Revisiting my wedding outfit(s).
Yes, I bought off the rack.
Hello! This is a Holiday Read edition of Fash Chat. My regular musings will be back soon.
It’s been two and a half years since I got married in the Zimmermann dress of my dreams. Here’s what I shared with Mamamia in May 2022 about the process of pulling the look together.
While I didn't *love* every minute of planning our wedding (serial overthinker/procrastinator hybrid over here), one thing I really relished in was the styling.
It was important to me to reflect my personal style in what I wore - but equally important to not blow our entire budget on a dress.
Although we weren't stringent about what we spent, and were fortunate to have the means to celebrate with a party, we did want to do things more affordably - because everyone knows a wedding can be a total money pit.
Here's how I saved and strategically splurged to land on a look I adored.
Finding inspo.
Anyone residing in Bride Land right now will know that if you search for anything remotely wedding related on Instagram, you're about to be spammed wedding content.
Suddenly your feed is full of highly aesthetic ceremonies, designer gowns worth tens of thousands, cakes with more tiers than you have gluten intolerant guests, and reels of fully choreographed first dances.
It can be overwhelming AF and distract you from the task at hand. Worst still, it can lead to a constant state of Wedding FOMO.
That said, as a visual person I still relied heavily on Instagram and the internet to help get a feel for my look - there are obviously countless real weddings to take inspiration from, and I also researched celebrity weddings from the 1960s on Google because I wanted a vintage vibe.
Hot tip: Your Instagram Saved folders will be your saving grace. I started a folder for dresses, one for the event styling and one for beauty and hair to keep my references separate. You can also use Pinterest to pull together inspiration.
The wedding dress.
From day one, I knew I wouldn't go for a traditional bridal dress. Although I appreciate a great wedding gown, I could just never see myself wearing one.
So rather than making the standard appointments at bridal boutiques, my first stop was Sydney's Paddington shopping strip with my mum to check out some of my favourite Australian designers like Camilla and Marc, Aje and Zimmermann. The brief was simply "white dresses".
I came close to landing on a new season Zimmermann frock, but something was telling me to try the brand's outlet store a few suburbs over. And my instincts were right: there were several white lace dresses from previous collections and they were all gorgeous. I personally don't see a problem with finding your dress on sale, off the rack or at an op shop. If it feels right, wear it!
When I tried on this dress, I just knew. It was comfortable, beautiful and different. It was also half price. There were a few lovely ladies in the store who complimented me and one who demanded I buy it before she did, so that was a good sign.
Hot tip: If you're buying ready-to-wear or something pre-loved, head to a dressmaker to get it altered to perfection. I had the flouncy collar removed and made the fit tighter, but still roomy enough to feel totally relaxed.
The dress cost around $600 with alterations.
The second look.
It's becoming increasingly popular for brides to wear two or even three outfits to their wedding. This is not essential (seriously), but it's a nice chance to show off another side of your style, or change into something more sexy/fun you can dance in for the reception.
I knew I wanted a second outfit, and it was just my luck that one of my go-to brands, Dissh, had just released a modern and affordable bridal collection called 'The Aisle Edit'.
Our wedding was held on a rural property in our hometown on the NSW South Coast, and this linen set had the "chill but dressy" vibe I was going for. Because I bought them online, some nips and tucks were required.
The total cost was around $420 with alterations.
The shoes.
I always knew these Loeffler Randall mules would be my wedding shoes, and I honestly built the rest of the look around them. They're a popular choice for brides for a reason, thanks to their comfortable stacked heel and the material of the shoe which flexes to your foot. I didn't buy a second pair for later because I knew they were dancefloor-friendly.
These were a big purchase, coming in at around $500 with a small discount from The Iconic. Zero regrets. Still my favourite shoes ever.
The accessories.
My hairstyle on the day was a low, slicked-back bun, and I didn't opt for a veil, so I added a jewelled hair clip for some visual interest. Truthfully, if there’s anything I’d change now, it would be removing this clip because I’m so not a hair accessory person!
I searched high and low for the perfect statement earrings, and eventually found some chunky brass hoops at Billini for 25 bucks. Didn't expect to find my wedding jewellery at a shoe store, but there you go. I also wore a tiny diamond teadrop pendant from Saint Valentine.
As for my bag, I had precisely no vision for this and questioned whether I would need one on the day. I stumbled across a beaded box bag at a Salvos store and instantly knew it was a Lucy Folk style I'd always coveted. The strap was missing, so I carried it as a clutch - but it sat in a room for most of the night. It cost $15.
Final thoughts.
Ultimately, we wanted a celebration that felt like us, and I knew I wanted my outfit to feel like me.
The biggest lesson I learnt is that you can achieve an aesthetic you love without driving yourself crazy or broke in the process.
Tam xx
Note: I first shared these thoughts with Mamamia in May 2022.
Love this read. You write so beautifully and with such sentiment but practicality. Love it Tam!