Bridal & Couture Sample Sale - Bay View Eden

I received an invitation to the Bridal Couture and Sample Sale this year at the Bayview Eden Hotel. I can't remember how they got my contact details but anyway Ammie and Daisy were nice enough to accompany me there. I pre-registered for us since it was $5 for those who did and $10 who paid at the door.

The event ran from 11am - 4pm. And there even had something called the "Hour of Power" where if you were willing to pay $50 extra, you can bring a friend in an hour earlier to view all the dresses, shoes and accessories before anyone else. I didn't bother about that and we just went at the normal time. :p Here are some snaps:

Entrance - promoting the i-do.com website with stacks of free bridal mags as door gifts.	Ammie and Daisy browsing at dresses and checking out if there were any nice ones. :p
Assistant from Brides of Melbourne booth helping my put on a "tutu" like gown. I was laughing because I thought it looked funny.	Mannequins line up around the booths. Ammie especially like the one on the right with this small pocket-like puffs on the gown.

The event probably occupied only a couple of function rooms and wasn't that big and so we sort of finish browsing in an hour or so. But some of the retailers did have some pretty items at reasonable prices. I almost bought a pair of shoes - but they didn't look too good after putting them on.

We were almost at the end when I chanced upon this gown at the Bride's of Melbourne booth - same one I tried the "Tutu" like gown. I tried it on and even though it was way too long - it just felt wonderful as this was the first gown that fitted quite well.

I was hesitating and pondering about whether to get it or not at $500, but Daisy and Ammie were both saying that it looks gorgeous. I wasn't sure about the prices for alteration as well. But the gown was indeed unique with sort of a slant at the skirt area where the top joins to the bottom.

In the end, I wasn't sure if it was because the lady offered it to me for $400 or it was because I had tried and browse too many gowns already and was itching to make a quick decision and get one, I bought it anyway. After that I started having ideas on how mum can sew more beads and sequins or somehow personalize it and make it more unique. That is, after I get the damn length altered first!

Here are more pics from the event that day:

http://picasaweb.google.com/melchenyi/BridalCoutureSampleSaleJul2010#

Photographer / Videographer.: LePortrait Studio

We had an appointment with LePortrait Studio today. We found them or should I say, they found us when we signed up at the Australian Bridal Service website. A couple of weeks ago, they sent an email to all members with a really attractive photography and videography package.

Name: LePortrait Studio

Address: 7/34 Macfarlan St. South Yarra

Website: http://www.leportraitstudio.com

After checking out their website, we decided to make an appointment with them. The studio is family owned and from Spain origins . They have been in the business for more than 20 years. Hernan and his wife Marie were the warmest people and made us feel really comforable. We also fell in love with their amazing photos.

Here's some of those that caught our eyes:Though they were the first studio we've been to, it just felt really right and we signed the contract with them there and then. After all, the price was right, their photos captured our hearts and most importantly we felt comfortable with them and they shared a vision to communicate with us to find out what we want.

(Updated Sep 2010) - I later read on the forums about other Brides singing their praises and referring them to other family and friends as well - and that certainly set our hearts and mind at ease. :)

Melbourne Bride Wedding Expo Jun 2010 and Brides of Melbourne Bridal Gown Sale

Bride Magazine organises the Melbourne Bride Wedding Expo once a year around the 3rd week of June. The event runs for two days at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Having won a pair of tickets from a facebook competition, it was such a bonus to go in free last week on Sat the 19th of Jun. Cousin Kayla and Ammie joined us as well - just to see what a wedding expo was all about.

We actually attend their expo back in 2007 as well when I was still working for Victorian American Imports - a car conversion company which imports amercian vehicles and converts them to right-hand drive. It was just early browsing that time and more research of the hummers used as wedding transport. But this time we had a better reason for going! ;)

Here are some snaps from that day:

The rest of the photos can be found at
http://picasaweb.google.com/melchenyi/MelbourneBrideWeddingExpoJun2010#

We found that there were less retailers as compared to the Ultimate Bridal Event expo which we attended last month and some of them were those that we had already visited at the other event. They also had Fashion parades from Bridal Retailers in Melbourne, showcasing bridal gowns and men's suits.

There were however, have a few more retailers that were more specific to Melbourne and those that weren't too high end. One exquisite worth mentioning was the Sisko decorative chocolate displays. And I also liked it that the Photo Booth company were there for people to take some crazy shots! But if you're really looking for an expo with lots more retailers and cheaper by $5, Australia Bridal Service's Ultimate Bridal Event seems the better one.

