Real Weddings

Chandre’s Bias Cut Silk Wedding Dress

Posted by on Sep 3, 2020 in Real Weddings | No Comments
Chandre’s Bias Cut Silk Wedding Dress

Chandre spotted one of our designs at a bridal fair quite some time before her wedding, she knew she had to come and see us for her wedding dress. She wanted something different and had even contemplated a dark wedding dress before coming across our ‘Lorilee’ bias cut silk wedding dress. We changed the colour of the design to create something truly unique, Chandre opted for a mushroom coloured heavy silk satin, the end result was breathtaking!

You may be wondering what ‘bias cut’ means, well, it refers to the cut and drape of the fabric, silk is the best kind of fabric for this style. Bias cut dresses were first created in the 1920s. They were not ‘fitted’ garments as such but they still allowed the design to hug your figure in a flattering manner. When we cut a ‘bias cut’ silk wedding dress, we cut the pattern pieces on a 45 degree angle as opposed to straight or in-line with the selvedge. A ‘bias cut’ silk wedding dress often looks ‘simple’ but in actual fact, it’s an art form and much more difficult than you’d think!

We also created a small headpiece to suit Chandre’s short hair do and compliment the dramatic beading on her gown.

Chandre and Cuan travelled to South Africa for an intimate wedding with their nearest and dearest. Cuan was blown away by his stunning bride as she walked down the aisle. The photos of the couple are just gorgeous, I especially like the photos of Chandre and her Dads! They are beaming with pride.

Images by Kobus Tollig

Hannah’s Coloured Wedding Dress

Posted by on Jun 11, 2020 in Real Weddings | No Comments
Hannah’s Coloured Wedding Dress

Oh I love a country wedding and I love it even more when a bride opts for a coloured wedding dress!! Hannah and Jona wed at her parents property in Mt Barker. It ended up being a rainy day, not uncommon down south in October but these two lovebirds didn’t let the rain stop them from having a magical wedding day!

We worked with Hannah to create a coloured wedding dress with a fitted strapless bodice and an a-line skirt made from mushroom silk dupion. The soft colour was the perfect match for the ivory lace sleeves and full silk chiffon skirt overlay, and ultimately, the colour combination suited the natural environment of Hannah’s outdoor wedding.

We also remodelled Hannah’s mother’s veil to be a long single tier veil. The embroidery on the edge was just gorgeous. It was the perfect accessory to her coloured wedding dress!

Images by Ben & Ebony

Ellen’s Handmade Wedding Dress with Sleeves

Posted by on May 7, 2020 in Real Weddings | No Comments
Ellen’s Handmade Wedding Dress with Sleeves

Ellen visited a few traditional bridal stores before going down the handmade wedding dress path. She was looking for an elegant, very soft lace wedding dress with a full skirt and long lace sleeves. The gowns she looked at ‘off-the-rack’ had lots of extras that to be removed or adjusted to get the look she was after. After a chat in our studio, we sketched up a design that was ideal for Ellen’s Perth Hills wedding.

We provided Ellen with a couple of lace options that suited the design she was after, she opted for a very fine, soft chantilly lace. The lace provided the sweetest detail around the cuff of her sleeves and the hem of the skirt.

Ellen and Aleks wed at their church in Parkerville before photos in the national park and their reception at Core Cider House.

Testimonial //

My gosh my handmade wedding dress!! Was a total dream to wear on the day and I could not be happier 🙂

Thank you both for being amazing and being so caring, having an eye for detail and not being like any other pushy bridal store! Best decision I ever made and worth every cent!! ~ Ellen.

Photos by Amelia Claire Photography

Zara’s Bali Wedding Dress

Posted by on Nov 7, 2019 in Real Weddings, Testimonial | No Comments
Zara’s Bali Wedding Dress

It’s such an honour when a dear friend asks me to make their wedding dress and Zara was no exception. We had a lot of fun at each fitting, with her Mum always in tow, it was a really special time. Zara knew she want a fitted design that would suit the Bali climate. We came up with a fitted v-neck bodice with an illusion lace back and a fitted silk skirt with a soft lace overlay. To allow for the humidity and inevitably ‘sticky’ weather, Zara’s Bali wedding dress was made from pure silk and also lined in silk, I bet it felt like wearing a nighty – so light and dreamy!

