The Dress(es)

Choosing a wedding dress feels harder than ever now that social media plays such a huge part in the wedding industry. As brides, we see everything, which also means we second guess everything. Gone are the days of walking into one bridal store and choosing from the dresses they have available.

Choosing the dress

I went into dress shopping with a very clear vision of what I wanted, but I definitely had an advantage here. I wear gowns for work all the time, so I already knew what styles suited me. I wanted a strapless gown with a structured bodice and a huge skirt. I also really wanted detailing or lace on the bodice, but at the time I could only find a few designers doing exactly what I had pictured and none of their gowns were stocked in Perth.

I already had a trip booked to Melbourne to watch one of my bridesmaids perform, so we decided to make a weekend of it and try on dresses while we were there. The two gowns I had saved before the trip ended up being my top two, which I know is very rare. I would still always recommend trying on styles you normally wouldn’t choose though — some people end up completely surprising themselves.

I ended up choosing the beautiful Tahlia gown from Marquise Bridal, which I had actually saved months earlier. The experience was incredible. They took my measurements, and when I was back in Melbourne later that year, I went into the studio every morning for three days while they made the gown from start to finish. It felt so luxurious and special, and it also became such a nice memory because my bridesmaids flew in for the weekend.

One of the best practical tips they gave me was to travel home with the dress packed inside a hard-shell carry-on suitcase. Planes don’t always allow garment bags to hang, and they’re not waterproof either (think red wine + turbulence 😅). My dress made it home perfectly (even if it was sitting right on the 8kg limit).

The second dress

Do you need a second dress? Probably not but honestly, I loved having one.

My ceremony gown was huge, heavy, and impossible to dance in, so I knew I wanted to change later in the night. There was definitely some pushback from family members because my first dress was so beautiful and such a big investment. But at the end of the day, I wanted to dance all night, change into a huge heel, and have a bit of a fun mini moment (I’m a mini dress girl every day of the week).

I ended up finding the perfect white strapless from Rebecca Vallance on another Melbourne trip later in the year. I wear a lot of her pieces for work and love how beautifully made they are. The only downside is they’re definitely designed for tall girls — I always need alterations (including the mini 😂).

The only real con of changing outfits is stepping away from the party for 10 minutes, but honestly, it was also the perfect chance to touch up my hair, makeup, and lipstick before the dance floor opened.