Every bride’s journey to finding the one is so unique, and often it’s the unexpected moments that make it truly special. When this bride visited us, she arrived with a clear idea of the style she thought she wanted—but stayed open to the experience and trusted the guidance of our team.
Working closely with Catherina, she explored a small selection of dresses, each one helping to refine what felt right. With an expert eye and a thoughtful “just in case” pick, Catherina introduced a gown that was completely different from the original vision—but turned out to be everything she didn’t know she was looking for.
Here’s her story in her own words…
Let's hear all about it...
Carmel, firstly tell us about your dress?
Honestly, it wasn’t what I thought I wanted at first. I had a completely different style in
mind, but once I started trying dresses on, things shifted. I only tried on three dresses
before I found the one, but it was enough to figure out what didn’t feel quite right.
The dress I chose was the Elena by Essense of Australia, with a glitter underlay, and the
moment I put it on, everything clicked. What I loved most about it was how magical and
effortless it felt—the subtle sparkle, the structure, the way it moved. It felt like me, just in
the most elevated, radiant way.
I felt confident, calm, and completely myself in it. People always talk about that moment
when you “just know,” and I never really believed it until I saw myself in the mirror. There
was this quiet certainty, like it all finally made sense.
And the best part is that I didn’t even pick it myself. The amazing Catherina pulled it for me,
almost as a “try this just in case” moment, and it turned out to be the dress. As soon as I
stepped into it, I knew. That was the one.
How did you style your dress?
I kept the styling of my dress really elegant and timeless. I wore beautiful earrings from
Pearls and Lace and paired them with two simple diamond bracelets—one gifted to me by
my new husband, Niall, and the other from my Godfather, Eugene. They felt so meaningful
and added just the right amount of sparkle without taking away from the dress.
I wanted an overall classic, romantic look, so I kept everything clean and understated. For
my flowers, I carried a bouquet of red roses, which added a rich pop of colour and tied the
whole look together beautifully.
Tell us about your bridal party?
Our bridal party had a beautifully coordinated and elegant look. The groom wore a classic
black tux with a black velvet jacket from Corless Menswear in Galway, and both fathers
matched in black tuxes as well. To tie everything together, the groom and fathers wore red
rose buttonholes, while the groomsmen—who were also in black tuxes—wore white rose
buttonholes, creating a subtle but striking contrast.
The bridesmaids looked stunning in their burgundy velvet off-the-shoulder dresses from
Folkster, paired with gold accessories for a warm, sophisticated finish. Their bouquets
featured white roses and baby’s breath, which complemented the rich burgundy beautifully.
The flower girls carried matching bouquets of white roses and baby’s breath too.
The flower girls wore ivory dresses with burgundy sashes, and the pageboys looked
adorable in dark navy suits with burgundy dickie bows. All the children’s outfits were from
Children’s Special Occasion Wear, and they tied the whole bridal party together perfectly.
Overall, the look was elegant, cohesive, and wonderfully timeless.
What would your advice be for other brides to be?
My one piece of advice for other brides-to-be is to trust your instincts and stay true to what
feels right for you as a couple. There are so many opinions, options, and expectations during
the planning process, but the moments that end up meaning the most are the ones that
genuinely reflect you. Don’t get caught up in perfection—focus on what brings you joy, and
everything else will fall beautifully into place.
What was your most memorable moment of your special day?
The most memorable moment of our special day was the church ceremony. It was
everything I dreamed of and more. Our incredible vocalist, Weddings by Debbie Kelly,
absolutely took the roof off—every song was breathtaking, and she brought such emotion
and beauty to the whole ceremony. We were also honoured to have Bishop Fintan
Monahan celebrate our wedding. He made the ceremony so special, warm, and personal,
and he had everyone laughing. Having all our family and friends playing a part made it feel
truly magical.
Another moment that stands out was the quiet time we had together in the car on the way
to our reception. It was the only moment all day where it was just the two of us, taking
everything in. It felt calm, magical, and incredibly special—almost like the world paused just
for us.
It was such a pleasure to be part of your journey and to witness that special moment when everything just clicked. Seeing you find a dress that felt so effortlessly you is exactly what it’s all about.
Thank you Carmel for trusting our team to guide you—we feel so lucky to have shared in such an important part of your day. Wishing you both a lifetime of love, happiness, and unforgettable memories 🤍
