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Accessory: Custom Carmen veil
Dress : Verdin from The Bridal Finery in Winter Park, FL
Photography: Angelika Krug Photography
Venue: Bella Cosa Lakeside, Lake Wales, FL
HMUA: Makeover Station
Our Story:
Every bride says it, but our wedding day truly was a dream come true. Every detail came together to create the most magical day I could have imagined. Yet, even still, nothing compared to how it felt to be marrying my best friend. After meeting in June of 2021, Tyler and I fell quickly in love. We often share how grateful we are that we love the day-to-day together just as much as the adventures of life, which is how it should be. After a 15-month engagement, we were married on December 30, 2023. A light morning mist rose above Lake Pierce and a soft breeze drifted through the Spanish moss hanging from the 80-year-old oak trees lining the property. Surrounded by our favorite people, we promised forever, and danced through the night, under the stars, with an ethereal blood moon painting the dark lake. As blissful as that day was, the first few months of marriage have been even sweeter. I'm immeasurably grateful to live this life with my best friend beside me.
If you would like to be featured, please email us with your wedding photos to [email protected]
Accessory: Custom Draped in Flowers veil
Photographer: Jill Hoyle Photography
Matthew and I had been together for 8 years when we married each other on August 26, 2023. We chose our venue because it reflects our passion and love for nature. We ended up being blessed with the most perfect day and were able to get married outside, surrounded by the pine trees, river, flowers, and hummingbirds.
When I was searching for my wedding dress and accessories, I wanted to encompass my love for nature as well. I also knew that I wanted to find a removable bridal accessory to complete my outfit, to be able to wear and remove it, creating two different looks. When I found the Draped in Flowers Cape on the Tania Maras website, I knew it was the one. I had already chosen my Alyssa Kristin gown for its simplicity and crisp white crepe satin. The Draped in Flowers Cape was perfect for me because I was able to wear it for Matthew and mine’s first look, family portraits, and ceremony. I removed the cape for our cocktail hour, first dances, and reception dinner. I re-donned the cape when it was time for our sunset portraits, which are definitely our favorites from the day. The Draped in Flowers cape brought the romantic, floral element I was looking for into my bridal outfit. Matthew and I have a beautiful garden in our backyard where we have spent many hours together. The cape reminds me of our garden and the flowers we grow every year. The cape truly made my wedding look feel complete and had me feeling like a true bride.
If you would like to be featured, please email us with your wedding photos to [email protected]
Accessory: Custom Lady Laurel veil
Photographer: Blumenthal Photography
Film: Soda Films
Content Creation: The Big Day Events
My experience finding the perfect veil…
When I found the Tania Maras Juliet Cap Veil I knew it was the one.
My mother, auntie and I drove 3 hours from Sydney to try on the veil. Tania was so helpful with the styling and together we pushed the boundaries with the design. My gown was simple yet timeless and the complete look was a blend of traditional and modern as I paired a cap veil with a gown that also had a detachable cape. Not only did we go with the veil but we also went with a custom 4.1 meter design. It was dramatic, timeless and effortless.
Cherished moments from our day…
Matthew and I each started our day getting ready with our family and friends.
We tied the knot in a traditional Coptic Orthodox ceremony followed by an intimate waterfront reception with our loved ones.
Fun fact; our reception is where Matthew and I had our first kiss when we first met!
Blumenthal photographed our day and Soda captured our special moments on film. Claudia from The Big Day Events was our trusted content creator and captured all the sneaky behind the scenes!
Our day was filled with laughter, excitement and special moments we will cherish forever.
If you would like to be featured, please email us with your wedding photos to [email protected]
Accessory: Odessa wedding cape
Dress : Eureka by Pronovias
Photography: Prisma Blanco Photography
Venue: Cigarral de Las Mercedes, Toledo, Spain
HMUA: Marta Gamarra Beauty
Our Story:
We love to travel, so we decided to have a destination wedding on one of our favourite countries: Spain! It was the most beautiful day of our lives.
If you would like to be featured, please email us with your wedding photos to [email protected]
Accessory: RIVIERA floral wedding veil
Dress : Laila Nakhoul
Photography: Josh Jay
Venue: Merivale Weddings
HMUA: Helen Sotis Makeup Artist
Jemma's bridal story:
During a few daydreaming moments in a high school textiles class, Jemma sketched out her perfect wedding dress. When the time came to marry her fiancé, Alex, she referred back to this vision and entrusted it to the expertise of a talented couturist, Laila Nakhoul, who brought her ideas to life. With her dream dress, Jemma needed an equally impressive veil, and she couldn’t go past our embellished RIVIERA veil, with hand beaded flowers, lace motifs and a scattering of pearls. Jemma’s overall look was the epitome of modern luxe style.
