(03) 97032198

The Designer: Leah Ann

February 7, 2018 / no comments

Let’s dig a little deeper into the story behind these gorgeous gowns. Leah Ann has been a Melbourne-based designer for over 15 years, retailing affordable designer and plus size wedding dresses with the perfect accessories to match! She’s definitely come a long way to achieve what Leah S Designs is today since her humble beginnings, working in a barn from a very young age. Background

Leah started off making debutante dresses for her neighbours and friends, but one thing led to another, and now she’s helping to dress women from all over the world. Running a bridal business was never part of the plan at 19 years old, but sewing was always in her blood.

Thanks mum! those craft days were worth while.

My mum, Lyn Sukroo, used to have her own gallery with silk products and has been involved in plus size fashion for over 30 years. As such, Leah spent several years doing piece work for her family’s business and found that sewing came naturally to her. Lyn has since dedicated her time to her daughter’s brand to help her expand by creating the Plus Size Perfection Collection. The Plus Size Perfection Collection, designed for sizes above 16, boasts both international and national recognition and is constantly growing. (TEN new dresses are added each season!)

Wedding Dress fabric

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The Frugal Bride: Top Tips On Scoring The Wedding Dress Of Your Dreams

May 27, 2021 / no comments

Leah

How to have money left over from your wedding budget

When the love of your life finally gets down on his knee, all you can think of is the picturesque venue, the moment you walk down the aisle, and your gorgeous dress. But then, reality sort of brings you back to earth. Will it cost you an arm and a leg to get that beautiful gown of your dreams? Not if the frugal bride thinks outside the box. These are our top tips on scoring the wedding dress of your dreams.

As one of the premier bridal shops in Melbourne, Leah S Designs takes style to the next level without breaking your budget with our classy collection of dream wedding gowns. Being on a budget doesn’t mean you’re a cheapskate. You can still look stunning without spending too much. Here are a few helpful tips to help you pick out the right dress at the right price.

wedding dress alterations

Write down How Much You’re Willing to Spend on the wedding dress of your dreams.

Getting married is exciting. Budgeting is not. However, it’s a necessity and the sooner you’re done with it, the closer you get to the fun part.

When it comes to figuring out how much you’re going to pay for your dress, coming up with an amount is never easy. You would have to take into consideration the cost of the venue, caterers and accessories like your bouquet and  jewellery. Everything should be listed to avoid overspending.

You can also make a compromise if you think wearing a more expensive dress will seal the deal (e.g., opting for DIY invitations or planning everything by yourself instead of hiring a wedding planner). Yes, you can save money without sacrificing style. You just have to know how much you’re willing to spend and also, where to look.

Check Online Stores

Fact is, shopping for your bridal gown will take up a lot of your time. Hopping from one bridal shop to another is not only time consuming, it’s also an expensive venture. Think of gas prices and eating out. One or two meals might be minimal. Money spent on a litre of gas may not be much, but gown shopping does not happen in one or two days. For brides who want to look their best, one week is not enough!

A Melbourne bridal icon

Fortunately for you, we’re now living in a technologically-driven world and you get to browse for different frocks even in your pyjamas. At our online shop, we make sure to keep you updated with the latest designs, from timeless garments to more daring, trendy dresses.

Be Wary of Websites Offering Unrealistic Promises

We all know how tricky it is to shop online. It’s a MUST to do your research first before whipping out your credit card and typing your well-guarded information. A number of not-so-safe websites are preying on unsuspecting brides who are looking for a great deal. Remember the golden rule in online shopping, “If it’s too good to be true, DON’T BUY!”

Because building our reputation is important, we make sure that:

  • We don’t overpromise on delivery schedules.
  • We have a physical shop. Come visit us and check our fabulous showroom!
  • Every bride we assist appreciates our unrivaled customer support. Talk to us about your wedding dress dreams, alterations that will make it more flawless or ask our talented designers to pick a design that will flatter your figure.

Don’t Fret Over Little Things

It’s a given that every bride’s instinct to be more detail-oriented turns up several notches as the special day draws near. The tendency to make sure everything’s fine and dandy is understandable. But it can be nerve-wracking, especially if you’re overthinking. For example, you might have chosen a dream design that’s a tad too long for your frame and you’re agonising over a simple problem. Our shop offers alteration services. We literally take care of the little things you don’t need to worry about!

In conclusion, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to save a few dollars on your gown. Here at Leah S Designs, we give you a variety of options in style and prices. We also offer an impressive selection of debutante dresses for Melbourne women who are looking for fabulous ball gowns, minus the hefty price.

For other budget setting ideas check out our other blog posts on how to keep it simple and save money and how to set a budget for your wedding

 

10 Things You Need To Ask Before Going For Wedding Dress Shopping

May 24, 2021 / no comments

Leah

You have visualised it in your head, devoured the bridal magazines and collected screenshots of your dream dress from Pinterest. Now it is time to hit the stores! Finding the dress for your wedding day can be an overwhelming task. So to make sure you do not miss anything we are here to arm you with our list of questions and tips.

1.    Do I need to make an appointment?

Every bridal shop works differently and that’s why a quick call to ask for an appointment can save you a lot of time later. At Leah S Designs, yes you will need to make an appointment especially on the weekends. Either book on our home page, by email or by giving us a call. You can set all your appointments on the same weekend, so it will be easier to have your pick with all the designs fresh in your mind.

2.    Who do I bring with me?

Check with the bridal salon about how many people they allow and get there with your bride tribe. Make sure your friends understand you, what you are looking for, and are supportive of your choice. It’s easy for your day to go pear shape when you invite to many people with you all wanting you to try on what they like and needing more attention from you, when the day is about you!

