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We’d like to do all we can to show our appreciation of our healthcare workers. Not only are they treating patients affected by an unfamiliar virus, but they have the extra challenges that come with being fully gowned, with face masks and visors, and caring for patients at a time when they’re isolated from loved ones.
As thank you to some soon-to-be brides who are contributing to the community and dealing with the heartache of postponed or modified wedding plans, we’re gifting them with a special piece to wear on their wedding day. Last month we shared Gillian’s story and today we’d like to spotlight the wonderful Maria, a Dublin nurse who has been relocated to the COVID-19 wards.
Maria is normally based in the surgical wards looking after patients who are recovering from surgeries, but she has now been moved to an increasingly pressing area of treatment. “My usual routine had to change rapidly to care for COVID-19 patients,” says Maria. “In surgical nursing you generally expect the patient to make a good recovery and be discharged as long as there are no complications but on a medical ward, especially COVID-19 wards, it can be very different. You sometimes care for end-of-life patients, which can be quite upsetting especially knowing that their family cannot always be by their side. I used to work on a respiratory ward so thankfully I had some experience in this area to look after COVID-19 patients, but it is still a completely new side to nursing that we have never experienced before.”
Looking after COVID-19 patients is a new and unfamiliar territory and Maria says it’s important to be on the lookout for any changes in symptoms. “Like any respiratory illness, COVID-19 patients can get very sick very quickly so you have to be on alert at all times and pay attention to any little change in the patient’s symptoms.”
To help counteract the stresses at the hospital, Maria is keeping physically and mentally active. “Switching off from social media now and again and reading a book instead, has definitely brightened my mood,” says Maria. “I’m also doing a lot of online yoga classes that my cousin (@yogawithmaura) teaches. Getting out for walks and exercise make such a difference too.”
The proposal to her fiancé Dave was completely unexpected; it began with a casual walk around their local park. “We watched the sunset and when I turned around Dave was down on one knee. I loved how natural it was, away from any crowds, where we could enjoy the moment ourselves,” says Maria.
Planning her upcoming wedding with Dave has given Maria something positive to look forward to. “Once I found my dress, I knew my theme was going to be quite classic and understated with a little bit of vintage thrown in.”
We’ve given Maria the antique silver FLEUR crown, featuring floral details and ivory pearls, to enhance her classic style. “I had been browsing for so long for the perfect headpiece and couldn’t find anything I was looking for,” says Maria. “I wanted something delicate with a vintage style to it, so once I found Tania Maras and saw how beautiful and intricate the designs were, I knew it was the perfect place for me.”
For our next ‘Weddings and Pandemics’ feature, we’ll introduce you to Claudia. She’s been doing lab work in Germany – studying the COVID-19 virus and finding ways to prevent its spreading. Claudia and her partner Andres also have a very sweet ‘meet cute’ story to share.
Weddings are in their essence a demonstration of love and hope for the future. Given the current situation, we could all use a little more love and hope. The year so far has brought local bush fires, a global pandemic and protests in cities across the world. It’s been a wake-up call to some of the big issues facing us; climate change, public health threats and racial inequalities that are still alive today. The repercussions of these events will no doubt be felt for many years to come and will hopefully lead to many changes for the better.
During the peak of the Coronavirus outbreak in Australia, the Tania Maras team did a call out offering a headpiece and/or veil to three soon-to-be brides who have been impacted by the current circumstances. We wanted to provide something positive and beautiful to three special people for their wedding and bring them some joy during a difficult time.
We received many applications with stories of physical, economical and emotional hardships. Everyone who wrote to us was deserving, which has made our decision very difficult. But there were three lovely people who stood out.
To begin with we’d like to introduce you to Irish nurse Gillian Holland, who has been working 12-hour shifts treating and caring for Coronavirus patients. We were close to tears reading about her experience as a front line nurse, while her recount of her proposal to partner Tom brought a big smile to our face.
Treating patients with the virus is one of the hardest tasks to date in Gillian’s nursing career. At a time when patients are frightened, unwell and isolated from love ones, treating and also emotionally supporting patients is more important than ever.
“Care, compassion and commitment are some of the main values underpinning the nursing profession. Ensuring every patient I look after is treated with care, compassion and commitment is fundamental to me as a professional. This mindset did not change during this pandemic,” says Gillian. “Taking time to truly support each patient and listen to their fears and concerns was paramount. Holding their hand at their most vulnerable times was so important. Being their support system during a period of huge uncertainty and a potential life-altering illness was never so crucial.”
Despite the uncertainty and fear, Gillian is inspired by how the community have united to support each other.
