Real Bride Story: Demi wearing Monique Lhuillier for her Yarra Valley wedding
Bride & Groom: Demi & Matthew
Wedding Dress: Fleur De Lis by Monique Lhuillier from Helen Rodrigues Bridal
Accessories: HR Signature Veil & Natasha Schweitzer
Planning & Styling: Poni Studio
Venue: Hubert Estate
Photography: Alli Woods
Floral: Wild Flos
How They Met
Matt and I met 13 years ago when we were both working in retail at Calvin Klein at Chadstone Shopping Centre. We were good friends for many years until the stars aligned and we were both single for the first time, which is when Matt finally made his true feelings known. The rest is, as they say, history.
The Proposal
In the kitchen of our Sydney apartment, the night before going on a holiday. It was unexpected, intimate, just us and perfect.
Wedding Day Vision
We wanted the day to really feel quintessentially like us as a couple and that meant making decisions that focused on our love as a couple, rather than blinding sticking to traditions. We wanted our day to feel elevated, chic and a celebration of love.
We didn’t have a bridal party, nor did we do cutting of the cake or tossing the bouquet. We wanted everything to have a romantic and authentic feel so instead focused on ways that would make our guests feel special and a part of our love story. I hand-embroidered coasters for each guest which doubled as our bonbonniere and guests found their seats via a personalised note. It was such a highlight to see everyone’s reaction to this.
Wedding Inspiration
TikTok was a huge source of inspiration, but I had to mindful of how much wedding content I consumed as too much choice riddled me with indecision. I mostly tried to focus on the things that I’ve always been drawn to and tried to steer clear of being too trend-focused. When it comes to fashion and styling I’ve always preferred to lean into what makes me feel good and what I love aesthetically, rather than following transient trends.
The Wedding Dress: Bliss by Monique Lhuillier from Helen Rodrigues Bridal
I loved that the Helen Rodrigues point of difference is that they are the exclusive stockist for so many coveted international brands. I hate having the same things as everybody else so the exclusivity piece at HR was a huge drawcard in being able to access designers not as readily accessible in Australia.
My gown, the Monique Lhuillier Fleur de Lis, was originally pulled for me by Nicole after I’d mentioned I was intrigued to try lace and wanted to accentuate my small waist. I’m not a gushy person but when I tried it on it unexpectedly had the ‘wow’ factor and from there that was the one I couldn’t stop thinking about. Whilst traditional in essence, the lace felt modern with structure, with a gorgeously boned drop waist that accentuated my best features. I felt like a true bride in it.
The Experience at Helen Rodrigues Bridal
“My appointment at Helen Rodrigues was the first time I had felt truly comfortable at a wedding dress fitting. Unlike some of my earlier try-on experiences, my appointment at HR started with Nicole sitting me down and asking about my style, what I love about my body, fabrics, textures and silhouettes to ascertain an understanding of what it was I was looking for. It was the first time I felt I was working with someone who had true expertise around dressing a woman’s body and the dress I ultimately selected was pulled by Nicole after she’d taken into account my feedback and encouraged me to try something unexpected. It had multiple features that accentuated the features I’d mentioned I’d be keen to highlight and her expertise truly shone through in knowing how to hero that.
Following selection, the alterations process was seamless. Each appointment with Helen made me so excited for the wedding and the attention to detail was second to none. If you’re looking for that true bridal experience, with expertise and care, I couldn’t recommend Helen Rodrigues enough. Those appointments became such a highlight of the planning process.”
The Journey
We started planning straight away as we got engaged in late September 2022 and set a date for 14 months later in December 2023. We had recently moved interstate as I had started a new job, and because of that, I didn’t want to be the new girl who was completely preoccupied with wedding planning. As a result, my partner and I decided together that investing in a wedding planner was the best decision for us, particularly also due to the fact that we were based in Sydney but planning a wedding in Victoria.
Biggest Decision
Honestly, probably the dress haha! As someone who has always expressed themselves sartorially, I felt a lot of pressure to live up to the expectation of having something spectacular. It’s a big decision, but ultimately it’s about selecting something that you feel really beautiful (and comfortable) in.
Wedding Day Highlight
Walking down the aisle to Matt, hands down.
What would she change?
Literally nothing, we look back on the day and wouldn’t change a thing.
Advice for future #HRBride’s
Remember that it’s your day and people are there to celebrate your love and commitment to one another. Make decisions that work for you as a couple and remain true to focusing on the things about the day that are most important to you.
Are you a bride-to-be? Find Your Dream Gown at Helen Rodrigues Bridal
Whether you're looking for a classic wedding dress or something truly unique, Helen Rodrigues Bridal offers a luxurious, personalised experience for every bride. Book your appointment today and make your wedding day unforgettable.
