Love had its unique way of bringing two people together: Liz and Tim met through the ever-popular dating app Bumble (no we are not sponsored) and their love journey which spans for a long four and a half years, is a real testament to their enduring love and shared dreams.

Earlier this year, surrounded by the warm embrace of family and friends, Liz and Tim embarked on their next chapter of life. They exchanged vows and became partners for life at the exquisite Gather and Tailor in West Melbourne.

As a Melbourne wedding dress shop, it's a privilege for us to be part of every bride’s wedding planning journey. In Liz’s case, we couldn’t be happier that we helped her find the perfect wedding dress and made her princess dream come true on her wedding day.

Today, we have the pleasure of having Liz with us to share her wedding planning stories, her favourite moment from her wedding day as well as unique experience on her Melbourne wedding dress. Let’s dig into it now!

The Wedding Venue

Located in West Melbourne, Gather & Tailor represents a beautifully restored warehouse style wedding venue. It features 2 large gorgeous sliding doors, open plan layout, festoon lighting, autumnal detailing, and exposed rustic beams, boasting a New York industrial vibe. Being one of the feature venues of the Nudo group, Gather & Tailor certainly will not disappoint when it comes to service and professionalism. “We really liked their other venue in Collingwood and Luke, the person who showed us around, sold us on it. His energy was just the best,” Liz said, “ But the venue was a bit too small, so he suggested their other venue in West Melbourne. When we walked through Gather & Tailor I just got goosebumps and I knew it was the venue I wanted to get married in.”

The Favourite Moment on The Day

Liz reminisced about several truly heartwarming moments from her wedding day that would forever hold a special place in her heart.

Her first favourite moment was when Tim, her now husband, incorporated Afrikaans into his wedding vows. Being Liz's first language, Afrikaans definitely carried a deep significance for her and her family. Tim's heartfelt effort to embrace and use Afrikaans in his vows added an extra layer of meaning and tenderness to that precious moment, making it an unforgettable and cherished memory.

Another favourite moment that brought laughter and delight to everyone was when Tim’s 93-year-old grandmother joined the dancefloor on her wheelchair. The sight of her joyfully dancing her heart out warmed every heart in the room, creating a memory filled with love, laughter, and boundless fun.

One more cherished moment that Liz held close to her heart from her wedding day was the instant she slipped into her exquisite Melbourne wedding dress. “I felt super comfortable and like a princess,” Liz said.

Finding Her Dream Melbourne Wedding Dress

After locking in their wedding venue, Liz then started shopping for her Melbourne wedding dress, which was roughly 7-8 months before her wedding. Liz searched for Melbourne wedding dresses on Google and then come across Bella E La Bestia . What really caught Liz’s attention was our wedding dress shop’s unwavering focus on plus-size wedding dresses and the use of real plus-size models in our photos. “I loved that some of your models were plus sized and it made me feel super confident and excited to go there,” Liz said.

Like every bride, Liz has dreamed to become a princess on her wedding day since childhood and a ballgown wedding dress with lace details was something that she was thinking. Two of her worries before she visited our Melbourne bridal shop were whether a ballgown wedding dress would be too big to move around as well as whether lace texture would feel good on her skin. Luckily these worries all went away soon as Liz visited and got help from our wedding dress consultant. “Luckily, the satin beauty got pulled because I think I would’ve been really itchy and uncomfortable otherwise (with the lace - the satin was so comfortable and amazing),” Liz said, “I had lace in mind, but I ended up with satin. But I’ve always wanted a ball gown so I’m very pleased with that.”

After listening to Liz’s needs and expectations, our experienced wedding dress consultant immediately knew the wedding dress that would fit perfectly on Liz: Virginia. Virginia is a stunning ballgown wedding dress that is crafted in satin, creating a graceful drape of the train. Its delicate off-shoulder strap adds to a contemporary touch, striking a perfect balance between tradition and allure. What really closes the deal is its lace back features, which exactly fulfills what Liz was after: a ballgown wedding dress with just the right amount of lace feature.

It did not take long for Liz to call out this is the “the one”. And she was so happy that she felt 100% comfortable standing, sitting & moving in this Melbourne wedding dress. From a Melbourne wedding dress maker’s perspective, a common myth is brides-to-be tend to think that all ballgown wedding dresses are bulky. The reality is many ballgown dresses are designed to be easy to worn while still reflecting its signature dramatic long train, so if you are ballgown bride, make sure you visit your local Melbourne wedding dress to try on one of them. You only know how it feels until you try it on!

Bridal Gown Shopping Experience with Bella E La Bestia Bridal

“It was just easy,” Liz said, “Everything was very smooth and I got to try on a variety of dresses so that I could really find what worked for me. “

At Bella E La Bestia Bridal, we believe in personalized bridal experience that goes beyond simply selling Melbourne wedding dresses. Our approach is rooted in listening to bride-to-be’s individual needs. We believe each bride is unique and we are dedicated to helping her discover the one-of-a-kind wedding dress that perfectly complements her essence.

Wedding Dress Tips for All Brides to Be

Liz offers a valuable piece of advice to all future brides-to-be: Pick a wedding dress that makes you feel comfortable and pretty. You will be wearing the dress for a very long time, so you need to be comfortable. Remember, your wedding gown should be a reflection of your unique style and personality, and when you feel comfortable and pretty, you'll shine with natural grace and charm.

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.