Culture Bridal Couture blog - wedding dress designer Lisa Merton shares her wedding gowns

Studio Closed- Sample Gowns on Sale - BY APPOINTMENT

2011-10-13T18:05:00.000-07:00

THIS POST UPDATED - 23rd December 2011...

Hello friends of Culture Bridal Couture,

After 10 years in the business of creating unique one-off couture wedding gowns, I have now closed my Culture Bridal Couture studio doors to take some much-needed "time out!" I'll be spending the next 12 months finishing off some projects, studying and travelling overseas.

However, I do still have some beautiful hand-crafted silk wedding gown samples (mostly in size 10) available for sale, as per the pictures in this posting, at greatly reduced prices. I am happy to provide further details on these gowns, if you'd like more info... just email me! These remaining Sample Sale gowns are now available for purchase from "Sherry Bridal Couture" in Rozelle, by appointment only. Sherry's details are below, or you can also email me directly with any queries.

Sample Sale viewings are available strictly "by appointment only" from Sherry Bridal Couture in Rozelle, with advance notice necessary to secure a private appointment. Alterations are also available from Sherry Bridal Couture to my Sale gowns (at extra cost).

Please note all Sample Sale gowns are sold in their "as is" condition, and there are no returns, refunds or credits. All sales are final.

Many thanks, and Merry Christmas to one and all!

xx Lisa

CONTACT DETAILS-

lisa@culturebridal.com.au

ww w.cu lturebridal.com.au

SHERRY BRIDAL COUTURE CONTACT DETAILS-

Sherry Bridal Couture,

74 Victoria Rd, Rozelle (next to Roberto's Cake Shop, corner of Evans St)
PH - studio 02 8971 4867
EMAIL- enquiry@sherrybridalcouture.com.au

WEBSITE- http://www.sherrybridalcouture.com.au

NOTE - these samples are the last remaining styles, and available ONLY in the sizes and colours shown here. This blog was updated on 23rd December 2011.

Last Minute Specials - JEWELLERY ON SALE!

2011-10-04T21:28:00.000-07:00

Hello,

As you may already know, I will soon be taking an extended break, and I will be closing my doors this coming SATURDAY 8th OCT... So it will soon be time to say farewell to Culture Bridal Couture (for now, anyways!)

However, I still have some beautiful sample wedding gowns available to purchase, AND some fabulous jewellery at 30- 40% off. Click on photos for larger image, prices and details. Jewellery can be purchased in person at my Rozelle studio, OR by internet/email, and I can post it to you (please enquire about postage costs, in addition to these prices).

So it's not too late to grab a bargain before I depart my studio & begin my next adventure! Scroll down to previous postings for my bargain Sale Gowns, and stay tuned as I add more LAST MINUTE SPECIALS this week...

Til next time,
xx Lisa

Culture Bridal Couture
74 Victoria Rd, Rozelle
BY APPOINTMENT ONLY until 8th OCT 2011
Ph (02) 9569 0551
Email - lisa@culturebridal.com.au
Web - www.culturebridal.com.au

Thanks Everyone - SALE CONTINUES!

2011-09-26T21:46:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Thanks to all the brides who came in for our Culture Bridal Couture Sample Sale last Saturday, it was a fun day, and went so quickly. It was great to meet so many new people, and to hear about so many different wedding plans and ideas. A special thanks to my lovely team- Joan, Sherry, Ryan and my lovely Mum Pam, who all helped to make the day go smoothly... your assistance is always much appreciated!

To those who didn't get a chance to pop in last Saturday, I am EXTENDING my FINAL SAMPLE SALE until next Friday 7th October, 2011. It is now strictly "by appointment only", so please don't hesitate to contact me by phone or email, to arrange a suitable time to visit me here in our Rozelle studio. I still have a few appointments left for this coming Saturday 1st October (at this stage)... but my diary is filling fast! Although we have now sold many of our sample wedding dresses, there are some GORGEOUS GOWNS still available - see the updated photos in this posting, all of which are available now, for amazing prices.

Don't miss your LAST CHANCE to purchase a beautiful Australian-Made silk weddding gown sample, as I will soon be closing my doors and taking an extended break. My last "official" day of work here in Rozelle will be Saturday 8th October, although I am still working on several of my existing brides' gowns, which will keep me busy until end of November. Then I'm off to study, travel and spend some relaxing time with my family, after 10 years of running my small business - an exciting new chapter in my life is about to begin!

I hope to see you before I depart,
Til next time,
xx Lisa

STUDIO:- By Appointment Only -74 Victoria Rd, Rozelle
On the corner of Evans Street (next to Roberto's Cakes)
PHONE:- (02) 9569 0551
EMAIL:- lisa@culturebridal.com.au
WEB:- www.culturebridal.com.au

Our LAST-EVER Sample Sale - tomorrow!

2011-09-22T21:06:00.000-07:00

"Open Day" SAMPLE SALE tomorrow,

Saturday 24th SEPT from 10am - 3pm

Culture Bridal Couture

74 Victoria Rd, ROZELLE

(near corner Evans St, next door to Roberto's Cakes)

NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY!

Hello again,

As you may know by now, Culture Bridal Couture will be closing our doors at the end of September 2011, for an extended break.

Before we go, we're holding our LAST-EVER Sample Sale tomorrow, Saturday 24th SEPT from 10am - 3pm, with lots of one-off bridal gowns, catwalk wedding gown samples and some of our most popular wedding dress sample styles selling at half-price or less! Beautiful silk sample wedding dresses start from as little as $500, and sample eveningwear from $250 - and every sample gown has been lovingly made by my team and I, right here in Sydney... all our work is 100% Australian Made.

No appointment is necessary for this Saturday's Sale Day, however our studio is very small and intimate, so we can only accomodate a maximum of 3 brides at one time... there may be some waiting time if we get too full!

If you cannot make it this Saturday for the big "Open Day", our Sample Sale wedding gowns (mainly in size 10) can also be viewed by appointment from now until 30^th September, so please contact me directly to arrange a suitable time (Tues- Fridays between 10am - 6pm).

Our sample wedding gowns are mainly size 8 and size 10, with just a few size 12's and 14's left. Please note there are no credits, refunds or exchanges on Sale Items, and all sales are final. We also offer an Alterations Service, extra charges apply.

Please SCROLL DOWN to previous postings for MORE SALE ITEMS, or click on the link below to our SALE BLOG:-
http://culture-bridal-sale.blogspot.com/

We hope to see you here in Rozelle tomorrow, Saturday 24th SEPT, & we're here from 10am - 3pm... no appointment necessary!

Til next time,
xx Lisa

STUDIO:- 74 Victoria Rd, Rozelle, corner of Evans Street (next to Roberto's Cakes)
PHONE:- (02) 9569 0551
EMAIL:- lisa@culturebridal.com.au
WEB:- www.culturebridal.com.au

More BEAUTIFUL Sale Gowns!

2011-09-20T23:09:00.000-07:00

Hello,
Here are some more BEAUTIFUL Sample Sale wedding gowns... Please scroll down to my previous post for ALL the details!
Hope to see you here this coming Saturday 24th Sept, from 10am - 3pm.

til next time,
xx Lisa

FINAL SAMPLE SALE - this Saturday 24th SEPT

2011-09-18T19:03:00.000-07:00

FINAL SAMPLE SALE -

"Open Day" this Saturday 24th SEPT from 10am - 3pm

NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY!

As you may know by now, Culture Bridal Couture will be closing our doors at the end of September 2011, for an extended break.

Before we go, we're holding our LAST-EVER Sample Sale this Saturday, 24th SEPT from 10am - 3pm, with lots of one-off bridal gowns, catwalk wedding gown samples and some of our most popular wedding dress sample styles selling at half-price or less! Beautiful sample wedding dresses start from as little as $500 - and every sample gown has been lovingly made by my team and I, right here in Sydney... all our work is 100% Australian Made. No appointment is necessary for this Saturdays Sale Day, however our studio is very small and intimate, so we can only accomodate a maximum of 3 brides at one time... there may be some waiting time if we get too full!

If you cannot make it this Saturday for the big "Open Day", our Sample Sale wedding gowns (mainly in size 10) can also be viewed by appointment from now until 30^th September, so please contact me directly to arrange a suitable time (Tues- Fridays between 10am - 6pm).

Our sample wedding gowns are mainly size 8 and size 10, with just a few size 12's and 14's left. Please note there are no credits, refunds or exchanges on Sale Items, and all sales are final. We also offer an Alterations Service, extra charges apply.

Please see my SALE BLOG link below, for lots MORE SALE ITEMS!
http://culture-bridal-sale.blogspot.com/

We hope to see you this Saturday, or sooner, you're most welcome to come in and say hello, I'm looking forward to fun day!
Til next time,
xx Lisa

STUDIO:- 74 Victoria Rd, Rozelle, corner of Evans Street (next to Roberto's Cakes)
PHONE:- (02) 9569 0551
EMAIL:- lisa@culturebridal.com.au

And another 4 FABULOUS SALE GOWNS!

2011-09-14T00:48:00.000-07:00

FINAL SAMPLE GOWN SALE - ON NOW!

2011-09-13T22:43:00.000-07:00

Hello,

As you may have read on my website and here on my blog, at the end of this month, September 2011, I will be taking an extended break to travel, study and spend some long-awaited time with my family. Having my Couture label for the past 10 years has been such a fabulous experience, and I've enjoyed every second of it - but the time has come for some much-needed time off!

So now it's only 2 weeks to go until i start packing my bags and begin my extended leave... which means very soon, Culture Bridal Couture will close it's doors. But before I go, I have LOTS of beautiful silk Sample Wedding Gowns to sell, all proudly Made In Australia, at absolute BARGAIN PRICES! Please see the photos attached with the FINAL SALE PRICES listed. I will be adding more pictures to my SALE BLOG every few days, so please check out both this blog, AND also the link below for my SALE BLOG within the next week:-

http://culture-bridal-sale.blogspot.com/

My sample wedding gowns are mainly size 8 and size 10, with very few in size 12-14 left. We also offer an Alterations Service (extra charges apply) and all our sample gowns are sold in their "as is" condition, with no returns, refunds or credits on Sale Items.

For this, my last-ever Culture Bridal Couture Sample Sale, I am working strictly BY APPOINTMENT ONLY from Tues thru to Fridays from now until Friday 23rd SEPT, so please contact me to book your personal appointment ASAP. My contact details are below.

I will also be holding a FINAL SALE DAY on Saturday 24th SEPT from 10am - 3pm, with no appointment necessary. Please note that on that day, we can only allow a maximum of 3 brides in our cosy little studio at any one time, so there may be a wait if we get too full. Therefore, I highly recommend making a gown appointment PRIOR to the 24th Sept - that way you get first choice of the samples available, AND you get the showroom and ME all to yourself!!

Stay tuned for more serious bargains soon, and I hope to see you before I close my doors at the end of Sept!

Til next time,
xx Lisa

www.culturebridal.com.au
email - lisa@culturebridal.com.au
phone - (02) 9569 0551
studio - BY APPOINTMENT ONLY from Tues- Fridays (from now til 23rd SEPT)
74 Victoria Rd, Rozelle (corner of Evans Street)

2011-09-12T04:54:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Thanks to everyone who came to visit me last Saturday at my Designer Fabric Sale - it was a great day, and i really enjoyed meeting lots of happy clients! Coloured silks, vintage obis and vintage kimonos were the "best-sellers" of the day, and for me, it felt so good to see my treasured fabrics and vintage pieces being discovered and loved by those who bought them.

My news for today is my recent bridal fashion interview which has just gone up in the "Wisdom" pages of the Polka Dot Bride website... hope you like it! Click here or on the link below:-

http://www.polkadotbride.com/2011/09/what-would-they-know-lisa-merton-of-culture-bridal-couture/

And please stay tuned for more info on my SAMPLE SALE wedding gown bargains coming soon, as I count down the days to my long-awaited "break"... more pics coming VERY soon!

Til next time,

xx Lisa

www.culturebridal.com.au

email - lisa@culturebridal.com.au

phone (02) 9569 0551

NOTE - Culture Bridal Couture will soon be closed for an extended break, at the end of September 2011. We are now not taking on any new orders, as we focus on finishing our remaining Couture orders. We have a beautiful collection of couture sample wedding gowns on SALE now, which can be viewed strictly by appointment only. Please contact me to arrange a suitable time, and please note, most samples are size 8 and size 10.

xx Lisa

2011-09-05T01:15:00.000-07:00

DESIGNER FABRIC SALE

ONE DAY ONLY

Sat 10^th Sept 2011

10am - 3pm

Culture Bridal Couture

74 Victoria Rd, corner of Evans Street, ROZELLE

Next door to Roberto’s Cakes

Phone (02) 9569 0551

NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED!

Join me as I clear my excess stocks of rare & exquisite fabrics & trims, including:-

SILKS - Dupions, Satins, Georgettes, Organzas in plains, textured & embroidered

LACES – Small & larger pieces… French, metallic, corded, coloured - all kinds

VINTAGE KIMONO & OBI – Stunning rare authentic Japanese silk treasures

INDIAN SILK SARI’S – Dozens of finely beaded & brocade Saris in many colours

TRIMS – beaded motifs, beaded waistbands, brooches, braids, lace trims

ALL AT BELOW COST/ WHOLESALE PRICES – LOTS OF SERIOUS BARGAINS!

Payments with cash or EFTPOS only – no credits, refunds or returns on sale goods.

My BIG news...

2011-08-31T01:11:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

Today I am announcing my BIG NEWS... Culture Bridal Couture is taking a break! After 10 years in business, I have decided to take a year off to study, travel overseas, and spend time with my family. Therefore, we will not be taking any more couture gown orders for 2011 or 2012. My team & I have thoroughly enjoyed creating so many unique wedding gowns over the past decade, and we wish to thank each and every bride that has embraced our designs - it’s been an amazing adventure indeed!

HOWEVER - before our departure, we have lots of beautiful one-off silk wedding gown samples now being released for sale (PRICES REDUCED TO CLEAR!), mainly in sizes 8-10, as well as a large selection of silk fabrics, laces, beaded trims, vintage silk kimono and obis, exquisite Indian silk saris & sari trims.