And the whole wedding had a similar vibe. Jemma and Alex wanted their day to be unique and edgy, while still maintaining traditions and elegance. There were classic formalities, including a church ceremony, but they added their own personal twist – an urban photo photoshoot in Sydney’s CBD, burgundy colour accents and a night of non-stop dancing!
Creating the ultimate party vibe
“The whole reception was exactly what we were after… fun!” says Jemma. “It was just one big party all night – no one sat down! We had an idea of mixing the room with both sides of the family, rather than having all of my family on one side and all Alex’s on the other. We had a bit of each on both sides – that really set the whole vibe. Both sides were able to mingle and celebrate together as one family. It was such an amazing atmosphere.”
Jemma suggests trying not to not get too bogged down with the finer details of wedding planning, because on the day, it’s the interactions you have with your husband and guests that will be the most important.
“When you’re dancing the night away surrounded by everyone you love, you won’t even think about the colour of the napkins, or what your hair looks like, or if people are sitting in their allocated seats – they’ll be on the dance floor all night anyway!”
Wedding dress bliss
Jemma’s bespoke dress was designed by Laila Nakhoul, who not only created her high-school vision, but also added some extra special elements. The dress featured an on-trend high-low hemline, elegant V neckline and an embellished bodice.
“My dress designer Laila really listened to my vision and even added her special touches to finish the bodice with the 3D flowers and beading on the train,” says Jemma. “The hemline of the dress made it so easy to move and dance. I never wear full length dresses either so I knew this style suited me because it still had the traditions of a bridal dress but I was still able to add my personal style to it.”
Making a statement with accessories
The RIVIERA floral wedding veil is one of the most elaborate veils in the Tania Maras collection. It features hand-beaded 3D flowers in varying stages of bloom, lace motifs, and a scattered pearls on sheer tulle. The veil is feminine and dramatic and was the perfect accompaniment in terms of style and embellishment, for Jemma’s gown. She styled the veil with her hair flicked to one side and big curls.
“I came across the veil online and absolutely fell in love with it. The flowers and lace matched the bodice of my dress perfectly, it was like they were made together!” says Jemma.
Her advice for bridal accessorising is choose pieces that compliment your dress but don’t draw away from it.
“Simple and comfortable shoes (comfort is a must!), a nice diamond or pearl bracelet and matching earrings… you don’t need too much to make a statement,” she advises. “Being Lebanese, I knew I would be carried all night at the reception and we’d be dancing non-stop, so my main priority was definitely comfort when it came to the dress and shoes.”
Accessory: FLEUR wedding crown
Dress: St. Patrick
Photography: Benjamin Wheeler
Venue: Pencoed House Estate
HMUA: Hair by Louise Thompson
Rachel's bridal story:
With Rachel’s love of all things vintage, she and her fiancé, James, spent months treasure hunting through charity shops and car boot sales to find special pieces for their wedding venue styling. Their months of rummaging were well worth the effort. They were married in a country barn in Wales, and filled the venue with their vintage candle holder finds, fairy lights and flowers, to achieve the perfect rustic, romantic, fairy tale theme.
This theme was also echoed in Rachel’s stunning bridal look. With her off the shoulder lace gown and flowing hair adorned with our regal FLEUR crown, she was a garden princess.
Classic styling
Rachel and James’ ceremony and reception took place at Pencoed House Estate, which is an old, family run barn in the South Wales countryside. The estate features manicured gardens contrasted with wild woodland, providing the perfect setting for their fairy tale wedding.
“I knew I wanted lots of flowers, and I based a lot of the theme around a flower called Protea (my absolute favourite),” says Rachel. “This was used on our invitations, incorporated in my bouquet and in the centre pieces on the tables,” says Rachel.
The rustic vibe was enhanced with the brass and cut glass candle holders the couple found at second hand stores, which they used at the ceremony and on the reception tables. The also used brown paper bags with a drawing printed on them, as favour bags.
“James got an illustration of us done for my birthday a few years ago and we love it so much we got it printed onto brown favour bags which we then used for Welsh cakes for all the guests.”
