‘I was so thrilled when the Bridal Atelier first opened as I was engaged and had just started to think about looking for my dress. I would drive past the store and almost crash into the car in front as I dreamed about soon trying on one of the dresses in the window. (Many girls tell me at their appointments they’ve done the same thing!)

I realised I was in trouble when I liked all the dresses I tried on!  I was so indecisive but I found one that I loved more than the others and that gave everyone goose bumps.  It was nothing like I thought I wanted but it just made me feel amazing and I could see myself getting married when I had it on.  I went to Melbourne to try others but nothing I found was the right dress for my location or me.

I came back to The Bridal Atelier again to try on the same dress and it was just perfect.  I chose an Ivy & Aster gown and Erin helped me choose my accessories and style the finished look.  The whole time I was quite nervous and battling body issues as I had recently had a baby but nothing was too much trouble and I was so grateful to Erin for that.  The whole experience was so beautiful, honest and fun.

That’s why I wanted to work for The Bridal Atelier; to help other brides-to-be in their search for their perfect dress.  For some people the journey is easy but for others it can be challenging and I really want to help make their experience as special as I possibly can.  I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to have this job, it’s such a beautiful boutique and being a part of so many girl’s big day is so special to me.

My wedding was featured on a wedding blog in New Zealand if you want to check it out:  http://lovemyway.co.nz/a-beautiful-winter-wanaka-wedding

Hope to meet you soon!

Katie xo

Image via Feather & Stone

Image via Feather & Stone

Call The Bridal Atelier on 1300 887 822 to make a time to come in and try on Kelsey Genna’s debut collection.

This celebration of summer was shot by Nikole Ramsay Photographer (if you haven’t booked you’re wedding photographer yet you must check out her website), Weddings of Desire styled the beautiful coastal setting, Moss Industry Weddings provided the amazing florals and we of course provided the wedding dresses and the stunning Teeki Designs headpieces.  Our model Nakita had her hair cut and styled by Fez Salon and the lovely Ines Hair and Makeup Design provided the flawless makeup.  We also had a visit from ‘Cherry’ the red khombi van.  We get lots of brides wanting to know where to hire great cars like ‘Cherry’ so I will post her contact details below.

Enjoy the last of Summer ladies!

For hire of “Cherry” the gorgeous Kombi Van, contact John on 0425 777 870

In the meantime, we took a bit of a break today because the first of our Sarah Seven 2013 collection dresses arrived and we HAD to try them on!

We’ve also had a big shipment come in from Untamed Petals.  Here’s a few of our fave pieces.

Jannie Baltzer has also recently sent us some amazing new hair accessories.

We have so many 2013 collection Bridal gowns arriving from Ivy and Aster, Nicole Miller, Elizabeth Dye and Sarah Seven over the next six weeks that our heads are spinning with anticipation.  We can’t wait to share them with you soon!

Tell us about yourself. 
I am a dress designer specializing in wedding gowns. I’ve been working as a designer for about 12 years, and bridal has become my special mission. It really chose me — my first wedding gowns were for friends who despaired that there was nothing out there for them in traditional “gown-town.” Since then I’ve discovered that it’s a niche that really suits my sensibilities. I like to get fancy, and that bit of drama seems just right for a special garment like a wedding dress.

Apart from creating, what do you do?
I own a boutique in Portland called The English Dept., and keeping that humming along (we turned 7 this month!) is my other job, besides being a designer. For fun, I like to cook, garden, be outdoors, read, draw, explore. I’m a curious person and I very rarely sit still.

What’s the most important question a couple should ask their wedding vendor?
Any question they’re afraid to ask. Most couples have never planned a wedding before, and they may feel a bit bewildered and intimidated by the whole process. When I meet with a bride, it’s my job as a designer to be as helpful as possible and share the experience I’ve gained by doing this for years. It’s the bride’s job to share her questions, thoughts and hopes — open dialogue and good communication on both sides leads to a happy outcome for everyone.

Read the rest of Elizabeth’s  story on the Etsy blog.

Images by Lisa Warninger