3.    Do you have something that will match my style?

When you visit us, we get you to fill out an information form so we can help you better. Choosing from the styles you like and your price point. Sometimes, a consultant can retrieve a gem of a piece that might be perfect for you. After all, they are the ones who know the best about the gowns in their shop. You can ask them for some recommendations as it will only make your job easier.

wedding dress alterations
4.    Does the store offer customizations? (And its ok to ask how much.)

You will always need some kind of alteration for your dress and not every bridal house has an option of on-site alterations. By the way, yes we offer alterations. If you want a touch of exclusivity and tweak some details of the wedding gown, it is important to ask your stylist this question. Take it a bit further and once you find your dream dress, ask how much it will cost be to shortened, and if any other alterations are needed.

5.    Does the store charge extra for alterations?

Alteration charges are one of the costs of bridal stores you may not think about, so it is important to ask about it and get that out of the way in advance.

6.    How long does it take to order a wedding dress?

Some bridal stores can take months to prepare your dress and this is why many women start the hunt 8 to 9 months ahead of the wedding. We offer a 12 week delivery and then allow 5 weeks before the wedding date for fittings and alterations.

   7. How much is the deposit and what is the cancellation policy?

A wedding dress is a big purchase so the deposit is 30% with a 12 to 16 week laybuy. We also go over the terms to be agreed by both of us with a contract. So be mindful of contingencies like postponement or cancellations and ask about the policies and deposit.

8.    Do not be afraid to say what your budget is, and ask to stay within it.

You must have set a number for the gown, so let the stylist know about it. This will also help in narrowing down your options later. Then its up to you if you want to explore more expensive options.

9.    Remember to ask if you can take pictures

Not every store is ok with photos, we are actually one of those store and prefer it if you don’t take photos until you have purchased a dress. If you would like to know all the reasons why we do this read here.

 

Trying different dresses can create confusion and we understand that you may want to take photo’s

We hope this can make things a little easier for you. Now get, set, shopping!

Forget White, It’s All About Colour

March 15, 2021 / no comments
Leah S Designs is now designing wedding dresses in black, blush pink, latte, and champagne. Leah loves coloured dresses now, after 14 years of making dresses in white and ivory. We spoke with her to uncover more about the gorgeous coloured wedding dresses currently available on her website.

Leah started incorporating colour in the gowns about six years ago, creating an all purple dress. Now, her coloured range has expanded to over ten different styles! If you would like to give your wedding a unique touch, go with a dash of color in your outfit. Leah believes that champagne with ivory gives off an especially couture look and feel.

Latte wedding dresses Katherine in Melbourne

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Meet the Bridal Dream Team

October 7, 2020 / no comments

Wedding dress dream team bridal stylists

Hi and welcome to my latest blog post, it’s where you get to meet the wedding dress dream team at Leah S Designs. From myself the designer, to the stylists, to the girls of Ginger Pins alterations. Learn about what each of us does in store everyday. We are not too serious here, so I won’t leave out the fun things, like what each of our favourite foods are and our ultimate holiday destinations. Enjoy.

Georgina

Georgina has been working at Leah’s designs for the past 6 years as a Stylist and has recently become the Store Manager.

I have a personal passion for the Plus Size Perfection collection. I love all of the dresses but mostly the brides that come to visit us. There is nothing quite like the transformation of self that can come from finding the right wedding dress.

The perfect dress can delight your figure, body and soul. I love boosting someones confidence and even if they don’t purchase a dress, everyone leaves with a smile on their face. It also helps that we have over 50 styles of size 18+ dresses to choose from. Every thing from a simple wedding dress style to an elaborate long sleeve wedding dresses.

Whats your most satisfying client experience?

When we helped a woman who came in with a tight budget. The bride had to move the wedding forward as her father had been diagnosed with a terminal disease. Fortunately we found the most gorgeous dress; she loved it and dad loved it too. The whole room was in tears, including me!

Georgina’s advice for brides before coming in to choose a wedding dress is to have a vision in mind of what type of bride you want to be. If you’re not sure think of your location and be open to our suggestions and don’t be afraid to think out side of the box try on styles from bohemian wedding dresses to mermaid styles.

Try different styles

Keep in mind that the gorgeous Pinterest photo of the dress on your phone might not be the perfect dress for you. Some popular theme’s at the moment are Vintage, Rustic, Glam, Country, Modern. Also, season if your wedding is in January or February look at summer wedding dresses to keep your cool.

Favourite cocktail – Fruit tingle | Favourite dessert – Good quality home made chocolate cake | Favourite holiday – Christmas | Heels or flats? Flats for work, heels to parrrrty!

What is your ultimate Leah S Designs look?

  • Wedding Dress – Anastasia Wedding dress.
  • Veil – PK005 cathedral with face veil 108 inches long – ivory – the veil has to be longer then the train of the dress.
  • Earrings – Halo earrings.
  • Hair piece – Cinderella hair comb.
  • Shoes – Donna shoes.

ultimate wedding look - Georgina

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Let talk about setting a wedding budget

July 6, 2020 / no comments

Leah

Budgets, and what to expect when shopping for your wedding dress.

If your like me, you want the dress you are dreaming of and of course, value for your mula. I expect you are savvy when shopping. You girls are smart and have done your planning and research but what’s wrong with being even more prepared with my wedding budget guide below.

When you first started planning your wedding, did you do a budget plan? I really hope you have, I will assume so, these are the average break down in percentages of what to spend on what .

Wedding budget example

Budget wedding dresses

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Easy ways to incorporate friends into your wedding

April 29, 2020 / no comments

Leah

Easy Ways to Incorporate Friends Into Your Wedding

You’ve had the wedding of your dreams in your head since you were a little girl. There’s just one small problem: all those demands from various family members to be included! We have put together some tips and easy ways to incorporate friends into your wedding.

