As a Melbourne wedding dress shop, we delight in working with brides and couples shopping for their dream wedding dresses. At Bella E La Bestia Bridal, we put in all our heart and love taking care every bride’s wedding dress buying journey from start to finish. It means a world to us seeing brides falling in love with their dream wedding dresses.

Last year, we had the pleasure of working with Lauren, who recently tied the knot with her now-husband Rhys at All Smiles Sorrento. Lauren and Rhys went to high school together, and met through mutual friends. Over time, they grew closer and closer, and eventually turned from friends to lovers.

The Wedding Venue

Lauren and Rhys got married at All Smiles Sorrento, which is one of the most amazing wedding venues on the picturesque Mornington Peninsula. Just a stone’s throw from Melbourne CBD, this modern venue offers panoramic sea views, gorgeous contemporary décor, and gorgeous gardens and green spaces. One of the best highlights offered by All Smiles Sorrento is you will get to exchange vows in front of the breathtaking backdrop of the entire Port Phillip Bay.

The Favourite Moment

“Of course, tying the knot with Rhys was my favourite part of my wedding journey,” Lauren said.

“However, finding my dream wedding dress was definitely also one of my favourite parts of process. The entire team at Belle E La Bestia Bridal were so amazing, and made the process so much fun from start to finish.

“Going from a size 22 to a size 6, I couldn’t wait to fall in love with a new wedding dress. When I saw Norah, the decision was a very easy one to make. Seeing my body in this amazing fitted wedding dress, showing off all of my hard work and the weight I had lost… It was such a beautiful wedding gown and made me feel so beautiful on my wedding day.”

Finding Her Dream Wedding Gown

Rhys and Lauren originally planned to marry in 2020, though were forced to postpone their wedding due to COVID-19 restrictions. Lauren originally visited our store during the first COVID-19 lockdown, and chose Ivonne, a gorgeous strapless gown from our plus size wedding dress collection.

However, during lockdown, Lauren lost 50 kilograms. Whilst this was an incredible achievement for her, it also meant her original wedding dress no longer fit.

“For several years, I had been trying to conceive but had been told by numerous doctors and fertility specialists that I needed to lose weight to help me to conceive,” Lauren said.

“During lockdown, I was able to lose 50kg. The first wedding dress I chose was Ivonne, which I absolutely loved on my size 22 body. I really felt that I looked beautiful in it. However, once I had lost weight, the wedding dress I originally chose did not suit my smaller body at all. I knew I couldn’t wear that dress on my new size 8 body.”

When Lauren returned to our Melbourne wedding dress shop for a second time after Melbourne came out of COVID-19 lockdowns, she had lost an incredible amount of weight since we last saw her. We were so excited to see all her hard work and dedication to pay off, and couldn’t wait to help her find a new dream dress that showed off her new body.

It didn’t take long for Lauren to fall in love with a dress for a second time – this time, with our stunning Norah dress, a sleeveless white lace beauty. Another selection from our Bella Charm wedding dress collection, this gorgeous fitted ballgown featured exquisite lace details – all of which helped to accentuate Lauren’s new figure and give her the wedding day look of her dreams.

Lauren’s before and after the weight loss.

Bridal Gown Shopping Experience with Bella E La Bestia Bridal

Lauren said, “I honestly can’t rate Belle E La Bestia Bridal highly enough. From start to finish, I had the most incredible experience with the ladies at the store, who went above and beyond to help me find the most exceptional dress I could have possibly ever imagined.

“Not only did they support me through my weight loss journey, but they also helped me find a dress that suited my new body perfectly. Even when I was 50 kilograms heavier, they made me feel 110% comfortable. Overall, the wedding dress experience here was just amazing and one I’ll never forget.”

Wedding Dress Tips for All Brides to Be

Lauren says, “The biggest piece of advice I could give to future brides is to go with your heart, and not let anyone else influence your decision. It’s your dress and your big day, and it’s so important that you feel beautiful.

“Confidence translates into beauty, so if you feel confident in your dress, you will definitely look beautiful too. You will know when you’ve found the one as soon as you’ve put it on, which is exactly what I found!

“After seeing photos of myself in my dress, I was so incredibly happy and felt so beautiful and confident. Once upon a time, I would never let anybody take a full body picture of me, so to see the photos of my in my dream dress was really beyond words.”

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 bridal shop 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.