Real Bride Style: Genna & Fernando Part 2

Genna & Fernando celebrated their commitment in style with a sit down dinner for their 125 guests at The Tearoom, Queen Victoria Building.


The couple took advantage of the elegant surrounds, having photos on the grand staircase which showed off Genna's ivory lace Provonias gown with customised black velvet bow.
The gown was a happy reminder of their engagement with Genna first seeing the dress in Spain where Fernando proposed.
Black satin peep toes from Christian Louboutin completed the glamourous look.


The elegance and beauty of the room was enhanced by vintage grey glass candelabras Genna bought second hand and votive vases with white blooms.


Black and white grosgrain ribbon accentuated the beauty of the hydrangeas and peonys and guests were invited to share their well wishes for the couple in a personalised guestbook from Smythson of Bond Street.



The four tier cake perfectly complemented the black and white styling and featured flavoured layers of vanilla & rose petal, chocolate ganache and citrus & strawberry.


Bride and groom cookies from Cookie Couture doubled as place settings and favours for guests.


The couple's first dance completed a beautiful evening and we wish Genna & Fernando all the best for a long and happy life together.

Genna's Style Guide
Hair & Make-up: Isabella Schmid
Dress: Provonias from Fashions by Farina
Bridesmaids dress: Created by the grooms talented Mother who referenced from a 1950's Givenchy frock. Mrs Casas also made Genna's veil.
Cakes: Faye Cahill Cake Design
Invitations & menu covers: Alannah Rose Stationery
Guest Book: Smythson of Bond Street
Photography: Lindy Goodwin, 0404 015 59
Videographer: Moving Presentations
Bonbonniere: Cookie Couture
Wedding cars: Wedding cars of Distinction
Flowers: Mimi at Podflowers

Real Bride Style: Genna & Fernando Wed with a 50's Glamour Black & White Theme

I am so excited to share the stylish city wedding of a gorgeous former colleague.

Genna has an innately glamorous style I have always admired and I eagerly awaited her wedding pics knowing they would not disappoint!
Genna sought inspiration for her day from the pages of Amour Amour and I am honoured she is sharing her beautiful wedding day with us.

Genna began to plan her wedding after her fiancee Fernando proposed on the steps of the Cadiz Cathedral in the South of Spain last year with the date set for February 7th, 10 years and 1 day after they first met at St Bede's Catholic Church in the Sydney suburb of Pyrmont.

A heart shaped flower frame of hydrangeas with black and white grosgrain ribbon decorated the church.

From the black velvet bow on Genna's Provonias gown, to the 1950's vintage Givenchy inspired bridesmaids gowns, the chic black and white styling epitomised the theme of '1950's Glamour'.

The bride and her maids carried posies of hydrangeas, peonies, gardenias and roses.




Genna and Fernando didn't let the wet weather cramp their style with the rain and black umbrellas adding to the glam style.

Check back tomorrow (Wednesday) for Genna & Fernando's stylish reception as well as Genna's Style Guide.

Photography by Lindy Goodwin

Real Bride Style: Vivian of Ish & Chi

Despite an original plan to marry on the Greek island of Santorini (complete with complimentary donkey ride!), Vivian and Matthew Mansour decided to marry in Sydney where they were surrounded by 230 members of their family, extended family and friends.

This decision meant that an important wish could be fulfilled; being married at the same church by the same priest who married Matthew's parents 31 years earlier.
"He had retired but wanted to do the service for us and we are so honoured to have been married by him." says Viv.


Viv's breathtaking gown was designed by Alex Perry.
"I took my time looking at dresses but after seeing a few I couldn’t make up my mind. I visited Alex Perry and loved his vision for our wedding. I showed him a photo of a dress I had in mind and he used his creative genius to design the dress I wore. The whole process was so much fun. It was his suggestion that I wear my hair in a simple ponytail and I’m so glad I did."


Vivian incorporated the 'something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue' tradition into her wedding day as well as following a Greek tradition where the bride writes the names of her bridesmaids on the bottom of her shoes."The name to rub off the most (or completely) by the end of the day is supposed to be the next person to marry. All the names rubbed off by the end of the day so hmmm!"


