Behind the Scenes: Customizing Holly's Dream Wedding Gowns
We’re about to spill the bean!
We sat down with Anna, lead designer and Hatice, alteration manager to unveil the secrets and stories that unfolded while meeting with Holly and crafting her exquisite wedding looks. From heartwarming moments to challenges, this Q&A offers an exclusive glimpse into what made this journey unforgettable.
Q: What is it really like creating a wedding dress for such a style influencer?
Anna: The pressure is definitely on! Crafting a wedding dress for someone who found love in the public eye was both thrilling and nerve-wracking. We wanted Holly's wedding looks to mirror her incredible sense of style and surpass all expectations. We couldn’t have asked for a kinder bride though, her natural charm, incredible sense of style and energy made the journey a breeze.
Q: Can you share more about the fittings and alterations process?
Hatice: It’s my job to fit the gown perfectly to Holly’s shape to offer the utmost support and comfort, which can be tricky especially given the weight of Holly’s incredible train! Holly flew in for two fittings where her gowns were perfectly tailored to her silhouette. The transformation from initial fitting to final look is always a meticulous journey and I adore working with the bride and our in-house machinists to see the gown come to life and fit like a glove.
Q: Were there any hiccups along the way?
Anna: Whilst not quite a hiccup, I couldn’t help myself but suggest we completely re-work the back of Holly’s gown at her first fitting! We had developed new train shapes since we had originally cut her gown and I felt they would be more beautiful than the original design. Holly’s ability to envisage ideas and her trust in us was incredible!
Q: How many people and hours did this take?
Hatice: Too many to count! When you include the hens look, ceremony and reception gown, custom designed laces, patterns, hand beaded embellishments and in-house cutting, construction and fittings we tend to loose count somewhere along the way. It is a whole team process including Anna leading the design, Faye our Marketing Co-ordinator scheduling all of the fittings, Alex our Production Manager developing the custom patterns and overseeing the construction, then I cut the gowns before our Machinists Nhung and Oanh sew the gown, then it goes to Thuan in hand finishing, then to Jane to check over the quality meticulously and that’s before we have started the fittings! Sorry that was a big sentence! It is a huge amount of work – but we are so passionate about what we do and creating custom looks is so much fun we would do it all again in a heartbeat.
The process involved meticulous attention to detail, reflecting our commitment to excellence and ensuring no compromise on quality.
Q: What was the most memorable moment during this journey?
Anna: One of the most memorable moments was when Jimmy attended Holly's final fitting. Witnessing their love and connection in person was incredible. Their excitement for the big day was palpable, and it was heart-warming to see the genuine happiness they share.
Q: Was Holly as amazing in real life as she is on Instagram?
Anna: Yes! She is a total style icon who radiates a genuine warmth, and incredible sense of humour. We were also lucky enough to meet one of Holly’s bridesmaids Sam who was so much fun, and so great to help design and create Holly’s looks with.
Q: How did you manage to capture Holly's unique style in her gowns?
Photographer: @julianrrinaldi
Anna: We wanted her gowns to be unique and match her individuality. Collaborating closely with Holly allowed us to infuse her personality into each gown. Holly was a total joy to work with!
Firstly we created Holly’s hens look. We went for fun separates, dripping in tassels and hand beaded embellishments. The result was beyond captivating - the perfect ensemble to bid a glittering farewell to her single life, with her signature charm shining through!
For the Ceremony dress we created a square and elegant neckline, dropping the back for added allure, while the star of the show was the mesmerizing train with added length for extra volume. The bust pattern was actually only in design development when we first met Holly – I just loosely explained the concept to her and she was brave enough to jump on board, trusting the vision – again dream bride!
As the ceremony look took shape, Holly's instructions for the reception look were clear: classic elegance and feminine charm. With this in mind, we conjured a mini fitted crepe dress, featuring a higher boat neckline with 5 incredible freshwater pearl back necklace details.
Q: How did you balance creating Holly's dream looks with the practicalities of her wedding day?
Anna: Our priority was ensuring Holly not only looked stunning but felt comfortable throughout her special day. From the ceremony to the dance floor, we focused on designs that allowed her to move with ease while maintaining the elegance and charm she desired.
VENDORS
Planner @honeylaneevents
Dresses @annacampbellbridal
Bridesmaids @erikageorg_
Suits @institchu
Celebrant @marriedbyadam
H&MU @hairandmakeupbyariela
Hire @moments.to.love_ @simply.seated @festoon_lighting @eventhiresyd
Cake @copperforkcakes
Cocktail catering @theboujeeboards
Photography @julianrrinaldi
Videography @cass_brothers
Venue @pasadenasydney
Flowers @hanamiflorals
Rings @cerronejewellers
Entertainment @scottysax
PJ’s @homebodii
Jewellery @_girlwithapearl
Jacket @bubish_luxe
Stationary @maddisonjayne_design