We will be holding 2 huge SALES in September 2011, with serious bargains on offer:-

ONE DAY ONLY - FABRIC SALE DAY – Saturday 10^th September from 10am – 3pm... 74 Victoria Rd, Rozelle (near corner Evans St, directly next door to Roberto's Cakes).

No appointment needed, ONE DAY ONLY - be quick to view the best fabrics & trims on offer, including our beautiful vintage kimono fabrics, obi fabrics & sari fabric collections. Fabric sales ONLY on this day - no gown sales on this day...

AND for those brides who want a Culture Bridal Couture wedding gown....

ON SALE NOW - BRIDAL SAMPLE GOWNS & ACCESSORIES – By Appointment Only in our Rozelle studio

Appointments are now being taken for immediate access to all sample gowns at sale prices. I am available for Sample Gown appointments from Mondays through to Fridays between 10am - 5.30pm, and on Saturdays from 10am - 3pm - STRICTLY by appointment only. Please note MOST sample gowns are sizes 8-10, with very few size 12's left and only 2 size 14 gowns left now. All sales are final, and there are no refunds, returns or credits on any sale items (gowns, accessories or fabrics.)

Don’t miss this last opportunity to visit Culture Bridal Couture before the end of September 2011 – and stay tuned for more pictures and prices on sale goods, which will be posted on my SAMPLE SALE BLOG (see link below) in the coming days.

http: //culture-bridal-sale.blogspot.com/

Thanks and I do hope to see you soon - it's the end of an exciting and very fulfilling era for me... and the start of another one!

Til next time,

xx Lisa

Oriental Inspired Wedding Gowns - our latest brides!

2011-08-28T23:21:00.000-07:00

ABOVE:- Mel's beautiful, happy and colourful wedding day photos... Mel wore a Culture Bridal Couture fully custom-made Liquid Silk Satin "Obi Gown" with a stunning black, fuschia, gold & silver vintage Obi waistband and bustle/train. I LOVE these photos!

BELOW:- Corinne and Ryan's fun, relaxed and colourful wedding day- I love these photos too! Corinne wore a Culture Bridal Couture "Fifties Obi Frock" which was custom-made just for her, using a very funky vintage Japanese Obi. Touches of the fabulous 1950's, mixed with a whole lotta modern-day street cred from the guys - and of course, some Oriental inspiration too. Photos by Marions Photographics

Hello again and welcome back to my Culture Bridal Couture blog,

This week's window display in my new Rozelle studio features one of our most simple yet popular looks - our "Obi Gown" bridal design. The fitted, floor-length sheath dress is made from Ivory pure silk Dupion, and the beautiful gold and ivory brocade fabric is from an authentic vintage Japanese Obi, re-worked into a fitted "obi" waistband and detachable bustle/train. This is my own interpretation of the "East Meets West" concept, were we are inspired by, but not directly imitating, the beautiful fashions we see from Japan, China and other Asian cultures.

Every time we create this look, we use a different vintage obi or kimono (in any colour the bride desires!), and since no two vintage pieces are ever the same, it ensures that EVERY Obi or Kimono Gown we create is totally unique! For brides that want a Chinese influence, we source beautiful Chinese brocades to use as feature panels, for stunning long trains or contrasting waistbands, always in an elegant and understated way.

See the photos below for other recent Oriental-inspired wedding gowns we have created for our Couture brides within the last year... I just adore using vintage fabrics and splashes of bold colour to create truly original wedding gowns for my clients. It really brings home our idea of expressing your individuality within your wedding gown - and not being "just another bride in a white dress!"

Til next time, xx Lisa

ABOVE:- Karen's Culture Bridal Couture gown reflected her partner's Chinese heritage, and we sourced a stunning Red Satin phoenix & dragon brocade to use within her exclusively designed Couture gown. Photos by David Oliver Photography

BELOW:- Angela on her wedding day, wearing a Culture Bridal Couture "Silk Kimono Gown", featuring a cropped and tailored jacket re-worked from a truly beautiful authentic vintage silk kimono, and worn over a custom-made Ivory silk dress. Photo by Nicole Anderson Photography

Spring is nearly here!

2011-08-01T18:21:00.000-07:00

Hello,
At last - the cold weather seems to be disappearing, and it really does feel like Spring is in the air. Goodbye Winter and hello sunshine and warmth! I'm having fun decorating my Culture Bridal Couture shop window in our NEW studio here in Rozelle... this week I have displayed our gorgeous Ivory silk "Sophia" Fishtail wedding gown, embellished with appliqued lace and delicate handbeading, and surrounded by beautiful cherry blossoms (yes, they are real) to welcome the coming Spring. I've also added some lighting to the windows, too - so it's all coming together nicely.

My young Schnauzer 'Miss Trixie' is enjoying visiting my new workplace, although these days she only comes in with me a couple of days a week, as she is getting used to being left at home now. She really loves sitting in the front wondow and watching the buses go by - see photos attached!

As always, our studio operates strictly "By Appointment Only" so that we can give each bride our full attention. So if you'd like to visit our new abode, just email or call to arrange a suitable time.

Til next time,
xx Lisa

Culture Bridal Couture
74 Victoria Road,
ROZELLE
Sydney, Australia
ph (02) 9569 0551
email - enquiries@culturebridal.com.au

Welcome to our NEW STUDIO in Rozelle!

2011-07-18T23:47:00.000-07:00

Hello!
After an exhausting month of "hard labour" - that is, sorting, packing, cleaning, lifting boxes, co-ordinating removalists, unpacking, cleaning, more sorting... my work is finally DONE! Our brand new Culture Bridal Couture studio is located at 74 Victoria Rd, Rozelle, and it's now up and running. We have 2 levels, the showroom on the ground floor, and a lovely, light and sunny workroom on the first floor above, plus for the FIRST TIME in 10 years of my business, we have a shop window, to display our Couture wedding gowns to all who care to look!

As we are now in a "shop-front" with LOTS of exposure, we had to downsize, which was alot harder than I first thought... it's amazing how much "stuff" you accumulate after being in the same place for 5 years. All good though - as a secret hoarder of fabrics, trims and stuff in general, it was actually quite liberating to get rid of unneccesary items and cleanse my workspace entirely!

Enjoy the photos of our new abode, and please come over to say hello! As always, we work strictly "By Appointment Only" to ensure each bride receives our full attention. So to book in, just email or call me to arrange a suitable time. Couture dress appointments are now available from Weds thru to Saturdays, and it's always best to book at least 2 weeks in advance.

Hope to see you soon,
til next time,
xx Lisa

Culture Bridal Couture
Phone (02) 9569 0551
Email - lisa@culturebridal.com.au
Web - www.culturebridal.com.au

WE ARE MOVING!!!

2011-06-20T17:55:00.000-07:00

Hello and a very BIG thank you to all those who visited me at my big Culture Bridal Couture MOVING SALE last Saturday! It was so much fun meeting everyone, and I really enjoyed seeing so many new faces trying on my bridal designs and looking amazing in them! A special thanks to my wonderful team who helped me on the day - you were all fabulous (and I couldn't have done it without you)!

We are now busy sorting out our stock, rolling up our fabrics, packing boxes, and preparing for our big move next week, so my Leichhardt studio is now CLOSED... however I look forward to welcoming everyone to my NEW STUDIO in Rozelle from the 7th JULY onwards. Once i settle in and decorate the new abode, I'll post some photos so you can check out our new space!

Until then, if anyone is interested in purchasing a SAMPE SALE gown, I do still have plenty of samples left, and I'm happy to sell them for the advertised prices until sold (to make space for NEW designs!!). So if you'd like to email me through my Culture Bridal Couture website, we can arrange an appointment for sometime AFTER 7th July to view my Sample Sale gowns. My email address is:-

lisa@culturebridal.com.au

OR you can phone and leave a message on (02) 9569 0551 and I'll return your call ASAP.

Wish me luck - moving is never fun but I am doing my best to enjoy it!

Til next time,

xx Lisa

FURTHER REDUCTIONS on SALE GOWNS!!!

2011-06-15T23:25:00.000-07:00

Hello,
Only 2 more sleeps to go until our huge MOVING SALE - it's this Saturday 18th June 2011... very exciting!!! I'm hoping to sell LOTS and LOTS of Culture Bridal Couture samples this weekend, so I can clear some space and make room for lots of new designs for the new Rozelle studio - we'll be opening there in early July (I'll keep you posted).

Packing and moving a business (or home) is never easy - but selling beautiful samples at FABULOUS PRICES and making people very happy is the fun side of it! So please come and join us, have a browse or just pop in to say hello...

You can view LOTS MORE SAMPLES and PRICES on my Sale Blog - just click on the link below:-

http://culture-bridal-sale.blogspot.com/

Culture Bridal Couture MOVING SALE
From 10am - 3pm
Saturday 18th June (no appointment necessary)
Unit 8, 10 - 12 George Street, Leichhardt
on corner of Mc Aleer Street
Street parking on George St and Mc Aleer St
Phone (02) 9569 0551
www.culturebridal.com.au

Til next time, xx Lisa

MOVING SALE - Previews of gowns available NOW!

2011-06-06T23:38:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to my Culture Bridal Couture Blog...

In case you haven't heard, we are moving to a fabulous new studio in Rozelle at the end of this month. And to help clear some space for all those boxes I need to pack, we're holding a huge MOVING SALE on Saturday 18th June, from 10am - 3pm, and everyone is welcome!

We'll be selling older and more current sample wedding gowns, one-off bridesmaids and evening dresses and fun cocktail frocks, as well as lots of fabrics, accessories, veils and much more. Plus I am clearing some of my vintage silk kimono and obi collection, and selected Indian silk sari's, bright and colourful, as well as white and ivory ones, purchased from India over the years. Lots of treasures and all priced to clear, so I can fill my new studio with new samples after I move!

Please click on my Sale Blog link below, and scroll down to previous postings there for LOTS of photos and prices of sale offerings, all at ridiculous prices! If you'd like to come in earlier to preview the gown samples, I am now accepting appointments for weekdays from now until the sale day - contact me to arrange a preview time between now and the 17th June.

http://culture-bridal-sale.blogspot.com

I hope to see you at the sale, if not before!
Til next time,
xx Lisa

Culture Bridal Couture MOVING SALE
From 10am - 3pm only
Saturday 18th June (no appointment necessary)
Unit 8, 10 - 12 George Street, Leichhardt
Phone (02) 9569 0551
www.culturebridal.com.au
Street parking on George Street and McAleer Street. We accept cash, EFTPOS, Visa and Mastercard only.
Please note there are no returns, refunds or credits on Sale Items.
Alterations are available (at extra cost).

Alicia and Bram's BEAUTIFUL Balinese Wedding!

2011-05-05T21:39:00.000-07:00

I have never been to Bali, but just looking at these magnificent wedding photos makes me want to go - right now! What an amazing location - gorgeous chapel on the water, beautiful Balinese women in traditional dress scattering petals, amazing scenery & sunsets, and the food looks fabulous, too!

Our gorgeous bride Alicia married her 'childhood sweetheart' Bram in the stunning surrounds of Tirtha Uluwata in Bali, Indonesia in September late last year. We created Alicia's divine Couture gown from white silk and soft flowing tulle, and it featured dozens of tiny hand-made silk flowers scattered around the hemline of the skirt, with a bejewelled silk flower at the neckline. She had soft tulle "off the shoulder" straps, a lovely train at the back, and a delicate long lace-edged veil. Alicia went for a soft, feminine, romantic look which suited her personality, and the location, just PERFECTLY!

For anyone interested in a beautiful Balinese wedding, Sydney-based Alicia has now opened a wedding planning business, specialising in destinations weddings to Bali. She can be contacted on this email - silhouette.wed@gmail.com

Wedding Gown by Culture Bridal Couture
Photography by David Salim - www.davidsalim.com

Til next time,
xx Lisa

More beautiful photos - Margot's Wedding!

2011-04-12T23:16:00.000-07:00

Hello again,

Here are some more beautiful photos from our recent bride Margot's wedding day... pics courtesy of Inlighten Photography in Leichhardt. My fabulous team here at Culture Bridal Couture created Margot's couture gown with BOTH a long and a short skirt underneath the organza ruffles, so she could do a quick change in between her ceremony and reception, to surprise her unsuspecting groom, and show off her great legs!

Scroll down to my previous post for more details on Margot's wedding gown, including photos from our fittings, and the original inspiration - our "Brigitte" sample design.

Til next time,

xx Lisa

Couture Wedding Gown by Culture Bridal Couture

Wedding Photos by Inlighten Photography

From Fashion Shoot to Wedding Day!

2011-02-23T19:23:00.001-08:00

Hello and welcome to my first Blog for 2011 - it's been a really busy past 2 months here in our Culture Bridal Couture workroom, with lots of Summer weddings, and gorgeous gowns being completed for the upcoming Autumn wedding season. March & April are two of our busiest months of the year, along with September, October & November. So it's a hive of activity here for my team and I !!

Last week I was THRILLED to see a preview of some wedding photos come through from one of our recent brides, Margot, as shown (above & below) in today's posting. Her wedding photographer was the talented Jarred from Inlighten Photography. Margot first came to see me in early Spring 2010, after she fell in love with the photos and video of our "Brigitte" design, a delicious 1950's - inspired knee-length wedding dress with a sweetheart neckline, rusching, layers of silk organza frills, and a stunning silk flower shoulder strap. Margot could not decide between having the knee-length version, or a new full-length version - so she GOT THEM BOTH!! How awesome is that - we were all so excited!!?!

We created the rusched bodice for Margot a little longer than on our sample, and then made 2 detachable skirts, one long and one short, with a detachable petticoat too. Margot wore the beautiful and very elegant full-length version for her wedding ceremony, the first time we have done this style as a full-length look, featuring a stunning long train at the back. Then, for her grand entrance to her reception, Margot surprised her husband Kane and all their guests by walking in with her flirty, playful and oh-so-fabulous short version... WOW!!! We love you, Margot - looking forward to seeing more wedding photos from your big day when they come through!

