Sydney wedding gown designer GP Creatives is officially entering the next chapter – and the debut made-to-order collection suggests it’s going to be a very good one.
After four years of designing custom couture bridal gowns, GP creatives founder and designer Gabrielle Pagano has launched Chapter Two, the label’s first made-to-order wedding dress range.
The collection has its eye firmly on reception and after-party dressing, but don’t go thinking these are simply ‘second dresses’. Chapter Two is a whole wardrobe of cool, fashion-forward modern bridal pieces designed to be worn wherever you damn well please. Ceremony? Absolutely. Reception? Obviously. Welcome party? Bridal shower? Engagement party? After-party? Yep, yep, yep and yep.
The collection features 11 individual pieces across 10 looks, with a mix of structured silhouettes, statement details, beautiful fabrics and clever separates. There’s a definite edge to the collection, but it never loses the romance or exquisite craftsmanship of GP Creatives’ custom bridal roots. Consider us officially obsessed!
Meet Chapter Two by GP Creatives
The name Chapter Two pays homage to where GP Creatives began – custom bridal – while also nodding to the next chapter of the wedding day. For Gabrielle, though, the collection was really about the women who have worn GP Creatives over the past four years.
“Choosing a wedding dress is an intimate experience and opting for a reception dress is just as significant. With the reception at the forefront of our designs, functionality is a given and fashion is the focus,” says Gabrielle. “I had all the real women I’ve met across the four years of GP Creatives in mind when designing. I considered the common likes and dislikes about the female form and the clothes we inhabit, and put this at the centre of every piece.”
The result is bridal that feels considered without being overly precious. Structured without being restrictive. Romantic without being too traditional. These are pieces you can actually move in, but they’re also pieces with personality. The kind of looks that make you feel like yourself, just turned up a few notches. “My hope for the collection is that the wearer does not even remember their usual insecurities,” Gabrielle says. We’re very into that.
One of our firm favourites from Chapter Two is Serena crafted from a single piece of vintage cotton crochet and lined in silk satin, with the natural fibres adding to the quality and texture of the gown. The bodice is structured with boning and fitted to the body, while the crochet is carefully draped to create a silhouette that feels both sculptural and effortless. The really good bit? Each Serena is unique, depending on the vintage fabric sourced for the gown. So while the silhouette remains the same, the fabric gives every bride something slightly different.
Then there’s the two-piece Hallie Set, made from GP Creatives’ signature Japanese crepe-back satin. The skirt features a structured corset waist with a beautifully draped satin skirt, while the Hallie bodice brings a flattering halter cowl neckline, internal structure and satin-covered buttons. It’s polished, modern and hot! And because it’s a set, you’ve got options. Wear it as your ceremony look, save it for the reception, style it for your bridal shower or bring it out for the welcome party. The pieces can also live beyond the wedding day, which you know we love!
Couture thinking, made to order
GP Creatives has taken the luxury of couture bridal and brought it into the made-to-order world. You still get the obsessive attention to construction, the high-end materials and the considered design of a custom gown, just with a lot more freedom to pick what works for you.
“What sets GP Creatives apart from other made-to-order labels is our commitment to bringing the luxury bridal experience of couture to the ready-to-wear space,” says Gabrielle. “To retain the exclusivity of wearing GP Creatives, these garments will be made in limited numbers. Same looks, same quality construction, same high-end materials and the same uniqueness of slow fashion.”
Everything is made locally from deadstock and mindfully sourced materials, which means you get a beautiful piece with a lighter footprint. Chapter Two is available in sizes 6-18 with complimentary split sizing, and every piece is made specially by the Sydney team with a 12-week turnaround. Prices start at $1,250 for individual tops and go up to $4500 for full beaded looks.
Your wedding day, your way
Maybe Millie is your ceremony dress. Then Mia makes her grand entrance after dinner. Maybe you wear Evie to the welcome party, Tyla down the aisle and Thea once the DJ kicks off. Honestly, there are no rules, and that’s our favourite thing about Chapter Two. It’s bridal, but make it cool, a little luxe, beautifully made and designed around the person wearing it.
You’ll find Chapter Two exclusively at one of our favourite NSW boutiques, Hope X Page. But first, get a peek at the gorgeous collection, shot by Matt Ashton, below…
Images Matt Ashton
FAQs
A reception wedding dress is a second bridal look worn after the ceremony. Reception dresses can be more relaxed, fashion-forward or practical than a traditional ceremony gown and are often designed with dancing and celebrating in mind.
Many brides choose a second wedding dress to have a different look for their reception or after-party. A second look can offer more freedom of movement, a different silhouette or simply the opportunity to wear another outfit they love.
Made-to-order bridal wear is created specifically when a customer places an order, rather than being produced in large quantities and held as ready-made stock. This approach can allow for greater attention to fit, construction and individual requirements.
GP Creatives combines the craftsmanship and luxury experience of couture bridal with a made-to-order collection model. Chapter Two uses high-end materials and considered construction while being produced in limited numbers to retain a sense of exclusivity.
GP Creatives Chapter Two is available exclusively through Hope X Page. The collection is made to order, with a 12-week turnaround.
