Are you loving today’s celebration? I was so overjoyed to read Suzie’s email with her words, it’s obvious she had the best day of her life (and I have to say if I had her wedding I’d be pretty thrilled too!)

As I hate to use the “perfect” around weddings, I thought I’d let you in on some of the little stumbles Suzie and Rey had with their wedding plans, to show it doesn’t really matter!

Suzie says “I can say that no matter how much planning you do, there are just some unforeseen things that happen! My major drama was 6 weeks before the wedding when my dressmaker canceled on me! She was doing my dress and bridesmaids dresses so I had 6 weeks to find me a dress or dressmaker quick smart and 2 bridesmaids dresses. It wasn’t easy – I wanted to stick to my budget, but at the same time wanted a dress that was ‘me’ . I actually came across Tea Rose Couture on Polka Dot Bride and it was the best decision. We chose fabric, designed and had my dress ready to go in time for the big day! The bridesmaids dresses I picked up for a bargain at the Rocks Markets in Sydney.

I also broke my toe 4 weeks before the wedding!! I think the adrenalin took over on the day and it was almost fine!”

Suzie says “I didn’t stress over things that didn’t matter – the bridal party could wear whatever shoes they wanted and the bridesmaids had their hair and makeup anyway they chose. I didn’t worry about colours matching, I just wanted everyone to have a good time!”

The reception was filled with personal touches from Suzie and Rey. Rey had the centrepieces and cake stand cut from tree logs while Suzie decorated the reception (held in the Barrel Room at Margan Estate) decorated with flowers grouped in bell jars. Each table was numbered with the couple’s dog Honey holding a number and guests took Polaroids and stuck them into a book to act as the couple’s guest book.

The couples favourite treats were setup on a buffet with signs mentioning why the treat was special. Each guest received a jar of honey and the beautiful three tier cake (made by Bec’s Cake Creations) was topped with a bluebird cake topper from Etsy seller Middleburg.

Suzie says “It wasn’t staged – everything was just about us. It sounds cliché, but it truly made our day special!”

Suzie says “We danced – A LOT! We even played some dance music and had the lights going – I kicked off my shoes and had a hand at DJ-ing! It was fun!”

Suzie’s parting words to us? “I married the man of my dreams and we were just so happy – I remember just smiling all day. I thought I would cry walking down the aisle and at everything, but we were just so happy all day – I didn’t get a chance to cry!” A day full of joy has been topped off with Suzie and Rey expecting their first baby in three months!

Thank you to Suzie and Rey for allowing us to share your gorgeous wedding day on Polka Dot Bride! Congratulations on your marriage and good luck for your impending arrival! Thank you also to Saxon Cole Photography for allowing us to share today’s photographs!

Photos by Saxon Cole Photography.

Suzie and Rey

Sharing weddings on Polka Dot Bride gives me such joy- especially when the bride has been influenced by Polka Dot Bride in one way or another- Suzie found her absolutely gorgeous polka dot wedding gown through Polka Dot Bride only six weeks before her wedding! Today’s celebration is full of joyful touches and makes for a great way to spend “hump day”!

We’re heading to the Hunter Valley today on Polka Dot Bride with Suzie and Rey. Here’s how they met in the words of their celebrant, Maree Callaghan “Rey and Suzie met through a shared passion for health and fitness, something they still share today. Meeting at a gym, Rey was instantly attracted to the vibrant Suzie, but his reticent nature at the time … coupled with Suzie’s then credo of living life to the full … kept them apart, despite romantic gestures such as placing romantic notes on her car. Right from the start, Rey knew they were right for each other, however it took Suzie just a little bit longer. Another year, another gym later, Rey was more confident and invited the now more settled Suzie on a date. Their friendship grew and they swiftly became each other’s confidant, and just two weeks after becoming house mates, Their romance blossomed!  Whilst they both still have a passion for fitness, they have an even greater passion for each other, and here we stand three years later. Today they each marry their best friend.””

Today’s photographs are by Saxon Cole Photography.

Suzie wore a pale pink polka dot gown from TeaRose Couture. The bridesmaids wore gowns from The Rocks Markets in Sydney while the groomsmen wore suits from David Jones. Suzie made the stationery herself. The hydrangea bouquets were created by Jade McIntosh Flowers.

Suzie says “We really just wanted our day to be a celebration of our love for each other. Our day really reflected this. We brought up our vintage bike and had to have photos with it – the bike was a theme right through from the engagement invites! We had so much fun in the lead up to the wedding – Rey was really involved in a lot of the planning of the day, and it was just overall a lot of fun – just what we wanted it to be.” In place of an order of service booklet, Suzie made a wooden sign using a chalkboard and fence posts.

Suzie says “Both the ceremony and the reception was held at Margan Estate in Broke, the Hunter Valley.  We got married outdoors overlooking the vines and the mountain ranges with not another building in site. We had about 60 guests come up for the weekend out of Sydney and everyone had a blast.”

Suzie says “I walked down the aisle to “All you need is love” by The Beatles. Our guitarist, Paul Wellham, sang as I walked down and I just remember being so happy and couldn’t stop smiling. When I reached the boys at the top of the aisle, the boys had sprayed so much cologne on themselves that they were literally covered in flies!  I found it quite funny”

A friend read “Oh The Places You”ll Go” by Dr Seuss. Suzie says “The whole day wasn’t rehearsed and I think that’s what made it so relaxed and fun! We had a general run time because you have to, but we just did whatever came natural on the day and it just turned into a big celebration.. nothing seemed to phase me on the day. All I cared about was marrying the man of my dreams in front of all the closest people to us… our day was a dream come true! I want to do it again!”

Check back this afternoon for more of Suzie’s fabulous polka dot gown and more love filled photographs!

Photos by Saxon Cole Photography.

Double fashion feature today! Today I feel honoured to bring you some exclusive shots of Henry Roth’s new Affordable Couture collection which he launched last week in Sydney in a runway show model Alexandra Agoston-O’Connor.

While the runway photos show the gowns beautifully, Henry gave us these studio shots exclusively so you could see them in all of their glory! There’s many more (coming soon to the Henry Roth website), but these are some of the ones I really loved. (Can you guess my favourite gown?)

The collection starts at $625 and rises to $2000+ and will be in stores mid to late June. In Henry’s words, his collection is for “savvy brides who want to have their cake and eat it too.”

Zoe

Henrietta, Harley

Hiller

Haley

Gloria

Henry Roth will also be in Melbourne on the 20th of February for a designer day at Maggies Bridal Salon from 9am to 4pm. Henry will be showing the new collection and consulting one on one with brides and bridesmaids. Check out the Maggies site for more info.

Images by Henry Roth

I must admit there is a love for this designer Christos that is not purely through the beautiful designs. It lies in the use of polka dots (especially on the Christos Desiree).

With Amsale carrying on the tradition of the brand,  the clean, classic silhouettes with beautiful, unusual fabrics, creative draping and the flair of little touches really make the gowns, feminine without being too girly. I feel like these are the perfect gowns to twirl in, to sit down with a powder puff around your waist and to wear with a little piece of elegant style.

Photos from Christos