Below are a few snapshots of Margot from her dress fittings in our studio, plus the original image from my own campaign images & fashion shoot (and video) with our original "Brigitte" sample design. As with all our work, our Couture gowns are individually designed and fully custom-made for each individual bride, so anything is possible! It's so rewarding for me, as a designer, to see my brides take inspiration from our photo shoots, styling and hair and make-up, and embrace that look for their big day - for my team and I, that is "Mission Accomplished!"

Til next time, xx Lisa

Thank You - Sample Sale was great!

2010-12-16T19:33:00.000-08:00

Hello and Happy Silly Season to all!

A very quick blog this week, as my team and I are madly finishing several Couture wedding gowns in time for pre-Xmas pick-up's! Busy, busy vibe here in the studio- lots of hand-sewing, hand-beading and pressing/ steaming of some beautiful wedding gowns for our late December and early January brides... we'll all take a deep breath and relax next week when our work for 2010 is completed!

I just wanted to say a very big and heartfelt "thank you" to all that came to my Sample Sale on 4th December, and those that have visited & purchased sample gowns since. It was a great day, although quite hectic for the first few hours, and there was lots of excitement and smiles - I enjoyed myself and it was great to meet lots of new people, too. Big congrats to the gorgeous brides that purchased their wedding gowns from our Sale, including Daniela, Karen, Linda, Anna, Ange, Jill, and Romy, just to name a few. And a big thank you to my wonderful friends, family and staff who helped out on the day - your presence and enthusiasm was very much appreciated!

For those of you who missed the Sample Sale day, I now have a permanent "Sample Sale" rack of beautiful hand-crafted wedding gowns & evening designs, plus a range of stunning rare fabrics, laces, vintage kimonos, obis and lovely silk wraps, ALL priced at absolute bargain prices! For the latest Sale items, info, prices and photos, vivit my NEW sale link below:-

www.culture-bridal-sale.blogspot.com

The fun & flirty black & white silk 50's inspired dress (pictured above) is a great example of the unique designs STILL AVAILABLE on my Sale rack- this one would be just perfect for a size 8-10 Bridesmaid (and just look at the pricetag - as a Couture dress it's valued at over $3,000). So if you'd like to come and view my permanent Sample Sale collection, just contact me and we can schedule an appointment.

Until next time, enjoy the festive season and Merry Christmas!

xx Lisa

Sample Sale- Saturday 4th December 2010 - come & join us!

2010-12-02T11:57:00.000-08:00

Hello and welcome to my last posting before my big in-house SAMPLE SALE tomorrow, here at the Culture Bridal Couture studio in Leichhardt (Sydney). It's for ONE day only, Saturday 4th December 2010, from 10am to 3pm.

First come, first served, lots of gorgeous original one-off bridal and evening wear samples, some of which have never been offered for sale before. This is a fantastic opportunity to buy a beautifully hand-crafted, one-off Culture Bridal Couture design at 50% - 80% less than the Couture version - so make sure you come early to grab the best bargains!

Please note these are unique SAMPLE GOWNS, mostly size 8 and size 10, with some 12's and 14's too, and are offered at these heavily discounted prices in their "as is" condition. Any repairs, alterations, dry-cleaning or adjusting required to these sample gowns are not included in these special sale prices, but of course we are offering our own "Alterations Services" if needed. We accept Cash, EFTPOS, Mastercard and Visa only.

As well as a fabulous range of sample wedding gowns, bridal corsets, silk skirts, bridesmaids dresses and unique cocktail/ evening wear, I'll also be selling some of my rare collection of vintage silk Japanese kimonos, obis and some exquisite Indian sari fabrics too, plus beaded scarves, assorted accessories and some fun costume jewellery. Lots of lovely things to tempt you with - perhaps just in time for Christmas, too?!?

I hope to see you at my first EVER in-house Sample Sale tomorrow - if any queries please don't hesitate to contact me. Scroll down to the past few weeks of postings for lots of photos (and prices) of just some of the wonderful gowns on offer.

Many thanks, xx Lisa

Lisa Merton

Designer / Owner

Culture Bridal Couture & Culture Shock Bridal & Eveningwear

email - lisa@culturebridal.com.au
www.culturebridal.com.au
phone- 02 9569 0551

SAMPLE SALE - one day only!
Saturday 4th December 2010
from 10am - 3pm
Culture Bridal Couture
Unit 8, 10 - 12 George Street,
Leichhardt. NSW
Sydney, Australia

STREET PARKING is available on George St, McAleer St, Flood St and the surrounding laneways. Our studio is located within a warehouse complex on the CORNER of GEORGE & McALEER Streets, approx 50 metres away from Parramatta Rd. Once you enter the warehouse complex, look for the 2nd Unit on the left. Street parking only (please do not park inside the complex)

More Beautiful Gowns for my Sample Sale!

2010-11-30T00:12:00.000-08:00

OOOohhhh very exciting - I'm counting down the days now! This Saturday 4th December 2010 is my first EVER in-house Sample Sale, and I'll be offering some completely original, one-off bridal and evening wear designs at AWESOME prices! All my work is proudly Made In Australia, using the exclusive fabrics I have sourced from around the globe, and my team and I pride ourselves on the beautifully hand-crafted workmanship in each and every gown we create (samples included!)

Please scroll down to my previous postings for all the Sale details - and i hope you like today's collection of gorgeous samples which will all be available at our Sample Sale.

10am - 3pm ONE DAY ONLY, this Saturday 4th December 2010!!!
Hope to see you there,
xx Lisa

Indian-inspired SALE GOWNS!

2010-11-25T22:44:00.000-08:00

Here's some more exciting Sample Sale offerings, beautifully made original designs which can be worn by brides, bridesmaids or to a fabulous evening event! Today I'm featuring a few of my Indian-inspired sample dresses, made from GORGEOUS metallic saris and sari braids, mixed back with pure silks in various colours and textures.

Don't forget my first EVER in-house sample sale is next week - Saturday 4th December 2010, here in my Leichhardt couture studio. Scroll down to my previous postings for all the details - hope to see you there!

Have a lovely weekend, stay tuned for more updates next week!
xx Lisa

Japanese-Inspired Samples ON SALE 4th DECEMBER!

2010-11-23T20:03:00.000-08:00

I have been a very busy girl this week, getting ready for my first-ever Sample Sale - and it's VERY EXCITING! My team & I have created so many beautiful and very original samples over the years, so this will be a great opportunity for brides to see some our lesser-known styles, and more experimental work that has never been offered for sale before.

As well as the sample wedding gowns, bridal corsets, silk skirts and unique cocktail/ eveningwear, I'll be selling some of my unique collection of vintage kimonos, obis and Indian sari fabrics too, plus scarves, accessories and some fun costume jewellery. Lots of lovely things to tempt you with - perhaps just in time for Christmas, too?!?

Today I am featuring a few of the Japanese-inspired samples which will be offered for sale on 4th December, see the photos attached. There are also a few size 12 & size 14 styles within my Oriental-themed sample collection, so come and see those in person on the day!

Not long to go now, the countdown is on for my big Sample Sale on Saturday 4th December - scroll down to my previous few posts for all the details below. Hope to see you there!

Til next time,
xx Lisa

Getting ready for my Sample Sale- SAT 4th DECEMBER!

2010-11-22T00:00:00.000-08:00

Hello again,

here are a few more sample Culture Bridal Couture bridal gowns and colourful cocktail/ party/ bridesmaids dresses that I'll be selling for FABULOUS PRICES at my Sample Sale on Sat 4th December 2010. Remember these are all original one-off samples, mostly sizes 8 or 10, designed & beautifully made in my Leichhardt studio from my own exclusive fabrics.Click on the photos in these postings to view a larger image.

Watch this space closely, as I'll be posting up more gorgeous sample dresses and prices this week and next, along with vintage kimono, obi and beautiful Indian sari fabrics, too. My first-ever Sample Sale is for ONE DAY ONLY and these exclusive and original one-off dresses have never been offered for sale before - so don't miss out!

Please scroll down to my previous few postings for all the Sale Day details, being held in my Leichhardt studio... i hope to see you there!

Til next time,

xx Lisa

More Sneak Previews- SAMPLE SALE!

2010-11-16T22:04:00.000-08:00

More sneak previews here for my Sample Sale on Saturday 4th December - please scroll down to my previous postings for more info & sale details....

Today's photo updates feature mainly "separates" - gorgeous pure silk wedding corsets and bridal skirts, all to be sold separately at my sale... first come, first served! Also a gorgeous shorter dress, 1950's-inspired, which comes with a separate sash waistband, hand-beaded and decorated with lace applique. Cute hoop petticoats are also available for under this dress- perfect for a size 10 bridesmaid, or an informal garden wedding. AND a fabulous price too!

Stay tuned for more updates in the coming days,
xx Lisa

Sneak Preview - SAMPLE SALE on Sat 4th Dec 2010

2010-11-14T21:49:00.000-08:00

As promised, here are some sneak previews of the one-off Couture gowns I will be selling at heavily discounted prices, in my Culture Bridal Couture SAMPLE SALE! It's for ONE day only, Saturday 4th December 2010, right here in my private studio. I'll be adding more images to this blog in the coming days, so watch this space for more sample gowns and fabulous prices!

Check out the images attached, which indicate the actual sample gowns for sale, their name, size and price in AUD (Australian dollars) including GST. Please note these are one-off SAMPLE GOWNS, available ONLY in the sizes and colours listed. Of course being samples, they have been on display in my showroom, some have been worn in fashion parades and/or photo shoots, they are all generally in good to very good condition, and are offered at these discounted prices in their "as is" condition. Any repairs, alterations, dry-cleaning or adjusting required to these sample gowns are NOT included in these special sale prices, and would be additional costs at the Buyer's own expense. We will be offering Alterations services if needed (at extra cost, depending on the complexity and labour required).

I hope you understand that these very special prices don't apply to the custom-made Couture versions of my designs, which is due to the fact that when we create a Couture gown, we do at least 4 personal fittings with the bride, and the gown would be custom-made for her exact figure, in her choice of colours, fabrics, etc. So really, this is a wonderful opportunity to purchase a top quality, original silk gown, designed and made by my skilled team of Couture artisans and I, at unbelievable prices!!

Stay tuned for more updates in the coming weeks, and I do hope you can visit our studio on Saturday 4th December, from 10am - 3pm. First come, first served! Please feel free to email me directly, if you have any questions.

Many thanks,
xx Lisa

email - lisa@culturebridal.com.au
www.culturebridal.com.au
phone- 02 9569 0551

In-house studio SAMPLE SALE - one day only!
Saturday 4th December 2010
from 10am - 3pm
Culture Bridal Couture
Unit 8, 10 - 12 George Street,
Leichhardt. NSW
Sydney, Australia

Our first EVER in-house SAMPLE SALE !!!

2010-10-29T02:17:00.000-07:00

The time has finally come to make some space in my Leichhardt studio, so I am very excited to announce our first-ever studio SAMPLE SALE! It's all happening for one day only, on Saturday 4th December 2010, from 10am til 3pm. All welcome- so come and say hello, have a browse and check out my Culture Bridal Couture studio, too.

Over the next few weeks I'll be posting photos (and prices) of some of the best bargains on offer for the sale, including beautiful silk Couture wedding gown samples, eveningwear & party frock samples, bridesmaids dress samples, and soooooo much more! As well as one-off wedding gowns, dresses, fitted corsets and long silk skirts, there will also be rare & exquisite silk evening fabrics, French laces, beaded & metallic trims and embellishments, and special "treasures" that I've collected from my international travels over the years... vintage kimonos and obis, Indian silk saris, silk wraps from South-East Asia, and one-off pieces that won't be found anywhere else but in my studio!

So stay tuned, watch this space - and tell your friends!

xx Lisa

SAMPLE SALE- Saturday 4th December 2010

Culture Bridal Couture (private studio)

Unit 8, 10-12 George Street,

Leichhardt. Phone (02) 9569 0551

Sydney, Australia

Please feel free to contact me for any additional info, prices, questions, etc...

EMAIL - lisa@culturebridal.com.au

WEBSITE - www.culturebridal.com.au

Behind The Scenes - My Latest Photo Shoot!

2010-10-14T04:08:00.000-07:00

Join me behind the scenes at my recent Sydney photo shoot, showcasing 4 brand new sample gowns my "Culture Bridal Couture" team & I have just finished creating... these photos are NOT the official professional images, but rather just some quick pix I took with my own little pocket camera! So I am really looking forward to getting the proper finished images from our professional photographer in the next few weeks - stay tuned!!

Once again I chose Dario Gardiman to photograph my latest designs, as his work is consistently FABULOUS, he always listens to what i want, and is a joy to work with. This shoot took place in his very cool Erskineville studio, and Dario created a great set with beautiful lighting and cleverly crafted props to create the shadow effects. I love watching Dario work, and all the little details he attends to, in order to get that perfect shot.

Our AMAZING hair & make-up team was just superb on the day, and the speed and quality of their work was mind-blowing! The very talented Susie Ayoub doing beautiful make-up, whilst the highly experienced Lizzie from L'Bridal Hair created works of art with our model's hair, assisted by Mary. They all worked so well as a team, making it look "so easy" when i know its so hard to do in such a short space of time. Lizzie and Susie are available for weddings, formal events and any special occasions, see their contact details below. Thanks girls, you did a truly BEAUTIFUL job on each and every look you created - PERFECT!!

And the star of the shoot was undoubtedly our GORGEOUS bridal model Tanya, who looked sexy, demure, goddess-like and downright incredible in every gown she wore! She has a fantastic & very feminine look that can be changed so easily, which is what every designer craves in a fashion model, so that we can transform her into whoever we want to, suiting each gown perfectly. Plus apart from having an amazing body, she has the BEST lips and looked completely gorgeous in ruby red lipstick, too. THANK YOU TANYA!!

Enjoy these sneak previews, and stay tuned for the official shots coming soon,

til next time,

xx Lisa

All gowns & accessories by Culture Bridal Couture

Make-Up Artist Susie Ayoub - Phone 0412 607 119

Hair Stylist Lizzie at L'Bridal by Lizzie - Phone 0411 335 988 or 02 9636 7047

Shoes by Deseo Shoes, 474 Oxford St, Paddington

Sydney BRIDE Magazine - featuring our gowns!