“There is a huge sense of teamwork, goodwill and comradery both within the hospital and also the wider community. The kind gestures and goodwill of local communities is what helped keep the momentum and spirits going on the dark days.”
Gillian and Tom met on a dance floor at nightclub over nine years ago and are now building their first home together and planning their wedding. The wedding proposal was a complete surprise for Gillian. Tom picked her up from the hospital at the start of a bank holiday weekend and they made their way up north to where some of Gillian’s relatives live by the beach. They would often make this trip, each time passing a beautiful hotel resort and commenting on how much they’d like to stay there when they have extra money.
“This time Tom suggested that we stop off and stay there one night on the way up to my relatives. I agreed at the time however, when I checked the price for the night, I almost cancelled the booking. I told Tom we didn’t need to go this time, it was peak season and too expensive,” says Gillian. “I was completely and utterly unaware of what he had planned and I really wasn’t making this easy for him, little did I know. We laugh about this now but at the time Tom tells me he was so nervous that I was going to just refuse to go.”
After some coaxing, Gillian and Tom arrived at the resort and went for a drink at the bar followed by a walk around the lake.
“We were so in awe of the place (and Tom was so nervous) that we walked out of the bar without paying for our drinks. Half away along our walk we had stopped and sat down on a large rock to take in the view. I then remembered we hadn’t paid and insisted that we rush back to the hotel to fix the bill, again totally unaware of what was about to happen. That’s when he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. The ring was the most perfect thing I had ever seen and fit almost perfectly. I was so surprised and overwhelmed that I started crying. It was the most special moment.”
Gillian and Tom don’t have a particular theme in mind for their wedding mid next year, but they do have three essential elements for the day – good food, good music and a relaxed atmosphere.
“Our venue has a very rustic and homely feel to it. There are lots of fairy lights, greenery, candles and floral accents everywhere which we both loved. We want to give ourselves and our guests something to remember so making sure the food is good quality and that the music will fill the dance floor is key. The finer details we aren’t too fussed about. We want our wedding to be a huge party enjoyed by each and every one of our guests.”
When Gillian was first engaged and began pulling together ideas for her bridal look, the intricacies and unique beauty of Tania Maras designs caught her attention and admiration.
“Each piece tells its own story and can be styled in a multitude of ways which I loved,” she says. “Each piece has the ability to completely transform and elevate a bridal look. I have never seen bridal accessories quite like the pieces in the Tania Maras collection.”
Gillian has selected the dramatic Georgette veil for her bridal look. She also loves the Lyric headpiece in silver and the pearl and crystal flowers featured in the Lucille design. We’re combining these two styles to create a bespoke headpiece for her.
Up next, we’ll be sharing the story of our second bride, the lovely Maria.
Most weekends you’ll find Melanie at a wedding, surrounded by lipsticks and eye shadows as she uses artistry to create beautiful bridal looks. With years of wedding day experience, she knew a thing or two when it came to planning her own special day.
And special it was. Melanie and Matthew married at a clifftop in Bali, overlooking the breathtaking Indian Ocean and they finished the day with a dazzling reception under the stars. Melanie sparkled in a sequin gown and our Bordeaux ponytail veil, a perfect look for a balmy beach-side wedding.
Melanie, Matthew and their guests ventured to the limestone cliffs on Bali’s Bukit Peninsula for the ceremony. The clifftop was later transformed into a glittering reception party with crystal chandeliers, fairy lights and floral displays, all in neutral tones with a touches of soft pink.
“I can’t recommend The Ungasan as a wedding venue enough, it was breathtaking. No photos do it justice, once you walk in you are blown away. Both our ceremony and reception were held there and as a special touch, we had a personalised neon sign made with words from our first dance song – ‘sipping bubbly’. It looked amazing and they ended up keeping it as a permanent sign in their bar!” says Melanie.
After 14 years of being makeup artist, Melanie had stored many ideas and inspirations for her own day and knew exactly what she wanted for her hair and makeup. She loves her job, and now has her own first-hand bridal advice to pass on to her clients.
“I love being part of the bride’s morning. Everyone is always in a good mood and I get to share those special moments with the bride, her bridal party and family. After being a bride I now understand when people say ‘the day will go so fast’ and to make the most of every moment. It really does fly! I now relay that information to my brides as I’ve recently experienced it.”
At Tania Maras we love the work of Australian bridal designer Karen Willis Holmes (KWH) and have many of her gowns featured in our photo shoots. Melanie also shares our love for this remarkable designer and wore a KWH sequin wedding gown, Anya, on her wedding day.
