Best modern wedding dresses - Brooke Tyson Ritual

Dec 29, 2020

Unique Wedding dresses Melbourne and beyond

  1. Brooke Tyson Ritual
  2. Suzanne Harward
  3. Alex Perry
  4. KYHA Studios
  5. Paolo Sebastian
  6. Jaime Lee Major
  7. Mariana Hardwick
  8. Le Louvre Bridal

Looking for the most unique wedding dress Melbourne has on offer? Whether you’re looking for unique wedding dresses boho, long sleeve, white or colourful (check out this incredible Suzanne Harward songbird gown), on this page you’ll find some of the most brilliant modern wedding dress designers.

I’ve been lucky to photograph love and ceremony on all continents, which means seeing so much of the worlds most unique wedding dresses and bridal designers on brilliant lovers in all kids of places: these are 7 of the best unique wedding dresses and wedding dress shops in Melbourne that i’ve had the pleasure of working with.

Be sure to read to the bottom to discover the final 5.

Melbourne unique wedding dresses: a dress comparison chart

Wedding dress designerWedding Dress StyleWedding Venue locationYou might also like
Brooke Tyson RitualEtherealNew ZealandAbout Phaedra
Suzanne HarwardCutting edge classyCollingwoodPaolo Sebastian
Alex PerryUnique brutalistCollingwoodLe Louvre Bridal
KYHA StudiosSequinned glorySouth MelbourneMariana Hardwick
Paolo SebastianFairytaleAdelaideSuzanne Harward
Jaime Lee MajorDetailed majesticMelbourneAbout Phaedra
Mariana HardwickWispy classicThornburySuzanne Harward
Le Louvre BridalClassic MelbourneRichmondAlex Perry
About PhaedraInimitably naturalFootscrayBrooke Tyson Ritual
Bluebell BridalClassicalMelbourne CBDLe Louvre Bridal
Raffael CiucaMelbourne classicBrunswickMariana Hardwick
Anna CampbellRomantic classyArmadaleSuzanne Harward
GwendolynneVintage inspiredFitzroyAbout Phaedra
Cathleen JiaRomantically creativeMoorabbinLe Louvre Bridal
A comparison chart of the most unique wedding dresses in Melbourne

When you look at how Australian and New Zealand designers have to fight for a place at the table with smaller markets and at a geographical disadvantage to the rest of the world, it’s no surprise then that some of the most brilliant and forward-thinking designs have actually come from this corner of the globe as they place tradition a gentle second, and innovation first, pushing the craft of design past the edges.

And so, incidentally, these designers are all from Australia and New Zealand!

As an art-lover, a beautiful and thoughtfully designed gown is captivating to look at and brilliant to photograph.

This is a run-down of 5 of the most beautiful gowns i’ve had the pleasure of photographing: from the wedding dresses long sleeve genius Alex Perry has designed, through to wedding dresses boho designers like Paolo Sebastian have created.

1. Unique Short Wedding Dress: Brooke Tyson Ritual

Looking for wedding dresses boho and beyond? Check out Brooke Tyson. Brooke Tyson Ritual is what happens when you have a curious kiwi, captivated by the world of cinema and nostalgia and with a childhood spent playing dress-ups, cast her hand to the fine art of bridal couture.

Brooke Tyson’s Ritual gowns shown here are the Flora gown, and the Luna gown, photographed on Franc on film, on a volcano in New Zealand. You can also view a full feature on Brooke Tyson Ritual here. If you’re looking for wedding dresses long sleeve or medium sleeve, the Flora gown below might be just what you’re after. It’s flowy long sleeves create brilliant shape and coverage, while still being light enough to move comfortably in.

These unique wedding dresses styles might be unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.

an incredible wedding dress ini Melbourne - Brooke Tyson
Unique wedding dresses by Brooke Tyson
Best modern wedding gowns - Brooke Tyson Ritual

Find Brooke Tyson Ritual online:

Brooke Tyson Ritual website

2. Unique Wedding Dresses with colour: Suzanne Harward

Suzanne Harward is a designer i’ve had the good fortune of working with several times, and you can see a feature on 3 of the best Suzanne Harward wedding dresses here too.

Suzanne Harward is an icon of the Australian bridal design scene, with a rich long history while always staying two steps ahead of the trends. Check out the impossibly brilliant songbird gown.

If you’re looking for unique wedding dresses australia and beyond, it’s hard to go past Suzanne Harward.

Suzanne Harward Songbird Gown
Suzanne Harward modern wedding dress
Suzanne Harward Songbird Gala Gown

Incredible unique wedding dresses: Suzanne Harward songbird gown.

Suzanne Harward gown for Melbourne Registry office wedding portraits
Suzanne Harward gown for Melbourne Registry office wedding portraits
Suzanne Harward bridal gown at Newstead Butterland

Wedding dresses designer in style: Suzanne Harward

Suzanne Harward website

3. Long Sleeve Wedding Dress Melbourne: Alex Perry Bridal

Looking for a long sleeve wedding dress or a unique wedding dress with sleeves? Alex Perry isn’t necessarily a name synonymous with bridal design – and this isn’t even a piece from his bridal collection – but that didn’t stop the forward-thinking Liv from adapting one of his other pieces for her wedding to Adam. Wedding dresses designer Alex Perry has brought something unique and modern to the table (whether he intended to or not).

These two marvels are featured on Together Journal, where you can see even more glorious images of their day, her incredible sense of style, and that inimitable long sleeve wedding dress by Alex Perry.

the incredible long sleeve wedding dress Melbourne designer
Alex Perry - Long sleeve wedding dress Melbourne
Liv in her long sleeve wedding dress in Melbourne
If you like wedding dresses like this, check out more black and white wedding photos.
Alex Perry Wedding dress
Alex Perry Wedding gown
Alex Perry wedding gown

Find Alex Perry Bride online

Alex Perry Bride website

4. Modern Boho Wedding Dress Melbourne: KYHA Studios

Looking for wedding dresses boho in style? KYHA studios is right at the front of incredible, innovative boho wedding dresses. Founded by Kyha Simpson after tying the knot and wanting to bring something new to the industry, KYHA Studios.

Designed and handmade in Melbourne, KYHA Studios are one of the early frontrunners of doing things differently, and as a result have inspired an industry-wide shift in risk-taking designs. See more of this Kyha Studios wedding dress.

KYHA Studios wedding dress
KYHA Studios wedding dress

Wedding dresses boho in style: KYHA Studios (Boho wedding dress Melbourne)

Kyha Studios

5. Unique Wedding Dress: Paolo Sebastian

I hope i’m not the only one who, based on the brand name, initially thought Paolo Sebastian was some kind of lavish octogenarian European designer with over half a century of brilliant work under their belt.

Nope – it’s the work from the genius mind of an impossibly young designer, Paul Vasileff, straight out of Adelaide, Australia. Designers like Paolo Sebastian push the edges of classy couture that leans in to the future of the genre.

Paolo Sebastian gowns blend a nod to tradition offset with something resembling the top end of the Disney playground of fantasy designs.

Best Modern wedding dress - Paolo Sebastian
Paolo Sebastian wedding gown
Best Modern wedding dress - Paolo Sebastian

Hannah wears Paolo Sebastian. The Royal Mail Hotel wedding of Hannah and Ben, alongside the inimitable Humdrum Films, is featured on Farewell Fiance. See more of this over on Paolo Sebastian Wedding Dress.

Wedding dresses boho in style: Paolo Sebastian

Paolo Sebastian website

6. Wedding dresses Perth: Jaime Lee Major

Check out these unique wedding dresses Perth has available. Jaime Lee Majors designs are from another planet. The Fremantle / Perth designer made a name for herself cutting cloth for every celebrity under the sun, beginning initially with an epic gown for Kimbra right around the time of her career take-off.

Since then, Jaime Lee Major has used her progressive, artistic inspired approach to design gowns that push bridal to the very edge. Check out this incredible piece from the Fremantle wedding of Sarah and Dave. See more over on the feature on Jaime Lee Major.