2010-09-22T21:17:00.000-07:00

The latest issue of Sydney BRIDE magazine has just come out, Issue #64, and i am thrilled to see so many "Culture Bridal Couture" gowns amongst the fashion pages- VERY exciting indeed!! In fact, 2 of our BRAND NEW wedding gown styles can be seen in the "Style With Attitude" fashion shoot, which has a distinctive vintage feel, and a fresh Spring colour palette!

Our brand new mermaid-shaped "Estella" bridal design (AS PHOTOS ABOVE), with draped French lace over one shoulder, French Lace overlay & layers of silk georgette ruffles cascading down into the skirt train, (seen on pages 51 & 54), is accessorised with a fabulous oversized silk flower headpiece. Our other newbie is the beautiful Champagne-coloured "Cassandra" bridal gown, (AS PHOTOS TOP OF PAGE) featuring a long-line fitted corset-style bodice embellished with tiny tulle ruffles and silver beaded lace, with a softly flowing tulle skirt and a cute beaded cap sleeve on one shoulder (pages 47 and 57). Both these samples reflect the current trends in Couture bridal design for soft feminine silhouettes and floaty fabrics, moving away from the stiff heavy fabrics altogether, & giving a modern edge with a one-shouldered feature for some unexpected fun!

In the "Natural Elegance" fashion shoot, our recent "Belle Silk & Lace" white & silver bridal design (AS PHOTOS ABOVE) looks amazing on their model (pages 32 and 37), really focussing on the gorgeous fit and the back bustle detailing - LOVELY! Whilst the Latte & Silver "Catherine Lace Halter" style (AS PHOTOS BELOW) shows off this slimline wedding gown and matching pearl & crystal headpiece (pages 35 and 41). All these beautiful fashion images are photographed by Peter Collie, with hair & make-up by the talented Paul Bedggood, and appearing in Issue #64 of Sydney BRIDE magazine, out now throughout NSW.

The magazine has a fab new look, and features lots of great "Real-Life" weddings, including our very own "Culture Bridal Couture" couples, Kate & Michael (pages 155 - 157), and also the lovely Vicki & Steve (pages 144-147), whose stories and photos show just how unique and fun outdoor weddings can be, whether by the beach or overlooking Sydney Harbour, no matter what the weather does!

BRIDE magazine has also re-launched their website, which now has lots of handy new features, such as the FASHION section where weddding dresses can be browsed by gown STYLE, as well as by gown DESIGNER. Lots of helpful articles, planning tips, great directory, beautiful ideas for styling and accessories, and i just adore their bridal SHOE photo gallery, too - the new BRIDE site is perfect for brides & grooms alike, covering many aspects of the big event! Just imagine how we ever survived without the internet to help plan a wedding!

Til next time,
xx Lisa

PHOTO CREDITS:-
Fashion Photography in this posting is by Peter Collie, and appears courtesy of BRIDE Magazine, published by Hardie Grant. All gowns shown in this posting are by Culture Bridal Couture

Real-Life wedding photos (left) by Luke Butterly Photography and (right) by Milk & Honey Photography, featuring gowns by Culture Bridal Couture

Colourful Kimono Bride Sarah!

2010-09-08T22:27:00.000-07:00

When i started my bridal label (originally called Culture Shock) back in 2001, one of my main aims was to create beautiful, one-of-a-kind wedding dresses that embrace diverse cultures from around the world. I have always adored Oriental brocade fabrics, and the fascinating art, food & cultures of Asian countries such as Japan, China and South-East Asia in particular... so designing wedding gowns influenced by these wonderful concepts was something i just HAD to do!

Almost by accident, i started working with unique one-off vintage kimonos and obi fabrics, bought in Japan & given to me by a client, as she requested I make something special for her using these authentic textiles. After experimenting with various dress styles, splicing the kimono prints & combining them with plain coloured silks, and playing around with proportions & design lines, I eventually came up with several wedding dress concepts that I felt were flattering, elegant, boldly stylish yet also DIFFERENT from other Asian-inspired designs on the market - my own interpretation or "fusion" of East meets West. So over the years I have had the great pleasure of turning these concepts into reality, for my brides that want something colourful, bold and truly WOW for their wedding day!

One such bride is Sarah, from Canberra, and these are her wedding day photos, showing how FABULOUS she looked marrying Jacob in her 'Culture Bridal Couture' kimono gown. When Sarah first came to see me, we discussed her fave colour RED ( & how good she looks wearing red!), what style gowns she liked, & then looked at several vintage kimonos i had in my collection. After much thought, she chose the most STUNNING red & white vintage kimono, with pretty coloured flowers, gold embroidery & funky cherry blossom detailing, and from this one-off fabric, we created her 2-piece bridal gown (silk dress and matching kimono jacket).

Sarah and Jacob's wedding day was a great success, and to quote Sarah directly from the lovely Thank-You card she sent me afterwards...

"To dear Lisa & the wonderful Culture Bridal team, Thank you so much for creating the perfect wedding dress for me, it was more than I ever imagined my wedding dress could or would be. Jacob's jaw apparently dropped as soon as he saw me! All of our wedding guests were absolutely blown away, with comments like 'GORGEOUS' and 'SPECTACULAR', and led many of the women to say they wish they could have their weddings again so they too could have such a unique dress!"

Brides like Sarah make me so happy, and remind me of why I am in this business & why i truly LOVE what i do - meeting inspirational women who embrace their individuality, and are not afraid to break with tradition on their wedding day to wear an original, colourful & truly unique one-off gown. It brings joy not just to them, (and myself), but also brings joy to everyone that has the opportunity to see them looking so amazing & happy! Plus, of course, I get to visit Japan to buy more vintage kimono and obi pieces - i love that, too! Another quote from Sarah to finish this story...

"Everyone commented how much the dress suited me, so thank you again for creating a dress that really did represent who I am. I have already worn my jacket again!!"

Sarah's Kimono wedding gown by Culture Bridal Couture
Sarah & Jacob's wedding photos by Richard Miller
And a special thanks to Tina, for introducing me to the beauty of the Japanese kimono!

Bagpipes, Kilts and French Lace - and lots of fun!

2010-08-15T18:48:00.000-07:00

Here in Australia we are lucky to have so many different cultures represented amongst us, allowing us to enjoy the diverse food, music, festivals, cultural traditions and fashion on offer, from living in a truly multi-cultural society. It is precisely this concept that my label "Culture Bridal Couture" is based on, and continually inspired by! One nationality which is strongly represented here in Sydney is Scotland, and of course with a good, fun-filled Scottish wedding celebration comes the kilt, and the bagpipes!

One of my favourite recent "Culture" brides is Wendy, who married her handsome Scotsman David in true style at Sydney's "Gunners Barracks", overlooking the splendid Sydney Harbour. Wendy also has Scottish heritage, so when she came to see me to discuss possible wedding gown designs, we knew there would be many a kilt being worn to her wedding! We talked about what sort of bridal gown and overall bridal "look" would compliment the groom & guests wearing kilts of various colours and patterns, and agreed that a wedding gown which is neutral in colour, and classic in design, yet with amazing detail and a bit of "bling", would be best suited so as not to clash with the kilts, whilst still looking BEAUTIFUL.

Wendy had already fallen in love with our "French Metallic Lace" bridal design from photos seen on my website, and as soon as we tried it on her, we knew it was the one! Teamed up with a custom-made silver tulle veil, silver satin shoes, Swarovski crystal beading and a stunning Vintage-style brooch & matching earrings, Wendy's custom-made silk gown fitted her like a glove, and as you can see from these photos, she looked absolutely breathtaking on her wedding day!

Surrounded by family & friends who had travelled from around the globe, Wendy and David's outdoor wedding ceremony featured a lone bagpipe player playing as Wendy walked down the aisle, and at the end of their ceremony, the lone bagpiper was then joined by a full pipe band who suddenly appeared on the headland above the wedding venue, a magnificent surprise and a memorable start to their married life! Dining on a menu of Modern Australian cuisine, the guests were also given traditional Scottish toffee (called "Tablet") as their bonbonnerie, handmade by the father of the bride from an old family recipe. A celtic rock band kept the dance floor swinging throughout the reception, with a magical rendition of Auld Lang Syne wrapping up the night in true Scottish style.

Congratulations to Wendy & David on a truly wonderful wedding, I just love the way you blended the Aussie and Scottish traditions together and showed your heritage, individuality and love of life throughout every fantastic moment - yours is such a beautiful story!

Til next time,

xx Lisa

Wedding gown & accessories by Culture Bridal Couture

Wedding photos by Gavin Cato at Cato & Pade Photography

Wedding venue was The Gunners Barracks, Sydney, Australia

Elaine and Damien's Romantic Wedding Day!

2010-07-23T16:32:00.000-07:00

French Lace is just so beautiful - it's soft and delicate to touch, it's ultra-feminine and timeless to wear, it can be moulded to the body's curves & tailored to create elegant slimline wedding gowns, or draped over silks into fuller ballgown styles. Above all, the look is ALWAYS chic, ladylike, elegant and will never date! That's why i love using French lace in my Culture Bridal Couture gowns.

Our recent 'Culture' bride Elaine chose to wear our Ivory/ Latte "Filigree French Lace" bridal gown on her big day, with the style adapted to suit her petite frame, including a sweetheart neckline and a more simple hand-beaded grosgrain ribbon belt, tied into a cute bow at the back with long sashes. Her individually custom-made Liquid Silk Satin gown featured our French Filigree Lace overlay, fitted bodice, slim A-line skirt, scallopped lace straps and hemlines, buttons & loops and a lovely train at the back.

Elaine & Damien's wedding day was romantic, elegant and fun, with their church ceremony in Paddington followed by their reception at Centennial Parklands Restaurant, located within Sydney's stunning Centennial Park. Surrounded by friends & family, including guests from as far away as Holland and Scotland, the reception featured a big screen slideshow of the wedding days' photos by Inlighten Photography, fabulous food and wine, and the sweet tunes of DJ Stefan, who kept guests partying on the dance floor til late!

We loved Elaine's long flowing tulle veil, her STUNNING fresh flowers and the fabulous purple colours in her bridesmaids dresses and flowers. Plus a French-inspired wedding cake to go with her French lace gown - perfect choice! Congratulations Elaine & Damien, you make a GORGEOUS couple and we wish you both much love and happiness!

Gorgeous Wedding Photos by Inlighten Photography

Elaine's wedding gown by Culture Bridal Couture

Beautiful Flowers by Brides In Bloom

Divine Wedding Cake by Croquembouche Pattiserie in Banksmeadow

Til next time, xx Lisa

Couture HEAVEN - delightfully different!

2010-07-14T23:05:00.000-07:00

Photos above - Christian Dior Autumn/Winter Couture 2010

That exciting time of year has rolled around again - the Autumn/Winter Couture shows in Paris (in the first week of July annually). This year nine Couture design houses showed their latest collections, including Chanel, Givenchy, Christian Dior, Armani Prive, Jean Paul Gaultier, Valentino and Elie Saab, as well as relative newcomers Bouchra Jarrar and Alexis Mabille.

The Paris Couture shows aim to introduce new looks, new colours, new silhouettes and new ideas, and they set the trends that will gradually trickle down into mainstream fashion- sometimes it may be 6 months to a year before we see these new concepts being more widely accepted and embraced by the fashionistas of the world, and even longer before we might see them worn by the public! It's a golden opportunity to strengthen the global image of that particular fashion house or brand, and show the world that they are leaders (and not merely followers) who have the foresight, skills and courage to try new things and create some magic!

So, here are my bridal-related translations, comments & favourite looks from the July 2010 Couture shows, viewed online at the BEST FASHION WEBSITE in the world- www.style.com

ALEXIS MABILLE - there were 2 gorgeous dresses that really stood out for me (see pix above), and both these looks could inspire a bride to move away from tradition and think outside the square, with contrasting colours and plenty of texture and detailing (black lace on white, applique, amazing beading & embroidery). Vintage-inspired silhouettes with a fresh modern twist - STUNNING WORK!!!

CHANEL - Wow, Mr Lagerfeld, i was surprised there was not one single full-length gown in your classic Chanel show- but lots of stunningly fitted & tailored suits, and elaborate & very beautiful beading and embellishments. Does this mean that for wedding Couture, we can look at shorter bridal dresses and even chic bridal suits??!!

GIVENCHY- (pictured above) - I loved this collection - True Haute Couture, edgey, intricate, beautifully made, truly unique in design and quite simply AMAZZZING!!! Inspired by the concept of the skeleton (amongst other things), and featuring incredible embellishments, this sensual and moody collection was truly beautiful for me.

ELIE SAAB- (pictured below) - this designer sure knows how to dress a woman! His elegant & ultra-feminine gowns, from soft floaty silk chiffon to draped Grecian-inspired looks and heavier textured lace sheaths, were all works of art and surely an inspiration to many brides around the world! He creates breath-taking eveningwear, dramatic bridal designs, and experiments with different looks within each collection, which i love to see. AS ALWAYS- DELIGHTFUL !!!

CHRISTIAN DIOR - (pictures at top of this page) - CD's head designer John Galliano is a living legend - what more can i say!! His work for the house of Dior is NEVER dull, in fact he brings so much life, colour, drama and theatre to each collection, it's always a thrill! This season his inspiration was flowers - and each model was like a walking, breathing, beautiful floral bloom, in perfectly draped cocktail dresses and fabulous ballgowns. A riot of unexpected colour combinations, cleverly pleated & ruffled textures, dip-dyed and hand-painted colour graduations, and classic Dior silhouettes given a fresh new burst of life. BRAVO !!

Check out www.style.com for the full collections, plus lots more - Couture heaven!!

Til next time, xx Lisa

Priscilla & Damian's Italian Adventure!

2010-06-29T23:38:00.000-07:00

Destination weddings are so popular for modern couples, and rightly so - who wouldn't like to escape to a magical faraway place for romance, adventure & an intimate celebration of their life together!?! How fabulous!!! Our recent 'Culture Bridal Couture' bride Priscilla and her groom Damian did just that - their wedding ceremony took place in the old-style Town Hall of Ravello, on the Amalfi Coast in Italy, followed by a lunchtime reception at a local Italian restaurant, overlooking the magnificent mountains and spectacular coastline. Eight very special guests flew over from Australia to join the bride & groom, and after the wedding the honeymooners travelled through Italy and on to the city of love - Paris (sigh - perfection!)

