While it might be true that nuptuals once followed a set formula, the modern wedding can take a variety of forms. From doing your own makeup to having multiple ceremonies, there’s no one way of getting married anymore.
Just as weddings have evolved to better fit each couple’s personality, so too has the wedding dress. Whether it’s a custom-made gown or a dress purchased online from a favourite designer, each bride featured in Fashion Journal has chosen a dress that is wholly and uniquely them.
For more fashion news, shoots, articles and features, head to our Fashion section.
In fact, the most important requirement is how the dress makes the bride feel – from confident to sexy to comfortable. While in some cases this might come with a larger price tag, that’s not always the case. Here, we delve into our wedding archives and asked five brides to share with us how they found their dream dress and just how much it cost them.
Meg Paine, designer
Our celebrant said that wearing your dress (or suit) was like putting on your armour for the day – a form of ritual and intention. My dress was made to order by a designer called Jenny Yoo and sourced from Twelve South Bridal in Yarragon. I ordered an extra two yards of the same fabric as the dress and had the sleeves and a scarf made while the dress was being tailored by My Perfect Fit in Brunswick.
The dress cost $2,300 and was an extra $460 due to them needing to split the dress in three different sizes, plus $120 for the extra fabric. I had the sleeves and dress tailored, which cost an extra $1000. All up, my dress cost $3,880. I loved my dress so much! It had an elegant and timeless feel to it and made me feel super confident and sexy on the day. It really felt like me.
Ashiya Omundsen, designer and founder of Par Moi
Making the dresses myself seemed like an obvious choice for me. I make clothing for people all day, every day, as part of my business, so taking the time to make something special for myself felt right. The process was a little rushed – I’d had all my Melbourne Fashion Week pieces due maybe two to three weeks before the wedding but I’m a bit of a creature of chaos. I wanted them to feel timeless and like me, which is exactly how I felt wearing them on the day.
Alice Kennedy, head of communications at Hatrik House
I had my dress custom-made by Rhonda Hemmingway. I really wanted to work with someone who is an expert in tailoring. For better or worse, I didn’t try on a single wedding dress beforehand – my whole approach to getting married was to avoid overthinking things. Ultimately, I saw it as an opportunity to create a really fun dress that, while classic, still felt different from what I usually wear.
I was very much inspired by vintage Balenciaga and ’90s Prada, pulling a lot of references from those eras. The silk tulips and bow were wild but felt so fun. I had stunning oversized lilies throughout the day – my gorgeous friend and florist, Ben, had me do four bouquet changes since the flowers were all on me! The venue itself was a moss-and-rock maze, so we went all out with floral details on my dress and shoes to complement the setting.
Overall, my dress was $6,500, with a six-month full custom process, including all tailoring and special Italian silk. There was an option to use regular silk for around $4,000, but I decided to upgrade! It was an investment but honestly, it was so worth it – I wouldn’t have changed a thing. Rhonda was incredible! Like anything, I really feel passionate that when we can, we support artists and craftsmen rather than factories. So, being able to work with someone like her and translate my mad sketches into reality was so special. Rhonda also came to my house the morning of the wedding and dressed me and helped stitch some small momentos into the lining.
Georgia Spanos, writer and publisher
My first dress was a Hai white dress with a rose in the middle. My friend walked past a shop she thought looked cute and suggested we go there and check it out. I found a white dress there and it was perfect. I felt like my friend was meant to lead me there that day. It was £300, so approx $600 AUD.
My second dress was a Dolce and Gabbana corset dress with a bolero. I found this by looking up images of my wedding muse, Monica Bellucci. I wanted to pay homage to my Italian heritage, so I used Monica’s classy, sexy and Italian style as inspiration, which led me to the iconic Italian brand. I went into the Dolce and Gabbana store in London and tried on a corset dress, which fit the brief.
I also found a separate white bolero in the store, which paired nicely. It clashed a bit, which made it more fun. I then purchased it online a few weeks later after sending my friends pictures, and we collectively came to a decision! It was £700 ($1,400 AUD) for the Dolce and Gabbana corset dress and £300 ($600 AUD) for the bolero.
I returned back to the Hai store as I needed a third dress for my Melbourne celebration. I purchased the sweetest vintage-looking silk dress. When I was trying it on at my friend’s house to show her, I chucked it on over my trousers. It surprisingly looked really cool, so I went on the Hai website and bought matching silk pants right away to pair with it, a few days before the day! This made my outfit way cooler. It was £165 ($300 AUD) for the dress and £300 ($600) for the pants.
Sarah Lorrimar, sexologist
My dress was from a small label in Norway called Murlong Cres. I wanted something romantic and minimal that didn’t feel too traditionally bridal. I loved the shade of ivory and the mix of textures in the fabric – a cotton body with silk details.
I’m very thankful that I had an effortless search for a dress. A few months after getting engaged, I was scrolling social media and spotted someone wearing a Murlong Cres top. I discovered that the brand had made a dress in the same style and two weeks later it was on my doorstep! I sized up when I ordered the dress, so I had a few alterations to shorten the hem and fit at the waist.
I felt amazing in the dress. I’m so happy with my choice and that I could wear something which felt graceful, while still expressing my personality and was comfortable enough to wear into the early hours of the next morning. The dress was $430, with another $150 spent on alterations.
For more on wedding dresses, try this.
This article Five brides share how much they spent on their wedding dress appeared first on Fashion Journal.
2025-03-31 07:42:00
#brides #share #spent #wedding #dress
Source link
