Real Bride Kate wearing Monique Lhuillier Maeve
“Helen and her team were amazing to work with, everything went seamlessly and I had the most beautiful dress that I will forever love.”
Bride & Groom: Kate and Brendan
Gown: Monique Lhuillier ‘Maeve’ from Helen Rodrigues Bridal
Photography: Lara Hotz
Venue: Redleaf Wollumbi
Floral: FLower Drum
Accessories: HR Bridal Accessories Venus Pearl Crown and Nicholas Haywood
Bridesmaid dresses: Bec & Bridge
How did you and your husband meet?
I met Brendan through my best friend who he used to work with. One night I tagged along to one of their work parties and we hit it off instantly.
How did he propose?
Brendan took me away for the weekend under the guise of a ‘work trip,’ which he had spent weeks laying the ground work for. We were staying at my grandpa’s farm and right before we got ready to go out for dinner he dropped to his knee under a beautiful vine covered archway with the sun setting over the mountain in the background.
What was your vision for your wedding day?
We wanted to have a fun summer wedding in an intimate, beautiful and romantic setting. We loved the idea of getting married in Italy, so when we found our venue we knew it was the perfect place for us.
Where did you look for your wedding inspiration?
I looked at Instagram a lot!
What drew you to your gown from Helen Rodrigues Bridal?
I loved the fabric, the colour, the cut and the train. I always knew the kind of shape I wanted and I tried a few dresses on, but as soon as I tried this one on I knew it was the perfect dress for me.
What was your wedding planning journey like for you? How far out did you start planning?
We visited our venue 9 months out and we locked it in as soon as we saw it, so the planning started from there. Planning a wedding during covid was definitely interesting! We got engaged right at the beginning of covid, so when we started planning, everything was up in the air, and we weren’t sure if we would be able to have the wedding we had envisioned. Thankfully we persevered and are so happy with the decisions we made as it all came together perfectly in the end.
What was the biggest decision you had to make?
The biggest decision was the venue as it set the tone for the whole wedding. We fell in love with our venue as soon as we saw it, so the biggest decision was also the easiest one!
What was the highlight of your wedding day for you?
It is so hard to pick one highlight, the whole thing was amazing! Walking down the aisle, seeing all the people that we love most, the food, the venue, the dancing, I wish I could do it all again!
Is there anything you would do differently?
The only thing I would do differently is to start putting all of the final pieces of the puzzle together earlier, as the last couple weeks before the wedding were quite stressful!
Is there any advice you would give other #HRBride’s?
When I picked up my dress Helen gave me the best piece of advice that every bride should remember; it doesn’t matter if everything doesn’t go to plan, as no one else knows the plan!
Is there anything you would do differently?
The only thing I would do differently is to start putting all of the final pieces of the puzzle together earlier, as the last couple of weeks before the wedding were quite stressful!
Is there any advice you would give other #HRBride’s?
When I picked up my dress Helen gave me the best piece of advice that every bride should remember; it doesn’t matter if everything doesn’t go to plan, as no one else knows the plan!