If your parents insist that all of your cousins and step-siblings be included unless you want a huge bridal party here are great idea’s to keep your nearest and dearest feeling special, it’s easy for you to feel like there’s no room for the people you actually want in your bridal party. What’s a bride to do?

Jacqui and josh real brides weddings

Time to get crafty. Here are easy ways to include family members in your wedding without making them part of the bridal party.

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2019 Real weddings and events – yes we were on TV (more than once)

January 15, 2020 / no comments

Leah

On to our 2019 real weddings.

As 2019 has drawn to an end its time to reflect on the 2019 real weddings of the past year and in the best way possible!.

I don’t know about you but 2019 been a special year for me, I had baby number two and then back to work after maternity leave. Juggling a baby, and the store has been made easier with my amazing staff.

OK, with a run down of some of our most popular posts on face book. Thank you to all the brides that took the time to email, facebook and to tag us on instagram. Each time I see your photos it is so exciting seeing you again on your wedding day.

Tarryns springtime 2019 real wedding

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Your Ultimate bridal Emergency Guide:

December 19, 2019 / no comments

Leah

Why do I need emergency Wedding Day items

Be prepared with your emergency bridal kit. Most brides have at least one terrifying dream before they get married. Whether it’s showing up to the chapel in the wrong wedding dress, fainting at the altar, suffering the worst hair day on record, or getting in a fight with mum, we all have our own unique fears and insecurities. No wedding is perfect, and something is bound to go wrong. Reasonable expectations can help you manage this with style and grace. Rather than being reduced to a sobbing puddle of tulle.

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Five Wedding Dress Trends You Need to Know.

October 1, 2019 / no comments

Leah

Five Wedding Dress Trends 2020.

Your wedding day is not the time to cover yourself head to toe in trends. After all, do this and you’ll be sure to look dated in your photos in no time at all. If your about to start shopping for wedding dresses. Here are five 2020 wedding dress trends you need to know about before going shopping. Incorporating a handful of trends here and there can keep you looking current without leaving you looking like a fashion victim.

Off the shoulder strapsOff-the-Shoulder Necklines

Bare a little skin with this timeless elegance of off-the-shoulder cuts. Though they’re a big trend of 2020, they never really go out of style, so show off your gorgeous arms! The Katherine A-Line gown is a perfect example and can be worn either strapless or off the shoulder. The straps worn around the tops of your arms frame your face.

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Wedding planning on a budget

August 10, 2019 / no comments

Budget Wedding: Keep It Simple and Save Money!

Let’s face it, planning a wedding and saving money usually don’t go hand in hand. From booking the venue to sourcing party favours for your guests, money plays a vital role in the success of your big day. Beware that seemingly small budget wedding can spiral out of control. If you need some tips on how to plan a budget wedding, read on.

According to Easy Weddings Australian Wedding Survey 2016, Aussies spent on average $30,985 on their wedding days. If you don’t have a cool $30k lying around, don’t worry just yet! There are plenty of ways to reduce that final figure. Here is some helpful tips I’ve learnt from some of our own brides to apply to save money on your big day.

How to organize a budget wedding.

  • Reduce the size of your bridal party
    So it’s your dream to have your three besties, sister, cousin and nail technician standing with you at the altar. If you’ve done your research you’ll know having a large bridal party means more money spent on hair, makeup, bridesmaids dresses, shoes, gifts and accessories. For those who can’t possibly see themselves with a smaller bridal party. Maybe suggest the idea of splitting the costs with your bridesmaids. I’m sure most of them will be willing to pitch in, even if it’s just for the dress and shoes.

  • How to save money on catering

  • Swap single serve dishes for share plates
    The traditional entree, main, dessert menu can certainly set you back a pretty penny, especially for those planning on having a rather sizeable guest list. Consider serving tapas style dishes that each table can share. This usually makes things easier for the catering company and might also encourage your guests to interact with one another.

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Why we no longer allow photo’s in our bridal store

March 12, 2019 / no comments

Leah

Why we no longer allow photo’s in our bridal store.

In this day and age, camera phones are a way of life, I also love taking photo’s with my phone and it feels great looking back at memories. I know exactly where you are coming from, when you want to take photos trying on dresses to look a back on. This is why it was such a controversial decision to make. Ultimately I have made the decision not to allow photography in our store. Most of my brides are amazing and understand straight away.

I’m going to give some examples below,

of why we are no longer allowing photos in store. Imagine if you were selling, say a dress from your home. It’s a gorgeous dress, you designed it yourself and people are coming over to have a look at it. Try it on, maybe purchase it for an event.

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Perfection Bridal at Montsalvat

March 8, 2019 / no comments

Perfection Bridal at Montsalvat

I just have to share with you all our video of the Plus size Perfection Bridal at Montsalvat campaign filmed at Monsalvat estate. Its the exclusive look at the behind the Scenes at the Plus size perfection photo shoot. Photographing the latest “Its a love story” campaign.

Shown on Location at Montsalvat in the leafy green suburb of Eltham Victoria.

 

“With a talented team we got the day rolling with our model Sophie Shepard hair and make up. While the stylists and Photographers double checked locations and lighting. After a sleepless night it was time to get to work, lucky for us there was nothing to worry about with an exceptionally talented team of Sophie, Lyndel and Daniel from Lost in Love photography, Janice wu and Michael our videographer after viewing the first images Lyn and I did a little jig of excitement. The first dress we shot was the Andrea dress with the soft and flowing skirt.

