Andrea and Dom’s love story is a true testament that some love stories are simply meant to be. Like many other couples nowadays, Andrea and Dom met through online dating. However after sending Andrea a quick “hi”, Dom revisited her profile and quickly discovered a delightful coincidence-they both went to the same football club.

Realizing this shared interest was more than just a stroke of luck, Dom wasted no time in sending another message. Their online exchange quickly evolved into something deeper, as they discovered not only a shared sports allegiance but also common values, dreams, and a profound connection. Their love story unfolded naturally and their bond deepened each day.

Before the enchantment of Christmas last year, Dom decided it was time to take their love story to the next chapter. He asked Andrea the most important question of his life and I am sure we all know Andrea’s answer.

As a Melbourne wedding dress consultant from Bella E La Bestia Bridal, it's a privilege to be a part of a bride's journey in finding the perfect gown for her wedding day. Seeing the happiness and excitement in a bride's face when she finally finds "the one" is truly priceless. Living on the Eastern side of Melbourne, our Melbourne bridal boutique was not really the closest option for Andrea but after seeing so many recommendations by other happy brides, Andrea decided to give it a go and we were so happy we helped her find the dream wedding dress right away!

Today, we have the pleasure of having Andrea with us to share her love stories, unique experience on her Melbourne wedding dress shopping along with some awesome vendors that contributed to her wedding. Lastly, Andrea will also unveil some handy tips that she didn’t know when she was doing her wedding dress shopping. So, let’s dig into it now!

The Wedding Venue

Located at the gateway of the Yarra Valley, Vue on Halcyon is one of the most stunning Melbourne wedding venues that features sweeping views of vineyards and panoramic Yarra Valley mountain views. Within the wedding venue you will find a chic non-denominational chapel with timber trusses and a modern wedding reception with arched high ceiling. Vue on Halcyon is also a Melbourne wedding photographer’s delight as it offers plenty of wedding photo opportunities onsite. The vivid vineyard, the entrance gate, as well as the open grassland with hay bales offer perfect backdrops for wedding photos.

The Wedding Planning

The lovely couple engaged just before last Christmas and Andrea booked their wedding venue next day after the engagement. With just nine months to go until their wedding day, time wasn't exactly on Andrea and Dom's side when it came to wedding planning. However, perhaps it was Andrea's knack for organization, honed through her career as a teacher, that allowed them to navigate this challenge with grace. “I pretty much had everything sorted by the time the new school year started”, Andrea said. Also knowing that the process of making Melbourne wedding dress can take time, Andrea quickly started visiting Melbourne wedding dress shops after she locked in the venue.

The Favourite Moment on The Day

Andrea recalled her favourite moment from her wedding day is definitely seeing Dom waiting for her at the end of the aisle. “It was so exciting to be doing something I’d dreamed of since I was a little girl. Having all of our family and friends in one place was also so amazing”, Andrea said. Another favourite moment of her was definitely being in her dream Melbourne wedding dress, “I loved how it sparkled and everyone said I looked like a princess!”

Finding Her Dream Wedding Dress

Knowing that ordering a wedding dress can take time, Andrea wasted no time in her quest for the perfect wedding gown. Once the venue was secured, she then set her sights on finding her dream Melbourne wedding dress.

Living on the opposite side of Melbourne, Andrea initially did not consider Bella E La Bestia as her first choice. However, after reading an influx of positive feedback and glowing recommendations from fellow brides within the Melbourne Brides group, Andrea decided to take the plunge and explore what our Melbourne wedding dress shop had to offer.

Since childhood, Andrea has always been dreaming that one day she will be dressed in a romantic princess ballgown. In fact, even before Dom kneed down and popped the question, she has already saved a few inspiring wedding dress photos in her phone! “I wanted something sparkly and princess like. I assumed ball gown wedding dresses would be what I would end up with”, Andrea said.

When Andrea visited our Melbourne wedding dress shop, she then found out that a ballgown didn’t work as she expected and A-line wedding dress was much more flattering. It didn’t take long for Andrea to lay her eyes on our one of our stunning A-line wedding dresses Skylar, which features plunging v-neckline and lots of glitters and sparkles. Its shoulder straps are adjustable which works perfectly as Andrea wanted her wedding dress to be off shoulder. Soon as Andrea tried on this A-line wedding dress, she immediately knew this was the one.

Things that You Wish to Know Earlier

“I wish that I knew booking in alterations was just as important as getting the Melbourne wedding dress! I ended up stressing right up until the last minute because my dress still wasn’t ready,” Andrea said. Apart from the production and delivery of the Melbourne wedding dresses, what many brides-to-be are not aware is the fact that their wedding dresses will also undergo several rounds of alterations to ensure a perfect fit on their bodies. As mentioned in our 25 questions to ask Melbourne wedding dress shop, a the easiest way to make sure your timeframe is right is to check with your Melbourne wedding dress consultant. Based on their experiences they will advice whether your time can be a little bit rushing or you are better off getting something off-the-rack if you are getting married in 3 months. As a general rule of thumb, we advise all brides-to-be to buy their wedding dresses 10-12 months prior their wedding day to avoid stress and delays.

Bridal Gown Shopping Experience with Bella E La Bestia Bridal

“The experience at Bella E La Bestia was amazing. I couldn’t have asked for anything better,” Andrea said.

“Everyone was so kind and helpful, and really listened to what I wanted and happily recommended Melbourne wedding dresses for me. I felt so comfortable the whole time and didn’t have to worry if a wedding dress was too big or too small as they made it work and I could see exactly how the wedding gown would look on me.”

Wedding Dress Tips for All Brides to Be

Andrea wanted every bride-to-be to be confident with their body and go for the wedding dress that they believe look and feel best. “Go in with an idea of what you want, but try on different styles of wedding dresses until you find what works best for you. It can be really overwhelming with all the choices so I found it helpful once I knew that A-line looked the best on me, to go in and ask for A-line wedding dresses,” Andrea said. She also suggested go with people that are going to be supportive, and will tell the truth.

We’d Love to Throw You Some Ideas

Are you shopping for your dream wedding dress? Or just looking for tips and inspirations for the perfect wedding gown? We would love to throw you some ideas, contact us to book a free appointment, our Melbourne wedding dress is just located 15 minutes away from Melbourne CBD in Maribyrnong. Our friendly team at Bella E La Bestia Bridal look forward to your next visit.