“Once I tried this dress on, I knew it was the one! I loved the delicate spaghetti straps and stunning beads from head to toe. The dress was fitted with a long beautiful train and I had a removable skirt added for a whimsical look for the ceremony. Picking your dress is a feeling not a decision, and I definitely had that feeling when I stepped into it.”
When it comes to picking a gown, Melanie shares her top tips;
“Make sure your dress is comfortable! If the dress has a bustle, get one of your bridesmaids to learn how to put it up before your wedding – this was the best decision I made. Also if you need any alterations made, get them done as close to the wedding as possible to ensure it fits your body perfectly.”
Melanie wore our chic Bordeaux veil which is designed to be worn around a ponytail and features crystal details along the top.
“I found the beautiful veil on Pinterest! I had tried on normal veils but felt it didn’t suit my personal style. Once I tried the Bordeaux veil wrapped around my ponytail, I felt way more relaxed and at ease. It was beautiful!”
Melanie’s wedding also sparked an exciting new business venture for Melanie and her sister. Just like many wonderful ideas, the idea came about as a solution to a problem.
“When I was searching for my bridesmaids’ ‘getting ready’ outfits, I couldn’t find anything that I liked. So if planning a wedding wasn’t enough, my sister and I created our own linen sets to wear on the day. They were perfect! Breathable and comfy linen that we ended up wearing the rest of the holiday. One of the highlights was walking around The Ungasan wearing our own label The Bridal Thread, it felt like a dream!”
The duo launched The Bridal Thread in December 2019, and offer a range of fresh and modern linen/cotton sets, as well as earrings and wedding themed postcards.
“I’m a very creative person which is why I love being a makeup artist and I’ve also ran my own business for the past 14 years. My sister is creative too, she’s a copywriter with many years of digital marketing experience. We make the perfect team as our strengths complement each other.”
“My best piece of advice is to hire a wedding planner! It’s worth every cent to save you time and reduce stress leading up to the big day,” says Melanie.
Growing up, Viviane always loved her parents’ wedding photo, especially the statement headpiece her mum wore on the day. Her parents married in 1981 in their hometown of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Almost 40 years later in Southern California, USA, bride Viviane wore her own version of the headpiece she has admired for years and honoured her love and gratitude for her mum.
When this bespoke headpiece enquiry arrived in Tania’s inbox, she was also honoured to be a part of such a special tribute. Viviane’s mum posted the original headpiece to our studio and Tania worked to recreate it, replicating the shape and style of the original piece, but also modernising the design with her signature floral, crystal and pearl details.
When Viviane and her partner Brian began planning their wedding, she expressed her interest in wearing her mum’s headpiece. Viviane and her mum looked into restoring the original headpiece, however over the years it had yellowed and lost some of the decorative stones. They were told that restoration was risky and possibly impossible.
“My mum discovered Tania Maras who said she could recreate the headpiece. We weren’t sure how it was going to turn out, but we were excited to try out this approach after looking at Tania’s other designs. They were all so pretty and delicate. My mum shipped the original headpiece from California to Australia (for reference), and Tania started on her project!” says Viviane.
Tania recreated the shape using a wire base and layered the design with a variety of clay flowers and pearl and crystal elements. Tania works closely with brides when creating bespoke pieces, sending them mock-ups and ideas, to help achieve their vision and complement their style.
“Everyday we feel honoured to work with so many incredibly kind women who put their trust in us on their wedding day,” says Tania. “Anyone who has organised or is organising a wedding will know that a wedding day is one of the most significant, emotional, daunting and exhilarating days of your life.”
The finished headpiece was even better than Viviane imagined. Both mother and daughter have the same dazzling smiles, bright eyes and dark hair. The striking headpiece design looked just as beautiful on Viviane as it did on her mum.
“The piece was absolutely amazing! I adored it. The headpiece obviously drew inspiration from my mum’s piece, but it was unique in its own way too. It was my favourite part of my bridal look and I wore it all night long. Truly a stunning work of art. I couldn’t have dreamed of anything better,” says Viviane.
The finished headpiece was even better than Viviane imagined. Both mother and daughter have the same dazzling smiles, bright eyes and dark hair. The striking headpiece design looked just as beautiful on Viviane as it did on her mum.
“The piece was absolutely amazing! I adored it. The headpiece obviously drew inspiration from my mum’s piece, but it was unique in its own way too. It was my favourite part of my bridal look and I wore it all night long. Truly a stunning work of art. I couldn’t have dreamed of anything better,” says Viviane.