We moved on to the other wedding dresses such as the Anastasia, the Gwyneth, the Odessa and the Felicity dress. My favorite shot from the day is the Odessa and the Felicity, although its a tough choice. What do you think? Gorgeous, am I right!

plus size wedding photoshoot Perfection Bridal at Montsalvat

Andrea plus size gown at Montsalvat.

sexy plus size wedding dresses

Sophie wearing the Odessa gown.

plus size wedding dresses Perfection Bridal at MontsalvatFelicity gown at Montsalvat photo shoot.

I love the feed back from this campaign from being featured in the wedding blogs Wedded Wonderland, Inspirati, and Confetti daydreams. Our photo’s from the campaign have been pinned on pintrest in excess of 5,000 times.

Lysterfield Lake wedding

September 13, 2018 / no comments

Magic by the Lake Campaign

Join us for some pure romance at our Lysterfield lake wedding, showing off Leah S Designs wedding dresses. In this Collaborative shoot we have taken a spin on the traditional white dress and gone to the dark side. I love how the darker florals and the Vera wedding dress in black contrast with the winter lake.

Photography // Dewina Dandot Photography

Flowers // Florium Creations

Hair and Make up // Peggy Stasinos

Location // Lysterfield Lake

Do you want to know more about our team? scroll down.

Lets talk about the dress – The Vera wedding dress comes in white, ivory and black in sizes 6 to 36 and is priced at $1,399. Want to try on? I know you do! To make a booking Phone: (03)97032198.

Our team decided we wanted to show a campaign with a real size model. Don’t you think Rachelle (our stunning size 12 beauty) make’s size an non issue.

Bride near lake

Isle society feature

Bride wearing neck piece

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Coloured wedding dresses styled shoot at Ballara.

August 15, 2018 / no comments

How to accessorize wedding dresses with colour.

At Leah S Designs we have many wedding dresses in store. Because not everyone wants to or can wear white. We have put together a styled bridal shoot to help. Sometimes blush ore champagne is a far more flattering colour depending on the tone of your skin. Choosing a colour that compliments will liven up your skin tone and not leave you looking tired and drained. We have featured the Katherine gown in this styled shoot. Katherine is available in ivory or latte with a stunning ivory lace overlay. Come into our bridal shop and try on sizes 6 to 34.

Accessories used for this styled bridal shoot

Melbourne wedding blog

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Tara’s Real Wedding

July 9, 2018 / no comments

Tara and Aidan’s real wedding

Join us for Tara and Aidan’s beautiful real wedding in the beautiful bush in Victoria. Tara wore our Flure wedding dress in ivory for a simple bohemian bridal look.

Our Flure style has a lace bodice low feature lace back with fabric covered buttons enhancing the lace back feature. Flure has a slightly gathered chiffon skirt giving the gown a pretty bohemian feel.

Taras bouquet featured feminine full pastel blooms that were complimented with silver foliage. A great choice to tie in with Aidan”s suit colour and the bush surroundings too.

We would like to thank all our country brides for traveling to see us. We appreciate the effort that you have gone to coming from places like Gippsland and Geelong and Shepparton, all the other side of Melbourne.

There are many components in putting together a real wedding. I hope all were enjoyable especially the dress shopping.

Thank you for the photos Jessica Mason Photography great job creating special memerories.

Our facebook page will keep you up to date with more of our happy brides and their real wedding day.

Real Wedding with Leah S Designs

   Getting ready sisters forever .

Real wedding flowers

Tara’s beautiful flowers.

The happy bride and groom

Tara was a beautiful bride

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“Lost in the Romance” Campaign

July 6, 2018 / no comments

“Lost in the Romance” Campaign

Welcome to“Lost in the Romance”, an original Australian wedding Collaboration. Featuring not just some of the most romantic gowns ever. But creative Artists and businesses LX Creations, Blossom Florista For Events, Leah S Designs, Melbourne Glamour Brides and Melissa Meyers Make up. Photographed on location at one of Yarra Valleys premier venue’s Immerse Winery.

This year Leah S Designs is focusing on colour. This fresh take on the traditional options gives the Erica wedding dress and Spring time wedding dress an exciting edge for this season. We focused on blush colour with subtle ivory details. Statement dresses with smaller complimentary jewellery pieces from Hello Lovers Australia to complete a whole look.

The ‘Lost in the Romance’ romantic gowns Collaboration, features colour and the country side like never before. Starting with a feature paper flower arch, made completely by hand by Aya, from Blossom Florista Events. Leah S Designs has designed wedding dresses with a touch of colour to bring out a soft simple boho vibe. Lx Creations photography has highlighted one of Victoria‘s hidden gems of the Victorian Countryside Immerse winery, and our ethereal bride to be.

To get to know our team, continue reading to the end of the page :).

Erica wedding dress $895

as seen on polkadot bride

Lost in the Romance, styled shoot was featured on Polkadot.com

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Surprise – Leah S Designs Real Weddings Jasmine and Karl

June 21, 2018 / no comments

Surprise wedding

Our beautiful couple Jasmine and Karl decided to turn their engagement party into a surprise wedding! It appears as if these surprise weddings have started to become a popular trend for those who are a little more spontaneous than most. But before we get to that, we need to hear a little more about this magical love story!

I married my best mateBackground on the couple

The tale begins when Jasmine met Karl. They were both on a scout camp and found themselves chatting a lot and getting to know one another. The friendship started to grow into something more and they began dating. Jasmine told us a little but more about why their relationship is so great. She explained how the foundation their friendship set made their relationship what it is today, explaining that “we are genuinely good friends and that’s how our relationship grew”.

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Flower Girl Dresses

June 3, 2018 / no comments

 Keep calm and flower on!

Most of us have been to at least one wedding where the flower girl throws a fit and makes the wedding day more stressful for the bride. Whether it’s stage fright or they’re simply not having a good day, there are many factors that come into play when involving young child in a wedding. Luckily there a few things you can try to avoid any fits during the ceremony!