Priscilla's white pure silk satin & silk chiffon wedding gown was created by Culture Bridal Couture (of course!) and was slinky & relaxed yet very stylish, fitted to perfection and designed for comfort as well as the wow-factor! It featured Swarovski crystals & white pearls hand-beaded on the straps and bustline, rusching at bust and waistband, a train at the back, and a floaty waterfall frill in the centre front.

Priscilla wore hand-made bespoke jewellery by the talented girls at Tessarella House in Paddington, and carried a small bouquet of Calla lillies. We love Damian's outfit, especially his funky shoes - what a stylish groom he is, and so European, too!
BIG CONGRATS to you both - you look amazing and these photos show just how much fun and romance was in the air!

Til next time,
xx Lisa

Gown by Culture Bridal Couture
Photography by Susan Wright Photography

Part Two - new photos, new sample gowns!

2010-05-22T21:05:00.000-07:00

Hello again!
Continuing on from last week's posting, here is Part Two from our recent Culture Bridal Couture photo shoots, showing our very latest sample designs, this time featuring the 1940's & 50's Vintage Glamour theme, shot in photographer Dario Gardiman's Erskineville studio (Sydney).

Featuring some hot NEW "Culture" wedding dress styles, and re-working some of our more recent gowns seen in other shoots, we experimented with different hair & make-up styles, embracing our Vintage Glamour theme whole-heartedly, and having lots of fun with our beautiful model Katherine. As with our previous photo shoot at Boronia House, the make-up was done by the always AMAZING make-up artist Simone Cozens and the hairstyles created by the very talented Peta Pelligrini.

Dario, our photographer extraodinaire, has a fabulous studio with lots of natural light, a massive collection of backdrops, pro lighting and technical equipment, and endless amounts of positive energy, experience and funky music- which makes working in his studio an absolute delight!

In case you missed it in the last posting below, here is the link to our 3-minute 'Culture Bridal Couture' VIDEO which we hope you enjoy, made by Alex Zar at Radiant Bride - turn up the sound then sit back, relax & enjoy the show...

Next week I am doing MORE photo shoots, this time with the team from Sydney BRIDE magazine - so wish me luck!

Til next time, xx Lisa

MY DREAM TEAM for the BOTH photo shoots (Boronia House & Erskenville Studio):-

Photography (stills) by Dario Gardiman at www.dvgphoto.com

Videography by Alex Zar at www.radiantbride.com.au

Gowns by Culture Bridal Couture www.culturebridal.com.au

Make-up by Simone Cozens at www.simonecozens.com

Hair Styling by Peta Pelligrini EMAIL peta.pelligrini@gmail.com

Jewellery & Hair Accessories by a mix of fabulous suppliers, including jewellery by Tessarella House, Stephanie Browne and bespoke pieces supplied by Culture Bridal Couture.

Bridal Shoes by Deseo in Paddington www.deseo.com.au

Boronia House, Mosman (wedding venue) www.boroniahouse.com.au

Fabulous NEW Photo Shoot images and VIDEO clip!

2010-05-14T20:35:00.000-07:00

With our "quiet season" now upon us (due to less weddings in the Sydney Winter), the 'Culture Bridal Couture' team & I have been busy creating BRAND NEW SAMPLES to showcase our latest bridal designs, which are now proudly on display in our Leichhardt studio. We were inspired by sleek & truly beautiful 1930's eveningwear, updated for the modern-day bride of course, with slinky liquid silk satins, gorgeous French Chantilly laces, embellished with delicate hand-beading and lots of intricate details & immaculate grooming.

I recently did 2 separate photo shoots of our latest 'Culture Bridal Couture' gowns, together with an amazing and very talented bunch of professional photographers, hair & make-up artists & models. In today's blog posting, I'll feature PART ONE - images from the first shoot at Boronia House, and will post PART TWO images next week (just to keep you in suspense!) These beautiful photos will soon be added to my website portfolio albums, and will appear in bridal magazines, adverts, etc. Feel free to tell me which shots are your FAVES - I'd love to hear your feedback! See the list of my "dream team" below for all details of the hard-working collaborators that helped make these images so lovely!! One shoot (1930's theme) was on location at the divine Boronia House in Mosman, & the "Vintage 1950's Glamour" themed shoot was at photographer Dario Gardiman's own studio in Erskeneville... that will be PART TWO next week for you!

We were lucky enough to have wedding videographer Alex Zar film both the shoots, and edit the footage into funky 3 minute video clip - click on the link below and turn up the volume to hear & see our fashion shoot from behind the scenes!

Enjoy these new photos & video clip, and i look forward to sharing lots MORE new piccys with you very soon!
xx Lisa

MY DREAM TEAM for the BOTH photo shoots (Boronia House & Erskenville Studio):-

Photography (stills) by Dario Gardiman at www.dvgphoto.com

Videography by Alex Zar at www.radiantbride.com.au

Gowns by Culture Bridal Couture www.culturebridal.com.au

Make-up by Simone Cozens at www.simonecozens.com

Hair Styling by Peta Pelligrini EMAIL peta.pelligrini@gmail.com

Jewellery & Hair Accessories by a mix of fabulous suppliers, including jewellery by Tessarella House, Stephanie Browne and bespoke pieces supplied by Culture Bridal Couture.

Bridal Shoes by Deseo in Paddington www.deseo.com.au

Boronia House, Mosman (wedding venue) www.boroniahouse.com.au

BELOW:- Behind the scenes happy snaps taken from my own little camera amongst the creative madness at Boronia House!! xx Lisa

Veronica & Geoff's Elegant & Relaxed Wedding

2010-05-07T19:50:00.000-07:00

The always beautiful concept of a soft, flowing"Grecian Goddess" wedding gown, with rusching, a touch of beading and long, lean, elegant lines, suits so many people (and you certainly don't have to be Greek to wear it!). Here are some of my fave photos from one of our recent 'Culture Bridal Couture' bride's wedding album... congraulations, Veronica, you look absolutely DIVINE!

Veronica's Grecian-inspired Culture Bridal Couture gown was made by my team & I, from pure silk chiffon in a soft "silk white" colour. The gown had structure within, but softness on top, and featured hand-rusching, a one-shouldered draped neckline, the Empire Line decorated with gorgeous hand-stitched applique of silver swirl beaded lace & lots of Swarovski crystals, and a dramatic shoulder "cape train" which was detachable.

Veronica & Geoff tied the knot in the Trinity Grammar School Chapel, surrounded by many happy friends & family. They went for a relaxed, elegant and stylish wedding reception at Quay Restaurant in the Rocks, using their chosen colours of chocolate, latte, magenta & burnt orange in the cake, flowers, wedding stationary and overall theming.

Veronica's Mum is a florist (how handy!), and her & the team from "Lucy's Florist" in Summer Hill created an amazing display of white and magenta cymbidium orchids, highlighted with dusty-pink & latte coloured roses, and Singapore orchids blended with Native flowers for the church pews.

Stay tuned for more of our "real weddings" very soon!

xx Lisa
Veronica's wedding gown designed & made by Culture Bridal Couture
Veronica & Geoff's wedding photos are by Sooti Tan at WS Avenue Photography

Dee & Luke's relaxed & colourful Wedding Day!

2010-04-20T21:48:00.000-07:00

Dee and Luke's wedding was a fun and relaxed affair, complete with bursts of vivid colours, a fabulous psychedelic painted "Magic Bus", Irish blessings and lots of laughter & love!

Dee's Couture wedding dress was of course designed and made by the wonderful team here at Culture Bridal Couture.... a Grecian-inspired Halter Neck design made from soft white silk georgette, with a fitted waistband decorated with hand-beaded Swarovski crystals and beautiful silver swirl metallic lace applique, all carefully sewn on by hand. The low open back was perfect for a warm sunny day, and the soft flowing skirt and train gave an elegant feel to this relaxed design. Dee sourced some FAB jewelled kitten-heel "thongs" and a cute silver beaded headband to complete her divine look. Love the bright orange tulips, too!

Dee & Luke's fun-filled wedding photos by Shannon Buffrey Photography - phone 0416 053 571

Stay tuned for more FABULOUS "Culture" brides, wedding frocks and news very soon... we have some exciting photo shoots coming up which i can't WAIT to share with you!
xx Lisa

Kate & Michael's stylish Winter wedding

2010-03-31T23:08:00.000-07:00

Beautiful wedding photos not only capture the spirit & emotions of the day, but also capture the intricate details and magic moments that are easily missed in the excitement and buzz whilst it's all happening!

These stunning photos of 'Culture Bridal Couture' bride Kate's Winter wedding really show the spirit and feelings of their day perfectly.... and what a fabulous location (Bennelong Lawn, Botanic Gardens - overlooking the Opera House & the Sydney Harbour Bridge - say no more!!!) and the groom Michael couldn't look happier! Their stylish reception at Pyrmont's Doltone House was a perfect blend of classic, elegant and contemporary.

Kate's vintage-inspired "Culture Bridal Couture" gown was fully custom-made from silver French metallic lace, with a soft silk satin underlay in Latte, to highlight the pattern within the lace, and it simply glowed against her tanned skin and gorgeous blonde locks. Her gown featured a stunning Swarovski crystal brooch and matching earrings, with a jewelled headpiece & exquisite hand-beading to tie it all together. WHAT A GORGEOUS COUPLE - WE LOVE IT!!

Wedding gown by Culture Bridal Couture
Wedding photos by Luke Butterly at lbphotography.com.au
Til next time,
xx Lisa

Vicki and Steve's Palm Cove wedding...

2010-03-24T21:53:00.000-07:00

Here at the buzzing Culture Bridal Couture HQ (our little studio in Leichhardt), we always LOVE getting our bride's wedding photos back - not only do we get to admire our gowns as they are seen on our clients' BIG DAY - but we also get to see what the groom looks like, too!! Although we often hear all about the lucky guy during fittings, understandably we rarely get to meet them (as the gowns we create are usually top secret brides business!!)

Vicki & Steve tied the knot in Far North Queensland, Australia, at the luxurious Palm Cove. Although the day was really, really windy, they had a ball and of course Vicki looked fabulous in her 'Culture Bridal' Grecian-inspired silk georgette gown, featuring a sexy Halter neckline, flowing multi-layers of sheer silk and a beautiful silver beaded Sari braid at the Empire Line. As you can see from their wedding album pics, the wind actually added to the dramatic landscape when it came time for their photos!

Vicki's custom-made Wedding Gown by Culture Bridal Couture
These beautiful wedding pics were taken by Milk & Honey Photography.

Yasmine & Oliver tie the knot in STYLE....

2010-03-14T20:39:00.001-07:00

Yasmine's beautiful Couture wedding gown was individually designed & fully custom-made just for her, with several personal fittings here in our Sydney studio. She showed us great trust & confidence, and the ultimate compliment, by flying down from Brisbane to Sydney for each fitting - we thank you for believing in us, Yasmine! Her gown is made from pure silk Dupion in a soft "Ecru" colour, with handmade silk flowers in pastel shades stitched to form a corsage-like strap, and a fabulous BIG silk flower at the hip. The skirt has layers of soft pleated tulle in scalloped ruffles, and her corset bodice was hand-rusched to show off her tiny waist.

Yasmine had a vision and Culture Bridal Couture made it a reality - we love these wedding photos, it all looks just PERFECT!! Oliver and Yasmine's wedding photos by www.xsight.com.au

Glam Awards Fever - my fave looks!

2010-03-10T16:12:00.000-08:00

I always get so excited with the US Awards season - it's fashion overload!!! The hype & the TV coverage is so over-the-top (but entertaining in a voyeuristic way!), and seeing which stars choose which designers is a sport in itself!! This year i was pretty impressed with the vast array of different looks, themes, fabrics and styles embraced by the glamorous celebs - and its so good to see a continuation of COLOUR favoured over basic black. The gorgeous jewel-coloured gowns just POP in photos, and really do look so much more flattering and memorable than the drab black dresses these days.

After looking at THE ultimate fashion website, www.style.com , here is my personal selection of gowns i loved most from the Globes & the Oscars, all of which i can imagine brides being inspired by.

It's great to see women of all ages, shapes and sizes looking SO FABULOUS on the red carpet - of course they have a support team of stylists, beauty professionals, major design houses willing to loan amazing Couture gowns & jewels & accessories for free, in return for the PR... but hey, that's entertainment!

If only we all had more opportunities to frock up and wear full-length gowns (sigh) - here in Australia our lifestyle is so relaxed and casual, but thankfully we can still glam up for WEDDINGS (whether we are guests or in the bridal party) and enjoy the pleasures of feeling like a Hollywood Star for a day!

My faves - at the Golden Globes - Mo'Nique, Maggie, our own adorable Toni Collette, Diane Kruger and Drew... fab gowns, fab colours, their gowns suited their figures, looks and personalities to perfection!

My faves - at the Oscars - Sandra Bullock in silver Marchesa, SJP in Chanel (controversial - but i loved it!!!), Helen Mirren, as always she looked just divine (in Badgley Mischka), Gabourney in her Marchesa gown rocked it, Elizabeth banks in Atalier Versace was tres chic, and Anna Kendrick's softest pink Elie Saab gown was absolutely BEAUTIFUL - a stunning shape and so perfectly made, so delicate and feminine and just breathtaking - wow!! Til next time, xx Lisa

Karen & Graham's English Castle wedding...

2010-03-05T17:48:00.000-08:00

Our beautiful 'Culture Bridal Couture' bride Karen got hitched to the very dapper Graham in true style in an amazing English castle in the UK recently... the castle grounds featured beautiful gardens with wandering deer, and quaint stone steps and little bridges, perfect for the wedding photos!

Karen's "Culture Bridal Couture" gown was fully custom-made in Ecru silk dupion, with soft sheer tulle straps, tulle flowers & metallic lace applique and Swarovski crystal beading throghout the fitted bodice. Her style was inspired by our signature "Mon Cherie" gown (see our website for that design), but with a more structured skirt shape, instead of tulle. The gorgeous handmade silk flower bustle at the back of Karen's gown added that "English Rose" feel, and the touches of pale gold in the beading complemented her Rose Gold wedding ring.