Zara and Matt exchanged vows at the Uluwatu Surf Villas surrounded by their nearest and dearest. The views are simply spectacular!! Their lucky guests enjoyed the location for a few days, what a way to get married.

Testimonial //

“I have been following Elvi Design since their inception so as soon as i got engaged i knew exactly where i was going! Having now gone through the process with Elvi i can fully appreciate what a fine art they have mastered. Sandra and Birgitta are incredibly talented and they have such an eye for detail. They listened to me and made me feel special every step of the way. Sandra and Birgitta made me more than just a dress, they gave me the priceless gift of feeling like the best version of myself on my wedding day.

Thank you Sandra & Birgitta for making all of my wedding dress dreams come true!”

Photos by Apel Photography

Steph’s Tulle Tea Length Wedding Dress

Posted by on Oct 3, 2019 in Real Weddings, Testimonial | No Comments
Steph’s Tulle Tea Length Wedding Dress

Steph had lusted after tulle from a very young age so there was no surprise that she wanted a tulle wedding dress and not just a little bit of tulle, A LOT of tulle!! Of course, this was fine by me! A tea length wedding dress with a tulle skirt is the epitome of FUN.

Steph & Dan opted for a small, intimate wedding at Guildford Town Hall followed by dinner at Padbury’s.

Testimonial //

“I just wanted to say a huge thank you to you both for my amazing wedding dress. Dan said he was “gob-smacked” when he saw me walking down the aisle (obviously the reaction you want!). I was able to move and to be energetic the whole day comfortably. Everyone loved the short veil. I left it on the whole night- who wouldn’t when it was that cute?


It was the perfect dress for our “throwback to the tradition of getting married at the town hall” kind of themed small wedding. I am so glad I didn’t choose a fitted, full length, full lace style of dress that I had tried off-the-rack, and which seems to be everywhere at the moment. My heart was set on a whole lot of tulle from the beginning!! Guilford Town Hall where we got married was also where I first learnt ballet as a 5 year old, so the full tulle skirt was meant to be, I think.”

Photos by Aimee Dehaan

Steph’s Lace and Silk Wedding Dress with Detachable Train

Posted by on Aug 15, 2019 in Real Weddings, Testimonial | No Comments
Steph’s Lace and Silk Wedding Dress with Detachable Train

Steph, like most brides I meet with, had a rough idea of what she was after and was unable to find her dream lace and silk wedding dress in a traditional bridal shop so had started the unknown process of meeting with a bridal designer. I always ask brides where they are getting married to get a feel for their wedding. Steph and Ben were planning a wedding with a large guest list, their ceremony was set to be held at the Quarry with a reception at a hotel in the city. Both venues were BIG! Steph is petite and was hoping for an understated bridal gown which reflected her relaxed, easy going nature. After discussing her ideas, we came up with the idea of one dress and a couple of accessories to compliment the venues and provide a bit of ‘wow’!

We designed a lace and silk wedding dress with a detachable train. The fitted bodice had a boat neckline at the front and a low scoop at the back, finished with some delicate lace cap sleeves. The a-line skirt (made from silk) had an overlay of silk georgette. This skirt was floor length, so to create a bigger presence for the ceremony, we created a gathered silk overlay with a dramatic train. This could easily be removed for the reception so Steph could move around freely and change to flat shoes. When Steph removed the overlay at the reception, we made a sparkly beaded belt to pop on and add a little bit of sparkle to her reception outfit. The end result was very Steph – relaxed, romantic and a little bit of fun!