Music also played an important role in achieving a relaxed and intimate vibe.
“James and I hired an amazing band for the entire day who were special to us after watching the singer busk numerous times the years before we got married. He sang Crazy Love by Van Morrison which is a special song for my dad and I. He later sang our first dance song which was Times Like These by the Foo Fighters, the lyrics are so beautiful.”
Rachel's bridal look
Rachel was coveting an old Hollywood style but with a relaxed edge for her bridal look. She achieved this with a stunning off the shoulder gown, Hollywood waves and a gold crown.
“I wear a lot of Bardot dresses and jumpsuits and I knew this flattered my figure the most, so I knew exactly the shape I wanted before trying any dresses on,” says Rachel. “When we first got engaged my best friend bought me a bridal magazine and after flicking through it, I saw my dream dress! A gorgeous off the shoulder, embellished lace fish tail dress by Pronovias sister brand, St. Patrick. I searched the designer to see where they stocked it in my area. I found it in a bridal shop a short distance away. It was the very first dress I tried on and fell in love with it straight away.”
In keeping with the rustic, fairy tale mood of the day, our gold, vintage inspired FLEUR crown was the ultimate accessory for pulling together this look.
“I found Tania on Instagram and fell in love with all the pieces. I actually found it difficult to chose which tiara to go for as I was torn between two others. I’ve always been a bit of princess growing up (haha) so I knew a tiara was definitely appropriate. Being a hairdresser I did a lot of research on how to wear my hair on the day – it was styled down in a Hollywood wave but still soft and natural as I wanted to feel special but very much still myself,” says Rachel.
Best tips
Rachel’s tips to couples planning their wedding is to organise your time. Save time, plan your time and take your time to enjoy your special day. She also suggests not worrying about the small stuff.
“It looks great in a photograph but it’s not worth losing sleep over!” she says.
And most importantly…
“The best advice I would give is: take it all in. It’s so cliché and you hear it all the time but the day really does go by in a flash.”
Accessory: AMORA wedding veil
Dress: Dove gown by Grace Loves Lace
Photography: Eyekahfoto
Venue: Wheatfield Estate
HMUA: Beautiful You Hair by Sarah
Sara's bridal story:
In some cultures, rain on your wedding day is a sign of good luck. Not only did Charlie and Sara have rain, their day was extra lucky because they also had strong winds gushing through their Ontario woodland wedding venue. This made for some very romantic, wind-swept photos, lots of laughter and great stories to share.
For her wind-proof wedding day ensemble, Sara wore a simple, soft silk gown, statement earrings, black leather jacket and our chapel length AMORA wedding veil. With the sheer tulle of the veil catching in the breeze and her dazzling smile – we were truly blown away by Sara’s chic wedding day look.
A wedding amongst the pine trees
Sara and Charlie’s ceremony and reception took place at Wheatfield Estate in Canada, surrounded by pine and spruce trees. The couple highlighted the beautiful, natural surroundings with simple decor and styling.
“I love the way our planner executed the tablescape; taupe linen napkins, white dish wear, gold cutlery, black name tags and candle holders, and of course the gorgeous floral arrangements as the centrepiece,” enthuses Sara. “I have always loved toffee-coloured roses and these were the highlight of our floral arrangements for me!”
A Wedding Day Look from Australia
Sara was limited when choosing a wedding dress, as Ontario, Canada, was in strict lockdown. This meant she needed to buy her dress online and luckily she came across Australian, online bridal brand, Grace Loves Lace and fell in love with their Dove gown.
“I loved the crossed straps and the V-back. I particularly liked that the V-back was not too low, it hit the mid back, which was flattering but not too revealing,” says Sara. “I opted for the 40 cm train (you can also customise it to have no train or an 80 cm train). The material is so soft and comfortable too, and it is double-layered so it is not see-through.”
To elevate her simple dress, Sara wore statement earrings by Australian jewellery designer, Christie Nicolaides. To complete her wedding day look, Sara looked to another Australian designer for her veil.
A veil to withstand the elements
To adorn her simple, low bun, she wore our chapel length AMORA blusher veil. As Sara is 1.2 metres (4’11”) tall, the Tania Maras team customised the length of her veil to ensure the proportions were perfect for her. Best of all, the veil stayed firmly in place throughout the day.