If you’re looking for wedding dresses Perth or nearby, Jaime Lee Major is your designer.

Fremantle Perth Bridal Designer Jaime Lee Major
Fremantle Perth Bridal Designer Jaime Lee Major
Fremantle Perth Bridal Designer Jaime Lee Major
Fremantle Perth Bridal Designer Jaime Lee Major
Fremantle Perth Bridal Designer Jaime Lee Major
Fremantle Perth Bridal Designer Jaime Lee Major

Find Jaime Lee Major online

Jaime Lee Major on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaimeleemajor

While you’re here, take a peep at these incredible modern wedding jumpsuits.

7. Wedding dresses Melbourne: Mariana hardwick

Looking for unique wedding dresses lace and elegant? Mariana Hardwick is an iconic Melbourne wedding dress designer. Check out this incredible gown on Elisha at Zonzo Estate. This lace wedding dress is light, flowy, and elegant.

If you’re after wedding dresses vintage in vibe but with an elegant modern twist, Mariana Hardwick is hard to go past.

wedding dress melbourne - mariana hardwick on elisha at zonzo estate!

Find Mariana Hardwick

Mariana Hardwick website: https://marianahardwick.com.au/

While you’re here, take a peep at this Mariana Hardwick wedding dress on Elisha at this Zonzo Wedding showcase.

8. Wedding Dress Melbourne Designer: Le Louvre Bridal

Looking for wedding dresses vintage in style? You must check out this Le Louvre classic, unchanged for nearly a century. Melbourne bridal designers Le Louvre have been around for 95 years, but that doesn’t mean that this classic Le Louvre Wedding Dress, worn here by Bianca, looks like anything other than one of the most incredible designs on the planet.

If you’re looking for wedding dresses vintage in style, this sleeved gown is one of the most unique designs you’ve ever seen and hard to go past. Maybe you’ve seen these two in Together Journal? If not, pick up a copy of issue #19 to see more of this incredible unique wedding dress on Bianca.

Unique wedding dresses vintage in style by Le Louvre
Unique wedding dresses vintage in style worn by Bianca designed by Le Louvre
Wedding dresses white: by Le Louvre
Unique wedding dresses vintage in style by Le Louvre
Another wedding dress Melbourne by Le Louvre
wedding dress Melbourne by Le Louvre

Wedding dresses elegant in style: Le Louvre

Le Louvre Bridal website: https://www.lelouvre.com.au/

Unique wedding dress Melbourne: 5 frequently asked questions

Where to buy wedding dress Melbourne

You can buy a wedding dress from any of the 7 incredible wedding dress designers on this post.

How much wedding dress Melbourne

A good wedding dress might cost anywhere from $2000 to $20000. There can be hundreds and hundreds of hours involved in creating a wedding dress, so we recommend making an enquiry with all of the incredible Melbourne wedding dress designers on this page to find out yourself.

Best wedding dress Melbourne

The best wedding dress Melbourne has on offer might be anything by Suzanne Harward, KYHA studios or Le Louvre. Incredible designers right on our doorstep.

Best new wedding dress designer

In my opinion, the best new wedding dress is About Phaedra. You can go to their website here: https://www.aboutphaedra.com.au/

Unique wedding dresses with sleeves?

Head up and to see incredible wedding dresses with sleeves by Le Louvre, Alex Perry, and Brooke Tyson.

What is the most unique wedding dress I can find in Melbourne?

If you’re looking for a unique wedding dress in Melbourne, check out Suzanne Harward, KYHA studios or Le Louvre. Unique designs available right in Melbourne.

Wedding dress Melbourne: 6 more wedding dress designers you might not know about:

9. About Phaedra – https://www.aboutphaedra.com.au/


10. Bluebell Bridal – https://www.bluebellbridal.com/


11. Raffael Ciuca – https://www.raffaeleciuca.com.au/


12. Anna Campbell – https://www.annacampbell.com.au/


13. Gwendolynne – https://www.gwendolynne.com.au/


14. Cathleen Jia – https://www.cathleenjia.com.au/

Hire me to photograph your wedding (if you want)

Suzanne Harward Bluebird Gala Gown

Wedding photographer Melbourne – Briars Atlas: Enquire

Suzanne Harward gown at Melbourne Registry wedding

Jun 9, 2020

Suzanne Harward is one of Australia’s brightest design minds. Her wedding dress designs have been at the leading edge for nearly 30 years. If you’re getting married in Melbourne (or anywhere for that matter), it’s hard to go past our own hometown maestros, Suzanne Harward wedding dresses, for world-leading bridal design. In this post, we’ll look at a few of the best Suzanne Harward bridal gowns i’ve seen.

Based in Collingwood, the Suzanne Harward team are responsible for some of the most forward-thinking, design-minded pieces that are not only a joy to photograph (I might have a personal bias), but incredibly decadent pieces for brides.

Most importantly, each and every time I chat with a bride about their choice of gown, they end up falling over backwards in adoration for the team, and it’s pretty easy to see why.

While you’re here, be sure to also check out these other incredible unique wedding dresses.

Suzanne Harward Wedding Dresses featured in this post

I’ve been fortunate enough to photograph several fashion-forward brides over the years and got to photograph the best modern wedding dresses around – which much of the time happens to be a Suzanne Harward.

Here, i’ve picked three of them, that offer a quick look at what the Suzanne Harward team can do a across the whole spectrum: from elegantly classic, to something from another planet.

All photographs below captured by and remain copyright of Briars Atlas.

Suzanne Harward Wedding Dress: The Bluebird Gala Gown

A photo of a bride in a suzanne harward songbird wedding dress

Laura and Walker:
Category: From another planet
Gown: The Bluebird Gala gown also: Songbird gown

Laura’s Suzanne Harward gown knocked my socks off as soon as I walked into their Daylesford bridal prep house. Hanging from a rustic door, it was adorned with the most incredibly bright florals etched into it, with gorgeous soft peach/pink tulle layers.

Laura and Walker were married at the Daylesford convent, a beautiful historic location that made for a perfect contrast to Lauras gown.

Suzanne Harward Bluebird Gala Gown
Suzanne Harward Bluebird Gala Gown
Suzanne Harward Bluebird Gala Gown

I’ve just gotta step in here: how incredible is that speckled light above? You can find that yourself by heading to the Daylesford Convent Gallery.

Suzanne Harward Bluebird Gala Gown
aSuzanne Harward Bluebird Gala GownSuzanne Harward Songbird Gala Gown
Suzanne Harward Bluebird Gala Gown
Suzanne Harward Bluebird Gala Gown
Suzanne Harward Bluebird Gala Gown

Treats. Always. Win. Laura and Walker invited their beautiful little scallywag Bonnie along, and she stayed for the entire day and partied well into the evening at the Daylesford Convent.

Suzanne Harward Bluebird Gala Gown
Suzanne Harward Bluebird Gala Gown
Suzanne Harward Bluebird Gala Gown
Suzanne Harward Bluebird Gala Gown

Want to see more of Laura and Walker? They are featured in print, having been published inside issue #19 of Together Journal. Already got your Suzanne Harward gown and want me to photograph it? You can enquire to hire me here.


Suzanne Harward Wedding Dress: Eden

Suzanne Harward bridal gown

Iro and Alex:
Category: Somewhere from here to there
Gown: Eden (no longer available)

Iro’s stunningly detailed dress is a masterclass in modern classic design. I like to think that I have this gown to thank for this image landing me as a category finalist for International Wedding Photographer of the Year 2018 – a beautiful moment in bridal prep accomodation in rural Victoria, before her wedding to Alex at Newstead Butterland (also featured here on this post about Castlemaine wedding venues).