We LOVE these photos, Karen - and it looks like you all had an absolute ball on your wedding day - BIG CONGRATS from my team and I,

xx Lisa

PHOTO CREDITS:-
Karen's custom-made wedding gown by Culture Bridal Couture in Sydney, Australia
All photography in this posting from Karen's wedding photographer Gav Harrison - view his website at www.whiteroomphotography.com

Culture Bridal Couture has arrived - our new name!

2009-12-20T17:07:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas and happy Silly Season to all!

Here at Culture Shock Couture, we've had the busiest Spring/Summer season EVER with so many gorgeous wedding gowns being created for our recent brides. 2009 has certainly been a big year for weddings - and we've seen our brides choose a big variety of gown styles, from the beautiful flowing Grecian-inspired gowns, to lots of stunning French Lace designs, and our always-popular Oriental-inspired looks, too. As the year 2009 draws to a close, my team & I are feeling pretty happy with ourselves... it's such a great feeling when we see the fruits of our labour (ie- our beautiful custom-made wedding dresses) being fitted for the last time on our brides, and the big smiles ( & sometime even tears of joy) as they look in the mirror and see how AMAZING they will look on their wedding day!

A couture bridal gown is the result of many months of hard work - a unique style individually designed especially for each bride, her colour & fabric selections, then measure-up & patternmaking, then expert tailoring, fine hand-stitched embellishments & detailing, and generally around 4 or 5 personal fittings. It all comes together magnificently to result in a totally unique and perfectly-fitted gown that is ALL ABOUT THE BRIDE - not only should it look & feel incredibely beautiful, but it should also express each bride's unique personality & passions. A couture gown should represent that bride in every way- her loves, her beauty, her lifestyle, her heritage and her spirit too!

With all that in mind, we have some VERY exciting news - Culture Shock Couture is about to have a new name! Since I launched my bridal label back in 2001, it's been called "Culture Shock" and my designs have always (and will continue) to embrace different cultures from around the world. However, my label has also evolved over the past 9 years, and my designs are so much more diverse now, with lots of rusched and draped looks, beautiful Retro-inspired gowns and heavenly vintage-themed French & Italian Laces also infuencing each wedding dress we create.

In order to represent everything we do, i have decided to re-name my label "Culture Bridal Couture" and we have a FAB new

logo and website to celebrate our evolution! Yayyee!! But don't worry, it's still our same experienced & caring team, & we will continue to be devoted to each and every bride we have the pleasure of working with! We pride ourselves on our personal service, relaxed & friendly atmosphere, highest quality fabrics and workmanship, and most importantly our totally original bridal designs that have evolved to truly offer Australian brides a fabulous alternative to the "big white meringue" on their wedding day!
So, i hope you like our new name, and my team & i wish you all the very best for a FABULOUS Christmas and a wonderful, exciting and fun-filled New Year!
Peace & love & Christmas Pudding, xx Lisa Merton

PHOTO CREDITS FOR THIS POSTING:-

Top Left image of our"Mon Cherie" pink/latte tulle gown, photo by Dario Gardiman

Top Right image of our bride Yasmine's wedding, photo by www.xsight.com.au

Middle Left image of Vicki's island wedding, photo by www.milkandhoney.com.au

Bottom Left image of our Grecian-inspired bride Anthoulla, photo by Andrew Kennedy

Bottom Right image of our Japanese-inspired bride Alannah, photo by www.milkandhoney.com.au

Latest BRIDE magazine featuring Culture Shock!

2009-11-02T23:26:00.000-08:00

What a busy wedding season I am having this year - more Culture Shock brides than EVER before, so it's been an exciting, energetic, highly productive and rather exhausting few months for my team & I!

And to add to our current "buzz" of excitement, the latest BRIDE magazine has hit the newstands, with page after glossy page of the latest Culture Shock Couture gowns being featured - woo hooo!! This issue also highlights one of my recent brides' wedding story, a fabulous 4-page spread with the lovely Allana and her husband Nima both looking soooo happy and FABULOUS!

The fashion pages are bursting with beautiful photographs, all shot by the amazing Peter Collie, at various locations around Sydney and beyond... for one of the editorial stories the BRIDE team travelled to Coalcliff, NSW, and shot in the most divine waterfall and parklands (without even getting my sample gowns marked at all - well done, guys!!)

I've attached some of the photos here, which also feature the skilled hair & make-up artistry of Paul Bedggood, including an AWESOME up-do which i just adore.

As a designer, it's really rewarding and invigorating to see my gowns so beautifully photographed and styled in ways that I may never have thought of myself! When i design wedding gowns i guess i have a vision of the kind of bride that might wear that particular cut, shape, fabric or colour - and then i see someone totally different to my original vision (like the
models shown here), wearing the gowns so perfectly, as if designed just for them - it's such a great feeling and never fails to surprise or delight me!

Grab a copy of the latest BRIDE magazine, Issue #60, (look for the green cover) at your local newsagent, or visit their website at www. bride.com.au

Catch you soon, now back to all those gorgeous gowns we need to finish...

cheers, xx Lisa

Tamaiya and Dan's GORGEOUS wedding

2009-09-01T01:11:00.000-07:00

It's such a fabulous & extremely satisfying feeling when my team & I receive our client's wedding photos... often it's months after they have come for their final fitting, and we have said our "goodbyes" to the gown & the beautiful bride we created it for. Then we receive a CD or a set of prints in the post and....WOW!

It's just so thrilling to see everything come together - our gown, the bride with her groom (whom most of the time we have never met!) her accessories, lovely hair and make-up & stunning flowers, and all the fine details & specific elements of the whole day pieced together as one, like a magnificent jigsaw puzzle finally being completed!

So I'd like to share these photos with you, from our recent bride Tamaiya. She married Dan in the breathtaking "Hunter Valley Gardens", a few hours from Sydney in wine country - and was blessed with the most perfectly sunny day! The Japanese pagoda where their ceremony took place, surrounded by the wonderful Autumn flowers and foliage, not only suited her Oriental-inspired theme, but also provided shade for all the guests and bridal party.

Tamaiya's 4-piece Culture Shock Couture gown was custom-made for her with a STUNNING cherry-red vintage kimono, featuring white blossoms, black dip-dyed edges and delicate hand-painted detailing. The custom-made white silk faille gown underneath was our base, layered on top with a detachable fitted waistband, and a separate bustle/train, and a jacket to finish it off - these 3 pieces all made from that very same kimono. We accessorised her 2 bridesmaids with matching narrow sashes at the waist, also from Tamaiya's kimono.

Looking at these wedding photos gives me great pride in the design, workmanship, quality and originality of everything that Culture Shock stands for... it's always a team effort and as long as we have brides who are daring enough to try something a little different, we will always be here & ready to create gorgeous & unique bridal gowns! A special thanks to all my team, who work so hard to achieve these wonderful results... I certainly couldn't do it without you all, keep up the amazing work!

bye for now,
xx Lisa

Sneak preview - ORIGAMI COUTURE GOWN

2009-07-02T23:54:00.000-07:00

We recently did a FABULOUS photo shoot of a brand new COUTURE BRIDAL sample gown that I am absolutely thrilled with! Fresh from my studio workroom, this totally original Culture Shock design will soon be appearing in bridal magazines and on my website, too. We have named it the "Origami" Gown...

My team & I created this pure silk wedding gown with the ancient Japanese art of Origami (paper folding) in mind... we used a metallic silk for the bodice, which we folded, draped and tucked into an asymetrical neckline. The diagonally-shaped waistband actually wraps firmly around the body and ties at one side with twisted silk cording, and little hand-made fans, to visually slim and cinch in the waistline, and there are several deeply folded vertical pleats in the skirt, to add length and height to the bride's figure. The gown has a full train at the back, which can be hooked up for dancing, etc.

The overall effect we were aiming for in this new design is a SCULPTURAL SILHOUETTE with a fuller A-line skirt, so that brides with OR without curves can happily wear this beautifully flattering style with confidence and ease. With a hoop petticoat underneath for hemline fullness, this Couture wedding gown is "traditional"in a way, but with a funky, modern Oriental-inspired twist. AND its actually very comfortable to wear!

The brand new Origami bridal gown sample is now available to try on in my Sydney showroom, and can be ordered & custom-made in any colour and size, with a 4-6 month turnaround. For more info, email me via my website!

cheers, xx Lisa

The photo's here appear with thanks to our WONDERFUL style team -
PHOTOGRAPHER William Siauw from "PiXeL Photographics"

MAKE-UP & HAIR- Danielle Hampton from "Make Up By Danielle"

MODEL - the lovely Tereza

x

Wedding Gowns with a touch of COLOUR!

2009-05-22T18:35:00.000-07:00

A bit of excitement and action here in my studio this morning....the "Sunday Telegraph" newpaper just visited me, photographing & interviewing a bridal client of mine, on a story about "Colourful Wedding Dresses" and the fact that these days, more & more brides are wearing non-white bridal gowns.

This very subject is something that i have a keen & rather passionate interest in.... in fact, the whole basis for my label "Culture Shock" is to provide brides with a colourful alternative to the traditional white "meringue"!!!

I really believe that these days, alongside certain wedding traditions we can also add a dash of individualism, personality and fun - and the wedding dress is a perfect chance to express these wishes. A FABULOUS & stylishly coloured wedding gown can make a great statement of who you are, what you like, your passions, and how you'd like your family, friends and especially your partner to "see" you. Of course, it can also reflect your cultural heritage (or that of your partner of families), or perhaps a culture you adore, such as the Exotic lands of Asia, or fascinating India with it's rich textiles and wild colours.

For many of my bridal clients, we create a unique wedding gown in white or ivory silk, then add just a subtle dash of colour, like a soft pastel japanese OBI waistband, or perhaps a beautiful cropped kimono jacket over a "white wedding dress". This way, they are giving a nod to tradition (the white or ivory) but also adding a personal touch which is also more flattering to their skin tones (the dash of colour) and we're creating a memorable and individual wedding gown that all the guests will LOVE and talk about for years to come!

Red is definitely the colour i get requested for the most - and done well, red can look magnificent againt white or ivory. But it needs to be done cleverly, so you don't look like a "football supporter" rather than a fashionable & chic bride! Of course, in other cultures, RED is THE wedding colour for brides (India, China & other parts of Asia) and also represents wealth, happiness and rich cultural traditions...plus its universally known as the "colour of love"!

For my bolder and more adventurous brides, this grand opportunity to wear their favourite colour on their wedding day - proudly & with much pizazz- is just irresistable! Over the years i have created exquisitely coloured weddings gowns in the deepest Purple, BLUES from soft pastel shades to deepest Midnight Blue, Silvers and Golds, Burnt Orange, Emerald Green, Peacock-inspired Teal, Hot Pink, and every shade of RED you can possibley imagine!

So, i hope that the ongoing trend for embracing colour in the realm of bridal fashion lives on, and that it becomes not just "unusual" but the "norm" in years to come!
Til next time,
xx Lisa
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS FOR THIS POSTING:-

Top Left image of our bride Natalie, photo by www.milkandhoney.com.au

Second Top image of our silver lace bride Kristy, photo by www.lbphotography.com.au

Third image of our stunning red bride Kiri, photo by www.stuartleal.com.au

Fourth image of our retro-themed bride in blue, Belinda, shot by www.onhermitage.com.au

Fifth image of our fabulous purple kimono bride Kirsten, photo by Hamilton Lund

Final image of our dramatic red kimono bride Paz, shot at the Chinese Gardens
PHOTOS ATTACHED - ALL GOWNS LOVINGLY CREATED BY CULTURE SHOCK....
see our website for more -
www.culture-shock.com.au

Intimate Beach Wedding... simple yet FUN!

2009-05-03T23:49:00.000-07:00

I recently had some good friends fly over to Sydney to get married. Their needs were simple - they wanted a small & intimate wedding on the beach, in Sydney, with a relaxed yet exotic mood and a fun, child-friendly atmosphere. As they had travelled from Europe with their 2 young sons, they also needed their wedding to be affordable, so they could still enjoy their 2-week honeymoon/holiday here without "blowing the budget"! Sound familiar in some ways? Read on......
So we came up with a simple wedding plan that turned out to be PERFECT in every way - it was stylish yet relaxed, we were blessed with great weather, the bride Chantal looked BEAUTIFUL (of course Culture Shock made her designer gown!), the kids all had a ball, we found a lovely inner-city beach that was accessible and it was ALL very cost-effective!

Via the internet from their home in Europe, my friends Stef & Chantal sourced their Sydney wedding celebrant who was extremely helpful, and she organised all the necessary paperwork, sourced the beach location, and recommended a fab photographer who shot in film (rather than digital - a lovely change & it really captured the carefree mood and feel of the day!) The photographer then delivered a high-res CD with around 130 beautiful wedding images a few days after the wedding, so the bride & groom could organise their own printing and albums back home later on.

Meanwhile, i organised a white mini-van to transport all the guests to & from the beach & the reception (11 guests in total - i told you it was "intimate"!) and sourced a fabulous cake-maker who bakes delicious wedding cakes from home for very reasonable rates. I also made the decision to make the bride's floral bouquet myself - something i have never attempted before, but thoroughly enjoyed.

We booked an Indian Banquet Lunch at a local Indian restaurant, which was kid-friendly and suited the exotic theme of the groom & pageboys' wedding outfits - white Nehru-collared cotton shirts and casual white linen pants. We were able to have our (wedding) cake and eat it too - the tasty banquet menu felt very festive, the BYO wines were flowing freely, and the bridal table looked lovely with Chantal's bouquet & wedding cake decorating the white linen tablecloths beautifully.

Chantal's white silk georgette Culture Shock Couture wedding gown was made rather quickly, within 7 days of the wedding - not something i would attempt on a regular basis, but with advanced planning it was no problem! Luckily, the bride fell in love with a fabulous Grecian-inspired design i had featured on my website, so we had all the fabrics, trims and beading on standby & ready to be cut, sewn & fitted within a very short timeframe. The delicate silver Sari waistband was hand-beaded with Swarovski crystals, and the design had a split at the front, under the waterfall frill, so walking on the beach was a breeze. My wonderful team all did a fantastic job & we actually finished making the gown a day ahead of schedule - woo hoo!