  1. Prepare for a parent to walk down with them: Sometimes the pressure is too much for a little one and having a parent by their side will help them be more at ease! If a parent or even an older sibling is present for their big moment it may make things less stressful.
  2. Bribe them: Desperate times call for desperate measures, am I right? Sometimes bribing your little flower girl with a treat afterwards may help smooth over any bumps in the road.
  3. Try to get the child to nap before the wedding a rest can do the world of wonders.
  4. Get her to help choose her dress: Depending on the age of course! Most little girls will be much more excited about their part in the wedding if they have some choice in their outfit. Including them in picking out their dress will show them how much you value their part in your special day!
  5. Know if your child is mature enough to be a flower girl, my daughter was asked when she was 2.5 and I just knew she was to young to do it. The timing of the wedding was at nap time and it would have been very stressful getting her to behave. Sadly I declined and every one was very understanding.

Flower girl dresses.

 

Last week we teamed up with our in house wedding dress alterations team Ginger pins. This is the cutest photo shoot we have ever done, don’t you think? Amy has created the most gorgeous collection of Flower girl dresses. We can’t wait to show them off to you all.

Flower girl dresses come in children’s sizes 2 – 8 in white and ivory and are made in Melbourne.

Prices start from $150 to $220.

Let’s add some colour.

black and white flower girl dress – 1
Pink flower girl dresses
cute flower girl dresses

Some times simple is the best, with this traditional option available in white or ivory.

Flower girls have long played an important part in weddings. But when did having a flower girl become so normalised in the wedding world?

History of flower girls

It’s hard to be certain as to when this tradition began, but some have estimated that it dates back to Ancient Roman times. Young ushers would carry wheat and other goods to bless the newlyweds with fertility and good fortune. In the medieval ages they were said to carry garlic in order to ward off evil spirits. Flower girls were also used in weddings to symbolise the Bride’s loss of innocence.

Things are much different in today’s modern world of course! While flower girls no longer hold such a strong symbolic importance in the wedding festivities, they have become part of a long standing tradition. And it doesn’t hurt that they’re cute as can be!!

Come in to the Leah S Designs building at 3/167 Princes Highway, Hallam and have a look at this adorable collection of flower girl dresses today! For more information you can contact us at (03) 97032198.

Wedding Photography interview with Black avenue Productions

May 26, 2018 / no comments

There is nothing better then seeing my wedding dress designs photographed in amazing locations over Eastern Europe with stunning wedding photography.

Recently we were lucky enough to have one of our favorite photography duo Lowina and Derek from Black Avenue Productions head over to Europe on a wedding photography escapade!

Join us for their adventure’s photographing our Leah S Designs bride Anna and Melitta. Can you believe they captured 12 weddings in two weeks!

Q: Why Europe?

Lowina @Black Avenue Productions:

It all started when we were invited to shoot Ben & Judit’s wedding in Hungary, and decided to stay for three weeks and take on more couple photo sessions while we were there. How can you say no to an extra long working holiday!

Q: What made you choose eastern Europe for wedding photography?

Derek @Black Avenue Productions:

Judit, the bride is originally from Hungary. She wanted to get married in the biggest church in Hungary and have something truly memorable to impress friends and family.

So we decided to stay a week in Prague and Vienna. These breath taking locations were a mecca for an art and music lover like me.

Q: Can you tell us a little about the couples you photographed?

Lowina @Black Avenue Productions:

Anna & Libor got married a few days before Judit’s wedding shoot, however we couldn’t make it to their actual wedding day as we had already committed to other shoots. So they booked us for post-wedding photos instead.

It was an early 6am start, the couple wanted the Prague Old Town Square and Charles bridge locations and to get the best photos we had to get in early before the crowds.

I love pre and post wedding shoots as you get more relaxed photos with less stress for the couple.

Anna wore our Daisy wedding dress and we think she looked absolutely beautiful. She said it was very comfortable to wear.

With her natural beauty, I only put on a light touch of make up and a bit of lip balm and she was ready to go.

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Leah’s Zen Wedding Day Tips

May 1, 2018 / no comments

Planning your wedding day can be one of the most stressful events of your life, so is only natural that on the big day you might be feeling a little (or a lot) of pressure. You are often so focused on making the day perfect, that you forget what your wedding is really all about. There seems to be a lot of strategies out there for dealing with pre wedding stress, but what should you be doing on the actual day?

Leah’s top wedding day tips to keep you Zen will make sure you enjoy your day, and don’t overload with stress!

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Dandenong Weddings

April 26, 2018 / no comments

Leah

Dandenong Weddings: in the shadows of the misty mountains you’ll find Lyrebird Falls.

Home to one of Victoria’s favorite Dandenong weddings venues, we were lucky enough to be asked to work with Dewinta from Dewinta Dandot Photography. After arriving at Lyrebird Falls I did a quick location scout, I was sure the cool colors of the rain forest really made our dresses and the floral arrangements really pop!as seen on easy weddings

This styled shoot featuring on easy weddings.com

Photographer Dewinta Dandot was looking to create a colorful bohemian vibe for the day. Using Forest greenery to achieve a boho vision. Moody, earthy with a bright colour.

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Botanical Garden Weddings Morgan and Tom’s

April 16, 2018 / no comments

When we first met Morgan she was excited but extremely nervous for her big day. After hearing her heartwarming story of how she met her future husband we couldn’t resist re-telling. Let’s give you a sneak peak inside their magical garden weddings.

