Real Bride Story: Lexi wearing bespoke Monique Lhuillier
Bride & Groom: Lexi and Matt
Wedding Dress: Bespoke Monique Lhuillier Bon Bon in Petal fabric from Helen Rodrigues Bridal
Photography: Liam Jon
Venue: Ceremony at a private house in Palm Beach, reception at Dunes Palm Beach
Floral: Belinda the Curated Life
Planning & Styling: Belinda the Curated Life
Videography: Craig Holbrook
Accessories: Jimmy Choo heels, Celine sunglasses, Sarah & Sebastian stud earrings + Jennifer Behr statement earrings
Bridemaid Dresses: AJE, Shona Joy, Self Portrait
Hair & Makeup: Keiren Street and Aimie Fiebig
Band: Topshelf Live
Ceremony Singer: Zoe O’Sullivan
Cocktail Hour Singer: Duan & Only
The Meeting
As all good fairytales start, we met at a bar on Oxford Street. I was out with friends when I received a text asking if I wanted to go and meet up with some other Brits. The message read “I’m with 4 ex Abercrombie & Fitch boys, do you want to join?’ I obviously said yes, and Matt was one of those guys. That night was the start of a new friendship group, which we both became a firm part of. We built the best of friendships which later blossomed into a relationship.
The Proposal
After 10 years together, I’d been fairly prescriptive about what I had wanted. Something low key, where our beloved dog could also be included. We’d recently moved into a new house and one night I returned home to an amazing display of flowers, candles and champagne on our back deck, with Matt and Wally ( our dog) waiting for me. After he proposed we headed into the city to go to Quay for dinner, the location of the first fancy date we’d ever been on.
Wedding Day Vision
A party. After experiencing many of our friends’ traditional weddings, we wanted to give everyone a fun day filled with great music, food and drinks. We wanted to include the traditions we love and without those we didn’t. We settled on a cocktail wedding, leaving as much time for dancing as possible, we had a margarita tower and hour instead of cake and engaged friends to be key parts of the day, one became a celebrant to officiate the day, another sang me down the aisle. We wanted it to feel like us.
The Wedding Dress Inspiration
I knew pretty early on that I didn’t want a traditional dress, which started my search for both short and print or colour options. I mainly used Instagram and TikTok to see colour palettes I liked, styles I was into, and I thought would suit me and the vibe I was going for.
The Wedding Dress: a bespoke Monique Lhuillier gown from Helen Rodrigues Bridal
I booked an appointment with the dress in mind from the beginning. After a few months of searching, I stumbled upon a picture of someone in the Monique Lhuillier Petal on Instagram and I immediately felt as if it was the dress for me. I hunted down details of the dress and then Sydney stockists, to find Helen Rodrigues was the only place in Australia and New Zealand to have it.
“Each of my interactions and visits to Helen Rodrigues were extremely enjoyable and special. They made the process a breeze. It felt straightforward and in no way overbearing. I thoroughly enjoyed working with them all. ”
The Biggest Wedding Planning Decision
As expats for us it was deciding where to get married. Whether we got married in the UK, Australia or elsewhere some of our nearest and dearest would miss out. Deciding on Australia as it was where we met and have made a life together became the obvious choice, however it wasn’t without sacrifice.
Wedding Day Highlight
Our entrance at the reception. I think I’ll relive that moment for many years to come. As we’d been clear we wanted a party, our band, Top Shelf knew exactly how to get the party started and made our entrance into a four-song extravaganza. Our guests had grabbed our branded tambourines and caps and went absolutely crazy. It set the tone for the whole night.
Would you do anything differently?
I don’t think so. We created a day that was perfect for us and had incredibly supportive families who allowed us to create the day we wanted. I would do it all again in a heartbeat.
Advice for future #HRBride’s
Stay true to what you would like the day to be and don’t let anyone else sway you from that. You know what is most important to you, nobody else does.
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.
