Chloe stuns in bespoke Zoe by Esty Style
When the dress finds you
By the time she walked through the doors of The Art of Bridal (Formally The Veil Collective), she was tired in the way only brides understand. We were her fifth - and final - bridal appointment. Thirty-two gowns, three separate days with endless opinions, mirrors, options and what-ifs. What began as excitement had slowly turned into decision fatigue, the creeping doubt that perhaps the dress she had always imagined simply didn’t exist.
She arrived hopeful, but exhausted at the prospect of still not finding her dream dress. And sometimes, that’s exactly when the magic happens.
A love years in the making
Chloe and Matt met at seventeen. Ten years together before marriage meant their wedding day wasn’t about spectacle, it was about meaning. Their love had grown up alongside them, evolving into something grounded and beyond measure. They dreamed of a country wedding nestled near the mountains where she always felt most at peace. A day filled with colour, vibrancy and the feeling of everything coming to life. Her dress needed to reflect that same energy.
While understated, minimalist gowns may have been everywhere, Chloe knew instinctively they weren’t her. She had always been bold in her fashion choices - as the woman in the room drawn to colour, texture and unexpected silhouettes. Puff sleeves weren’t a trend to her; they were a signature.
The dress had to feel like a continuation of who she already was as she prepared to step into her next chapter with Matt.
The moment everything clicked
And then there was Zoe. From the moment she saw her, something shifted. The off-the-shoulder puff sleeves spoke directly to her love of texture and shape. Zoe managed to wear contradiction beautifully: elegant and expressive, striking but timeless. It wasn’t just about how the gown looked. It was about how it felt.
Then came exploring the option to make Zoe truly her own with The Art of Bridals Bespoke services. The ability to transform Zoe into a mini dress for the reception sealed the deal. She loved the gown too much to wear it for only part of the day. This was a dress that could evolve with her from ceremony to celebration without losing its essence.
That flexibility and understanding of how brides move through a day, is where thoughtful design meets expert guidance.
The wisdom earned along the way
Looking back, Chloe can see her wedding dress journey wasn’t without its challenges. Reconciling what she thought she wanted with what she ultimately fell in love with took time - and nearly forty dresses.
But that journey mattered. Each appointment refined her understanding of herself, her taste and ultimately her vision for her special day.
It was through conversations with skilled bridal stylists with those who know how to listen between the lines that clarity emerged. Chloe shares that at The Art of Bridal, we were were the final piece to her bridal puzzle.
Chloes advice to brides still searching
Stay true to yourself. Trends come and go but your wedding photos are forever. The right dress doesn’t just fit your body, it fits your story. And when expertise meets intuition, the search ends exactly where it’s meant to.
Chloes Dream Team
Photographer @figtreepictures
Venue @yabbaloumbaretreat
Florist @ohhoneyflorals
Videographer @frontierfilmcompany
Suit @oscarhunttailors
Bridesmaid dresses @becandbridge
Makeup @laurenmontgomerymakeup
Hair @nikitaylorhair
