Blog

Wedding Showcase - Stylist Challenge

Feb 18, 2013  | Comments:

Last Saturday, unlike many Saturdays in Summer when we load up the van ready to hit the road for another wedding, I reserved the morning especially to have a chat on stage with Brodie Harper at the Glen, and present my component of the Stylist Challenge I had been getting ready for over the past couple of weeks.

Style Challenge: The 'Short and Petite' Bride

Finding the perfect wedding dress and bridal accessories is empowering. A bride who exudes confidence and grace smiles her best smile, carries herself effortlessly, and let's be honest, she's bound to have more fun on her wedding day!

The 'short and petite' (S+P) bride has a world of options when it comes to choosing her wedding dress, but she shouldn't forget a few golden rules before she embarks on the potentially dizzying quest of uniting with the dress she's destined for.

I look back on the S+P brides I've had the pleasure of working with in the past, and it is eminently inspiring to see how they got their looks just right by keeping these objectives in mind ~ add height, accentuate curves, highlight your best assets, and balance your overall figure. I couldn't wait to put a complete look together and test out these principles!

On the Day

If there's one person who can draw an instant crowd around her by just being on stage, it's Brodie Harper as host of the day's challenge. It was also fabulous to meet Rebecca from Easy Weddings and Helena from Polka Dot Bride, who were presenting two very different looks for the tall and slim, and fuller and curvy brides respectively. 

The Dress

The look I settled upon is interwoven with vintage qualities, a style that is as enduring as the sentiment it holds for the happily ever after marriage.

From Mariana Hardwick's flagship store in Brunswick, I fell in love with the Botanique wedding gown almost immediately, but isn't it always the case, when you know you've found THE ONE, but your eyes still stray across the room, and your hands drawn like magnets to touch other equally stunning gowns (Mariana Hardwick makes this extremely easy to do!), if nothing but just to satisfy deep down in your gut that the decision was made at first sight? Brides who've found their dress in this way will have no trouble relating to this. Besides, THE ONE keeps whispering your name at a level audible only to you.

The Botanique is designed with antique Botanical lace laid over a Laurent base. A close-up of the sweetheart neckline shows a heavily beaded flower trim embellished with Swarovski crystals that continue all the way around to the back neckline. The S+P bride will appreciate the attention this brings to the top half of her body, and the streamlined mermaid cut offers the appearance of a lengthened silhouette. The time-honoured method of draping around the waist brings out the contours for enhanced shape. One of my favourite detailing really has to be the scalloped lace hemline  ~ so luxurious!

Accessorising the S+P 'Vintage' Bride

Siobhan befitted the vision in my mind with her youthful, dewy complexion, neutral make up paired with engaging eyes and her mousey brown hair finished in a semi-loose low messy bun. In deciding what to place in her hair, I wanted a special piece that looked like it might have passed down in the family, perhaps from nan to mum and now to you. This precluded classically bright and blingy pieces that would look too new. I found just what I was looking for at Equip ~ a rose-gold coloured hairpin called Gatsby, with delicate jewels set in swirls and flowers. A big shout out to Anita, the lovely store manager at Equip The Glen for her friendliness and for letting me bouncing ideas off her!

In the absence of a necklace to draw more attention to the intricately beaded neckline trim, I focused on earrings that would further reinforce the vintage look. Interesting, the doubts I had for the first pair of crystal earrings I locked in started to gnaw at me after I found the hairpin. Feeling a little disheartened, I headed to Le Cadeau to browse their Pandora collection, and there it was, like butter to bread, the earrings that would tie in with the hairpin! How stunning is this two-toned pair, set with mixed stones and a freshwater pearl drop?

As a wedding stylist, I'm always looking for opportunities to personalise and create something that's as individual as the bride herself, and so another crucial piece was picked up from the Pandora Charm collection. Brides are ever looking for creative ways to involve the closest members of their family, to honour them in some way on the wedding day. Items such as photographs at the reception, carrying portrait lockets, or a brooch pinned to the bouquet are just a few examples.

The concept of personalising your bracelet with charms got me thinking about how a bride could harmonise the sentiment of family with the jewellery she wears. She might like to ask her parents, or grandparents or siblings to pick a charm of their choice (it might even be a gift in lieu of a wedding present) so she can wear them all on her wedding day. What could be more special than to adorn a symbol of the people who mean the most to you, and have them love and support you in this way? Alternatively, the charms may be chosen by both the bride and groom's parents, symbolising the coming together of two families on this day.

The piece that I selected on this occasion is a two-toned flower and lace charm on a multiple chain bracelet. As chunky or multi-layering of bracelets are likely to eat up the S+P bride's dainty wrists, this bracelet fits the bill nicely. Notice how it subtly picks up the large flower detailing from the dress. :)

If there is one unsung hero in the accessories category, it would be the bride's clutch, filled with emergency and rescue items such as tissues, lippy, mirror and a smartphone for Instagramming your 'Just Married' photo! Siobhan carried an elegant Swarovski crystal-clad clutch from Oroton's Opera Crystals Collection.

