few other gems in this wedding, too – including captures from the talented man that is Dan Evans Photography (along with more weddings from him here), a classic cut suit from Oscar Hunt Tailors, and some very sweet details from Oak and Ivory. But back to the dress quickly… we are writing the Best of Bridal Style after all… you can find Karen Willis Holmes namesake boutiques right around the country as well as stocked in some of our favourite boutiques, Mrs Fray, Ivory Bride and Amante Bridal – a few of which you will find on our handy (if we don’t say so ourselves…) Directory here, along with more real weddings featuring Karen Willis Holmes gowns on their listing, too.
ALCA LINE BRIDE
Oh how we love a modern, contemporary feel when it comes to bridal gowns and there are not many who cut the mustard quite like Alca Line Bride. The quality is second to none, the cuts are interesting, the fits are always flattering and the details – as intricate as they come. Case in point, Shreeya’s gown from her Melbourne wedding to Sho. For this beautiful bride, it was love at first sight. “I hadn’t seen any other dresses like it on the market and I felt amazing from the moment I tried it on!” They featured a bunch of other Hello May faves, too, like Ladybird Cakes (see more of her creations and contact her here) and Suitably (enquire here for all things suiting related). Lastly, you’ll want to check out more from photographer, Amanda Alessi – she’s quite the lens lady – proof is in the pudding, people. And if you’re wanting to get your hot little hands on an Alca Line Bride creation, first, take a look at the incredible designer’s latest collection, Embrace ’22 and then check out her stunning stockists; Sunday Eye Bridal, Moonstruck Bride and Hope X Page, to name a few. You’ll also find them in the mix here.
EMILIA WICKSTEAD
Sorry, but if this look is not heaven on actual earth, we don’t know what is. Lindsey – one very stylish half of Lindsey & Julian’s Melbourne Wedding is wearing Emilia Wickstead and we can’t get enough. There’s the shoes, too. The. Shoes. Also, the bob adds a side of cute that you can’t get any other way than a well-suited chop. The bride says the knee-length number was a favourite on the day, and the pics that packed a punch were from one of our faves, Jess Tremp of Brown Paper Parcel. “I joked that Jess has six hands because I honestly do not know how she managed to capture so many beautiful moments from our day,” added Lindsey. Enough said. You can see more from her here and get the latest fashion and accessories on tap here for trending moments like this to be part of your big day, too.
GRACE LOVES LACE
If you’re in the market for a slinky dress to saunter down the aisle in, this Grace Loves Lace gown is for you. In a bonus, the material means you don’t need to worry about creases, it falls over your figure, hugging you in all the right places – trust us, we shot it in a fashion editorial you can see here – and the neckline is as flattering as they come. The bride adds, “I actually did not get to try on any dresses. It arrived a week before the day. I was stuck in lockdown in Sydney and just had to make a call! I was super nervous, but I always knew a sleek, semi-silky, modern dropped gown would suit my style and shape. And this was the perfect fit!” She wasn’t wrong. And if you’re going to take advice from anyone, it should be this gal, she organised her Gold Coast Wedding in four and a half months, friends! Impressive! Her other half was in Suit Supply and an M.J. Bale shirt, and the couple’s day was captured by Bulb Creative – check them out in their Directory listing with us if you know what’s good for you.
RUE DE SEINE
The creamy tones of this gown and bouquet combo makes us never want to see a white dress again (JOKES). But in all seriousness, herein lies the proof of wearing something unique, patterned, coloured, textured, etc, and that it’s the perfect choice. Rue De Seine are known for this and have built a glorious brand based on quality, incredible pieces with that very point of difference. Rebecca purchased them from one of our Directory vendors, The Bridal Atelier and you can read all about her (great) experience in Rebecca & Matthew’s Byron Bay Wedding. If you’ve fallen in love with the tones of this pic, too, you can check out more from Nina Claire and expect to find Rue (as it’s fondly known by fans – including us) all around the world, but definitely start in some of our fave boutiques (and check out their listings with us for more real brides) here and here (The Bride Lab). We also blogged their latest collection release, Mountain Song so head on over to our Fashion content after you’re done here, friends.
