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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!
“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!”
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.”
The RIVIERA 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.”
With all the excitement and activity, your wedding day can feel like it’s happening in double time. Jemma’s best advice for couple’s on their wedding day, is to stop, breathe and be present, which will help you savour every magical moment.
“Alex and I kept reminding each other throughout the day to stop and just look around at everything and everyone, and we can honestly say, because of that, we remember the whole day.”
Naz and Dan’s entire wedding day had a warm, golden glow about it, and Naz’s stunning bridal look was no exception. With our golden VERSAILLES hairpiece, flowing lace gown and oversized paper flowers, her look was enchanted and regal.
The wedding encapsulated the couple’s sunny personality. The day was described by their guests as ‘such a Dan and Naz wedding’, and for them, that was the ultimate compliment. From their wedding, we can gather that the couple is theatrical, fun-loving and romantic, as the day featured a ceremony in a cave, a masquerade ball and kidnapping! But we won’t reveal all the details just yet. Here’s how the day unfolded.
The theme of the wedding was ‘You are my home’ which had a special significance for Dan and Naz. They both had visa issues which began eight months prior to their wedding and Naz had to urgently leave Australia, unsure if she’d even make it back in time for the wedding.
“We started saying this phrase to each other, meaning that no matter where we end up, we are each other’s home.”
This theme echoed throughout the day, with their song selection, Home by Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros, and a beautiful teal sign at the venue which read ‘You are my home’.
“When we were looking for ceremony locations, we knew we wanted something outside of the city,” says Naz. “We started to look into the Blue Mountains, and my fiancé (now husband) said, ‘Naz, how fun would it be to get married in the cave?’”.
The Blue Mountains is home to Australia’s most famous caves system – Jenolan Caves, which feature underground rivers and limestone formations. It was the perfect, majestic setting for their ceremony. Adding a layer of intrigue, they decided to keep the ceremony venue a secret from all their guests, including their parents.
“On the day, when all the guests arrived at Waldara [a country wedding venue] we told them that we had a secret, and then ‘kidnapped’ all of them into the buses!”
Only when they arrived was the surprise ceremony location revealed.
In line with Dan’s heritage, they decided on a traditional British wedding, which means a whole day affair.
“First there is a ceremony (which we had at the Jenolan Caves), then the wedding breakfast, followed by lunch at Waldara, with some speeches and delicious food. Then people had a break, where they went for a walk around Waldara or relaxed by a fire pit (there were a few to choose from). Everyone then changed for the Masquerade Ball. It was an elegant party where all guests, including Dan and I, transformed into different looks.”
Naz was after a dress that expressed her personality. She narrowed her online search by googling Australian designs within her budget. She also looked to Pinterest and ‘real bride’ features on blogs, for further ideas until she found the Inca dress by Grace Loves Lace.
“I thought where else will I be able to wear this kind of style?” she says, laughing. “I also was looking for a comfortable dress. I know if something doesn’t sit on me right it will consume me on the day.”
She accessorised with hints of gold throughout the day and night. For the masqueraded reception ball she changed into a glittering silver dress and a gold face-painted mask. Her VERSAILLES headpiece stayed in her hair the entire day. She was attracted to delicate mesh leaves and gold and ivory palette of the piece, which she styled in a soft up-do.
“The moment I saw VERSAILLES I was in love. I knew I wanted something with golden leaves in my headpiece,” she says. “The Versailles is so delicate, exquisite and stunning.”
Naz’s best advice for choosing your bridal look is: be you. “Get a dress and accessories that resonates with you. Some people told me that they are not sure if the Inca dress would suit our venue. My response was:
‘I don’t care, I am wearing my Inca’. There are a lot of opinions about what style you ‘should’ wear for a beach wedding or rustic wedding. But I say go with what you want and wear your dream dress. If you want to wear a big princess dress for a beach wedding – go for it. It’s your day, all that matters is you and your husband-to-be.”
Featuring a backdrop of sweeping snow-capped mountains scattered with historic redwood trees, Lauren and Dain’s wedding ceremony was simply breathtaking. The couple always knew they wanted to get married on top of a mountain, and Glacier Point, in California’s Yosemite National Park, was the ultimate spot.
With such a majestic wedding location, Lauren’s bridal look needed to be both beautiful and practical. Her flowy lace gown was lightweight and featured godets, so she could easily climb mountains and bush walk on the day. As for accessories, Lauren wore our GABRIEL crown, which beautifully echoed the surrounding wildlife, with its clusters of clay flowers, crystal foliage and bohemian vibe. Comfortable footwear was also a must. She finished off her bridal look with very practical, brown lace-up boots!
Lauren and Dain wanted their wedding to be romantic, adventurous, outdoorsy and intimate. The stunning vistas of waterfalls, giant sequoia trees, wildlife and cliffs at Yosemite National Park fulfilled this wedding-day vision, and gave their guests a truly unique experience.
“When I first met Dain, I was not adventurous or an ‘outdoorsy’ person,” says Lauren. “Two years after dating he took me to Yosemite, CA and I fell in love! I hadn’t been since I was about four or five years old and was in awe of Yosemite’s beauty as soon as we entered the park. We had dinner at The Majestic Yosemite Hotel and I saw a couple getting married there, and I joked that we should get married there someday. Who knew that seven years later, we would?”
Time, consideration and an open mind went into creating Lauren’s gorgeous bridal look. Every detail, from the dress, to the accessories and hairstyle, was well thought through, to accentuate Lauren’s natural beauty. Her lace dress was flowy and elegant and featured chiffon godets at the bottom and buttons down the back.