The proposal

It was a warm summer night in Melbourne and Morgan had made plans to go to her friends birthday party. After being a little apprehensive about going she finally convinced herself to go. When she arrived at the bar she sat with her friend for a while and then headed to the bar for a drink. Upon her return she noticed her soon to be fiance, Tom was sitting in her seat. Not wanting to make Tom move she sat in the seat opposite him. Tom couldn’t keep his eyes off Morgan, offering to walk her home at the end of the night. Their instant attraction soon turned into a beautiful romance.

 

as featured on easy weddings

Morgan and Toms wedding was featured in Real Weddings on Easy Weddings.com


Five years into their relationship, Tom decided it was time to pop the question and proposed to Morgan at the very bar where they first met.

 

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How To Travel With Your Wedding Dress

March 21, 2018 / no comments

How to Travel With Your Wedding Dress is very often treated as an afterthought and sometimes only remembered a few days before jetting off. As if you needed something else to stress about, right? It’s your big day, and everything needs to be PERFECT. So how do you keep your dress perfectly pressed up to the moment you walk down the aisle? We understand the struggle is so real when maneuvering in a car or on a plane with your precious dress, so we’ve put together a few top tips on How to Travel With Your Wedding Dress.

Most important things to note

The fabric of the dress is important to note. Ideally, you should hold up to the latest possible moment before you slip on your dress to avoid wrinkling, especially for materials like pure silk. Poly mixes, chiffon, jersey, tulle and lace hold up the best.

Clearly label your carry on with your name, email, phone number and address for both your home and destination.

Packing into a garment bag

  1. Keep your gown on the hanger and pull the hook through the garment bag’s top opening.
  2. Keep the train and skirt outside of the bag.
  3. Hang the gown facing you with the top half inside the bag.
  4. Take the dress’ bottom left and right sides and fold them into the center in a trifold. Note: sheath dresses may not need this step.
  5. Keep the two sides of the skirt folded and roll the train from the bottom until it is short enough to place in the bottom of the bag. Lace and other textured fabrics are less likely to show wrinkles. If you’re careful about how you fold and roll the train, there will be a lot less wrinkling and touch-up pressing needed upon arrival.
  6. Zip close the garment bag. Guide the zipper up to the top as you zip, with your middle finger behind the zipper. This protects any delicate beading, tulle or lace on your wedding gown from catching and ripping in the zipper.
  7. Lay the garment bag on a flat surface, and carefully roll it into a loose trifold.

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Sarra and Nicholas’ Ballroom Wedding

March 9, 2018 / no comments

Sarra just one of Leah S Designs beautiful brides

Nicholas never dreamt that Sarra would be interested in him. Being the older sister of one of his best mates, Sarra and Nicholas grew up in the same friendship circles, but they never imagined they’d end up together.

Their first encounter was at a friend’s birthday party where Sarra was drawn to Nicholas’ blue velvet jacket. Nicholas remembers Sarra gently touching his shoulder to feel the velvet fabric.

Sarra and Nicholas garden weddingBut it took another seven years before they both realised they had feelings for each other. Both Sarra and Nicholas remember that fateful hiking trip where they finally revealed their true feelings for one another.

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Join me, for a icy bridal dress photo shoot.

September 6, 2017 / no comments

Join me, its an icy bridal dress photo shoot today.

Another day another little bit of craziness! Join me for an icy bridal dress photo shoot in the Australian bush lands. I’m going to take you to the other side of the glamorous images we show on www.leahsdesigns.com.au. A photo shoot is a great opportunity to let out some creativity. And escape from the day to day running of a business and get out of the office. I also love designing the dresses, actually the dress designing is number 1 and doing the photo shoots is love number 2. I told myself the night before I would make time to make some videos on the day. The first video was taken at about 6:30 in the morning so I was still in sleep mode.

An extra thank you to my in laws Grazyna and Richard for letting me trash their perfect house.

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Jacqueline and Josh – Leah S real brides weddings

August 14, 2017 / no comments

Where it all started for Jacqueline and Josh – Leah S Designs real brides weddings

Josh and I met while performing together in a children’s performing company when we were 18 and 17 and there was a mutual attraction. We became friends and were both accepted into the same university course in Ballarat. We decided with another girl from the company that we would all share a house. However upon moving in together we didn’t get along at all! It was after a year of living together that we realised our ‘hate’ for each other was the cliched story of a fine line between love and hate. We have been inseparable ever since.

morning of wedding dayA little about your wedding journey

Josh and I became engaged in August 2014 and were so excited to start planning our dream wedding that we dove straight in and got very carried away!. We started planning this huge extravagant wedding and got caught up in all of the latest wedding crazes and trends. As many real brides do. Going to every wedding expo and bought every wedding magazine under the sun. However in February 2015 we found out that we were expecting a little bundle of joy and realised that our priorities with the wedding had gotten way out of hand. We quickly canceled most aspects of that wedding, which lead to a sense of great relief!. We had lost focus of why we wanted to be married and became carried away with the idea of our perfect wedding. Instead of celebrating our love.

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Leah S Designs real weddings Kiri and Angus

May 19, 2017 / no comments

Leah

Leah S Designs real weddings Kiri and Angus

Surprise weddings. Kiri and Angus choose to surprise their guests.  Hosting a engagement party that turned into a wedding at their home in Corinella, Victoria. The Ceremony took place on the cliffs across the road from their place just as a storm took hold. It was a race against the weather, with everyone needing to take cover in the marquee to finish off the official proceedings.

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Leah S Designs Real Weddings Nicole and Alex

July 7, 2016 / no comments

Leah S Designs Real Weddings Nicole and Alex.

Wedding Date: 19 th March 2016

Nicole and Alex have known each other since they were 18, bumping in to each other here and there. After meeting again at a friend’s party. A mutual friend convinced Alex to have a party the following week so he and Nicole had an excuse to meet again. And as they say, the rest is history. Nicole and Alex picked out the engagement ring and kept it hidden for a while before Alex popped the question. A few months later and they told all their family and friends.