Finally, any S+P bride would appreciate the few extra inches afforded by a comfortable pair of high heels. If she plans to be walking all day, best look for a pair that has a slight platform for added height with comfort. And don't forget the sole inserts! Siobhan wore Nine West's Rocha Suede in taupe.

I thought Rebecca and Helena both did an amazing job styling their brides. I'm saying yes, yes and YES to their choice of wedding dresses ~ intuitive and very flattering to each figure, with gorgeous accessories to boot. Well done, ladies!

I wanted to wrap this blog up by sharing my experience at the Mariana Hardwick store with our readers. 

In these very competitive and globalised times in the wedding industry, dresses are increasingly coming from faceless and nameless sources, thanks to the advent of internet shopping. Don't get me wrong, I am huge fan of internet shopping, and have seen for myself many dresses worn beautifully that were procured in this way. However, having received a tour of the in-house couture work room, I believe we Australian brides are lucky to have designers such as Mariana Hardwick who, after 30 years, continue to fight for quality in gown construction, continue to deliver the full sensory experience to their brides from the personalised attention, to the elegant fitting rooms, to saying why not to the popping of champagne when a bride is moved to celebrate. The heritage of Australian-Made wedding dresses, always has been, and still is, preserved by a dedicated team of talented women, many of whom have worked with Ms Hardwick for more than 20 years. 

If you have any any thoughts or tips to share about Short and Petite brides or other body shapes, please share them with me in the Comments!

Joanie xox

Images by Gavin Luu for One Wedding Wish

Event organised by The Glen Shopping Centre / Undertow Media 

Tags: Bridal Showcase, Bridal Event, The Glen, Stylist Challenge, Mariana Hardwick, Pandora, Oroton, Equip

Wedding Showcase at The Glen

Feb 13, 2013  | Comments:

Just a few more sleeps to go before One Wedding Wish gets on stage with Easy Weddings and Polka Dot Bride for a bridal styling challenge at the Glen, hosted by the gorgeous Brodie Harper!

I can't wait to share the absolutely delightful (and insightful) experience I had browsing through an array of amazing wedding gowns at the Mariana Hardwick flagship store, and of course selecting THE ONE that I'm showcasing this Saturday along with accessories sourced entirely from The Glen. It's not everyday that one gets to see the creative engines of Mariana Hardwick's in-house couture work room and watch the magic of her designs come to life. I leave you now with this image to capture your imagination.

Tags: Bridal Showcase, Bridal Event, The Glen, Blogger Challenge, Mariana Hardwick

Wedding Style Profile - Vivian and Glenn

Feb 03, 2013  | Comments:

There's nothing more special than a couple who comes to me with a beautiful story about where they've come from, and where they hope to be. Vivian & Glenn's story is truly something special, of a gorgeous Fijian Indian city girl, and an Australian country boy who falls head over heels for her. I cannot wait to share their Wedding Style Profile with you.

Meanwhile, I leave you with this enchanting space at their wedding - the Welcome Entrance - always one of the most significant spaces at any wedding, at least in my books! A few last minute changes made an even greater impact to this space, but it's always exciting to see your original concept sketch come to life. Come back soon for the full story!

Joanie xo

Image by Gavin Luu for One Wedding Wish

Tags: Port Melbourne Yacht Club, St Mary's Anglican Church, Melbourne Wedding Styling, Wedding Stylist, Real Weddings, Wedding Style Profile, Vivian and Glenn

Wedding Style Profile - Clare and James

Jan 24, 2013  | Comments:

The Rose Garden at Werribee Park is nothing short of stunning this time of year, but just when you think it couldn't be more beautiful, Clare bedazzles us all as she makes her way down the aisle.

What a wonderful way to start 2013 and the season of weddings - I can't wait to share this Wedding Style Profile with you...

xox Joanie

Image by Gavin Luu for One Wedding Wish

Wedding Photography by Daniel Sheehan Photography

Tags: Werribee Mansion, Werribee Park, Melbourne Wedding Styling, Wedding Stylist, Real Weddings, Wedding Style Profile, Clare and James

Wedding Style Profile - Lee and Wilson

Dec 13, 2012  | Comments:

Wedding Style Profile ~ coming soon.

xox Joanie

Image by Gavin Luu for One Wedding Wish

Tags: Werribee Mansion, Werribee Park, Melbourne Wedding Styling, Wedding Stylist, Real Weddings, Wedding Style Profile, Lee and Wilson, 12.12.12

Copyright 2013 © One Wedding Wish. All Rights Reserved.
Throwstone Web Design