Real Bride Lauren wearing Suzanne Neville Monet
“Helen Rodrigues is the ultimate bridal experience - the range of gowns on offer, attention to detail and personalised service are second to none. Helen and her team are absolute professionals, who truly care for their brides and go above and beyond to ensure you look and feel wonderful on your wedding day.”
Bride & Groom: Lauren & Will Jeffries
Gown: Suzanne Neville ‘Monet’ from Helen Rodrigues Bridal
On the day coordination: Samantha Burke Events
Photography: Jack Henry (The Future Mrs)
Venue: Mary Immaculate, Waverly & Lindesay, Darling Point
Floral: Boutierre Girls
Hair & Makeup: Frankie Flanagan & Katie Angus (The Future Mrs)
Bridesmaid dresses: Needle & Thread
Accessories: Peter Langner Terry veil from HR Bridal Accessories
Stationary: True Paper Tales
Entertainment: Jasmine Strings/ The Baker Boys
Cars: Bride & Vroom
Catering: Dining Abode
How did you and your husband meet?
We were introduced by my former housemate in London when I returned to Sydney for university - we hit it off immediately, and have been together for 9 fun-filled years.
How did he propose?
Will proposed one Saturday morning at a tiny park in Point Piper, which is a regular stop on our weekend morning walks. It was relaxed, intimate and a complete surprise. We celebrated with our usual breakfast at Bills and dinner at our favourite Italian restaurant, Buon Ricordo, that night.
What was your vision for your wedding day?
We love cooking, entertaining and great wine and always had in mind that our wedding should feel like ‘the best lunch we’ve ever hosted’ - December (being our favorite time of year in Sydney) was perfect for such an event, with the weather warming up, and everyone relaxing ahead of the summer holidays.
Where did you look for your wedding inspiration?
I found Instagram very helpful for sourcing inspiration - we also looked into our favourite restaurants for elements to incorporate into our day.
What drew you to your gown from Helen Rodrigues Bridal?
Helen Rodrigues is renowned for the beautifully curated selection of gowns on offer, and Suzanne Neville’s modern yet timeless designs particularly caught my eye online. I knew the ‘Monet’ was my dress as soon as I put it on - the tailoring, fabric and fit were absolute perfection.
Helen’s meticulous in-house alterations ensured I felt wonderful on the day, and I am sure I will always remember the dress, and the personalised experience I had with Helen and her team in the lead up to the wedding, with fondness.
What was your wedding planning journey like for you? How far out did you start planning?
We started planning around 18 months out - we wanted to allow plenty of time to plan at a relaxed pace. Unfortunately COVID-19 upended our ‘relaxed engagement’ and we started planning an outdoor wedding at a new venue in August 2020 (about 4 months from the wedding).
What was the biggest decision you had to make?
The venue - it was really important to us to find somewhere with amazing food and wine, and a beautiful, intimate setting. When it became clear our original venue was unlikely to be able to host our wedding due to COVID-19 restrictions, we booked Lindesay - the stunning gardens were the perfect spot for a summer wedding. Being a blank canvas venue, it was a lot of work to bring it all together in a short time, but we could not have been happier with the result!
What was the highlight of your wedding day for you?
Walking into the reception, hand in hand with my husband, was such a happy moment - seeing all of our family and friends gathered to celebrate with us and our planning came to life.
Is there anything you would do differently?
Have a shorter engagement - you never know when a global pandemic might strike!
Is there any advice you would give other #HRBride’s?
Take the time to find vendors whose work you love and who you trust and get along with. Emily from Boutierre Girls and Thomas from Dining Abode really took our vision, elevated it, and gave us some great advice (and plenty of laughs) along the way. Have someone else responsible for ensuring the day runs smoothly so you can relax - Sam Burke was a complete hero in the month leading up to the wedding and on the day.