The bride's jewellery was an easy choice - Stef had hand-made a necklace out of shells he'd collected from the beach on a seaside holiday previously, so Chantal wanted to wear that necklace as a symbol of their love & adventures together. And the bouquet HAD to have some franjipannis (the brides' favourite) so we collected the beautifully scented franjipanni flowers from local trees the morning of the wedding, then i wired them into the bridal bouquet of white roses, lizianthas & tiger lillies, with some greenery added for volume. Not bad for a first attempt at "floristry", i thought!

On the morning of the wedding, our fabulous make-up artist arrived for the bridal hair & make-up session... she did an up-do (bun), we pinned some franjipannis in the hair to match the bouquet, and the make-up look was fresh, natural & beach-friendly, without looking too "overdone"... our bride was made-up, dressed & ready within 2 hours!

I hope the photos you see here reflect what a fun, relaxed and very romantic wedding day it really was for Stef & Chantal - with their 2 young boys as the ring-bearers, and a few close friends as the guests, it was a truly special day and one that was absolutely enjoyed by all... The guests and the celebrant all loved kicking off their shoes and walking barefoot on the sand, & everything felt so easy & totally carefree! The celebrant spoke beautifully and the cermony was short, sweet & personal, the photos were all shot on location on Milk Beach & Strickland House (as a majestic backdrop). As for the kids, they were all easily entertained with the sand, ocean & seashells, & we were all blown away with the stunning views of Sydney harbour right behind us!

I have listed our "DREAM TEAM" of suppliers for this wedding below, and highly recommend them for anyone looking for a simple beach wedding in Sydney.

until next time, xx Lisa

STEF & CHANTAL'S DREAM WEDDING TEAM -
Wedding gown - Culture Shock Couture
Celebrant - Pauline Fawkner - www.paulinefawkner.com.au
Photographer - MIke Locker - www.mlockerphotography.com.au
Make Up - Dee O'Keefe - ph 0437 264 475
email Dee at:- dmakeupart@hotmail.com
Cake - Katie Loffler - email - cakehouse@live.com.au
Wedding ceremony venue - Milk Beach, Strickland House, Vaucluse (Nielsen Park)
Reception venue - Darbar Indian Restaurant, Glebe

Culture Shock Couture scores our first FRONT COVER!

2009-03-13T19:55:00.001-07:00

Wooo Hooo... Read all about it... CULTURE SHOCK COUTURE SCORES OUR FIRST FRONT COVER!

Beautifully shot by the fabulous photographer Peter Collie, this latest issue is jam-packed with gorgeous gowns, helpful articles and lots of real brides & grooms' weddings... plus the fashion shoot spreads include 4 Culture Shock gowns, and there's also some really interesting reading on "Eco-friendly weddings", for which i was interviewed. Our lovely ivory "Vintage Patchwork Gown" got the green-thumbs up, being made from recycled laces and fabric off-cuts, as did my work with antique or vintage fabrics such as Japanese obi's, kimonos & Indian saris, which are very environmentally-friendly.

Our "Mon Cherie" Couture gown, which is proudly featured on the front cover is custom-made from layers of dusty pink, latte and pale gold satins, silk organza's and tulles, and the rusched waist/hip section is made from a groovy new silk/metal fabric. The stunning pink pearl & Swarovski crystal necklace was custom-made to match the gown by Anna & Contessa at "Tessarella House" in Sydney's Paddington - http://www.tessarellahouse.com.au/

The lace bodice of the "Mon Cherie" gown is decorated with Swarovski crystal & pearl hand-beading, and lots of cute little hand-cut tulle flowers.... ALL expertly crafted right here in our Sydney studio , as is all our work. Of course, being a Couture design, this gown can be created in any colour, and adapted to suit each individual bride.

So for more info and even more beautiful photo's of our work - grab a copy of the latest Sydney BRIDE magazine, issue # 58... in newsagents around NSW now! Also available in Victoria (Melbourne BRIDE magazine) and throughout Australia (under the title Australian BRIDE magazine).

Ciao for now, xx Lisa

African Sewing Circle.... Multicultural fun!

2009-02-20T21:37:00.000-08:00

Yesterday i had a richly rewarding & fun experience, which left me feeling very positive, happy & elated about the world we live in!

I joined a group of African refugee women in Coniston (Wollongong, 2 hours south of Sydney) for a community "sewing circle" to share my fashion knowledge and expertise, and to have a good old chat about the joys of sewing, pattern-making, fabrics, designing & making things with your hands! I have personally been sewing since i was 11 years old, when i took over my Mum's old Bernina sewing machine, & i find it very relaxing and soothing (unless i am in a crazy mad rush for a deadline- when it can be a little more stressful!!!)

The weekly community sewing group is organised by SCARF (strategic community assistance to refugee families) and run by a lovely friend of mine, Sarah Chisholm and a group of hard-working volunteers such as the wonderful Dot & Virginia. They use fabrics, patterns & sewing machines that are either donated, or purchased by the women or volunteers (for more info - email scarf.sarah@bigpond.com)

The refugee women, mainly from African countries such as Sudan, Liberia and The Congo, are encouraged to create their own simple designs for funky handbags, water bottle carriers, casual shirts and dresses, etc, made from groovy vintage or African print cotton fabrics. The idea is to build a sustainable micro-business for each participant of the project, in which the women can then continute their work and sell their products at local markets and festivals, to earn their own income and develop their sewing skills further. Currently their work is sold at the local South-Coast NSW Coledale Markets on Sundays... for more info, check out the website:-
http://www.scarf1.org.au/

Many thanks to Sarah & all the lovely ladies for inviting me to join their weekly sewing circle - i was in total admiration of ALL your work, your funky designs and your combined team effort to build an exciting future for these truly inspirational & hard-working individuals... hope to be back there again very soon!

KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!
xx Lisa

my latest photo shoot - Japanese Beauty!

2009-01-27T22:46:00.000-08:00

I'm excited.... i always get excited after a photo shoot, knowing that we captured some GREAT new pix, & seeing my designs "come alive" on our models, plus having a fun day being imaginative with like-minded people, creating beautiful images together....it's definitely one of my favourite aspects of my job!

So check out these "sneak preview shots" from my latest "Japanese Beauty" shoot.... and these are just the images i took myself, on my little pocket-camera. When the official professional photos come thru, i will be adding them to my website gallery....VERY soon.

Both these one-off Oriental-themed Couture wedding gowns were custom-made from authentic vintage Japanese textiles, which i sourced direct from Japan. Can you imagine how divine this would look on a bride, on her wedding day, perhaps in a lush garden setting, or a sleek & stylish restaurant? Chic and elegant but at the same time, edgey and downright sexy.... and both these bridal gowns could easily be worn again afterwards, as eveningwear.

For this photo shoot, my model Eve had her customised make-up look specially designed by local make-up artist Simone Cozens, who did an amazing job... so if you're looking for a great make-up artist for your wedding, Simone can be contacted on ph 0424 948 593, and is available for weddings in Sydney and beyond, working with both hair and make-up... she comes highly recommended.

Stay tuned for more sneak previews coming up from another recent shoot i did up in the Hunter Valley of NSW... more NEW wedding gown designs, more exciting ideas, and more reasons to come & see me here in my Leichhardt studio!!!

Please feel free to email me via my website if you have any comments or queries, as you can tell from this blog - i love chatting about fashion and discussing my designs, and i feel very passionate about encouraging my brides to "think outside the square" and to be creative & ORIGINAL with their wedding gown ideas, to really express WHO YOU ARE and to celebrate your individuality!

cheers for now, xx Lisa

Bathing in the Golden Glow....

2009-01-22T23:14:00.000-08:00

Happy "Australia Day" Long Weekend, everyone .... 2009 is already in full swing & the Culture Shock studio is a hive of activity, buzzing with energy & a bevy of smiling, happy brides-to-be!

In the past weeks i've met with lots of lovely new bridal clients, looking around for gorgeous gowns for their Spring/Summer 09-10 weddings. The Grecian-inspired look is still very popular, especially after the recent GOLDEN GLOBE awards, where we saw many stunning one-shouldered gowns and fabulous draped silk chiffon creations. Laura Linney's golden coloured Elie Saab Haute Couture gown was so beautifully fitted and expertly crafted, a joy to see.

It certainly was an entertaining night for fashionista's around the world to drool over....all those incredible Couture gowns were just breath-taking, i was glued to the TV for hours! The sexy Fishtail silhouette was seen in many fabulous versions on the red carpet, actually the DIVINE pale blue Dior gown worn by Drew Barrymore was surprisingly my favourite look of the night, big hair and all!!

I also loved Kate Beckinsale's fitted white J Mendel fishtail gown, which she wore so beautifully, and i can just imagine that on a bride - WOW! Slicked back hair, fab make-up, no necklace and big feature earrings... sleek, polished and just so elegant for a wedding day look.

Eva Mendes' funky Dior gown, again in white, also stood out as a potential bridal look, with that AWESOME necklace....the colours of those precious jewels against her tanned skin, exotic face & white gown was mesmerising!

Others worthy of a special mention from this designers' point of view were Elizabeth Banks' cleverly ruffled J Mendel gown, which was such a girly look but with a real vintage-lingerie look, and Maggie Gyllenhaal's blue leopard-spot Lanvin gown, which was a cool take on the one-shouldered approach.

And although i did think it made her look a tad too old and too sophisticated for her age, Rumer Willis's Reem Acra gown in Aubergine had a beautiful silhouette and the skirt section moved so well on stage. AND congrats to Salma Hayek, with those incredible womanly curves, who i thought looked pretty amazing in her Bottega Veneta gown, which fitted like a glove and was draped to perfection!

So now that we've got an appetitie for glamour....bring on the Oscars!! xx Lisa

BEST OF 2008 - Merry Christmas from Culture Shock!

2008-12-21T22:51:00.000-08:00

How quickly has this year flown by?

As i recall all the wonderful "Culture Shock" brides that we have had the pleasure of dressing thru 2008, here are a few personal highlights (in no particular order...)

* A lovely Norwegian bride whose gown we decorated with a traditional Norwegian embroidered ribbon waistband (which she painstakingly hand-stitched herself), and finished with an antique brooch from her Grandmothers wedding....DIVINE!

* Our always-smiling, nature-loving & very funky client whose bridal corset-mini-dress we designed especially for her, in white silk, then dip-dyed in bright lime green and sunny yellow, so that she was like a little Aussie"bush-baby" for her garden wedding - the result was FUN, FLIRTY & FABULOUS - and it fitted her personality, setting & theme just perfectly!

* Our beautiful Tasmanian client whose wedding took place on her own organic farm in rural Tassie, by a small riverbed containing several platypus, who were seen by the guests playing in the water during the ceremony- aaawwwwww!!!! How very Australian is that?

* The highest number EVER of interstate & international clients who flew to Sydney especially for us - planning their flights to visit the Culture Shock studio for fittings with whatever other excuses to come to Sydney they could muster- shopping trips, business trips, visiting friends and family - or just solely to visit Culture Shock! A special thanks to all those globe-trotting, jet-setting brides, it's always a pleasure & we trust it was worth the early morning starts and extra travelling time! The world is definitely getting smaller...

* Our fun-loving, bold, curvaceous and retro-inspired bride who cleverly blended her love of the 40's AND 50's with her "victory-rolls" hair-do, funky Fifties Obi frock, red petticoat and fabulous red peep-toe shoes - you looked AWESOME, Miss N.....

* So many "East Meets West" inspired brides who embraced my love of Japan, and allowed me to mix splashes of RED amongst the ivory and whites, to create wedding gowns that celebrate Asian cultures as well as our own - and allowed me to delve deeply into my vintage Kimono & Obi collections.

* Likewise with my Indian-inspired bridal clients - we created some amazing & totally unique wedding gowns from rich, exquisitely-coloured Sari's this year, including bold purple, deep turquoise and brilliant aqua, plus the ever-popular reds, all mixed back with whites and ivories to stunning effect - and we hope these gowns will be worn again to Xmas/ NYE parties very soon!

* If there was one look that dominated my brides this year, despite the diverse range of styles we create - it would have to be the GRECIAN GODDESS look! And to make that happen - soooooo many never-ending hours of pinning, hand-rusching, draping, hand-stitching and french-seaming layer upon layer of sheer silk georgette and chiffon- thank goodness my beautiful & immensely talented & experienced staff ALL have such nimble fingers!

So as i wave goodbye to 2008, yet another creative, inspiring & rewarding year for Culture Shock, i now take my hat off to my FABULOUS, patient, caring and very dear team of expert staff, who work with me here in the studio, weaving their magic and making my crazy ideas come to life and look so good on each and every client - ladies, without you, there would be no gowns, no Culture Shock, and no fun ....A HEARTFELT THANK YOU SHERRY, JOAN, SABINA, EVE, POLI and LINDA, for a job VERY VERY WELL DONE!

AND a BIG, warm and very special thanks to all our beautiful brides ... here's to a SPLENDID year in 2009, have a magical Christmas,

love from Lisa xx

Soft and Flowy, Grecian Goddess RULES!

2008-12-08T23:44:00.000-08:00

I've noticed so many more brides these days wanting "lighter" wedding gowns... made from fabrics that are lighter in weight, styling that's softer and more flowing than the traditional corsetry-style gowns, less restrictive construction, and of course - more COMFY!

I guess this need for wedding dresses that don't weigh more than the bride who wears them is due to several reasons:-

a)- Global warming! Who wants to be hot 'n' sweaty on their big day under multiple layers of thich, heavy fabric?

b)- "Bridget Jones" undies - whether we like them or not, the Nancy Ganz-type of super-stretchy shapewear and control lingerie (aka- "foundation lingerie") out on the market these days REALLY WORKS! So it now enables brides to rely less on corsetry in a wedding gown, and gives women the choice of having lighter-weight gowns and much more comfort in the lingerie dept, whilst still getting a great silhouette, flat tummy and nipped-in waist.

c)- Beautiful, soft, flowing gowns using sheer fabrics look SOOOOO romantic, whimsical, elegant and classic... the ethereal "Grecian Goddess" inspired look is definitely here to stay, as seen at every glamorous Awards ceremony this year... and you DON'T have to be a size 6 to rock this look!