Images Izo Photography

Testimonial

After visiting three bridal stores, I had fairly set ideas on certain things that I wanted for my wedding dress. A couple of my friends had their dresses made by Elvi Design and I really liked the designs available on their website, so made an appointment to see them. Sandra was so enthusiastic and helpful, sketching out a design from my vague descriptions. I was fairly nervous about having a dress made since I have no knowledge about dress making or fabrics but the process with them was easy, relaxed and lots of fun. These two ladies are amazing and guided me through the whole process; no knowledge is required, put your dress in their hands!
It was exciting to see the progress made on my dress each visit and my best woman/maid of honour and I had the opportunity to explore new brunch options up in the hills. I particularly loved my detachable train and I would recommend it to any bride! The ground was wet and muddy from the rain on our wedding day, so it was great to be able to whip off that dirty train before our reception. Plus no one had to worry about remembering how to bustle up the train (or trim it…). What was extra special was my custom veil which was edged with the same lace as my dress.
I couldn’t be happier with how everything turned out. Thank you both so much!

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Courtney’s Short Wedding Dress Perth

Posted by on Jun 19, 2019 in Real Weddings, Testimonial | No Comments
Courtney’s Short Wedding Dress Perth

One of the very best things about my job is being able to cater for brides that would not be able to find their dream dress off the rack. Courtney was not a ‘dress’ kinda girl and definitely not a corseted wedding dress kinda girl. She wanted to wear a dress that she felt comfortable in, it had to fit her nicely without being fitted (or with too much boning!!). I get this, it’s not every day that we wear a boned bodice and if you don’t want that on your wedding day, that’s fine by me! We designed a lovely short wedding dress with Courtney from luscious lace and super soft silk. Seeing these photos of Courtney just make us beam, she looks so happy and comfortable in her short wedding dress.

Photographer: Clements & The Fox 

Testimonial //

“Our wedding day was everything we hoped for and more, and part of that was made possible by the gorgeous and, more importantly, comfortable custom short wedding dress crafted by the amazing ladies of Elvi Design. From the first sketch to the final silk and lace garment, everything about the dressmaking process was incredible. Sandra and Birgitta were patient with me, someone who is typically most comfortable in a tee shirt and jeans, and made everything easy and reassuring. Everything about our special day, from the sunflowers and yellow Converse shoes to the Perth Zoo venue and female Best Man, was uniquely “us”. All our family and friends commented on how much the wedding dress suited me and I couldn’t have asked for a better compliment. It was a dress I could feel elegant and feminine in, while also allowing me to twirl and dance and enjoy the zoo carousel. I highly recommend to every bride searching for the perfect dress, particularly those hoping for something they can play and have fun in, to consider a bespoke dress from Elvi Design. – Courtney Joy and Rhys Pascoe”

Clements and the Fox

Clements and the Fox

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Clements and the Fox

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Clements and the Fox

Clements and the Fox

Clements and the Fox

Clements and the Fox

Clements and the Fox

Cat’s Vintage Wedding Dress Alterations Perth

Posted by on Apr 11, 2019 in Real Weddings, Testimonial | No Comments
Cat’s Vintage Wedding Dress Alterations Perth

There is so much to love about Cat and James’s wedding, every single detail was well thought out. So I’m not surprised that Cat and her mum put a lot of thought into Cat’s wedding ensemble and were very keen to re-purpose Cat’s Mum’s wedding dress. To do this, they needed to find an expert in vintage wedding dress alterations, they stumbled across us on their hunt and we are so very glad they did!

Cat brought along her Mum and the vintage wedding dress to our design consultation where we sat down and had a chat about what she had in mind. Cat was chasing a two piece outfit. Cat is petite so it was really important to her that she had a fitted skirt that fitted her really well and showed off her curves. We then worked together to incorporate the lace bodice from her mum’s wedding dress into a top with mesh sleeves that was super fun and playful (this idea reflects Cat personality perfectly!!).

Cat and James wed at the Flour Factory in Perth. Their absolutely beautiful wedding was jam-packed with talented local vendors and as a result, featured on the Junebug weddings blog. Click here to take a looksie.

Testimonial

“Mum & I knew after one meeting with Sandra & Brigitta that we wanted them to design my wedding dress. After only a few minutes Sandra had sketched on paper the design that was in our heads. Using Mum’s wedding dress that Nanna made for her 30 years ago they created a 2-piece top & skirt that made me feel absolutely amazing while also re-purposing a piece of my family’s history. They made the whole experience incredibly special for mum & I, we often think back on it and share a moment!” – Catherine, March 2018

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Cat & James got ready together!