“The veil comb stayed in so securely, even during my super windy wedding day, and was very comfortable. My hair stylist said it was one of the best veil combs she’d ever worked with,” says Sara. “I also wanted a blusher because my photographer has a knack for doing gorgeous bridal photos with the bride and groom both under the bride’s blusher, and I needed to have some of these photos! When the veil arrived I was so happy with the material. It definitely exceeded my expectations.”
Best advice
“The best thing I did for myself was to hire a wedding planner. No matter how organised you are, there are always an overwhelming number of details to manage, and for someone who is not in the wedding industry, it is very hard,” explains Sara. “This was made even worse during the pandemic because the gathering guidelines kept changing and so I had to re-plan my wedding a few times. My wedding planner (Perfectly Designed Events) was truly a godsend. If you have the means to hire one, do it! I would also encourage couples to hire a professional live-streamer for the ceremony, if they are forced to have a smaller wedding than they originally wanted, due to COVID. We were able to share our livestream link with all our extended family and friends (who could not attend), and it was very well-received. This also lessens some of the guilt and stress about not being able to invite everyone you wanted.”
Accessory: Bespoke Audrey veil + Marion headpiece
Dress: Cecilia dress from Liz Martinez
Photography: Red Berry Photography
Venue: Mona Farm
HMUA: Emi Styles + Jessica Peris
Gerrie's bridal story:
From the English-inspired gardens filled with colourful blooms to the arch bridge spanning the lake and highland cattle roaming the property, it’s easy to understand Gerrie and Michael’s attraction to the historic Mona Farm for their wedding venue. Located in Braidwood in rural NSW, the couple created a whimsical garden party, with romantic floral dreamscapes, jazz music, Negroni cocktails and dancing under the stars to round off the day.
With golden hair, blue eyes and red lips, Gerrie’s beauty was further elevated with her unique wedding-day styling. Her dress featured sheer, voluminous sleeves and delicate floral lace embellishments. Tania Maras worked with Gerrie to create a bespoke veil to complement her ethereal dress, along with a golden hair comb to adorn her low-set bun.
A weekend-long Celebration
Gerrie and Michael decided to have a long weekend destination wedding, with plenty of time to enjoy the picturesque surroundings with their guests.
“We fell in love with the stunning grounds and English-inspired gardens, as well as the luxury accommodation, artwork and sculptures,” Gerrie enthuses. “Mona Farm does away with some of the hassles of a fully DIY wedding, but still allows a very bespoke experience, and the events management team there are first class.”
The ceremony was filled with memorable and personal elements, with one of Gerrie’s oldest friends, Nicci, as celebrant, a reading of a favourite poem by Gerrie’s brother and a rendition of The Lark Ascending by the Brioso String Quartet in memory of Michael’s Dad.
Gerrie’s wedding-day look
Instagram, The Lane and Wedshed were Gerrie’s go-to sources for wedding dress inspiration, before deciding on the Cecilia dress from Liz Martinez.
“I fell in love with the voluminous sleeve trend early on but wanted to find something that was still elegant and timeless,” she says. “The intricate and delicate floral lace appliqué on Liz Martinez designs is just breathtaking, and I chose a nude lining for the dress to accentuate the white lace detail.”
Gerrie chose the AUDREY veil, for its light and modern design, which wouldn’t distract from the intricacy and volume of her bridal gown.
“I wanted the back of the dress to be visible and the delicate nature of AUDREY means it streams out narrowly behind you and also catches the wind beautifully,” she says.
Instead of a metal comb, the Tania Maras team attached metal loops, to allow Gerrie’s veil to sit seamlessly under her low-set bun.
“I wanted to wear the veil attaching underneath my hair bun rather than over the top,” explains Gerrie. “Tania and the team came up with a different attachment to a comb so it was easier for my hair stylist to secure the veil. They were also incredibly helpful with explaining the difference between all the veil styles and helping me to achieve the look I was after.”
The abundance of shimmering crystals, pearls and floral elements in the MARION headpiece beautifully complemented the embellishments on Gerrie’s dress.
Best Advice
“Do away with any traditions that don’t resonate with you and your partner, and invest in those aspects of the day that are most important to you,” advises Gerrie. “Think about your guests’ comfort throughout the day when planning – is there enough seating, heating, food, bathrooms, etc. We would also really recommend investing in a photographer, videographer and photo-booth – it’s not something we initially planned, having all three, but we’ve really enjoyed seeing different aspects of the day captured for us to remember and revisit.”
