Real Bride Story: Catherine’s Mona Farm Wedding
Bride & Groom: Catherine and Nathan
Wedding Dress: Bespoke Suzanne Neville Penny bodice with Amber Skirt, from Helen Rodrigues Bridal
Planning & Styling: Shae from Poni Studio
Bridesmaids' Dresses: Rachel Gilbert
Venue: Mona Farm
Photography: Blaise Bell Photography
Videography: Soda Films
Floral: Ffoliar
Band: Top Shelf Live
Content Creator: Reels by Lucy
How They Met
We met when we were 17 years old at a house party! My bridesmaid threw a party whilst her mum was away and fun fact my husband was actually not invited. He knocked on the door to politely ask if he could come in and of course I had to check with my bridesmaid. From there, we quickly became good friends for a year and then we started to date. We went through school, uni and work together. The rest is history and ten years later we are married and have a sweet English Bulldog.
The Proposal
It is quite hard to surprise me so he had a tough gig. One of our good friends, who was a groomsman at our wedding, invited us for dinner at his house. This was not uncommon as we usually join him and his family for dinner. As we were approaching Camp Cove, Watsons Bay our groomsman called and said the house was not ready but for him to meet us at the dog park where he was walking Rex. I thought that this was very annoying (haha!) as I would have to carry the food that I brought to the park. As we were walking towards the park, I realised there was no Rex and no groomsman! On the water's edge that is where he proposed. This location was serendipitous as this is where we took our Year 12 formal pictures 8 years prior. Needless to say, there was no pizza party after all and we went to Sushi E (our favourite restaurant) for a celebratory dinner.
Wedding Day Vision
I wanted the wedding to be chic, timeless, romantic and with a twist of modernity. I wanted all of those elements to be translated in every aspect, such as my dress, venue and decor. I wanted the room to feel warm so that is why I had no white decorations. We opted for a burgundy colour palette to tie into getting married in Autumn. I wanted the wedding to be refined yet relaxed and fun.
Wedding Inspiration
I was trawling through the Mona Farm wedding journal to see what aspects of other weddings that I liked. Our planner, Shae, was also so helpful in showing us her previous work. I think at the beginning I was very overwhelmed so I made a pinterest of images I liked and also screenshotted a lot on instagram. I would then look back at those inspo pics to see if they still resonated with me or whether the vision had slightly changed. This would help inform me of how to direct my vendors.
The Wedding Dress: Bespoke Penny bodice with Amber skirt by Suzanne Neville from Helen Rodrigues Bridal
I have followed HRB for a long time (do not tell my husband haha!). I loved how timeless yet modern the dresses were. I also liked how different to one designer's atelier, you can try on lots of different designs and then figure out what style works best for you. Sometimes it is difficult walking into one atelier because they are all a similar style and it is hard to figure out what suits you best. I knew Helen and her team would be able to create something special for me. I told my mum to not go to the other appointments and just come to HRB because I had a feeling that I would find it then and there.
The Experience at Helen Rodrigues Bridal
“If you are looking to find a perfect wedding dress, you must go to Helen Rodrigues Bridal. They are experts at what they do and the treatment and service is first class. I am extremely grateful to Helen and the team. Thank you so much. ”
The Wedding Planning Journey
We got engaged in November 2022 and got married in April 2024. Some people think this is a long engagement but it really flew by. When speaking to colleagues at work, they highly recommended getting a wedding planner. Sometimes my work hours can be a bit unpredictable and I knew that I did not want this experience to be more stressful than fun. A colleague recommended Shae from Poni Studio and I never looked back. Planning our wedding with Shae was stress free and most importantly FUN! Perhaps in another life I would be a wedding planner because I enjoyed it so much.
Biggest Decision
My wedding dress! I had gone to a couple of different stores and all of the dresses just felt 'ok'. I was worried that I would not find anything that I felt amazing in. I am only 5ft 2 and the idea of a big ball gown dress was a bit daunting. Helen and her team were SO helpful in helping me feel comfortable and amazing in my dress. I am so thankful to the HRB team for creating a dress that is so chic, timeless, modern and most importantly, me!
Wedding Day Highlight
Seeing everything we planned over 1.5 years come to life! I loved walking down the gorgeous aisle and marrying my husband. I loved seeing everyone enjoy themselves over delicious food and wine. I also loved feeling the electric energy in the air which lasted the whole day and night. A nice touch to the wedding that brought so many vibes was having a live band. If you can, I highly recommend it.
What would she change?
Nothing! We had the most perfect day. Looking back, I think I should have stopped worrying in the lead up because it is all about the love and fun on your special day.
Advice for future #HRBride’s
Go to Helen Rodrigues Bridal, you will not regret it at all. It is always such a calming and fun experience. Things may go wrong on your wedding day that are out of your control but you will always know that you will look stunning in your HRB gown.
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.
