How To Find Your Wedding Style: Q&A With Top Auckland Bridal Shops

Sometimes the question is popped, the answer is YES, and the wedding day vision is effortless. Other times, couples spend an agonising amount of time trying to determine the wedding vibe that suits them best. If you’re in the latter category and wondering how to find your wedding style, you’re in luck!

I had the pleasure of chatting with two of Auckland’s most coveted bridal shops, Love James and Brooke Tyson Ritual, which offer a treasure trove of vintage and designer options for your wedding. So sit back, relax, and let’s see what they had to say regarding some of the most commonly asked questions to hone in on different wedding aesthetics. 

How To Know What Wedding Dress Style Suits You: A Q&A With Two of Auckland’s Most Coveted Bridal Salons 

Getting engaged is exciting, but it can also be slightly overwhelming, especially if you’re looking for something as specific as how to find your dream vintage wedding dress. 

The owners of Love James and Brooke Tyson Ritual sat down with me to discuss how to go about finding your unique wedding style, covering topics from how to find your wedding dress style to how to avoid contributing to fast fashion. Take a look! 

1. What are a few key points couples can use to help them with where to start?

Love James: It can be overwhelming thinking you have every option under the sun, but start by doing some research about what type of styles and designs you are drawn to. 

Brooke Tyson Ritual: I think it’s really important to narrow down bridal stores and designers to ones that align with your personal style. Designer’s Instagram feeds are so good to get an overall feel if they are right for you.

What Makes A Wedding Dress Vintage? 

Love James: Anything under 100 years old can be considered vintage; anything over is considered antique. 

But what makes a vintage piece special? It’s the hidden story and magic that’s often imbued in a piece. It’s knowing it may have been on an adventure before you and has been carefully looked after and preserved. The quality and craftsmanship found in vintage pieces are incredible compared to modern pieces. 

What Should Couples Know Before Booking An Appointment To Shop For Different Styles? 

Love James: Book an appointment online and I’ll ask you a few questions, so I can get a feeling for what sort of things you are looking for, and help you find what you’re looking for. When shopping vintage, you have to keep an open mind, as nothing will be “exactly” like a modern reference image, but that’s what makes it so special. 

Brooke Tyson Ritual: You can usually book a consultation through a designer’s website. We also have people contacting us through our different socials and can accommodate booking them in through there as well. Wear nude underwear wherever possible if you’re trying gowns and if you want to try your own heels with gowns bring those too.  

Hot Takes On Veils

Love James: It all comes down to personal preference, but I think they can really elevate and completely change the outfit, and especially make a dress look more bridal. Keep in mind, if you are worried about the admin of a veil — you decide how long you wear it for. 

Brooke Tyson Ritual: There are so many great options out there at the moment. Our favourite short veil in our collection is the Alba, beautifully beaded and sits just over your face. 

Wedding Accessories Or Shoes You Love At The Moment?

Love James: The neck scarf is really having a moment, and I am here for it. Something so simple, yet elegant and a little bit sexy. You can either have one custom-made or if you have excess fabric removed during tailoring, from a hem, etc. you can use this. 

Brooke Tyson Ritual: Accessories we love are big bold earrings — think vintage Christian Lacroix gold earrings. Also modern pearl chokers, and big bows in hair. 

How Your Wedding Outfit Should Make You Feel

Brooke Tyson Ritual: We 100% believe in not being pushed into a gown/fit that you’re not sure about. It has to feel like you and the feeling it conveys should be excitement, we love it when clients leave and say they can’t stop thinking about a particular gown or their bespoke gown after a fitting. 

You want to look forward to wearing it and be able to picture yourself in it all night, (unless you go for a second look later in the evening). 

What Are Some Vintage Wedding Ideas For A Timeless Look? Can You Customise A Wedding Gown?

Love James: It can sometimes be seen as sacrilege to change a vintage piece, but if this special piece gets another life, keep it in circulation — that’s great for the dress and our planet! I think small tweaks can really modernise, or personalise a piece too.  

Brooke Tyson Ritual: We love to customise our gowns from collection samples. We also create just as many bespoke gowns too. We will sit down with a bride and chat through design elements they may want and sometimes design and get confirmation on the spot.  

When To Start Looking For Your Wedding Dress 

Love James: With vintage, there is no hard and fast rule. I will have new pieces coming in every month, and we don’t have the lead time that ordering a dress requires. You will potentially still need alterations of some sort, which can require a lead time.  

Brooke Tyson Ritual: The industry moves so fast (and slow at the same time). I would advise starting to book custom a year out, minimum 6 months but some fabrics take months to arrive if they’re custom made so best to book in plenty of time. 

How To Reduce The Impact Of Fast Fashion Within The Wedding Industry

Love James: I think shopping by your values for your wedding is so important. Try not to buy into cheap trends, throw-away items that will have one use, and then go into the landfill.  

Brooke Tyson Ritual: We are very passionate about our gowns being able to be re-worn, reworked, and loved again! That was the point of us doing non-traditional bridal.  

Final Tips For Couples On How To Find Their Wedding Style

Love James: Think about what is important to you as a couple, what feels like a true expression of you two? Try and stick to that as much as possible, instead of trying to keep up with trends, or The Jones.  

Brooke Tyson Ritual: Think about what you love to wear, what era of garments excites you, what pieces you already have in your wardrobe that feel so special, and why. I think that can translate to your choice. 

How To Find Your Wedding Style: A Wedding Photographer’s Take 

Discovering your wedding style can be exciting, and mood boards and Pinterest boards are great for kickstarting your vision. These tools help you gather inspiration and define your likes and dislikes.  

While mood boards are helpful, I encourage you to add unique touches that reflect your personalities and interests. Whether it’s hosting your ceremony at a favourite museum, an artist’s house in Paris, or another meaningful location, the possibilities are endless. 

You can craft an unforgettable wedding within any budget, whether you’re looking at intimate weddings in Auckland or full-blown celebrations. Trust me — a little creativity goes a long way!

So, now that you know how to get started and where to find the best vintage wedding dress in Auckland, it’s time to talk about finding the best wedding photographer in Auckland, NZ, and worldwide.

If you’re ready to say yes to the dress, you’re ready to talk to your photographer! Reach out today and let’s get started on this exciting journey together!

You can read the full Q&A with Love James here

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