REAL BRIDE BLOG- MELISSA & DARRAGH

Every bride dreams of that moment — the moment she steps into a dress and just knows. For this beautiful Pearls & Lace bride Melissa, that moment came with a little bit of magic, a lot of emotion, and the most gorgeous 3D floral details.

From being the very first bridal shop she visited, to having her mum and sisters instantly fall in love with the dress, her journey to finding the one was everything she had imagined. She had always pictured feeling like a princess on her wedding day, but wanted a dress that still felt effortless and true to her style.

Set against the stunning backdrop of Johnstown Estate, her wedding day was the perfect finishing touch to a dress-shopping experience that began with one very special appointment at Pearls & Lace.

Melissa fell in love with the Moss gown by Eva Lendel,  a striking blend of sparkle and sculptural elegance, with intricate floral lace, delicate beading and a dramatic mermaid silhouette. Detachable off-the-shoulder sleeves add a romantic touch, while the chapel train creates a show-stopping finish.

Let's hear all about it... 

Melissa, firstly tell us about your dress?

My dress was honestly my dream dress. I had always imagined feeling like a princess on my wedding day, but I didn’t want anything too fussy, and this dress was exactly what I had pictured. Pearls & Lace was actually the first bridal shop I visited, and from the moment I walked in,Catherina & the girls made the whole experience so special. They were incredibly helpful and made me feel so excited about the whole process, right from the beginning.

What really caught my eye were the beautiful 3D flowers on the dress. I knew I wanted that extra wow factor, and the flowers gave the dress something really special and unique.

My mum and sisters fell in love with it immediately and knew it was the one before I even had to say anything. The dress also came with the most gorgeous sleeves. Although I decided not to wear the sleeves on the day, I loved the detailing so much that I had it incorporated into the top of my dress instead.

When I put it on, I just felt like a princess. It was everything I had dreamed of, and I knew I had found the one.

How did you style your dress? 

For my overall bridal look, I wanted something elegant, glamorous and timeless, while still feeling like me.

I wore a gorgeous necklace and earrings, which added the perfect finishing touch without taking away from the detail of the dress.

For our flowers, I chose beautiful roses and hydrangeas. I loved how romantic they looked, and they complemented the dress perfectly. Everything came together so beautifully and created the elegant, romantic feel I had envisioned for the day.

Tell us about your bridal party?

My bridesmaids wore the most stunning sage green dresses. I absolutely loved the colour and how soft and elegant it looked alongside my dress and the flowers.

Darragh wore a cream blazer with a black tux, which looked so classic and sophisticated. His groomsmen all wore black tuxedos, keeping their look timeless and elegant while allowing Darragh’s cream blazer to stand out.

I loved how everyone looked together, it all came together even more beautifully than I had imagined.

What would your advice be for other brides to be?

My biggest piece of advice would be to enjoy every single step and celebrate it all.

The planning goes by so quickly, so try not to get caught up in the little things or worry about making everyone else happy. You will never please everyone, and ultimately, this is your wedding day, so make sure everything reflects what you and your partner want.

And don’t be afraid to spend money on the things that are truly important to you. Money will come back, but these special moments and memories won’t. Enjoy the planning, enjoy the excitement, and most importantly, enjoy every second of the day itself.

What was your most memorable moment of your special day? 

Without a doubt, it was seeing my gorgeous husband waiting for me at the top of the aisle.

That moment is something I will never forget. After all the planning, excitement and anticipation, seeing Darragh standing there waiting for me was so emotional. Everything else seemed to disappear and it was just the two of us in that moment.

It was, without a doubt, the happiest moment of my life.