Real Bride Tiffany wearing Posey by Suzanne Neville
“The experience with Helen is second to none. She remembers every detail and really ensures you feel your best. Helen has a beautiful calming nature which makes you feel really comfortable in her space and the focus is always on the bride and how she feels. Not to mention, her selection of gowns is exquisite and there really is something for everyone. I am so happy I got my dress from Helen, she made the process super easy, the seamstresses and team were amazing and really I just trusted her.”
Bride & Groom: Tiffany & Aaron
Gown: Suzanne Neville ‘Posey’ from Helen Rodrigues Bridal
Planning & Styling: Philip Carr
Photography: Blumenthal
Venue: The Grounds of Alexandria
Floral: Silva - @thegroundsfloralsbysilva
Bridesmaid dresses: Custom made Hannah Artwear gowns
Make-up: Joanna Luhrs
Hair: Jacki Mann (Joh Bailey Double Bay)
Videography: Soda Films
Accessories: HR Holly veil, my later grandmother’s diamond earrings and Aquazzura shoes
How did you and your husband meet?
We were high school sweethearts when we first started dating, I was 16 and he was 18. After 3 years we broke up and after 8 years apart, eventually found our way back to each other! (that’s the short version!)
How did he propose?
We often go down to Watsons Bay for an afternoon stroll and dip in the water so one Friday afternoon, he took me down for what I thought was our usual swim and as we put our towels down, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. There was a drone filming the whole thing which was really special because now we have that memory to look back on. He then surprised me with a big Friday night dinner at my sister’s house with both of our families and it was just one of the best days of my life.
What was your vision for your wedding day?
I had dreamed of my wedding day since I was a little girl and I always wanted a big fairy-tale like wedding. I would have loved an outdoor wedding but Sydney weather is unpredictable so we tried to create an enchanted forest indoors. Unfortunately our planning got interrupted by COVID which made things very difficult and the vision kept changing. Our original wedding was supposed to be 240 people in August 2020 and ended up being 100 people in January 2021 but truthfully it ended up to be the most perfect day and more fairy-tale like than I could have imagined.
Where did you look for your wedding inspiration?
Pinterest and Instagram - I think I had maybe 10 different ‘wedding’ albums and Pinterest boards.
What drew you to your gown from Helen Rodrigues Bridal?
I had seen the dress when I went into Helen with a friend a year earlier and remember thinking to myself one day I’ll try that dress on. When it was finally my turn, I had forgotten about that dress but knew I was going to Helen to find something. As I walked into her beautiful store, the dress was sticking out from the rack and facing the door - it was the first thing I saw and it was as if the dress chose me. We kept it until last to try on and when I did, my mum, sister and I couldn’t stop crying and we just knew she was the one!
What was your wedding planning journey like for you? How far out did you start planning?
As I said, I had been waiting my entire life for this so I think I called the planner the day after I got engaged and said ‘get ready we’re planning!”. We met right away and had planned for a shorter engagement and wedding in August and then the world changed. When we postponed the wedding in March we really didn’t know what was going to happen and it was all very devastating, but we set a date in January 2021 and said no matter what, it was happening then so it made me a little bit more positive. There were a lot of ups and downs and many tears with planning but about six weeks out we really got started again and it all worked out perfectly in the end.
What was the biggest decision you had to make?
Once we postponed the wedding we decided to cut our numbers in half because we didn’t want to take any major risks again. Closer to the wedding restrictions had all eased and everything was looking great for 140 people until 5 days before the wedding there was the announcement for only 100 people. That was probably the hardest and worst decision we had to make, how to bring it down even more but thankfully our family and friends were so incredibly understanding and made the process easier for us.
What was the highlight of your wedding day for you?
Seeing Aaron’s face at the chuppah (Jewish ceremony). We hadn’t seen or spoken to each-other for 5 days before the wedding so the anticipation and excitement was palpable. We are both incredibly emotional people too so all that emotion came out when we saw each other for the first time on the aisle, it was really beautiful.
Is there anything you would do differently?
Not plan a wedding during COVID!
Is there any advice you would give other #HRBride’s?
Don’t lose sight of what the day is really about. What covid taught us was that all we really wanted was to marry each other and that all the rest didn’t really matter. Even though it was the most beautiful and over the top day of our lives, what mattered most was the love and commitment for each other.