Our morning was so relaxed & lovely – we had friends & family popping in all day. Seeing each other in our finery & helping each other with finishing touches was really sweet.

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The Ceremony

Our ceremony was hilarious! Kirk (Goodsell) was a brilliant celebrant. He told our love story in the best way!

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The Party

The night ended in dancing with our loves to our favourite tunes and a midnight stroll through our beautiful city as married Laings!!

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Dream Team

Photography – iZO Photography // Event Planning – Marielle Studio // Venue – The Flour Factory // Floral Design – Lily & Leather // Catering – The Flour Factory // Cake – The Milk and Sugar Co // Officiant – Kirk Goodsell // DJ – HeroDJs // Makeup Artist – Cat Elizabeth Artistry // Hair Styling – Zoe Mitchell // Wedding Dress – Elvi Design // Bridal Accessories – Bell Frankie & Co // Bridesmaids’ Apparel – Coco & Lola // Groom and Groomsmen’s Apparel – MacGregor & MacDuff // Rings – Linneys // Rentals – Hire SocietyPretty Willow Prop HirePompette Events, and Beautiful By Design Event Hire // Lighting – Micktric Events

Sarah’s Minimal Silk Wedding Dress Perth

Posted by on Feb 28, 2019 in Real Weddings | No Comments
Sarah’s Minimal Silk Wedding Dress Perth

We are passionate about fabric and we pride ourselves in using the best quality fabric we can find. When Sarah visited our studio chasing a minimal design that allowed the beautiful fabric we use to shine, we were so excited!! Sarah’s silk wedding dress started with just an idea of a simple gown that would suit both their beach ceremony and Eagle Bay Brewing reception. We worked with Sarah to design a wedding gown that ticked all the boxes – comfortable, flattering and timeless.

We used a luscious heavy silk crepe for Sarah’s minimal silk wedding dress and also lined the gown in a lightweight silk. This ensured the gown was breathable and comfy on what could be a potentially warm day (hello February!!). The design was finished with a train that could be bustled easily, a thin silk waistband and handmade buttons down the back.

We also made an elegant single tier veil to compliment Sarah’s minimal silk wedding dress. Sarah finished her look with a pair of killer Gucci heels!!

Sarah and Bj were married at Meelup Beach before heading to Eagle Bay Brewing Co for their relaxed reception, one of the best venues in the south, I reckon!

Images by Freedom Garvey

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Emma’s Vintage Lace Wedding Dress

Posted by on Jan 24, 2019 in Real Weddings | No Comments
Emma’s Vintage Lace Wedding Dress

The lovely Emma rocked up at our studio with her Mum’s wedding dress, she had tried it on and thought maybe, just maybe she could recreate it to be her own vintage lace wedding dress. I say ‘maybe’ because it did have some serious 80’s styling going on. I encouraged her to try it on for me so I could get an idea of how it looked. To my surprise (and hers!) the lace bodice fit her like a glove, it was meant to be!

Emma tried on a couple of our designs and fell in love with our ‘Anna’ design, an ankle length wedding dress with an organza full circle skirt and POCKETS!! We decided to use the ‘Anna’ dress as the base for Emma’s gown and use her Mum’s lace bodice to create the lace element and long sleeves. It was the perfect combination and created a lovely vintage lace wedding dress.

Emma was recommended to us by another Elvi bride which is the biggest compliment you can receive as a small business owner.

Emma and Ave married at Houghton Winery in the Swan Valley on a warm Summer’s day. Their special day was captured by Steve Wise.

Testimonial

I never would have imagined, after trying on my mums dress as a child that I would ever wear it myself ! Sandra and Birgitta were able to use the best parts of mums dress and create something I truly adored. It was so nice to repurpose something that has so much meaning to my mum and now does to me. 

The entire process was such a dream, I felt like I was visiting old friends whenever I drove up the hill. I was so happy with the final product, I cannot recommend Elvi design enough. 

*The pockets were especially wonderful and deserve a special mention (Thanks Birgitta!!) – Emma, February 2018

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