For the latest instalment of the Portrait Series, we delve deeply into the elegant nuptials of Holly and Shaun Lyle. Celebrating the launch of Bianca Spender’s inaugural Bridal and Bridesmaid collection, Bianca created a bespoke bridesmaids design, inspired by the classicism of the ’50s.
Congratulations on your recent nuptials, Holly! Thank you for letting us be a part of your special day! Can you talk us through why you were drawn to working with Bianca Spender to create your custom Bridesmaids dresses?
“Firstly, thank you so much – it was such a privilege to have Bianca Spender a part of my big day. I was instantly drawn to the classic yet so chic Bianca Spender design that we all know and love. I knew that anything Bianca created for my day would align so perfectly with my style and compliment the ‘1950’s Elegance’ brief.”
What was the process like collaborating with Bianca to bring the pieces to life?
“Bianca was a dream to work with! She is honestly the most beautiful person inside and out, so of course we worked through the process with ease – although we did put her to work when it came time for the custom fit process. Having a bridesmaid that was heavily pregnant during the fitting did provide its challenges, but Bianca navigated it with so much grace – it truly showed how supreme she is in her field. She had to do a lot of estimating and the fact that in the end, my bridesmaid’s dress fit her like a glove, shows how incredible she is at what she does.”
Did you see the Bridesmaid's dresses as an extension of your own dress design?
“Completely – I wanted the dresses to tell a beautiful story and complement each other when captured in imagery. Given my dress was quite voluminous and strapless, I knew that a timeless bridesmaid dress design that had a higher neckline and a cut that fell to the floor was exactly what I was after for my ladies.”
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Take a keep cup and if you’ve forgotten it asks for no lid. Carry your dinner groceries home instead of taking yet another reusable bag, rinse and recycle properly. If everyone made one small change, it makes a huge impact.”
Did you have a vision for the Bridesmaid's dresses that fit with the overarching feel of the wedding?
“Given the 1950s elegance theme, I envisaged a design that was inspired by the past while still timeless in its appearance. The addition of a cowl neckline provided an elegant touch to my custom bridesmaid’s dress design, while a cutout diamond back added a little sexiness.”
How did your Bridesmaids feel on the day wearing the pieces?
“My aim when collaboratively working with Bianca was to ensure that all my special ladies not only felt incredible in their bridesmaid’s dress but also comfortable. With this being said, we ensured that the material was very wearable and didn’t crease throughout the day, and the design allowed them to move around with ease. They all felt incredible, and it showed in the beautiful, radiant imagery captured of them throughout the day.”
You are the first bride to collaborate with Bianca Spender on a Bridal creation. How did this feel?
“Flattered - there is no other way to put it. I feel so incredibly special that I was able to have this opportunity to collaborate with Bianca Spender. The moment is not lost on me. To have the opportunity to design a bridesmaid dress for my beautiful ladies exactly as I envisaged it and getting their input in the process to ensure it was something they absolutely loved, was pretty special - definitely not something that many brides get the chance to do in their lifetime.”
What did you most love about the final piece?
“Everything about the design gave me goosebumps but if I had to say one thing, it would have to be the fit – my ladies had the most perfectly fitted dresses that moulded to their bodies so beautifully. They were elegant, so classic and everything I envisaged and more when beginning the custom process with Bianca.”
Can you recall a treasured memory from your wedding day with your bridesmaids?
“Walking down the stairs en route to the aisle, with my ladies holding my dress, veil, and bouquet. We giggled, we shed a few tears and we all took in the moment with a few little nerves kicking in. Butterflies hit us at that moment, not only because we were all about to walk down the aisle on such a special day, but because we all felt so happy and beautiful in our dresses.”
Discover our Ready-to-wear Bridesmaid dresses below. To try our Bridal or Bridesmaid collection, visit us in our Bianca Spender Boutiques, or register your interest in styles by contacting bridal@biancaspender.com