Choosing a wedding dress isn’t always about finding exactly what you imagined — sometimes it’s about letting go of expectations and allowing yourself to be surprised. With an open mind and a willingness to trust the process, our next bride discovered that the dress she fell in love with was nothing like what she thought she wanted, yet everything she didn’t know she needed. From the first moment she stepped into it, emotion took over, and what followed was that rare, unmistakable feeling of alignment — when a dress doesn’t just look beautiful, it feels like you.
Today on the blog we have the beautiful Susan and her new husband Stephen. Susan fell in love with Sasha by Essense of Australia. A soft A-line chiffon wedding gown featuring a draped strapless bodice with a pearl-embellished sweetheart neckline, the detachable off-the-shoulder long sleeves are scattered with pearl bead accents billowing out into blouson sleeves and gathering at the wrist. A soft slit through the skirt added ease and movement — a perfect detail for showing off her shoes without taking away from the overall look.
Let's hear all about it...
Susan, firstly tell us about your dress?
My dress had the one thing on it that I thought I didn't want - sleeves! I had been to one other bridal shop and hadn't quite found the one, but had a general idea of vibe. I wanted it to be quite relaxed and 'whimsical' and I feel like it ended up hitting both of this things! I loved the sleeves and the drape of the skirt. Someone said it looked like I should just be running through the forest, which was almost exactly what I wanted. I felt the most 'me' I have ever felt in a dress. I had seen it myself on the website but all the bridal party agreed it was the dress for me.
How did you style your dress?
Tell us about your bridal party?
What would your advice be for other brides to be?
Don't get bogged down in having everything be 'perfect'. If you are focused down on the tiny details, you will miss out on special moments on the day. I just let everyone do their jobs and it all turned out so great.
What was your most memorable moment of your special day?
Our first dance 
Approaching her appointment with an open mind proved to be key for Susan. Although she had a clear sense of how she wanted to feel on her wedding day, the dress she chose wasn’t what she had originally expected. In letting go of preconceptions, she found a gown that felt emotional, instinctive, and completely right — a dress that reflected her in the most natural and authentic way.
We here at Pearls and Lace are so grateful to have played a part in their special day. Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness
