Real Bride Story: Cassie wearing Galia Lahav Evangeline
Bride & Groom: Cass and Tim
Wedding Dress: Galia Lahav Evangeline gown from Helen Rodrigues Bridal
Photography: Motion house weddings
Venue: Seseh beach Villas, Seseh Bali Indonesia
Floral: Bali Tropical Florists
Planning & Styling: Anita from Plan A
Accessories: HR Signature veil from Helen Rodrigues Bridal
Videography: Motion house weddings
Bridesmaid Dresses: Bec & Bridge
How did you and your husband meet?
Tim and I first knew of each other through mutual friends. He was a little older than me, and at the time I was working for one of his good mate’s wives, who was also my boss. I was also coaching Tim’s mum and sisters in my fitness classes, so our worlds crossed quite a bit before we officially came together.
How did he propose?
Tim always knew that I don’t love being the centre of attention or making a big show of things, but I do love sharing special moments with the people around me. Family and community mean everything to me, and our gym truly is our family.
That year, we had just opened a business together, and on the last day we were open before Christmas, Christmas Eve, we ran a session with all our beautiful members. After the session, everyone gathered for a group photo, my whole family included. Tim stepped forward in front of everyone and proposed. I was pregnant with our first baby at the time, which made the moment even more special and unforgettable.
What was your vision for your wedding day?
I’ve always loved many different styles of weddings and felt lucky enough to experience two weddings that I had always dreamed of. Because we got married overseas in Bali, we also held a legal ceremony here on the South Coast with just our parents and grandparents who were unable to travel. That ceremony was incredibly wholesome, intimate, and personal, with a sit down lunch and a beautiful ceremony that meant so much to us.
Even before meeting Tim, I always said I wanted to get married in Bali. I loved the idea of everyone being on holiday, relaxed, and happy. I don’t do well in cold weather, so I knew that even if it rained, it would still be warm, and everyone could enjoy themselves without being cold or uncomfortable.
We had over 70 people travel to celebrate with us, and it truly felt like the ultimate holiday with our closest friends and family. You never usually get that time together with everyone, and this made it possible. It was absolutely phenomenal and my absolute dream wedding.
Where did you look for your wedding gown inspiration?
My wedding planner Anita was incredible. She understood my vision, my ideas, my changes, and my indecisiveness, and helped bring everything together in a way that made sense and worked for the location.
A lot of my inspiration came from Pinterest, but I also wanted everything to suit where we were getting married. I wanted the wedding to feel simple and intentional, as big traditional weddings were not something Tim was particularly drawn to. That’s why Bali felt perfect, we wanted it to feel like a holiday, not just a wedding, something meaningful that people could truly enjoy and remember.
Tell us about your experience at Helen Rodrigues Bridal and what drew you to your gown?
I had a vision saved on my phone since 2019 of a sheer gown embroidered with beads and lace. It didn’t look like a traditional wedding dress, and that’s exactly what I loved about it. The bride looked elegant, timeless, and just a little bit different, which really resonated with me.
When I saw the Evangeline gown from the Galia collection appearing on my Instagram, I was instantly drawn to it. It was so similar to that original image I had saved years earlier. I didn’t even visit any other bridal stores. I knew that was my dress.
The girls at Helen Rodrigues encouraged me to try on a few others, but I couldn’t help myself. I went straight for the Evangeline gown. I knew I would love it, and as soon as I put it on, I knew it was mine. It was perfect, completely my style, and everything I had envisioned. I honestly could have bought it on the spot without trying anything else.
What was your wedding planning journey like for you? How far out did you start planning?
I started planning exactly one year out. I had just had my second baby in October, and I decided that while I was home with my newborn, it would be the perfect time to start planning our wedding. Life was moving so fast, and I felt that if we didn’t intentionally create that space, Tim and I would never really get the chance to celebrate us.
That said, planning a wedding with a newborn, another child, and running my own business was one of the hardest years. It was incredibly challenging, and definitely not something I would ever choose to do again. Anyone with a newborn knows how demanding that season is, and adding wedding planning on top was a lot.
What was the biggest decision you had to make?
It definitely wasn’t the dress, that decision was made before I even walked in the door. The hardest decision was the food. Being in another country meant I couldn’t sample or taste test anything beforehand, and I really wanted it to be perfect, especially knowing guests wouldn’t easily be able to find other food options nearby.
What was the highlight of your wedding day for you?
Ironically, the highlight was the rain. From 10am until around 5.30pm, we had torrential rain, and although I went to Bali dreaming of perfect weather, it actually made our day.
We had a beautiful first look with no rain, just the two of us together. Then we went back to our villa where the rain started, and we spent the afternoon celebrating with our bridal party and parents. We drank, laughed, took extra photos, and even got more family photos with our babies. It felt like a pre wedding before the main event.
Eventually, we all went down together to join our guests, starting with cocktail hour before the ceremony because it was still raining. It was very us, completely focused on the people there rather than the formalities, and it turned out perfectly.
Is there anything you would do differently?
Nothing at all.
Is there any advice you would give other #HRBride’s?
Helen and her entire team go above and beyond. They think of every detail, from accessories to how you move in your dress, how to stand, and how to hold yourself on the day. Their guidance and care are incredible, and I am completely grateful for the experience.
Whether you're looking for a classic wedding dress or something truly unique, Helen Rodrigues Bridal offers a truly personalised experience for every bride. Book your appointment today and find your dream gown.