Accessory: Bordeaux ponytail wedding veil
Dress: Karen Willis Holmes
Photography: Cassandra Ladru
Venue: The Ungasan, Bali
HMUA: Isabella Jane + Melanie Jane
Melanie's bridal story:
Most weekends you’ll find Melanie at a wedding, surrounded by lipsticks and eye shadows as she uses artistry to create beautiful bridal looks. With years of wedding day experience, she knew a thing or two when it came to planning her own special day.
And special it was. Melanie and Matthew married at a clifftop in Bali, overlooking the breathtaking Indian Ocean and they finished the day with a dazzling reception under the stars. Melanie sparkled in a sequin gown and our Bordeaux ponytail veil, a perfect look for a balmy beach-side wedding.
A Bali Wedding
Melanie, Matthew and their guests ventured to the limestone cliffs on Bali’s Bukit Peninsula for the ceremony. The clifftop was later transformed into a glittering reception party with crystal chandeliers, fairy lights and floral displays, all in neutral tones with a touches of soft pink.
“I can’t recommend The Ungasan as a wedding venue enough, it was breathtaking. No photos do it justice, once you walk in you are blown away. Both our ceremony and reception were held there and as a special touch, we had a personalised neon sign made with words from our first dance song – ‘sipping bubbly’. It looked amazing and they ended up keeping it as a permanent sign in their bar!” says Melanie.
An added Advantage
After 14 years of being makeup artist, Melanie had stored many ideas and inspirations for her own day and knew exactly what she wanted for her hair and makeup. She loves her job, and now has her own first-hand bridal advice to pass on to her clients.
“I love being part of the bride’s morning. Everyone is always in a good mood and I get to share those special moments with the bride, her bridal party and family. After being a bride I now understand when people say ‘the day will go so fast’ and to make the most of every moment. It really does fly! I now relay that information to my brides as I’ve recently experienced it.”
A dazzling gown
At Tania Maras we love the work of Australian bridal designer Karen Willis Holmes (KWH) and have many of her gowns featured in our photo shoots. Melanie also shares our love for this remarkable designer and wore a KWH sequin wedding gown, Anya, on her wedding day.
“Once I tried this dress on, I knew it was the one! I loved the delicate spaghetti straps and stunning beads from head to toe. The dress was fitted with a long beautiful train and I had a removable skirt added for a whimsical look for the ceremony. Picking your dress is a feeling not a decision, and I definitely had that feeling when I stepped into it.”
When it comes to picking a gown, Melanie shares her top tips;
“Make sure your dress is comfortable! If the dress has a bustle, get one of your bridesmaids to learn how to put it up before your wedding – this was the best decision I made. Also if you need any alterations made, get them done as close to the wedding as possible to ensure it fits your body perfectly.”
Melanie wore our chic Bordeaux veil which is designed to be worn around a ponytail and features crystal details along the top.
“I found the beautiful veil on Pinterest! I had tried on normal veils but felt it didn’t suit my personal style. Once I tried the Bordeaux veil wrapped around my ponytail, I felt way more relaxed and at ease. It was beautiful!”
A Bright Idea
Melanie’s wedding also sparked an exciting new business venture for Melanie and her sister. Just like many wonderful ideas, the idea came about as a solution to a problem.
“When I was searching for my bridesmaids’ ‘getting ready’ outfits, I couldn’t find anything that I liked. So if planning a wedding wasn’t enough, my sister and I created our own linen sets to wear on the day. They were perfect! Breathable and comfy linen that we ended up wearing the rest of the holiday. One of the highlights was walking around The Ungasan wearing our own label The Bridal Thread, it felt like a dream!”
The duo launched The Bridal Thread in December 2019, and offer a range of fresh and modern linen/cotton sets, as well as earrings and wedding themed postcards.
“I’m a very creative person which is why I love being a makeup artist and I’ve also ran my own business for the past 14 years. My sister is creative too, she’s a copywriter with many years of digital marketing experience. We make the perfect team as our strengths complement each other.”
Best Advice
“My best piece of advice is to hire a wedding planner! It’s worth every cent to save you time and reduce stress leading up to the big day,” says Melanie.
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Bespoke and ready-to-wear bridal accessories and veils. Designed and handcrafted in Canberra, Australia. Our online store is open 24/7 with worldwide delivery available including express options. The Fyshwick showroom is by appointment only. Virtual appointments are available for interstate and international brides.