Suzanne Harward bridal gown at Newstead Butterland
Suzanne Harward bridal gown at Newstead Butterland
Suzanne Harward bridal gown at Newstead Butterland

What they won’t necessarily tell you on the Suzanne Harward website, is that no matter how gloriously decadent their gowns are, they are able to withstand a champagne spray from even the most enthusiastic friend.

Suzanne Harward bridal gown at Newstead Butterland
Suzanne Harward bridal gown at Newstead Butterland
Suzanne Harward bridal gown at Newstead Butterland

Want to see more of Iro and Alex? They are featured here in Together Journal. Already got your Suzanne Harward gown and want me to photograph it? You can enquire to hire me here.


Suzanne Harward Wedding Dress: White Look #5

Suzanne Harward gown at Melbourne Registry wedding

Tash and Jacob:
Category: Elegant modern classic
Gown: White Look 5

Just when you think that you can’t be beautifully surprised by a new take on subtle classicism, Suzanne Harward come out with this sleek, elegant gem. Natasha and Jacob were married at the Melbourne registry office, and we spent a little time traipsing around some of my most favourite, secret spots in the city, with gorgeous soft light that played off against the simple shapes of the gown.

These brilliant humans are featured on my website here.

Suzanne Harward gown for Melbourne Registry office wedding portraits
Suzanne Harward gown for Melbourne Registry office wedding portraits
Suzanne Harward gown for Melbourne Registry office wedding portraits
Suzanne Harward gown for Melbourne Registry office wedding portraits
Suzanne Harward gown for Melbourne Registry office wedding portraits
Suzanne Harward gown for Melbourne Registry office wedding portraits
Suzanne Harward gown for Melbourne Registry office wedding portraits

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this roundup of the best Suzanne Harward wedding dresses (in my humble opinion – don’t let that stop you poring over their incredible range on their website below).

Where to Find Suzanne Harward Bridal

www.suzanneharward.com
73 Johnston St, Collingwood VIC 3066

All images taken by Briars Atlas.

Book me to photograph your wedding

If you’d like to make an enquiry for me to be your wedding photographer, head here.

Suzanne harward songbird gown

Apr 8, 2019

The Suzanne Harward Songbird gown is an impossibly brilliant piece of design by the crew at Suzanne Harward. Featuring embroidered tulle, a circular skirt, and incredible floral and bluebird details from top to bottom.

I photographed the wedding of Laura and Walker held at Daylesford Convent, and this post will feature just images of Laura in her incredible gown. Their dog Bonnie came along for the ride (as in, the entire ride, start to finish, including dance-floor raving at the incredible Daylesford Convent) and what followed was a wild day of rain-dodging and glorious times with their community at one of the gems of regional Victoria.

To see their full wedding in detail, keep your eyes on Together Journal, where it will be featured.

See the Songbird gown also featured here in unique Wedding Dresses.

Suzanne Harward Songbird Gown hanging
Suzanne Harward Songbird Gown hanging
Suzanne Harward Songbird Gown bridal preparation
Romantic black and white wedding portrait
Bride with her dog at wedding
Suzanne Harward Songbird Gown at Daylesford Convent
Suzanne Harward Songbird Gown at Daylesford Convent
Daylesford Convent Sunset portraits
Suzanne Harward Songbird Gown at Daylesford Convent
Suzanne Harward Songbird Gown at Daylesford Convent
Suzanne Harward Songbird Gown at Daylesford Convent
Suzanne Harward Songbird Gown at Daylesford Convent Reception
Suzanne Harward Songbird Gown at Daylesford Convent
Suzanne Harward Songbird Gown at Daylesford Convent
Suzanne Harward Songbird Gown at Daylesford Convent
Suzanne Harward Songbird Gown at Daylesford Convent
Suzanne Harward Songbird Gown at Daylesford Convent
Suzanne Harward Songbird Gown
Suzanne Harward Songbird Gown
Bride with her dog
Suzanne Harward Songbird Gown

Enquire about Suzanne Harward Songbird gown

Suzanne Harward website: https://www.suzanneharward.com/

Looking for another incredible wedding gown? Check out this modern wedding dress by Jaime Lee Major.