After trying on about 20 dresses, Viviane chose a Martina Liana dress, featuring a lace bodice and long train. She completed her look with her mum’s original lace veil, natural make-up a and a hairstyle of soft curls.
Viviane and Brian held their ceremony and reception at Pelican Hill Resort in Newport Beach, California. From start to finish, they filled the day with special moments and surprises.
“Our outdoor ceremony featured both a Jewish Rabbi and a Catholic Deacon. Brian is Catholic and I am Jewish. We wanted our wedding ceremony to represent both of our belief systems and traditions in an honest and sincere way,” says Viviane.
“One of the fun things we did for the reception was our personalised cake-topper. Brian and I met through beach volleyball, and it is still one of our favourite things to do together. I had our cake-topper created especially for us, featuring a bride and groom holding volleyballs.”
“Our wedding had family and friends travelling from all over the country and the world (Brazil, Argentina, Kuwait, Germany) – so it was incredibly special to have all our loved ones in one place to celebrate with us. We wanted to throw a great party so we hired an amazing 10-piece band for the reception. I found them online and booked them without ever researching any other bands. We danced all night and had the time of our lives!”
The headpiece tribute was meaningful to Viviane for many reasons.
“The most simple meaning was that I grew up admiring that photograph of my mum wearing the headpiece on her wedding day. As far as I am concerned, she has always been the most beautiful bride ever. On a deeper level, the tribute was an acknowledgement to the tremendous example of marriage that my parents have demonstrated over the course of 39 years. And, of course, it was a tribute to our relationship, my admiration of her, and an expression of gratitude for all her love, wisdom, sacrifice, and support.”
The headpiece tribute was meaningful to Viviane for many reasons.
“The most simple meaning was that I grew up admiring that photograph of my mum wearing the headpiece on her wedding day. As far as I am concerned, she has always been the most beautiful bride ever. On a deeper level, the tribute was an acknowledgement to the tremendous example of marriage that my parents have demonstrated over the course of 39 years. And, of course, it was a tribute to our relationship, my admiration of her, and an expression of gratitude for all her love, wisdom, sacrifice, and support.”
“Enjoy your engagement and try not to get too stressed. Brian and I would sometimes joke that as long as we ended the night married, then the wedding was a success. If you have someone in your life who is willing to help with the planning, let them. Don’t feel like you have to do everything yourself. Relish the day – have fun, laugh, dance, and most of all – enjoy each other.”
Shaylee and Mitchell’s wedding day was a fun and colourful celebration of love, topped off with a scoop of nostalgia. Along with the charming chapel ceremony and reception held in a barn, there were also lawn games, live music and a gelato cart as part of the wedding day festivities. Surrounded by family and friends and the beautiful Gold Coast hinterland, Shaylee sparkled wearing her crystal and pearl FLEUR crown and an elegant, off the shoulder lace gown.
Above: A bespoke runway-worthy wedding veil for bride Monica
The ceremony, reception and all those fun activities took place at Summergrove Estate, a picturesque wedding venue on the NSW Tweed Coast.
“We chose Summergrove Estate as our venue because it is stunning yet simplistic, which is exactly our style. It is set on this incredible hillside and the view speaks for itself really! It’s actually the only venue we looked at and we couldn’t go past the beautiful, white chapel and barn. It was just perfect!” says Shaylee.
Shaylee always knew she was going to wear the FLEUR crown, even before she decided on her dress or hairstyle!
“Before I went dress shopping, I found the Tania Maras Instagram page while searching for inspiration for my look and instantly fell in love with the FLEUR crown when I saw it! I knew I wanted to wear this crown and make it the sparkly, special ‘something new’ for my day and based my hairstyle and all of my other accessories around this piece.”
For hair styling, Shaylee decided on a low ponytail with effortless curls and a single layer, cathedral length, tulle veil.
“I felt so beautiful while wearing FLEUR and now she is a heirloom and keepsake to wear on special occasions or milestones. So much love obviously goes into designing such delicate, handcrafted accessories.”
One of the most memorable and emotional moments for Shaylee was when she was wedding dress shopping with one of her bridesmaids and mum. She tried on a beautiful off the shoulder gown with a champagne undertone and intricate, ivory lace.
“My bridesmaid told me to try a dress on that she picked off the rack. I wasn’t really a fan of it but tried it on for fun anyway. As the attendant buttoned me up, I realised that it was seriously beautiful and ‘so me!’ I walked out of the changeroom and for the first time that day, my mum got a tear in her eye and I think I knew then that it was the one”.
The ceremony was held in the white chapel which has a glass window offering dramatic ocean and valley views. During the ceremony, the celebrant asked them to turn around and take in the scenery while making a wish for the future.