Being a Summer wedding Vivian embraced colour and decided on a palette of pink and green touches along with a lot of white.


Vivian carried a simple white bunch of David Austin roses while the bridesmaids and flower girls carried pink bunches mixed with lisianthus. A beautiful compromise from Viv's first choice of peonies and tulips which unfortuantely weren't in season.



Viv's words of wisdom to brides to be is "On the day, take a little time to yourselves. Go for a walk if you can and just enjoy the moment by yourselves even if it is only for a few minutes." I second this advice, something I didn't do with my husband and regret!

The gorgeous three-tiered cake was covered in cream cheese icing and decorated with David Austin Roses. Each tier had a different flavour; chocolate fudge, citrus poppyseed and hummingbird cake (carrot cake with slices of mango).

"The entertainment was a fun part of the day. My husband has a Lebanese/Polish background and I have a Greek background. We entered the reception to the beat of a Lebanese drummer and were lifted up onto our guests shoulders as we danced and danced. We also had a bouzouki player entertain us later in the evening. It was nice to combine both of our cultural backgrounds in the wedding and to watch guests from my husband’s side attempt Greek dancing and vice versa."

Viv is quite the DIY Queen and her wedding was no exception, hand-making the bonbonniere; silver boxes filled with tea and traditional sugared almonds wrapped in tulle and the order of service booklets.

Thank you Viv for sharing your beautiful day with us. For more of Viv's charm, style and wonderful designs visit her lovely blog, Ish & Chi!

Vivian's Style Guide
Ceremony: St George Orthodox Church, Redfern Reception: Oatlands House, Oatlands
Dress: Alex Perry
Bridesmaids dress: Custom made
Grooms attire: Lords Formalwear
Groomsmen attire: Lords Formalwear
Rings: Rafael Jewellers
Cakes: Simmone Logue Fine Food Company
Invitations: Angels Dreaming
Photographer: Christina and John Photography

Real Bride Style: Kellie of Ada & Darcy

Kellie and Luke were married on the lawn of Collaroy Golf Club November 29th 2008 in front of one hundred friends and family. As readers of Kellie's gorgeous blog will know she has quite the passion for beautiful things and the talented team at the Style Salon helped bring this her vision of a Soft Vintage theme to life.

Kellie went all out with a few details that meant the most to her; her dress, the flowers and event styling and husband Luke was happy to run with his wife's ideas.

The stunning gown was from Pallas, the very first store she went to. "I shopped around but still couldn’t get past this one. The dresses are made perfectly, the attention to detail was amazing."

The flowers were soft apricot roses along with some amazing peonies, a surprise from the stylist as they were luckily still in season.

Luckily for Kellie and Luke, morning rain cleared long enough for them to be married under a custom built canopy complete with a grass mat aisle strewn with flowers.




Despite being a self-confessed 'details fuss-pot', Kellie wanted a very relaxed event, it was over lunch time and no formalities were allowed! One formality was permitted however - the bridal waltz where ironically they got a little stuck!!

The two-tiered cake was Vanilla bean and White Chocolate and Queen of Sheba Chocolate torte and decorated with a fresh peony.
"It was beautiful. The design was gold and soft pink, everyone agreed it was very beautiful!"

Kellie has wonderful memories of the day -
"The guests loving our flower girls, the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful view with everyone special to Luke and I"

And her advice? "It should be fun and enjoyable… Try and plan early too!"

Kellie's Style Guide
Hair & Make-up: Jay Jay Rauwenhoff
Dress: Pallas Bride
Bridesmaids dress: Scanlan & Theodore
Grooms attire: Farage & Hugo Boss
Groomsmen attire: Farage & Hugo Boss
Rings: Makers Mark
Cakes: Polka Dot Cookies and Cakes
Invitations: Huetopia Design
Entertainment: Sunday Waits Jazz Band
Photographer: Tim Pascoe
Bonbonniere: The Style Salon
Event styling & flowers: The Style Salon