Real Bride Sophie wearing Suzanne Neville
“Helen is the ultimate professional. I relied on her advice and guidance for my choice of gowns and accessories. She provides the full bridal service and experience, and I could not recommend Helen more highly.”
Bride & Groom: Sophie & Troy
Gown: Suzanne Neville Posey gown from Helen Rodrigues Bridal
Venue: Oorabla Estate
Photography: Bayleigh Vedelago
Floral: Shady Fig
Videography: The Love Lens
Planning and Styling: Ooralba Estate, Sophie & her Mum Chris
Catering: Kepos Catering
How did you and your husband meet?
Troy and I met while we were both living in London in a flat share. We started dating and when my work visa expired I moved back to Australia and 2 weeks after leaving Troy decided to follow me and move to Sydney.
How did he propose?
Troy proposed to me by saying we were meeting with his friends for drinks one Saturday. Instead he hired a Maserati and driver who chauffeured us to Cottage Point Inn for the night. He proposed on the balcony in the rain. It was my notebook moment! We celebrated with a lovely bottle of Champagne followed by dinner. The next morning Troy organised for us to go back to Sydney via a seaplane. It was an amazing time! We came home to celebratory drinks with family and friends at my parents’ house.
What was your vision for your wedding day?
My vision for our wedding day was for it to be elegant but relaxed with a rustic Italian theme. I wanted it to reflect our laid back lifestyle but with elements of fun and surprises with a dash of country cocktail.
Where did you look for your wedding inspiration?
I looked at Vogue Brides, Pinterest and Italian wedding Instagram accounts
What drew you to your gown from Helen Rodrigues Bridal?
Working in the wedding industry I already had a good idea of what I was after. Having seen the Posey dress by Suzanne Neville on Helen’s Instagram I was very excited to try it on. It was unique but classic and the attention to detail with the petal overlay was spectacular. I tried it on and knew it was the one. For my second dress Helen suggested the Venus gown, also from Suzanne Neville which I loved - its elegant simplicity complemented the Posey gown. Suzanne Neville was definitely the designer for me.
What was your wedding planning journey like for you? How far out did you start planning?
We started a year out, immediately after our engagement. There were definitely some stressful moments but we were very happy with the end result. We had a clear idea from the outset on what we wanted the day to look like which made it easier to choose the suppliers we worked with.
What was the biggest decision you had to make?
Don’t laugh but it was choosing the right napkins and tablecloths! It was difficult to find the right rustic Italian look, sourcing pure linens in the right tones to give warmth and depth in the marquee. When one of the suppliers let us down, two weeks prior to the wedding we named it ‘napkingate’! All worked out well in the end.
What was the highlight of your wedding day for you?
Troy loved the ceremony and I loved the speeches. Having all our friends and family under the one roof was incredible.
Is there anything you would do differently?
No, it was the perfect wedding for us.
Is there any advice you would give other #HRBride’s?
Trust your gut when choosing your suppliers! And know that things will go wrong along the way but stay positive, it will all work out.