“That moment really allowed us to be present and the photo of that will forever remind us of our vows, our wish and our special ceremony.”
The couple organised to have a gelato cart for them and their guests to enjoy. There were three different flavours on the menu: lemon custard and strawberry (Shaylee’s favourite), watermelon (Mitchell’s favourite) and crowd pleaser, Ferrero Rocher.
“This was a must-have for our day as Mitchell and I both love ice cream! It was a massive hit with our guests and added to the fun, easy going, colourful vibe we wanted”.
“My biggest piece of advice for a couple planning their wedding would be to not sweat the small stuff. You are planning a day to celebrate your love for one another and that’s the most important thing. Have fun, compromise, don’t spend outside of your means and keep some sort of spreadsheet of what you have booked, paid for and when your bills are due (this is seriously a lifesaver). Just have fun and I promise you that your wedding day will feel perfect, whatever happens, and you truly will have the best day of your life.”
Just outside Winnipeg in Canada’s scenic Manitoba region, lies Pineridge Hollow, a wedding venue set on acres of gardens, ponds and flowers. As her name suggests, Jasmine was attracted to this setting for her special day. Jasmine and Joel’s ‘Romantic Garden’ wedding was all about creating a relaxed and wholesome day and spending quality time with their family and friends.
Jasmine glowed amongst the lush foliage, with her husband by her side, her beautiful smile and flowy lace and chiffon dress. She adorned her hair with our VERSE hair comb, the pearl and crystal sprigs and clay flowers added sparkle and echoed the picturesque surroundings.
As it was one of the few times both Jasmine and Joel’s family were together in the one place, they made a special effort to create a relaxed and enjoyable party, so that they had time to interact and catch up with loved ones.
“I wanted our family and friends to feel relaxed and enjoy their time with us. I never wanted strict timelines packed with bouquet tosses, garter tosses, or a million speeches (so we simply didn’t do them).” says Jasmine.
They pulled back on the formalities, but added cultural traditions to personalise their day.
“I’m Filipino, and it was important for me to include a traditional ceremony with the veil, candle, coins, and cord. Each item represents something in our marriage.”
An avid researcher, Jasmine always does the legwork before deciding on anything. And her wedding was no exception.
“For my wedding, my researching went into hypergear. Instagram was always a good place to find some inspiration and to see how other brides styled their looks. I found Tania Maras on Pinterest and it was the style I was striving to achieve, so I kind of just went from there. I absolutely adored all the styled shoots Tania did, from the dresses to the hairstyles. Something about it just seemed timeless and organic.”
Jasmine was attracted to her Truvelle dress because it was designed and made in Canada, she loved the lace bodice and skirt, plus it was super comfortable!
“All the other dresses I tried on felt too constricted, or were itchy, or too heavy. I was worried I’d be too self conscious in other dresses that were curve hugging. I loved A line skirts because they made me feel taller (although I should give up since my husband is 6’2”) and the skirt flowed so beautifully. My aunt told me after the ceremony, ‘this dress is so you!’ with a bright smile, and truthfully, it was. It was feminine and romantic, everything I was looking for.”
When it came to hair styling, Jasmine knew she needed an updo (to handle the hot and humid Canadian summer) and a Tania Maras headpiece was also a must.
“Tania had everything I was aiming for: the timeless, whimsical, delicate and feminine pieces were unlike any other I had seen before. I chose the VERSE because I knew it would be timeless (I wanted to find something that I was going to pass on through generations). I also wanted something that wasn’t too big either. It was honestly so hard for me to finally pick one that I liked the most because I wanted them all!”
“Things book up really fast where I’m from, so book the ‘big’ things first. We nailed down our venue and photographer first, because those were the biggest things for us. Joel was especially keen about finding the perfect photographer because, as he says, ‘the pictures are the only things that will last of our wedding’. In a day that goes by so fast, the pictures are our only window for us to precisely remember everything that happened.”
Bride Olivia dreamed of her wedding day with husband Jack to be “bursting with beautiful blooms”. With thoughtful styling and colour coordinating, their wedding flowers were even better than she imagined. Their floral arches, bouquets and centrepieces were truly beautiful and romantic, complementing the sentiment of the day.
The flowers weren’t your classic baby’s breath either – orchids, roses and pampas grass were used in the arrangements to create a look that was dreamy and modern. This theme ran throughout the wedding, especially in Olivia’s bridal look. She wore a figure-hugging, sparkly lace gown and our TEMPEST crown with delicate crystal and pearl details. She was surrounded by a tulle aura, with the MARAIS veil completing her divine look.
