Real Bride...Naomi

Naomi and Dave met on a Sunday afternoon at a gig at the Old Bar in Johnston Street, Fitzroy. Dave was playing in the band and a mutual friend introduced them. Four and a half years later Dave proposed to Naomi in Prague, on the shores of the river Vltava - “He then took me to dinner at the Four Seasons- best dinner of our lives! There was a lot of planning required to propose where he did- and he was acting up, so I was on to him!”

On the 15^th October 2011, Naomi and Dave were married at St John’s Uniting Church, Elsternwick, which is where her parents and grandparents exchanged vows too!

The inspiration was drawn from their own interests – “Dave is a musician, I am a graphic designer. We wanted everything to be low-key yet classy and full of love and laughs, good food and music.”  Judging from their photos, which were taken by Louisa Bailey (who has captured the day and the mood immaculately!!!), I think they could not have made it better!

In regards to the dress, Naomi says she was looking for “something different, but unmistakably bridal. I love art deco, and the old Hollywood era fashions that were so feminine, simple and elegant. I searched online and came upon the image of the KWH Ava gown as featured at a Blvgari event and knew I wanted to AT LEAST try it on. It was the only dress that came close, I wasn’t really interested in anything else”

We wish Naomi and Dave the best wishes for their future together and thank you for sharing their day with us. It was an absolute pleasure making Naomi's gown!

Karen xx

Paige...

This is the fabulous ‘Paige’ gown from the our Ready to Wear collection.

‘Paige’ features a glamorous sequined bodice with an organza and tulle circle skirt, finished with a velvet ribbon tie belt. 

Here are some beautiful shots of the Paige gown taken by White Heights Media. 

Karen xx

Introducing...Lyndel

The elegant Lyndel gown is the new addition to our Ready to Wear collection. Lyndel has a flattering V-neck with a fitted fishtail bodice allowing for that perfect statuesque look.

The bodice is detailed with meticulous pleating- all done by hand, adding the right amount of attention while finishing the gown off with a beautiful circle skirt.

Karen xx

Real Bride...

Stephanie and Declan

We'd love to share beautiful bride Stephanie's wedding day photo with you. Steph and Declan got married on the 24th of September 2011.

Although it was rainy, it didnt stop Stephanie and Declan from having a great day! Besides, rain on your wedding day is considered to be good luck!

Stephanie looked gorgeous, she wore the ‘Victoria’ gown from the Karen Willis Holmes Ready to Wear collection. ‘Victoria’ is a full lace gown with a fitted bodice and a soft skirt that flows into a train, finished off with a velvet ribbon and  crystal drops.

The reception looked elegant and beautiful and even had a candy buffet (YUM!)

Congratulations Stephanie and Declan. We wish you a long and happy marriage.

Karen xx

Celebrity Wedding...

Lauren Bush exchanged vows with David Lauren over Labour Day weekend in a 200-year-old barn on the designer's sprawling 17,000-acre Colorado ranch in front of 200 guests.

Lauren, niece of former President George W. Bush and granddaughter of former President George H.W. Bush, married David Lauren, the youngest son of fashion legend Ralph Lauren in a wedding that felt western inspired and tranquil, without compromising with the glamour of a celebrity wedding.

The dress? Well, it doesn’t get any easier if your father in law to be is the masterful Ralph Lauren. The end result took 100 craftsmen more than 3,000 hours to create. The top layer of the gown, made of antique ivory tulle, was hand-embroidered with flowers and Renaissance-era scroll designs in silk and metallic thread. Swarovski Elements crystals and off-white pearl beads finished off the look.

Apart from the stunning dress, we love David's proposal story:

David suggested they meet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art to look at some new pictures before attending a holiday dinner nearby. Because they met at the Costume Institute gala in 2004 and have celebrated that anniversary by attending every Met gala since, the museum is one of the couple’s favourite sentimental places. When Lauren arrived at the place where they had agreed to meet, no one was there except David. The artwork he wanted her to see was not the museum’s latest Old Masters acquisition but photographs of the couple that spanned their seven happy years together, blown up and displayed around the room. “I created our own exhibition of our life together,” David says. “And I got down on my knee and proposed. Then we went outside and took a carriage ride with a clarinetist and a saxophonist following us.”

Source: Vogue 

Karen xx

Introducing…Sasha gown

Here is our sophisticated Sasha gown. The cut and the nuances in the detail is what makes this gown so elegant. It is cut in a silk crepe satin with a paneled bias skirt – making it fit luxuriously over the body. The cap sleeve and the diamante shoulder detail adds just the right amount of charm to the wedding dress. We can feel this gown being a favourite in the Ready to Wear collection already!

Karen xx

As Seen In...

Cosmopolitan Bride

Here at Karen Willis Holmes, we are excited to see our fabulous gowns in the summer 2012 edition of Cosmopolitan Bride!

Summer 2012 Issue

This issue is jam packed with great tips and tricks to make your wedding day absolutely perfect. A section on how to find the most beautiful wedding gown to suit your body type features the stunning 'Paige' with an overlay skirt from our ready to wear collection.

'Paige' with an overlay skirt from KWH RTW

Wedding dresses ranging from long to short to celebrity lookalikes are also featured in this edition as well as a great variety of headpieces, shoes, stationery and bombonierres. All this so you can find the best style and accessories to compliment the overall theme of your wedding. 

Celebrity Inspiration

'Katherine' from KWH RTW

'Avery' from KWH RTW

'Dakota' from KWH RTW

Fancy a wedding in a tropical and exotic location? This edition has loads of information on destination weddings including real brides’ stories to get you inspired. There is also your very own wedding planner, checklist and budget planner to ensure you stay sane whilst planning your special day.

Happy reading!!

Karen xx

Made in Australia

The ripple effect of a customer purchasing an Australian made product is phenomenal. Not only are you buying a superior quality product and trusting a reliable service, it supports your local industry which supports our economy.

We are very proud to say that our gowns are designed and made in Australia. We don’t produce our gowns in an offshore factory where materials are cheap and work conditions may be questionable, Karen Willis Holmes RTW and couture dresses are made with love at our studio in Sydney. 

We also make our gowns for each individual bride as oppose to having them mass produced, this allows us to make certain alterations to a wedding dress, making them unique and fitting just perfectly!

Our real bride in KWH couture

Karen xx

Introducing...Jacqueline

We would like to welcome a new Ready to Wear gown to our collection. Jacqueline - the vintage inspired strapless gown with a glamorous full skirt, pleated bodice and a stunning oval diamante waist detail is definitely one that makes a statement!

Karen xx

Real Bride...

Titima & Franco

It was all fate and destiny for Titima and Franco, who met by chance and have been together since November 2009 with a ‘cocktail style wedding’ on 5^th June 2011, a date they believed to be lucky.

The wedding venue was at the Bridges restaurant in Hurstbridge, Victoria which funnily enough, Titima and Franco found by chance ‘while on the way to another reception centre.’ The reception had a ‘party type atmosphere’ and a ‘hot pink’ theme.

Titima wore the ‘Dakota’ gown from the Karen Willis Holmes ready to wear collection in Melbourne and loved ‘the style of the gown’s sleeve and lace,’ it is ‘very elegant and beautiful.’  She also rocked amazing heels from Alanpinkus. Titima looked absolutely stunning!

Titima and Franco’s special day was captured by Dansk Photography, the photographer’s style is what captured their attention. The MC for the wedding was DJ James, who also provided the music. The cake was by Greensborough – looks delicious! Both DJ James and Greensborough were highly recommended by the staff at Bridges.

Congratulations and best wishes to Titima and Franco!

Karen xx

credits: Dansk Photography