Yesterday, Darling and I also popped by Melbourne's GPO in the morning for the Brides of Melbourne Bridal Gown Sale. I knew right before hand that this shop's pricing were more on the higher end, but I just wanted to check it out anyway.

Some snaps from the shop exterior:

I didn't really have a good impression of this bridal shop. Firstly, you were made to line up and take a ticket before they let you in. And then you were assigned an assistant which gave you only like 15 minutes to pick a few gowns to try on. Can you tell me how can someone made such an important decision in such a short time frame?! It was like they expected huge crowds to flock in and grab all their gowns on sale and so only gave you about half and hour there including trying and picking out your gown.

I would never make such an important decision and spend a few thousand dollars in an impulse. Even on sale, their gowns were at least $1000 and above. And so as you can guess, in normal periods, gown prices are about $2000 and above. And photo-taking wasn't allowed too. So how can you go home and ponder about whether the gown suits you? As much as I didn't really like this shop, I hate that I actually found a gown design that I like on their website. Let's hoping I have some luck with a similar design somewhere else. :p

Gown Try-outs: Spurling Bridal (Glen Waverley) and Raffaele Ciuca (Brunswick)

Since the Spurling and Ferrari Bridal Sale went for a week, I decided to quickly make a dash to the Spurling Bridal, Glen Waverley branch on Monday to see if they had anything worth looking at during lunch time. It was such a rush but I did managed to try on about 3-4 gowns that were on sale.

The shop assistant here was also friendly and much nicer. They also had more variety, in my size. I still didn't get into an impulsive buy. I did however found one which I kept in mind for the actual day. But it's not posted up here just in case I do decide to get it, I don't want to show it until the actual day itself. ;)

White strapless gown with small flower embroidery on top right and flowing organza covering from waist down. Price: $400	Simple white halter-neck gown with embroidery around neck, small diamonte in centre and front split. Price: $350
I almost bought this gown for the pre-shoot actually. If it wasn't that it was a little too tight at the stomach area! It's white with sort of a blue-ish feel to it with its blue embroidery.	Back view of the gown on the left. It actually fitted quite nicely at a size 8 - just crimps a bit at the stomach area arggh! I love the overlapping puffs at the train. Price: $500.

Shop name: Raffaele Ciuca
Branch: Brunswick
Website: http://www.raffaeleciuca.com.au/

This bridal and formal wear shop was also having a mid-year 1-day sale. I was initially hesistant and lazy to go because one, it was on a Sunday and two, the shop was all the way in Brunswick.

But the thought of not checking out a sale changed my mind and nice Ammie came along with me again this time. We saw this asian girl there who was getting married in a month's time and was there to buy a gown there and then.

And guess what, she took the only two gowns that I really liked - in my size, and I didn't even get to try one of them cause she bought it! The shop assistant recommended others but I didn't like them and prices here were really more upmarket! Even on sale they were more that $1000!

Ivory coloured gown with ruffle designs on chest and some shiny embroidery around. Made of quality silk material and yet another size too big for me.	Back view of gown on left. It was too big and they used this big pegs to clip the back so you can see how it looks like fitted. Price: Can't quite remember, think it was over $1800.

Photo taking at this shop were a "no-no". And so I only managed to get Ammie to snap a couple of pics when the girl wasn't around. They really catered more for brides who want expensive couture gowns! I don't think I'll ever check them out again! :s

Gown Try-outs: Spurling Bridal SALE (with Ammie and Daisy)

Spurling and Ferrari (Bridal and Formal wear) are actually affiliated franchises. I found when we were handed a flyer at the bridal expo, advertising their end of financial year sale from 30 May to 6 June. They advertised that gowns started from $29 - but most of those on sale were all large sizes or designs that weren't too nice or flattering.

Having not had girlfriends come along with me for gown browsing previously, I decided to drag Ammie and Daisy along back to Spurling Bridal (Nepean Highway) to check out the sale this time. ;) I didn't get anything but we did have fun trying together and snapping some pics.

Fairy-tale princess like turquoise coloured gown for about $400. Too big for me (Size 14) and didn't really suit!	Simple white gown with no train with some embroidery and beads on the chest area. About $350.	Another white gown which looked nice when I wasn't wearing it. :p Made me look stunted. Definite no-no!

Here are more pics of us cam-whoring in the dressing room. Lucky for us, the lady in the shop left us to browse and didn't really bother about us. I managed to con Ammie and Daisy into trying a white gown each as we found a size 6 (which fitted Ammie well). Usually you'll not find such a small size in the shops here.