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Collaboration photo shoot at the Narbethong Hall

June 29, 2016 / no comments

Photo shoot at the Narbethong Hall

I was asked a couple of weeks ago to take part in a Collaboration photo shoot being organised by Narbethong Hall committee. Nicole from Nics button buds took the lead of the team to help show us the hall. All its lovely facilities make it a perfect location for wedding ceremony’s and as a reception venue. After the bush fires in 2009 destroyed the original town hall it was also for a great cause to get on board with.
I love collaborating and meeting new people in similar businesses. And not having to organise every part of a photo shoot takes the pressure off. Even when it means I have to stand back and let the shoot progress with out me being in charge which is actually really difficult.
The day started at 10:00 (love the country start time’s) with hair and make up. Then started by taking some evening style photos in the sitting area in front of the fire, considering it was about 5 degrees it was a good spot to warm up also.

Wedding dresses featured

Poppy wore our Sparkling gold dress for the first photo and the dress is available in gold, silver or bronze. Next arrival style photos in the Teneille dress. Getting out of the cars and a couple out side shots of the Bride and Groom once the sun decided to start shining.
Next dress worn was my new favourite style the Georgie wedding dress. A latte and ivory combination of fabrics that every one was dying to see on and it didn’t disappoint, what do you think?

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Leah S Designs Real Weddings Melanie and Steve

June 28, 2016 / no comments

Leah S Designs Real Weddings Melanie and Steve

When Mel kissed Steve at the snow late one night during a work weekend away, only to run off laughing. She had no idea that in just a few short years she would marry and start a family with him. While the surprising but happy news that they were expecting meant a few quick changes to the wedding plan. It did nothing to dampen the party atmosphere. When it comes to weddings, Croatians know how to have a good time!

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Leah S Designs Real Wedding – Erin and Mark

June 27, 2016 / no comments

Leah S Designs real weddings Erin and Mark

Wedding Date: 7 th November 2015

Erin and Mark met in Primary School but didn’t realise their love for each other until they were almost 30. Mark popped the question with a beautiful custom-made ring at the top of a Ferris Wheel in Fremantle whilst on holidays. Erin decided to be free from stress on her big day, remembering her mantra everything happens for a reason.

The wedding dress

Before Erin found Leah S Designs she felt disheartened after some less than perfect bridal shopping experiences. Her Bridget gown is from the Perfection Bridal range – a romantic lace gown with off-the- shoulder sleeve. Featuring a figure fitted silhouette called the Bridget dress – perfect for Erin’s wedding day.

The reception

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Little lovelies wedding accessories

May 19, 2016 / no comments

Little Lovelies wedding Accessories

What a day we had photographing our latest Little Lovelies jewellery collection. Photographing jewellery is a much more relaxed shoot, no worrying about models, makeup and hair choices and the much more reasonable 10am start time feels good.

Lee Bird Studios in Keysborough designed a custom light box to get the upmost sparkle from each piece of Jewellery whilst highlighting the intricate work and letting each individual crystal shimmer.

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Leah S Designs on Wedded wonderland

April 6, 2016 / no comments

Leah S Designs on Wedded wonderland

Leah S Designs sister brand Plus size perfections latest photo shoot. “Its a love story” has been picked up by Australia’s top blogger and Instagram king pin Wedded wonderland. Leah S Designs on wedded wonderland. To be featured in a pictorial. Exciting stuff as I have been a lover of the wonderland site for many years, so a big hip hip hooray for Perfection Bridal. Im loving the fact that this is one of the first blog featuring plus size fashion. So we are a bit of a revolution in the fashion world (for a little while at least).

Just a word of warning if you check out the wedded wonderland site it will suck you in for hours in to the dazzling wedding world! have fun.

wedded wonderland featuring Plus size perfection bridalAs seen on Wedded wonderland

Felicity gown with and without wrapAs seen on Wedding Inspires

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Questions to Ask Your Wedding Coordinator

February 9, 2016 / no comments

Leah

Questions to Ask Your Wedding Coordinator a helpful guide.

A wedding coordinator, sometimes known as a wedding planner, can take the hassle out of your big day, freeing you up to focus on being in love. But not all wedding coordinators perform the same functions, and a wedding planner might be a great idea if you work full time, have kids, planning a destination wedding or an extravagant wedding. Before you hire a planner for your special day, be sure to ask these questions:

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6 Mantras to Repeat as You Plan Your Wedding

November 25, 2015 / no comments

Leah

6 Mantras to Repeat as You Plan Your Wedding day

  1. The marriage matters more than the wedding. No matter what happens on my wedding day, I have a lifetime of wedded bliss to look forward to.
  2. I do not have to be perfect to be good and worthy of love. A perfect wedding will not solve all the problems in my life.
  3. I am good and strong, and the stress of today will quickly give way to the triumphs of tomorrow.
  4. I love myself, my family, and my partner. Love is the most important thing (Note that this sort of mantra, known as loving-kindness meditation, can also work wonders for reducing anger. And as all brides know, anger is sometimes part of the wedding planning package).
  5. There is no such thing as a perfect wedding. I can enjoy even an imperfect wedding day.
  6. There is no such thing as a perfect bride. I am perfect and good enough just as I am.

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5 Things to Do at Your Final Fitting

November 10, 2015 / no comments

Leah

5 Things to Do at Your Final Fitting 

Whether the search was long and painful, or you knew right away when you found the gown of your dreams, the final fitting is your last chance to ensure your gown is perfect—and perfectly you. It’s too late to turn back and start anew with another dress, so if there’s something you don’t like, you need to speak up. Here are five ways to test the fit of your wedding gown.

