Lilith & Jonathan

12 March 2022.

Lilith wears our 1.5 Natural Gown & 7.1 Detachable Bow.

"It was really important for me to feel beautiful (read: sexy) and comfortable on my wedding day but I also didn’t want my dress to be a wallflower—I tried on a lot of slip dresses and none felt as ‘wow’ as The Natural Gown, so it was an easy decision. I also really wanted to be able to dance in my dress, and feel comfortable all day. Adding the Detachable Bow felt like a really simple, elegant and commitment-free way to bring some drama to the whole look without having to stick with it all day. It added something special to the overall silhouette but I liked that it also felt like a quick, easy costume change for the evening."

 
How did you discover Harriette Gordon Bridal?
I found Harriette Gordon through Instagram but I was living in London at the time and didn’t have a chance to see the gowns in person until almost a year later (Covid!). Eventually, I was able to try on some Harriette Gordon pieces at Hope X Page in Sydney; I knew I loved the Natural Gown and once I had it on, I didn’t bother with anything else.

Tell us a little about yourself, What do you do for work? What do you do for fun?
I’m a writer and social wizard who works at Go-To Skincare and co-runs the weekly career(ish) advice newsletter, The Foreword. I’m a big reader, I love to swim, and I obsessively check Facebook Marketplace for secondhand furniture.

 
A little about your partner:
Their name? Jonathan Archibald
What do they do for work and fun?
A town planner who loves bikes and food in equal measure.

Tell us about the styling and special details of your outfit(s)?
Because I chose the Detachable Bow and The Natural Gown also had a low-cut back, I didn’t want to overwhelm my look with too many accessories or distract from the beautiful detailing of the gown around the neckline. I opted for small pearl earrings from Anni Lu and offset those with gold, diamond, and opal studs from Wwake and Sarah and Sebastian. I chose a simple, unadorned veil and wore my hair up, taking inspiration from Margaux Hemingway on her wedding day. I wore Jimmy Choo white leather mules because, again, I wanted something comfortable but also something grass-proof.

Can you describe a memorable moment from your day?
Honestly, my wedding day was one of the best days of my life. The next morning, we woke up and just wanted to do the whole thing again because it was so much fun. I couldn’t pinpoint one memorable moment, because all of it was just a dream.

What is your best advice for couples planning their wedding?
We talked a lot about what we both wanted from the wedding and what would feel ‘us’ before we made any decisions or bookings. Then we decided to each take charge of ‘projects’ that were important to us to lighten the load (Jonathan: food and wine; Me: styling and photography). At the end of the day, we both had to agree on the choices but all the research and shortlisting was split up which made things easier. I highly recommend tackling your day this way if you can, as it took a lot of the stress off and we both felt like the day was ours.

 
Was there a particular theme or style that you wanted to encapsulate on your wedding day? If so, how did you achieve this?
We talked a lot about making the day feel like a ‘party’ rather than a wedding and our wedding planner - the amazing Bree from White Rabbit - really helped bring this to life. To lean into the ‘party’ vibe we decided to forego the usual three course dinner and opted for a cocktail-style event instead, so everyone could feel free to mingle and move around as they like. We also decided to have the ceremony and reception at the same venue (our wedding planner adjusted the furniture post-ceremony to a more casual setting) so there wasn’t a gap in the day and everyone could stay, drink, and eat.

We made sure there was music all day, lots of seating options, and games so people could feel free to dance, take a break or entertain themselves. These small tweaks meant everyone could settle in and just enjoy the gardens and we had time to speak with our guests and enjoy the fun ourselves before taking time out for photos in the late afternoon.

Stockist: Hope X Page
Photographer: Megan Kelly
Location: Lion Gate Lodge, The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
Wedding Planner: White Rabbit Projects
Celebrant: Claire Belford
Florist: The Colourblind Florist
Cake: Javi Bakes
First dance Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher and Higher by Jackie Wilson