The hot red piece was a also a size 6 or a really small cut size 8 (couldn't quite remember) and Daisy and I couldn't zip it up at the back. It was actually quite nice for an evening dress but a pity that they only had Size 14 and above left. It came in other colours of dark purple, pink and navy blue, yet there just wasn't one in a suitable size!

Australian Bridal Service: Ultimate Bridal Event May 2010

The Australian Bridal Service organises wedding exhibitions twice a year in Melbourne and Sydney. And so to get ideas and inspiration, we thought we'll attend one of them just to see what it was all about.

They call it the Ultimate Bridal Event and it's usually held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre or the Royal Exhibition Building.

There were heaps of retailers on display including car hire services, cakes, gowns, men's formal wear, photography and videography, rings, singing bands and DJs, flowers, stationary and gifts and lots more. Every two hours or so, they also have a bridal fashion parade with models strutting down the catwalk in the latest gowns and suits.

Here's a link to the full album: http://picasaweb.google.com/melchenyi/UltimateBridalEventMay2010#

In our point, there's no need to go for all of these expos. Just attending one or two will be enough as most of the retailers exhibiting are usually the same and sometimes too much ideas will give drive you nuts anyway! :p

Deposit for Chapel, Reception Viewing: Leonda by the Yarra and Gown Try-outs: Eternal Weddings

Today was the second day of our leave and we made an appointment with the wedding coordinator at Scotch College so that we can place a deposit for the chapel. This time she took us for another visit to view the chapel and turned on the lights so that we can see more clearly how beautiful the interior was.

We were informed that Leonda by the Yarra, a reception place nearby the school offered a 10% discount for wedding receptions held there and so we made an appointment to have a look at a potential venue place as well.

Function Place: Leonda by the Yarra
Website: http://www.leondabytheyarra.com.au/

Prices (2011): $120 p/h (Cocktail package) or $130 p/h (Sit-down dinner)

They offered us their Garden room which catered for up to 130 guests in a sit-down dinner or more if it's a cocktail party. They also require a minimum of 70 guests for that room.

Later on the way back, we headed to Eternal Weddings, another bridal shop along Koornang Rd as they were closed yesterday (Mondays).

Shop Name: Eternal Weddings
Suburb: Carnegie
Website: http://www.eternalweddings.com.au/home/

Beautiful gowns and little flower girl dresses on display at the shop's window.	This gown had lots of embroidery on the top half and is quite body hugging down to the hips.
Back of the gown shown on top right. It was draw-string instead of zipper on the back. Price was a whopping $2300. No doubt I tried it just for fun!	This gown was more princess-like (style) and the owner told me that usually the younger (teenage) brides go for this type. This was on sale at $1200.

Gown Try-outs: Georgette Knoss, Ferrari Formal and Be A Star Bridal

Darling and I were on leave today and tomorrow as well to do some wedding stuff. So after lunch in the arvo, we dropped by the bridal shops near our place. The first one was at the nearby shops area, just down the road from where we live.

Shop 1:
Shop Name: Georgette Knoss
Branch: East Bentleigh
Website: http://www.georgetteknoss.com.au/

This gown looks really plain, but there are actually a strip of beads and sequins sewn to the upper part of the dress. It also has a really nice train. But for $1000 and with a relatively plain design, it wasn't worth it, though the lady said the material was a good silk one.	This gown is a débutante dress and was going for $320 (with alterations included). It also had beads and sequins with patterns sewn around the chest area. I didn't want a white dress for pre-shoot and neither did I want to buy in a haste just at the second shop, and so didn't get it.

Shop 2:
Shop Name: Ferrari Formal and Bridal
Branch: Ormond
Website: http://www.ferrariformal.com.au/

The glass display of gowns from outside the shop. It is just near Ormond train station. They also do Men's formal wear, gowns for Mother of the Bride and flower girls as well.	This one really took my liking for an actual day gown. It's designed by Mancini and cost $1700 to order. (Alterations not included yet). But it was still too early to feel "100% right".

Shop 3:

Shop Name: Be A Star Bridal
Branch: Bentleigh East
Website: http://www.beastarbridal.com.au/

This was another débutante gown that I considered getting for the pre-shoot. It was quite plain and simple and cost $400 including alterations.

But yet again, it was white and it didn't have a train. I didn't need a gown with a long train for pre-shoot photos but then again, I didn't want one that totally had none at all!

The gowns in this shop were also relatively more expensive as compared to the others and the owner didn't quite made me feel comfortable. She seemed to put on a faked face and didn't smile much at all.