Real Bride Story: Danjel & Thomas Elegant Sydney Wedding
Bride & Groom: Danjel Miladinovic & Thomas Hudson
Planning & Styling: Kate Spencer, Palm Beach Events
Wedding Dress: Bloomsbury by Suzanne Neville, from Helen Rodrigues Bridal
Bridesmaids' Dresses: SIR, Paris Georgia, AJE, Gauge81
Groom's Tuxedo: P. Johnson
Groomsmen Suits: MJ Bale
Wedding Venue: Ceremony - State Library of NSW, Reception - Bennelong Restaurant, Sydney Opera House
Photographer: Bayleigh Vedalago
Videographer: Soda Films
Florist: The Flower Drum by Holly Hipwell
Invitations & Stationery: Lab Fever by Sarah Hartley
Wedding Cake: Stacey Brewer Cakes
Makeup Artist: Serena Wylie Makeup
Ceremony Singer: Zoë Vrachnas
Reception Band: SSJ Group
How They Met
We met during orientation to our new hospital where we were commencing as baby doctors. We were on a break and Tom was standing behind me in the line to coffee. I overheard someone compliment him on his R.M. Williams. I laughed to myself because there is a joke in medicine that the men’s uniform is R.M Williams boots, chinos and a polo shirt. He fit the cliché. But his response was so endearing, he was so chuffed that someone had noticed his R.M Williams. He started telling the other guy how he had had them for over 10 years, and how he had them resoled for work, and how pleased he was with the result. I turned around at this point to look at who was speaking, I saw Tom. He was wearing chinos, a pink polo shirt and of course his R.M. Williams. It was true he fit the cliché, but he was so proud of himself and genuinely respected the luxury shoe he was wearing, he didn’t take them for granted. I liked that.
Two weeks later, he asked me on a date. We went for a drink at a pub in Darlinghurst. We sat there for hours, chatting, getting to know one another. We were having such a great time that drinks turned into dinner. It was that night that I knew one day I would call him my husband.
The Proposal
We were skiing, it was our first run down the mountain and Tom suggested to stop and take in the view. We sat there amazed with the scenery, the snow and the enchanted silence you only experience in the mountains. It was here that Tom asked me to marry him. There were tears, our hearts were racing, there was just so much love felt in that moment.
We were so overcome with emotion; our legs were weak I remember we kept falling as we skied the rest of the mountain. We couldn’t stop laughing. We were laughing, crying, and falling over.
Wedding Day Vision
In truth, I had never really thought a great deal about my wedding. Our vision was built throughout the process of organising the wedding. We focused more on logistics for our guests. We had a Saturday wedding so as not to impede on work and annual leave for our closest family and friends. Similarly, we wanted a Sydney wedding for easy access and minimal travel with plenty of accommodation options. The time of year was based solely on our careers and specific dates to work around friends’ exams and pregnancy due dates.
We landed on the State Library as it was fitting for us as a couple, having spent a great deal of our twenties studying. Bennelong restaurant was the easiest decision, it was close to the library and what a stunning venue; great food, service, view and architecture.
Wedding Inspiration
We didn’t really look at inspiration we relied heavily on Kate Spencer our wedding planner to style, plan and inspire. She completely exceeded any expectations we didn’t know we had.
The Experience at Helen Rodrigues Bridal
“Helen Rodrigues Bridal is the only boutique I visited when shopping for my wedding dress. Every bride I have seen dressed by Helen has looked so elevated, heavenly and unique. So, it was an obvious decision for me to enquire with Helen about a fitting session. The whole process was fun, not at all stressful, very easy and so incredibly special. I emailed initially enquiring about an appointment, in that initial request I was asked about approximate budget, style and designer preference. I then received a phone call from Helen’s team following up on my enquiry. We spoke about options more in depth and set a time and date for a fitting.
My parents and I went for a fitting a few weeks following that initial enquiry. Little did I know, that, that fitting appointment was going to become one of the most memorable days of my life. And a big part of why that experience was so exceptional was Helen. Her energy, consideration, kindness and her distinctly genuine disposition places you at ease and allows for complete honesty with how you feel when you try on your potential wedding dress.
My wedding dress was the second dress I tried on. The energy in the room was palpable the moment that dress went on. My father was teary, my mother was silent, and Helen just had the most incredible smile on her face, a mixture of pride and pure joy. All our hearts were racing, I think we were all surprised at how emotional we were. Helen then added the veil, gloves, headpiece and earrings – the look was divine. Helen then pulled out the Champagne, we all started giggling from delight and disbelief with how fun and magical that moment was.
After that initial appointment, I had several fittings over the months leading up to the wedding, each as delightful and exceptional as the first. The final product though completely exceeded all my expectations.
Helen, Sophie, Nicole & Glynis – thank you. You make an exceptional team. Your passion, talent and consideration make for a truly memorable wedding dress experience.
”
Planning the Wedding
We started planning just over a year prior to the wedding. Our first step was finding a wedding planner. Then we looked for venues. Once those two elements had been decided things started falling into place organically. The two months prior to the wedding were the most involved, with lots of little decisions and quite a bit of time required. Thankfully my husband took the lead on wedding planning so for me it was less involved but no less stressful. No matter how organised you are and how early you plan, the two months prior are unavoidably involved.
Biggest Challenge
Who not to invite. Venues have strict numbers and refining the invite list was challenging.
Wedding Day Highlights
For me it was the ceremony, everything about it was extraordinary. From our celebrant Sarah Brown who was born to marry people, to our singer Zoe Vrachnas who has a voice of an angel, to the set up created by Kate Spencer and the flower arrangement framing the State Library’s “Eureka” stain glass window. It was breathtaking.
Advice for Future Brides
The lead up to our wedding was a challenging time, my partner and I were living 7 hours away from one another, because I was seconded for work, and on top of that I had a big deadline to meet three days prior to the wedding. That took away from the magic leading up to the wedding and is likely what made the months prior far more difficult than they needed to be. My advice would be, if you can have less on your plate or can take away one or two balls to juggle leading up to your wedding, then do it. It’s a very special time in your life and having all that other noise distracting you from being present impacts on the experience.
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.
