It can not be argued that Love will prevail. Sometimes even amidst a pandemic, family emergencies and the toughest odds, the stars will still align to celebrate love.
Despite living 4 and a half hours away from each other, Brad and Renee’s romance blossomed quickly and after three attempts to propose, the wedding was finally celebrated with closest friends and family in a country wedding last Summer, between pandemic lookdowns and at a moments notice due to the unfortunate bad news that Renee’s Father’s cancer diagnosis took a turn for the worse.
“On January 1 we were delivered the devastating news that Dad’s cancer was stage 4 and untreatable. We knew we had to bring it forward so he was well enough to enjoy the day with us all and walk me down the aisle”.
The rush was then on to plan, book and purchase everything needed for this special celebration of love. It was at this time that our Peter Trends head office in Sydney received a call from Bron, our long time retail partner from Bendigo Bridal Collections, asking if we could do the unthinkable and provide wedding gown for a very special bride. Renee was in the Bendigo studio and she had fallen in love with Pasadena, a brand new design from our 2021 Emanuella collection. Without hesitation, creative director Monique, confirmed that our head office would manage things so that Renee could have her dream wedding dress to wear on her very special day.
On a perfect Summer’s day in February the wedding took place under an old gum tree on the Ravenswood Homestead in country Victoria. The guests enjoyed canapes by the fountain before heading to the homestead’s stables for a formal sit down dinner and black tie reception.
We asked Renee a few questions about this special day that went ahead against all the odds. What was your favourite part of your wedding day?
Having everyone seated in the room, the joy and energy was beautiful.
How did you find the experience of shopping for a wedding gown?
Bron from Bendigo Bridal was incredible. We were on such a tight time frame due to arranging our wedding in 6 weeks which was 12 months early due to my fathers terminal diagnosis. Bron gave me confidence that she would do whatever needed to get me in a gown, my Pasadena was the fourth gown I tried and I knew it was the one when I saw it hanging on the rack. It fitted me perfectly and with minor adjustment to length and adding in a bespoke tulle sleeve it became everything I dreamed of I just wish I got to wear it longer (the day goes soooo quick!)
What I loved about my wedding gown…
I loved the big formal over skirt and train, how comfortable I felt and having the reception wedding dress option as a surprise for my husband after the ceremony. The tulle sleeve was a point of difference too.
Do you have any words of wisdom for future brides?
It all goes by so fast, saviour every moment
Is there anything special you would like to share with us about your wedding day?
Very grateful that our wedding day all went ahead during covid and the circuit breaker lockdown that occurred the week of our wedding, and especially having my father well enough to enjoy the day and walk me down the aisle. We lost him 2.5 months later so our day means so much more to us now than ever.
Gown Pasadena from Emanuella Collection by Peter Trends Bridal
Store @bendigobridalcollections
Ceremony Location @Ravenswoodhomestead
Photographer @allicampbell
Flowers @Libertineflorist
Rolls Royce @alwaysclassiccars
Celebrant @KerriejGrossman
Wedding cake @cakesforoccasionsbendigo
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