We bring you the best in the bride style stakes from real weddings we’ve shared this year, to give you a little (ok, a lot) of inspiration for your own big day. From design gurus like Karen Willis Holmes and Georgia Young Couture to the powerhouse boutique that is Love Marie Bridal and a bunch of incredible designers in between, you’ll find lush looks on tap. Make sure you follow the links under each gal, too, as you might just find phenom flowers worthy of a look, or fall in love with a venue, finishing touches (hi, hair and makeup!), or photographer who captured the whole darn thing so beautifully that you want to book them, stat.
You’ll also find personal pieces of advice from the brides, and an insight into the process of creating their look (and day) from start to finish, because who better to tell their dream outfit story than the bride themselves.
Things to note, friends – your wedding outfit is one that can be as out of the box as you like, or equally as traditional as you like. It should be defined only by the human wearing it. Basically, you do you!
If you’re after more bride style inspiration, head here for the designers and boutiques you need to know, or here for 22 must-have bridal accessories. Woo! Get amongst it, pals.
LUCY & MITCH’S VICTORIAN WEDDING
“Harriette Gordon created my wedding dress and was fantastic to work with. I saw the dress online and contacted her to try it on five months pre-wedding. She made the process very easy – a kind, talented, beautiful designer from Perth. It was fun wearing a big white dress once in your life. Having a love for flowers, I picked Harriette’s pearl and flower veil.”
Photographer Brown Paper Parcel
TESSA-JAY & BRETT’S BRISBANE WEDDING
“I think I purchased five different dresses over time and opted for the first one which was Bernadette via The Fall Bride, and I wore a Grace Loves Lace veil, then a short dress for the reception. I always knew I wanted to buy something different and made sure I was comfortable but the designs were timeless.”
Photographer Beck Rocchi
LISA & THIERRY’S MELBOURNE WEDDING
“I always knew I would wear cowboy boots and a cowboy hat (a nod to my love of riding). Then it was a matter of finding the perfect outfits to go with them. I fell in love with the KYHA Millie Skirt and knew it was the one before I even tried it on. I then complemented it with the most perfect custom top and later suit from Vasiliki Couture. Vicki from Vasiliki Couture was just gorgeous.”
Photographer Ricky Gestro
“Possibly one of my favourite things I have ever worn. It’s the perfect mix of retro without being too costume. I knew I wanted a shorter style dress, which is actually really hard to find as most short dresses are designed as a more casual ‘second’ dress for the day. It never felt special until I found this from MacGraw. I paired it with some opaque white tights to give me a little more warmth and add another layer to the retro vibe.”
Photographer Keeper Creative
LEA & WILL’S MELBOURNE WEDDING
“A Melbourne designer called Seeley designed it. I wanted something nontraditional with colour and an interesting silhouette. They made a few sketches and we looked for silk that matched the buttery yellow. Once we had the dress completed, we added the neck fabric for the ’90s vibe I was looking for to tie it together. Seeley understood my brief was and took it to the next level!”
Photographer I Got You Babe
ANJALI & DYLAN’S SOUTH COAST WEDDING
“My dress is from Love Marie Bridal, and the designer is &ForLove. I absolutely loved my dress – it was whimsical, elegant and comfortable. I could not have imagined myself in anything else for my big day.”
Photographer Bel Combridge
ZOE & RICH’S MELBOURNE WEDDING
“There was nowhere else I wanted to go than Georgia Young Couture for my gown. when I went to my first appointment and tried on the Periwinkle Gown, I knew I wanted it to be in a colour and blue is my absolute favourite.”
Photographer Miranda Stokkel
“I didn’t have the dream dress ‘ah ha’ moment. I was searching for something timeless, elegant, slightly unique and also fashionable. I found L’eto Bridal and their brand ethos spoke to me. Their designs are incredible, and I could have easily picked and worn any of their creations. Honestly, I loved everything about my dress – it felt so me, and I am glad I stayed true to my self.”
Photographer Daniel Chafer
JEMMA & JEREMY’S MARGARET RIVER WEDDING
“The dress is a KYHA Studios design, with an added tulle bow at the back. After circling around many other styles, I returned back to the style I originally pictured myself in. I found trusting my initial feelings was the key. I also shopped alone and would highly recommend! It was so good to have an honest, professional opinion, unwaivered by the fear of offending other’s who are expressing their opinions if I had come with a group. The tulle bow came from a love of the ‘dramatic veil blowing in the wind’ vibe, however I knew anything on my head would annoy me, not to mention my hairstyle being less than ideal for fixing a veil to. The answer to this was about 7m of tulle from Spotlight, press-studded into the back of the existing tulle component of the dress.”
Photographer Emma MacAulay
“I knew it was going to be hot in Bali so it needed to be comfortable and breezy. I found my Christie Nicole Bridal dress online two months out from the wedding and just went with it, paying for it, giving my measurements and hoping for the best. It was perfect! I absolutely loved it – it was the most magical gown. Christie Nicole Bridal makes some of the most divine gowns with a point of difference.”
Photographer Susannah Blatchford
ALEX & JAMES’S BRISBANE WEDDING
“My dress was from Karen Willis Holmes – their Paddington boutique was the only store I really went to try anything on. I loved my dress.”
Photographer Stories by Ash
SHELLY & TOM’S VICTORIAN WEDDING
“I knew I didnt want something white and I wanted it to be secondhand if possible. My first profession was as a patternmaker and seamstress and I am obsessed with clothes. I never really imagined I would have a dress from a big fashion house like Gucci but I was cruising the web and it came up. I bought it as soon as I saw it.”
Photographer Maple And June
DANNII & JONNY’S MELBOURNE WEDDING
“I always knew I wanted to wear a short dress that was ’60s-inspired, so the journey started with spending lots of nights on Pinterest. The overall experience [was] nerve-racking because it didn’t come together until the very last fit, and even then, I was still unsure. But on the wedding day, it was very obvious to myself and everyone who attended that the Stephanie Biance Couture was exactly ‘me’.”
Photographer Elsa Campbell
CHARLOTTE & LACHY’S BYRON BAY WEDDING
“I was very inspired by Kendall Jenner’s off-white jumpsuit from the 2018 Met Gala. I looked online at various bridal (and non-bridal) stores and didn’t find exactly what I was after, so I thought I would see if someone could make me a custom outfit. Mariam Seddiq was only the second designer that I enquired with. Whilst not typically a ‘bridal’ designer – at the time she had done one bridal collection (there are more now!), that collection along with her general collection in pop colours were in the style and silhouettes of what I was after. I loved helping to design something that was mine. Fabrics, buttons, cuts and silhouettes all decided with my input – not to mention it was made to fit my body perfectly.”
Photographer Brendan Back