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When You and Your Parents Disagree About Your Wedding.

September 28, 2015 / no comments

Leah

When You and Your Parents Disagree About Your Wedding

Weddings are a family event, and families are notorious for having big opinions about big events. When you and your parents disagree about your wedding—whether it’s something small, like whether to serve fish, or something major, like where to hold the big event—it can turn planning into a major headache. Before you start a family feud, take a deep breath.

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The Four Best Wedding Traditions

September 6, 2015 / no comments

Leah

The Four Best Wedding Traditions  

In an increasingly conscious world, many brides are abandoning wedding traditions, and often with good reason. Some women point to gender equality and opt not to take their partner’s name. Others alter their vows to reflect their values. But some wedding traditions can continue to comfortably co-exist even alongside the most modern of couples. Here are the four best wedding traditions you should consider keeping.

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5 Ways to find Calm before Your Wedding Day

August 25, 2015 / no comments

Leah

5 Ways to find Calm before Your Wedding Day

As you prepare to walk down the aisle and into the rest of your life, you may find your mind occupied with thoughts of the dress, the hair, and the décor. But this is the most important day of your life so far, and it’s natural to feel a little edgy. Whether you’re struggling with pre-wedding jitters, or just want a chance to relax before your big day, these five steps can be crucial for your well-being.

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5 Tips for Choosing Wedding Day Lingerie

July 11, 2015 / no comments

Leah

5 Tips for Choosing Wedding Day Lingerie

When you envision your walk down the aisle, you’re probably more focused on the dress than what’s underneath it. A wedding is a romantic undertaking, and your new spouse is going to be just as eager to see what’s under your dress. Wedding day lingerie should be something special. Here are five tips for choosing wedding day Lingerie to bear in mind when making your selections.

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New deb dress style sneak peak

July 8, 2015 / no comments

New deb dress style sneak peak.

Come on a video adventure looking at our new deb dress style sneak peak, this newbie is called the Miranda dress only available from Leah S Designs.

I point out all the features of the new Miranda dress such as the lace illusion neckline, key hole straps and the low back. Never forgetting the finishing touches with the accessories such as earrings and shoes. I chose the Mackenzie earrings and the windsor lace hair piece to match your deb dress

 

Bridal Hair style Trends

June 10, 2015 / no comments

Leah

Wedding Hair style Trends

If you want your wedding hair styles to produce timeless portraits but still hope to channel some of this season’s best hair style trends, then a standout feature is your best ally. A trendy coif looks ravishing with a timeless dress and understated accessories, so here is your chance to experiment and find a look that perfectly captures who you want to be on your wedding day. Check out these five looks we’re loving.

 

Flowers, Flowers, and More Flowers

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This Season’s Biggest Wedding Jewelry Trends.

June 1, 2015 / no comments

Leah

This Season’s Biggest Wedding Jewelry Trends.

 

You’ve found the dress of your dreams—or at least dedicated a Pinterest board to it. But what’s a dress without some gorgeous bling to accompany it? You only get one chance to choose your wedding day baubles, so it’s understandable if you’re a bit intimidated by the process. Wedding jewelry doesn’t have to be complicated or stressful, though. If you want to look like you just stepped off of a Parisian runway, check out these fabulous wedding jewelry trends.

 

Coloured Gemstones

Are you sick of boring pearls and diamonds? Now you can wear baubles that go beyond the safe traditions

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5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Buy a Wedding Dress

May 18, 2015 / no comments

Leah

5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying a Wedding Dress

You’ve dreamed of that glistening white gown since before you had any romantic aspirations at all, so it’s no wonder that buying a wedding dress can prove challenging here are the 5 questions to ask yourself before you buy a wedding dress. Pressure from mom, squeals of delight from friends, and body image issues can all conspire to leave you unsure what looks good. Worse still, peer pressure can leave you questioning yourself. This wedding is about you and your partner, not what your loved ones want or looking like a fashion model. This means that ultimately, it’s your decision what to wear and what to buy. If stress, pressure from family and friends, or financial concerns have you overwhelmed by the buying process, it’s time to stop the drama by asking yourself these 5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying a Wedding Dress.

Does this dress make me feel good?

Don’t buy a wedding gown with plans to lose 20 pounds. Your dress should make you feel great about your body the way it is. If it doesn’t, then the dress is unworthy of you.

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A big special Thank You to all the artists.

May 6, 2015 / no comments

Leah

A big special Thank You to all the artists.

I just want to send a big shout out to all the amazing artists who did a smashing job on the last photo shoot. I believe we captured the heart and soul of all the wedding dresses we photographed that day. You can also hire these lovely ladies for your wedding day also.

Flowers were made by Brown from Buds and roses in Pakenham,

I wanted purple gerbras with a touch of yellow for a table display and a posy. She  exceeded my floral expectations (and was so reasonably priced).

Hair and Make up was done by Nathalie from Doll face

I had her do my make up for a wedding, I knew she would be more than able to do camera friendly make up, and I was right. If you are still looking for a make up artist she will take care of you and your girls.

Thanks Lee for letting me use your studio, if you are looking for commercial photography send me an email and I can pass on details.

 

Hollywood Wedding Of The Year Style Tips

October 17, 2014 / no comments

Leah

Wedding of the year

Oscar-winner George Clooney recently married human rights supporter Amal Alamuddin in a lovely wedding this past September. However, while most of the the buzz was about how romantic the wedding was. The question on everyone’s mind was. “Who designed her wedding dresses?” Alamuddin’s dress was designed by Oscar de la Renta. Her wedding gown featured a bespoke off-the-shoulder design with a soft texture made from French lace to create an elegant look. The final touches included hand-embroidered pearls, diamanté detail and a long train.

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