A: “Multiple reasons and to be honest by complete chance. I personally own the dress. It is flattering, comfortable and classic. I loved the structure, the ruching at the waist and the split at the back. The fabric was also the perfect thickness for a late Spring Wedding.  

My bridesmaids had all very different body shapes, and I was mindful that on the day I wanted them to feel beautiful, and comfortable of course - wedding days are long days. The dress also became one that was very sentimental to me. My amazing dad passed away unexpectedly only a few months before my wedding. Very last minute and with less than 24 hours notice, my now husband and I decided to have a small ceremony at the hospital with my dad, and in a mad rush to find a dress, I ran in to the Manning Cartell boutique, which was just down the road from my house and found the Fast Forward Strapless Dress. It was perfect, and it felt like it was meant to be.  

When coming to the decision on what dress my bridesmaids would wear, I always knew I wanted them to wear white. And after I wore the dress with my dad, I knew there was no other option. It was the only ‘Wedding’ dress my dad saw me in, so my girls had to stand beside me in this dress on our Wedding Day.  

A: We had the most incredible day. I wasn’t expecting it to feel quite as magical as it did - but all the planning and stress in the lead-up truly paid off. Our day began at my parents' house, where I got ready surrounded by my beautiful mum, godmother, and bridesmaids. My husband, Logan, and his groomsmen also got ready at the same house, so to keep tradition alive, we had to get a little creative to make sure we didn’t see each other before the ceremony.

We were transported to St Mark’s Church in Darling Point for a 2:30 pm wedding ceremony in beautiful old Jaguar cars. One of my favorite photos from the day is of my bridesmaids sitting in the back of the car, holding their peony bouquets. 

We chose a monochromatic theme for our wedding - many of our guests wore MANNING CARTELL, which tied everything together beautifully. 

The ceremony was incredibly special. My parents were married in the same church 31 years ago, so it truly felt like my dad was there with us, walking beside me down the aisle. After the ceremony, we took photos at the Botanic Gardens, the State Library, and the Opera House—iconic locations that perfectly suited the style of our day. Before heading to the reception, we stopped for a quick drink at Opera Bar with our bridal party to relax and soak it all in.  

Then we jumped back into the cars and made our way to Catalina in Rose Bay. The weather was perfect, allowing us to take full advantage of Catalina’s seamless indoor-outdoor vibe. Our signature drinks for the night were Margaritas, Lychee Martinis, and Espresso Martinis. 

After heartfelt speeches, lots of laughter, some tears, and an incredible dinner, we hit the dance floor. 

One of the highlights of the night was the flash mob—our guests had learned the introduction dance from The Perfect Couple, and seeing everyone join in on the dance floor was unforgettable. 

As the night went on, there was plenty of late-night flash photography, dancing on shoulders, and (maybe) one too many Lychee Martinis. For our grand exit, we had a sparkler send-off before Logan and I hopped onto a beautiful, old Italian-style riverboat, La Dolce Vita. As we cruised away, our guests stood on the pier, waving us off—a perfect ending to the most perfect day. "

The gorgeous Tali from Mosman boutique was the real mastermind in helping me pull together the additional five dresses I needed for my girls. This involved talking to head office for a recut to ensure we could receive the dresses by the Wedding. I am so grateful to MANNING CARTELL and Tali for making this possible. The dress was so much more than just a dress.