“My husband always tells me my backside is one of the reasons he fell in love with me, so I knew I had to have a mermaid silhouette to show off my curves,” says Lauren. “The lace in my dress is actually flowers if you look close enough. I loved how the GABRIEL crown had gorgeous white flowers that matched my dress so perfectly. My dress also had no beading whatsoever, so I wanted something with a little bling. The crown was a modern yet timeless approach to the trendy flower crown. The pearls in the crown added an extra vintage look, which I loved. I wanted a boho feel to my hair. So, I went on Pinterest a lot!”
She decided on a half up hair style, with a modern braid and curls, topped with the GABRIEL crown.
“Tania Maras is amazing. She really does makes a little something for everyone. An extra special piece of jewellery or a headpiece to have on your wedding day makes the look. Also, I love the idea of having something to pass down to my daughter one day and this headpiece will be one of those things.”
“My advice is, don’t worry so much about pleasing other people. I feel like weddings have really gotten out of hand. There is a reason smaller weddings are the new trend. We wanted our wedding to be about us! We hand selected the people that shaped our relationship and made us the people we are today and I wouldn’t have it any other way. My second piece of advice is getting an amazing photographer. There are some things on a wedding I would say skimp on, a photographer is not one of those. For my husband and I, our pictures were the most important thing, so finding a great photographer was at the top of our list. Lastly, relax… remember you are doing this because you love each other. Have fun with it!”
Wheeling in our racks or wedding gowns, boxes of veils and cases of jewellery into Mona Farm, we were captivated by the serene beauty of this historic property. With paths winding through lush woodlands, ornate gardens and fields of flowers, this hidden gem in regional NSW was the ultimate spot to showcase our very own collection of treasures.
The Tania Maras team spent a day at the picturesque Mona Farm to shoot our upcoming Le Jardin collection of veils and headpieces. The collection stars statement veils scattered with twinkling crystals and cascading lace embellishments along with wildflower-inspired hair combs and tiaras. Designer and Creative Director, Tania Maras, looked to the magic of moonlit gardens when designing this assemblage.
“The collection is inspired by the grandeur of the garden under the infinite stars above. Muted tones of silver and soft gold have been accented with tints of ivory, blush and champagne in a way that feels fresh and utterly enchanting,” says Tania.
The scenic surrounds of Mona Farm made for some breathtaking backdrops for the collection, captured by our photographer Phil, from Heart and Colour. We also had the lovely Sophie from Engaged Creative on board as our stylist and Kate Lily Hair Dressing and Alex Perrin on hair and makeup respectively. The beautiful Sarah Shaw modelled the accessorises with flair and grace. We also had one very cute helper – Tania’s five-month-old son. Although he wasn’t the most productive member of the team, he did help boost morale and keep us entertained with his smile and giggles!
The Le Jardin collection will be available within the coming weeks. Here, we’re giving you a sneak peek of the soon-to-be-released designs. If you’re interested in one of the pieces, please contact us. And if you’re in need of wedding venue, check out Mona Farm. The property is a three hour drive from Sydney and a one hour drive from Canberra, and offers scenic views, accommodation and a purpose built reception venue.
Photographer Phil capturing the exquisite details of our crystal veils.
Tania’s gorgeous baby outshining the WEEPING CHERRY embellished veil.
Mona Farm is a working farm and home to cattle, ewes, pigs and horses. These cheeky pigs were big fans of our work!
A delicious rack of designer dresses to play with.
Sophie working her magic to style the beautiful gowns and accessories.
The GARDENIA headpiece features and abundance of floral details and a flexible design that can be positioned in a variety of hairstyles.
A tiara and veil can be styled beautifully with a low bun and parted fringe.
We loved sunlit rooms and historic detailing for our photo backdrops.
Our veils are designed to beautifully drape around your shoulders and back.
Designer and Creative Director, Tania, capturing the action.
The MIDNIGHT veil is covered in glittering crystals.
The enchanting garden paths, ornate gates and lush plant life, were dramatic backdrops for our photoshoot.
Hairdresser Kate adding the finishing touches to this romantic look.
For a touch of old world charm, style the TROUSSEAU comb in a romantic side swept hair style.
Photographer Phil captured the soft, ethereal beauty of veils in his shots.
From wild woodlands to manicured gardens, Mona Farm has beautiful, photogenic spots at every turn.
The ANA ROSA halo is feminine and romantic, featuring golden sunset tones.
Mona Farm is dotted with quaint spots to sit and relax.
This is a love story that continues to unfold. Married young, Lidia and her gorgeous husband decided on their sixth wedding anniversary to celebrate with a gorgeous vowel renewal ceremony at the stunning Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum in Milwaukee.
Lovers of Italy, photographer Kristin La Voie captured an essence of the warmth, aesthetic and romance, the Italian’s are known for.
Beautiful Lidia wore our HENRI crown. The faceted moonstone crystals, white Quartz beads, pearls and silver beaded accents, perfectly contrasted the fine drapery of her dress, to create a mood of raw romanticism.
Here Lidia is wearing HENRI as a headband with the pearl accents facing forward. The beauty of this piece is it can be styled as a traditional crown – as well as a headband – with the pearl accents facing either forwards or backwards.
We love to create pieces that are versatile. So that brides can wear them in a way that speaks to her style and aesthetic.
Congratulations Lidia and Ruben! Here’s to many more happy years together.
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.