HARRIETTE GORDON
Cool gals, listen up! Harriette Gordon is the go-to designer in WA for chic, quality and femme pieces to pack a punch on your wedding day. Jen, an emergency nurse, eloped in this little slice of heaven and you can read all about it in her Tassie Wedding we blogged, as well as see how the bride has styled it (hint; no white heels here). You can also see it with Blundstone boots within one of our very own fashion editorials, Down To The River – we may be biased, but it could be our favourite way to wear it! Sydney-siders, you’ll find Harriette Gordon at Hope X Page – happy brides a-plenty found when you scroll down on their Directory listing with us – and don’t miss more from Jen and Matt’s photographer, Mel Badsey here.
OUI THE LABEL
Say hello to Lydia, lovely people. Stunning in this chic slip dress, she says of the experience, finding one turned out to be a little more difficult than expected. Luckily, the bride came across this quality piece by Oui The Label at one of their Christchurch trunk shows. “The timing was perfect and I was lucky to find it when I did, because the dress was literally only at the store for a couple of weeks. It was only three months before the wedding so I had to make the decision regarding the dress on the day and we put a rush order on it getting made and shipped!” As you can see, it was all worth it and you can watch how it falls, moves and photographs from every angle at the following link – captured by Mikayla Bollen. We are big fans of this elegant label, so much so, we included them in our recent round-up of the Top 20 Bridal Designers & Boutiques To Follow On Insta and in 20 Delish Gowns Under $5000 – affordable, no?
BY KINSMAN
It’s clear to see in this incredible shot (by photographer, Emotions/ Math) that a sheer edging can add so much to a simple, but oh-so-chic dress. The plunging neckline and the cropped sleeve – oooft so much class and sophistication in one look. The attention to detail of By Kinsman is top-knotch. Of the process, the bride says, “After trying out a few made-to-order gowns, I decided to find a local designer to make a custom gown for a tailored fit. I reached out to By Kinsman and Stephanie guided me through the process and took my ideas on board with an open heart.” You too can contact the designer here and see the rest of this wedding at the following link; Jrfan & Andrew’s Gippsland Wedding. And while you’re taking a look around, don’t miss this delish designer featured again in 20 Looks To Elope In over on our Fashion vertical.
PREA JAMES BRIDALLast, but definitely not least, you’re looking at Lex & Ben’s Sydney Wedding here dear readers and the bride is boasting a Prea James Bridal gown that we can’t get enough of. The designer has an unbelievably beautiful aesthetic – from her cuts, to fabrics, campaign shoots and her Paddington flagship – you simply won’t be disappointed if you purchase one of her pieces. “The moment I saw the Elena gown by Prea James Bridal, I knew that I had to try it on. I’ve always loved a bit of sparkle and the sleeves on that gown are what really sold me. I truly felt like a bride in it.” Check out Prea’s latest release we recently blogged – Riviera 2023 – and more real brides wearing her designs here. The groom was wearing Joe Black and if you’re on the hunt for a suit, it’s well worth taking a look at their Directory listing, too – so many dapper grooms! And don’t miss more from happy snapper on this day, Hayley Rafton. Scroll down on her listing for other weddings Hayley has shot – we love her work and we’re pretty sure you will too! If you can’t get to Paddington, check out Prea’s stockist here – shoutout to one of our fave concept stores, Mrs Fray!
CREDITS Photos (from top) Bulb Creative (Grace Loves Lace), Damien Milan (Lilia Cass Ceremonial), Dan Evans Photography (Karen Willis Holmes), Amanda Alessi (Alca Line Bride), Brown Paper Parcel (Emilia Wickstead), Bulb Creative (Grace Loves Lace), Nina Claire (Rue De Seine), Mel Badsey (Harriette Gordon), Mikayla Bollen (Oui The Label), Emotions/ Math (By Kinsman), Hayley Rafton (Prea James Bridal)