Olivia and Jack married at The War Memorial, a historic lakefront venue in Michigan, USA. The venue boasts formal gardens, a ballroom and a striking facade for the ceremony backdrop.
“The War Memorial attracted me because it looks like an estate in France, which goes along with the romantic vibe I desired,” says Olivia.
The venue styling was understated and elegant, with a soft neutral palette and warm pops of colour.
“I also really liked the way that everything didn’t totally match… I didn’t want to have specific ‘wedding colours’, instead, I wanted a soft palette where everything was cohesive yet not matchy-matchy,” she says.
Along with the beautiful floral displays, another special detail for Olivia was the wedding favours. She printed out tags with some of her favourite love poems and tied them around little bottles of Casa Migos (Olivia and Jack’s favourite tequila).
Olivia’s natural goddess-like beauty was elevated in her flowy lace gown with soft drapes and her golden accessories.
“I knew I didn’t want a ‘classic’ bridal look – I wanted something a little sexier, something with sparkle and texture. I loved Inbal Dror’s styles and found they fit my body very well. When I saw the perfect gown hanging in the sample basement of a local bridal boutique, I knew it was the one!”
Our gold TEMPEST crown featuring freshwater pearl cluster and crystal vines, along with the sleek and floaty MARAIS veil, further emphasised Olivia’s heavenly presence.
“A gold detailed crown-meets-headpiece was something I always wanted since it is the perfect combo of boho and regal. I discovered Tania Maras on Pinterest and loved the way they styled their accessories in a modern way. Since my dress was so intricate, I didn’t want the veil to compete, which is why the MARAIS veil was perfect.”
“Start early, because the details really add up to one ‘wow’ moment if you have time to think through it all! And make sure you really articulate what you want with vendors. Our vendors were so great at taking our preferences into account while still using their artistry and genius to create a wedding that was even better than we imagined,” says Olivia.
For bride Bronte nothing beats the Aussie countryside, with its sweeping hills, fragrant eucalyptus trees and striking red dirt. While her husband Justin is a water baby, he loves the pristine white sand beaches along the coastline. For their wedding, they found the perfect compromise. A venue located on the NSW Tweed coastline, right in between the ocean and valley.
The scenery, combined with Bronte’s bridal look, made for some truly beautiful photos. She wore a classic white gown and our statement RIVIERA veil. The delicate florals, lace motifs and scattering of pearls cascaded down Bronte’s hair and shoulders and billowed behind her in the breeze. She looked ethereal amongst the native plants and lush woodland. Her bridesmaids beautifully coordinated with her, wearing our ROSA hair pins in their up dos.
Shop this look: STELLAR hair pins, VERSAILLES headpiece, BORDEAUX veil
The first (and only!) venue Bronte and Justin viewed was Summergrove Estate. The estate has panoramic views of the ocean and valley and is set up for chapel and garden ceremonies and restaurant and barn receptions. The barn in particular, was very special to Bronte and Justin.
“Both Justin and I wanted our reception in a barn, and Summergrove Estate were building our dream barn, almost like it was being built for us! It was white and huge and modelled on the big American style barns, in other words, it was exactly what we were looking for. We both loved the polished concrete floors, exposed beams and hanging Edison globes,” says Bronte. “We also wanted an outdoor ceremony which Summergrove offered and Justin wanted to be married on top of a hill (don’t ask me why) which again Summergrove gave us the opportunity to do.”
It’s clear from the photos alone that Bronte was truly in her element at the Estate.
“I was born in Brisbane and raised in Cairns but if I could convince Justin to move a few hours west into the country I would in a heartbeat. You couldn’t find a vista I loved more than rolling countryside, some Aussie bush and red dirt. The smell, the fresh, crisp air, the fact that you can see all the stars, nothing beats the country! (I sound like a country girl, don’t I?).”
For bridal inspiration, Bronte browsed Hello May, Vogue magazine and photos of her friends weddings. Ivy Road, Tania Maras and Babushka Ballerina Instagram feeds also all helped Bronte narrow down her style. She chose a simple, classic white gown by Daisy Brides.
“One of the biggest factors in choosing my dress and my main reason for keeping my dress so simple and classic was because I knew my head wear would be the star. Whether it was a stunning headband or a veil, I wanted something nobody would have seen before and that was a real ‘wow’ factor. When Tania suggested the RIVIERA veil (I emailed her for some help choosing), I knew this would be my wow factor and dare I say it, I love it more than my dress. It’s so ‘me’!”