I recently did a fabulous photo shoot to showcase my Grecian-inspired Couture bridal gowns... & as you can see, we created some beautiful looks on the day! Big thanks to the super-talented team that worked hard to create these images with me on a Sunday afternoon- Dario Gardiman the photographer, Simone and Claire the fab make-up artists, Jack the hair stylist and our gorgeous models Alicia and Zara - stay tuned as these images (and more) will shortly be appearing in more detail on my website, too!

ciao, xx lisa

White Ribbon Charity Fashion Parade

2008-11-28T00:11:00.000-08:00

It was such a pleasure to be invited to show my gowns at the "White Ribbon Charity Fashion Parade" at the funky DOME venue in Surry Hills, Sydney, last week. There were loads of exciting local designers showcasing their work, some up-and-coming, and others more established, and the level of enthusiasm, excitement and energy on the night was AWESOME!

Organiser Sharon Garrard did an amazing job, co-ordinating and managing the whole event, and raising much needed funds AND awareness for this worthy charity, to help prevent domestic violence against women. The place was packed full of fun-loving fashionista's, and the parade ended on a high note with an Opera singer performing her aria as the Culture Shock Couture models glided down the catwalk for the grand finale - oooohhhhh, what a wonderful sight!

At the risk of sounding like a complete tosser - i felt very proud of my team, our work, the fabulous models, hair and make-up crew, and the great feedback we received on the night - so a very heartfelt THANK YOU to all involved!!!

And a very special merci beaucoup to the talented photography team at ModalSoul Photo, who captured these brilliant Culture Shock pics on the runway.... one word, guys - W O W !!

xx lisa

Purple Reigns!

2008-11-14T18:50:00.000-08:00

When your favourite colour is purple, & always has been purple, & everyone knows it.....then why not make a statement on your wedding day in a beautiful PURPLE SILK wedding gown!

That's exactly what Kirstin did when she recently married Wayne in Sydney, with their baby daughter as a very cute little flowergirl. As you can see from their wedding photos, Kirstin looked simply spectacualr in her Culture Shock Couture wedding gown, which we created from ivory silk liqud satin, with a fabulous purple silk train, and a detachable jacket and Obi waistband constructed from a divine vintage kimono we sourced directly from Japan. The whole wedding day had a purple theme running through it – the bride’s purple shoes were purchased before she had even picked her dress!

In Kirstin's own words:-

"There was a touch of purple in everything – from the invitations, dresses, table runners on tables, to the detailing on the wedding cake. We did try to keep things simple when organising the wedding by not sweating the minor details too much. We made sure the major details were covered – but didn’t really worry as much about the little things. This made it a much more stress free day for everyone. "

i think that is great advice for future brides - to focus on the big important things, get them right, and let all the finer, smaller details fall into place.

CONGRATULATIONS, KIRSTIN & WAYNE, AND THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR WEDDING WITH US!

xx lisa and the team

at Culture Shock

New photo shoot sneak preview!

2008-11-02T21:23:00.000-08:00

IT's always so hectic this time of year in the Sydney wedding industry - my staff and i are meticulously hand-finishing lots of fabulous new wedding gowns for all our current Spring/ Summer 2008 brides, and at the same time, i am chatting to lots of prospective NEW clients for their upcoming Autumn weddings in March/ April/ May 2009.

With lots of final fittings and often emotional "goodbyes" as we see our finished work leave the studio in the arms of the beautiful brides who will wear them so proudly, my team and i always get goosebumps and the feeling can best be described as "nervous excitement".... we hope the weather will be kind, the bride will look and feel AMAZING on her big day, and all the plans that have taken so many months to organise will all go as smoothly and stress-free as possible!!! I often wonder what sort of reaction will take place on the day- will the groom cry when he see's his bride in her gown for the first time?? Will the guests let out a collective sigh of "ooohhh's and aaaahh's" as the bride makes her grand entrance?!?! And what will the grandma's, aunties and best friends say to our brides after the ceremony and formalities are over, and everyone is relaxed and full of smiles and congrats?? This is when the goosebumps start appearing in anticipation! Luckily the Sydney weather is being kind for now, with a stunning weekend full of sunshine and mild temperatures ...so for our brides Gillian, Sarah and Helen, i hope you all had a BALL and enjoyed every moment of your weddings recently!!

In between keeping all our gorgeous smiling brides happy and looking just FAB on their big day, we've also been busy creating some exciting new designs for upcoming fashion shoots and magazine editorials. Although i deeply adore our Indian and Japanese-inspired looks, i know that it's not always what everyone is looking for.... so our latest Couture additions include a softer, more romantic "vintage-inspired" feel, using pastel dusty pinks, latte's and antique rose colours.

These hot new photos were taken yesterday at a brilliant shoot by "Empire Creative", with our stunning models Olga and Tereza, make-up by Danielle and hair by Corrine. i will soon be putting more images on my website, with the dream styling teams' contact details! If you're ever looking for recommendations on make-up artists, hair stylist, photographers and the like, don't hesitate to ask... personal recommendations for highly skilled people who are great at their job, keen and reliable, are always invaluable, and i am happy to pass on my contacts.

ciao for now, xx lisa

24 hours in Melbourne...

2008-09-11T01:21:00.000-07:00

Isn't it FAB how interstate travel has become so quick, easy, cheap and accessible??!!

i have just spent the last 24 hours in Melbourne, and it's amazing how much you can do in just 24 hours, believe me! i had 2 glorious art exhibitions to visit, and lots of fabric sourcing/shopping to do for my new wedding gown designs, so with a combo of fast-paced walking, planes/ trains/ trams and friendly yellow cabs, it was a breeze!

After visiting my favourite kimono and Japanese textile collectors, and a few silk fabric suppliers, i sped over to the GORGEOUS Art Deco Exhibition at the NGV in St Kilda Rd, and fell in love with EVERYTHING!!! Amazing collections of jewellery, furniture, music, film, objects d'art and of course FASHION, the highlight for me was naturally absolutely breathtaking Couture gowns from the 1920's and 30's, by such luminary designers as Coco Chanel, Lanvin, Poiret and many more... definitely worth the trip, it's on until 5th October - see website http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/artdeco

Then last night i had the pleasure of attending my friend and fellow collaborator Stan Yarramunua's official opening of his stunning Aboriginal art exhibition, in the foyer of the prestigious 101 Collins St building. Yarramunua's collection of paintings are a refreshing, colourful and modern take on the traditional Indigenous dot painting, and his use of "totems" such as the sea turtle and the goanna, mixed with his main theme of water, are spectacular.

Also in attendance was the beautiful Caroline Pemberton, who modelled a glamorous silk Couture gown that i designed & made for her to wear at the 2007 Miss World contest in China, where she proudly represented Australia (see gown in photo's here). Her fishtail-shaped, personally fitted and sharply tailored Culture Shock creation was hand-painted by Yarramunua, and last night it looked just AWESOME on Caroline as she mingled amongst all Yarra's paintings... You can only imagine how it must have stood out to the other Miss World contestants last year when they were on the world stage- so uniquely Australian, and yet so chic and so sexy, too! This one-off Culture Shock showpiece will remain on show with Yarramunua's exhibition til the end of this week, so if you're in Melb, do drop by for a look.

WOW - what a trip! i ADORE Melbourne and always feel sad to leave so soon - it's such a pleasure to visit a vibrant, culturally diverse and happening city that makes everything so easy for it's guests... i will be back very soon, Melbourne, so don't go changin'!!! xxx

Kim and Carl do it in style...

2008-08-25T00:34:00.000-07:00

i get VERY EXCITED, often goosebumps too, when i finally get to see my clients' wedding photos- it's a real warm, fuzzy feeling of achievement, a reward for all the hard work and long hours my team and i spend creating a Couture wedding gown, and a beautiful & happy ending to a friendship made between the bride and all of us here at Culture Shock... it's also often the first time i get to see the lucky bloke they end up marrying, too!

So let me introduce you to Kim and Carl, who celebrated their wedding earlier this year in Sydney, beautifully photographed by Guy Lerner at Guy Lerner Photography... http://www.guylerner.com/

We created Kim's fabulous 2-piece Culture Shock Couture wedding gown from a fabulous vintage kimono we sourced together online ( a great way to go kimono shopping without leaving your keyboard!). Being a beautifully pale-skinned bride who wasn't into the often unflattering "white wedding look", the rich bold effect of black silk spliced together with the fab red/white kimono worked wonderfully against the industrial backdrop of their harbourside pier location. AND we're sure that Kim will be able to wear her fabulous wedding frock again and again... Just goes to show that breaking with bridal tradition can look amazing, and be so much fun to wear, too !!!

sparkling new website updates!

2008-08-06T16:16:00.000-07:00

Websites are like paintings - no matter how much you work on them, they are never quite "finished" ... there is always more you want to add, change, improve or tinker with (perhaps the same goes for blogs, too...)

So, after several weeks of writing, editing, collecting wedding photos from my recent clients, and defining exactly what my label Culture Shock is all about, i am very pleased to announce my website is now fully updated, and that i am really, really excited about it!

i have revamped my PHOTO GALLERY section, with lots of fab new examples of our most recent "Couture Bridal" Gowns, and added a whole new gallery of "Inspirational Themes" which i hope will assist in inspiring brides to think outside the square, and step away from the outdated big white meringue look! Within these sections, I've added new photos from 2 recent photo shoots i did with Nicole Ritchie (awesome photographer!) and my latest obsession- fabulous bespoke hats made by the talented milliner Sandie Bizys, which complete the look with a dash of fun and old-school Hollywood glam.

in my NEWS section, i've added some "Testimonials" from a diverse range of my bridal clients over the past 6 odd years, with photos to show just who is saying what about Culture Shock... Also in NEWS, i have offered a group of downloadable PDF's, with articles i have written myself, containing loads of helpful tips and advice from the perspective of an excitable Sydney wedding gown designer who loves to share her knowledge and passion about all things bridal fashion!

so, if you haven't done so already, check out my website, and feel free to email or comment on it... i love to hear feedback! http://www.culture-shock.com.au/
xx lisa

Taisho Chic at the Gallery

2008-07-23T01:39:00.000-07:00

Whenever i start to feel uninspired or overloaded with mental "clutter" from daily life, there is always an easy fix to get the creative juices flowing once again - a visit to my nearest art gallery!!!
The Art Gallery of NSW, in Sydney's Domain, is such a cool place. Apart from the great location, and intriguing, totally hypnotic Aboriginal Art section, there is a stunning permanent collection of Asian arts, classic European paintings and contemporary Australia works, plus travelling exhibitions from around the globe. Earlier this week i took my Mum to see the current exhibition there called "Taisho Chic - Japanese Modernity, Nostalgia and Deco"... in a word - BEAUTIFUL! Although it's small and compact, the exquisite collection of kimono's, paintings, silk screens, funky tea-cups and pretty little fans and knick-knacks was unique, often quite quirky, and just fascinating! A real snap-shot of life back then, very well-presented, and very educational AND inspiring...
Showing works from approx the 1910-1930's period, it demonstrated how Japanese women were suddenly able to embrace parts of Western culture & fashion, without losing their own strong traditions and still staying respectable and feminine. It was a time of big changes, and fashion was enabling women to express themselves more than ever before. Some of the kimono prints and colour combinations look like they are from the 1980's or beyond- until you look at the program and realize it was from around 1930 or so... amazing. This show runs til 3rd August, and i thoroughly recommend it to anyone here in Sydney, the guided tour starts at 1pm daily. http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/current/taisho_chic LOVED IT!!!! xx lisa

Dreamtime dinner with a President!

2008-07-18T00:47:00.000-07:00

OK, so i am going to brag a little... sorry, i just can't help myself, it's so exciting!?!!

Tonight, my dear friend and former Miss World Australia, the lovely Caroline Pemberton, is off to the Opera House in Sydney to attend a gala black tie function... dressed in a fabulous couture Culture Shock gown!

Due to her wonderful and very dedicated fund-raising work in East Timor during the 2007 Miss World competition, Caroline met and befriended a very famous East Timorese leader, the Nobel Peace Laureate President José Ramos-Horta. Tonight Caroline will be accompanying Mr Ramos-Horta to a special dinner at the famous Sydney Opera House, and she'll be proudly wearing our black silk "Dreamtime Gown", as pictured.

My team and i created this one-off couture gown last year especially for Caroline to wear to the Miss World finals in China. The authentic Aboriginal dot painting was meticulously handpainted onto the silk by a very talented indigenous artist, Yarramunua. This gown has also been worn by Caroline at the Melbourne Grande Prix last year, and always grabs attention due to the colourful artwork, her gorgeously curvey figure, and of course the "spirit of reconciliation" in modern Australia, which i think this gown helps to represent. Yarramunua is having an art exhibition in Melbourne of his work in September, and this stunning creation will be travelling to the exhibition to be displayed as part of his body of work - i'll be heading down there to say G'day to him with dress in hand! xxx lisa

Haute Couture Heaven!

2008-07-09T00:43:00.001-07:00

Hooray - it's that time of year again....the July Haute Couture shows in Paris and Milan -

W O W !!! i've just been online to check out the latest from the world's greatest fashion designers of today - eternally cool Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel, the amazing John Galliano at Dior, my multi-culti fave Jean Paul Gaultier, glam man Elie Saab, and the list goes on.... check it out at http://www.style.com/

Every year in January & July, the European Haute Couture shows are held, and whether they admit it or not, fashion designers around the world look to Paris & Milan to see what these masters are creating, for inspiration, direction and new ideas. Colours, new fabrics & textures, new ways of working with pleating, embroidery, draping, etc, are all on show here, the absolute best of the best. The collections are , of course, exaggerated versions of what most people will actually end up wearing in a year or two from now (yes, it often takes that long for a new trend to be accepted by the general public!) but it's always impressive and often mind-blowing to see the new concepts of beauty and fashion...the sheer amount of work that goes into each artisan- made creation (Couture gowns sell from USD$20,000 and upwards!) with such fine tailoring, magnificent patternmaking and cutting, and legendary craftsmanship... oh, it brings tears to my eyes! I LOVE FASHION!!!!! xx lisa