Real Bride Story: Dorothy wearing Elie Saab Bridal
Bride & Groom: Dorothy & Ben
Wedding Dress: Ceremony gown was Elie Saab Bridal from Helen Rodrigues Bridal
Photography: Matthew Godkin and Jordan Hendy
Venue: Villa Eliz, Elizabeth Bay and reception at private property in Eagle Bay, Western Australia
Floral: Seed Floral
Planning & Styling: Self
Accessories: Elie Saab Bridal Veil and Gucci accessories
Hair & Makeup: Make up by Yen and Hair Chris Mai
The Meeting
We are both from Perth and met over the summer break back home on a day out on Rottnest Island.
The Proposal
We went on our usual morning walk and swim down at Eagle Bay beach (south west WA) on Christmas Day 2023. Ben popped the question as soon we got to the beach. We then went for a swim and celebrated with friends and family when we got home.
Wedding Day Vision
We had two parts to our wedding. A small intimate wedding ceremony of 30 guests formed the first part. We wanted it to feel like a long lunch celebration with our closest friends and family. We later then had the second part to our wedding which was a big black tie soiree on New Year’s Eve in Eagle Bay (where Ben proposed) to celebrate the “reception” part of the wedding where we invited the wider guest list.
The Wedding Dress Inspiration
I had always followed Helen Rodrigues on socials so knew this is where I wanted to go to find my versatile ceremony gown.
The Wedding Dress: the ceremony gown by Elie Saab Bridal from Helen Rodrigues Bridal
I was still postpartum when I started looking for my wedding gown. I had no expectations but wanted to find something that I could be altered closer to the wedding day. Helen helped me source the most perfect gown that I could wear to both weddings and made me feel at ease throughout the whole process.
“Helen provided me with the most seamless and wonderful experience. I had a short time frame in finding my gown so Helen assisted me with this and helped me find the most beautiful Elie Saab gown that I was able to wear twice!”
Wedding Day Highlight
We didn’t have a bridal party but we both got ready with some of our closest friends. The ceremony was just about Ben and I and our little dog Harold was the ring bearer.
For our NYE celebration, when the clock hit midnight, we had a champagne bottle parade with sparklers for the countdown. It really set the party tone and everyone was on the dancefloor ready to celebrate.
Advice for future #HRBride’s
Choose something that is you and you feel comfortable in. Try to avoid trends and stick with something classic.
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.