The RIVIERA veil features organza flowers with hand beaded pearl and crystal centres, amongst lace details and a scattering of pearls. The veil is textural, sparkly and beautifully completed Bronte’s look.
“The RIVIERA veil was my perfect ‘wow’ accessory. It was long, it was light, but most importantly that stunning flower and pearl detail. My dress needed some details and the veil delivered that. I wanted something that would float behind me and look stunning in pictures and I knew the RIVIERA veil would,” says Bronte.
“My tip would be stay true to yourself, find accessories that show your personality and make your outfit shine with you! I love a simple gown with ‘wow’ accessories, but if you go for a more intricate ‘wow’ gown then make sure your accessories complement that gown and don’t clash.”
Bronte selected the ROSA hair pins as accessories for her two bridesmaids, to tie in with her look. The ROSA hair pins feature organza flowers with pearl and crystal details, attached to metal hair pins for styling flexibility and are perfect for adding a flourish to hair styles.
The pins were styled on the bridesmaids in a low set bun and looked striking against their dark hair.
“My tip would be stay true to yourself, find accessories that show your personality and make your outfit shine with you! I love a simple gown with ‘wow’ accessories, but if you go for a more intricate ‘wow’ gown then make sure your accessories complement that gown and don’t clash.”
“Have fun with it, try not to let it stress you out (easier said than done). Make compromises with each other. Don’t rush into any choices, take the time to look around and see your options. Stay organised, have some kind of system for tracking vendors, design ideas, payments etc. Most importantly, make the day say ‘you’, pick vendors, venues and outfits that really show you as a couple and your personalities,” says Bronte.
Right from a young age Kahla knew she wanted wear a veil on her wedding day. She and her twin sister use to take it in turns to dress up as a bride and wear a towel on their head in their pretend backyard weddings. Thankfully, Kahla no longer needs to improvise with heavy terry towelling! The soft floaty tulle, blusher layer and seamless design of the AMORA veil was the perfect alternative for her wedding day. The veil complemented her stunning wedding day look, while fulfilling her childhood dreams.
Kahla and Zane married in Townsville, a north Queensland city overlooking the Great Barrier Reef. With family and friends (and their dogs!) involved in the wedding festivities, the day beautifully celebrated their relationship and the close connections they have with loved ones.
Kahla coveted a bridal look that was timeless and elegant, she didn’t want to look at pictures of her wedding in years to come and “cringe and giggle about the fashions of the time.”
Trying on dresses in a range of styles, materials and sizes, Kahla said she decided on a Made With Love gown for a number of reasons…
Meeting all of the ‘must have’ requirements, Made with Love’s Ella gown was `The One’.
“My checklist items included: a stunning train, a belt at the waist, sweetheart cut neckline and as my nanny says: it was a ‘show off that figure while you’re young’ kind of dress. I really didn’t picture myself in a full lace dress, but it was just perfect for me,” says Kahla.
Having found her dream dress, Kahla searched and researched the perfect veil design.
“The Tania Maras veil and accessory collection made for a hard choice. Every piece in the range is so delicate and beautiful. I was very happy with the delicate tulle on the comb of my AMORA veil. Looking through my photos, the veil really created a soft romantic look with the modern almost bold lace on my dress.”
Although Kahla loves wearing her her long hair down in waves, she needed a more practical hairstyle to withstand the warm September weather in North Queensland.
“The smart but beautiful choice was an up do with soft waves into the low bun, which suited the veil, dress and weather,” she says.
Kahla and Zane’s nearest and dearest had special roles on their wedding day. From their dogs’ involvement in the ceremony to a delicious potluck dessert table, the day was a celebration of love and family.
“Our ceremony was held at the Townsville Heritage Centre. We had our dogs walk down the aisle and involved in the photos. They are some of my happiest photos from the entire day.”
“We weren’t really allowed to throw rose petals on the day, but my one bridezilla request of ‘being showered with flower petals’ while walking back down the aisle required my brother in law to bring his leaf blower to clean it up once the ceremony had finished. We all had a good laugh at those photos.”
“The reception was at The Ville Resort-Casino. My mum and dad had gotten married there 31 years before and my dad has worked there for 30 years, so we loved that it had been a big part of my life growing up in Townsville. Coming from a family of ballroom dancers, I had also dreamed of our first dance and gliding across that floor, my poor husband had big shoes to fill. Luckily he doesn’t have two left feet and learnt to dance for me.”
“We asked our closest friends and family to bring their most favourite and famous dessert for our dessert table. It felt as though it was another family BBQ with the best homemade cannoli, tiramisu, chocolate mudecake and cheesecake slices to stuff our bellies and celebrate another special milestone with these important people in our lives.”
“The options really are endless and it’s what you want to do as a couple,” says Kahla. “Keep in mind there comes a point where there are too many opinions and advice, so make sure you have an A team who are supportive and honest when you need to talk about everything and anything wedding related, whether it be in the evening or at 2 am in the morning!”
“We asked our closest friends and family to bring their most favourite and famous dessert for our dessert table. It felt as though it was another family BBQ with the best homemade cannoli, tiramisu, chocolate mudecake and cheesecake slices to stuff our bellies and celebrate another special milestone with these important people in our lives.”
Fiona and Craig’s wedding ceremony took place in a twelfth-century church followed by a reception in a Renaissance castle. These historic locations were the ultimate spots to celebrate their love for each other and create the traditional Scottish wedding they dreamed of.
The wedding locations needed to be particularly beautiful to match Fiona’s grace and elegance. She ignored bridal trends and chose a look that reflected her personal style – a classic lace gown, with cap sleeves and sweetheart neckline. As Fiona loved the idea of wearing flowers in her hair, the SOMERSET headpiece was the perfect accessory, as it features an everlasting floral arrangement of clay flowers and pearl and crystal sprigs.
Edinburgh-based Fiona and Craig wanted their wedding to be relaxed and traditional and they wanted their guests to feel at home. They achieved this with their stunning venues and classic styling.
“We got married in a picturesque twelfth-century church which has family connections and is such a unique and meaningful place. Our reception took place at Winton Castle near Edinburgh which dates back to the year 1190,” says Fiona. “Our ceremony and reception venues both had a really warm ambience and romantic feel to them and all that was needed was some flowers and candles. Both locations were really stunning on their own – it made sense to let the beauty of the venues speak for themselves!”
Family is really important to us – Grandparents in particular. My husband Craig’s grandmother and grandfather were an important part of the day and we were absolutely delighted that his grandfather said a few words in the church on behalf of the rest of our grandparents, who are no longer with us. This was a really emotional and meaningful moment for us – there were certainly a few tears from our guests!”
Fiona advises brides-to-be to take plenty of time to research and ponder potential dresses, to make sure what you’re buying is the right option for you.
“It is easy to make a purchase to tick something off your list but, in the end, I was really pleased I’d taken the time and care to be sure whatever I was buying was right for me,” says Fiona.
When choosing her dress, she knew she wanted a timeless style that was suitable for the warm May weather in Scotland. With a few tweaks, Fiona’s dress was customised to suit her style and the weather.
“I tried on a particular dress that had gorgeous long lace sleeves which I loved but had the potential to be a little too hot. The owner of the shop where I bought my dress cleverly tucked the long lace sleeves into the inside of the dress and then appeared with these gorgeous small pieces of lace that she draped over my shoulders and pinned into place. It just instantly worked and looked really fresh,” says Fiona. “The lace cap sleeves with the lace bodice worked so well with the plain silk organza skirt that was separated by a ribbon at the waist. It was everything I had in my head and they were even able to change the dress to include the v-shaped back that I was looking for.”
In the lead up to her wedding, Fiona used her daily commute as an opportunity to browse through Pinterest and Instagram for bridal ideas.
“I kept coming across images of beautiful hairpieces and saved them all to a folder. I kept adding images for a few months when I had a spare few moments and when I came to actually check where the pieces were from, I realised that the vast majority were from the same designer, which is when I discovered Tania Maras! As soon as I visited the website, I knew that nothing else would compare,” says Fiona.
Fiona decided on the exquisite SOMERSET headpiece in silver tones, which features delicate blooms surrounded by pearls and crystal branches .
“I love flowers and really loved the idea of having flowers in my hair for the wedding. Once I had found Tania’s designs, I realised that I could have a hairpiece which had delicate flowers in it that I could keep forever. I actually bought my hairpiece before I found my wedding dress which I think says a lot! I love the idea that I can wear it for special occasions for years to come and that hopefully one day I will be able to pass it on.”
“Everyone who gave us advice said the same thing – take the time to enjoy it, whatever happens! It is also a good idea to start making a list of ‘must-have’ wedding photos that you don’t want to miss, a month or so before the wedding. The day does go by so quickly so dance as much as you can and take a moment to watch everyone smiling and enjoying the wonderful day you have worked so hard on!”
Bespoke and ready-to-wear bridal accessories and veils. Designed and handcrafted in Canberra, Australia. Our online store is open 24/7 with worldwide delivery available including express options. The Fyshwick showroom is by appointment only. Virtual appointments are available for interstate and international brides.
