bridal beauty

Yesterday, we were privvy to an intimate showing of Collette Dinnigan's 2013 Bridal collection. Hosted at the newly refurbished Sunset Room at The Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, it was an elegant early-morning affair filled with Ladurée macrons, harbour views, canapés by Pete Evans and last but hardly least — a concise edit of Collette's favourite wedding designs. The designer herself talked us through the current season edit — and in the process reaffirmed Collette's title as Australia's first lady of lace. The finest French laces and the most delicate embellishments were beautifully showcased via her modern yet romantic silhouettes.

We were taken with two gowns in particular; a '60s inspired cotton lace number and a tulle-edged off the shoulder dress in Chantilly lace. Whether you're getting married or just like to dream, these gorgeous gowns are well worth inspecting up close. Step this way to get your front row seat. . . 

Erin McNaught wed her British musician beau, Example (aka Elliott Gleave) over the weekend in a beautiful, French-themed B&B in the NSW hinterland region. The venue, Deux Balettes, set a romantic tone for the celebrations, but we have to admit it was the former Miss Australia's wedding dress that drew gasps. Special thanks to Example for sharing the beautiful pic! Erin tweeted last month that Sydney's bridal designer to the stars Steven Khalil would be the man behind the frock, and she also shared a sneak peek at her killer Giuseppe Zanotti for Kanye West wedding shoes! Step inside to zoom in on all the details. 

Whether you're a guest, bridesmaid, or even the bride, weddings are a perfect time to add a braid into your dressed-up style. They can add a touch of romance or bohemian coolness to your look, and there are a variety of ways to incorporate woven strands into your style. Click through to see how the following stars plaited their coifs to perfection.

Over the next few weeks, personal trainer and director at Rollex Health, Luke Istomin, is giving the all the brides-to-be out there 12 weeks to get toned.

Having a toned body doesn’t just happen by itself. It takes a combination of planned workouts, prepared meals, and hopefully a workout buddy (or a few) to workout with. To change your upper body, you need to move your lower body, so yes, I’m telling you to move! The more active and physical you become, the faster and better off your body will respond. Ready?

Erin McNaught married her beau, Elliot Gleave, in a private ceremony near Ballina in NSW on Saturday afternoon. English musician Elliot, better known by his stage name Example, has shared gorgeous wedding photos on Instagram, showcasing Erin’s custom-made Steven Khalil gown in all its glory. He captioned the picture, “This happened yesterday,” and posted a couple more cute and intimate moments. He also took a screenshot of Erin’s Twitter profile, which now lists her as Erin Gleave, writing, “This made me smile just now. What a lovely surname.”

While Example has been in charge of releasing their wedding pictures, Erin has taken the reigns with sharing snaps of their Bora Bora honeymoon, which so far includes delicious-looking cocktails and swimming in infinity pools against gorgeous backdrops.

The bridal trends for Spring 2014 leave room to try something a bit different. While gorgeous white gowns and traditional strapless silhouettes certainly made their customary appearance, it wasn't all run of the mill. Vera Wang surprised with black-and-white looks, finished with dramatic black opera-length gloves. Oscar de la Renta dipped into the colour wheel for a true "something blue," Reem Acra turned out cocktail minis topped with veiled umbrellas, and Carolina Herrera debuted a sexier kind of wedding-day ensemble (think deep V-front necklines). For inspiration aplenty — and a closer look at what exactly the Spring '14 bridal forecast means for your own wedding-dress search — click on.

Between dressing Australia's most stylish stars for the red carpet, putting the finishing touches of his gobsmackingly gorgeous 2014 collection, and sending his dresses down the runway at the Ultimate Wedding Planning Party last Wednesday night (phew!) we were able to wrangle a chat with bridal designer du jour Steven Khalil. Along with his trusty assistant Cathy, I hit him with wedding dress rapid fire! Poor guy. Step inside to see what the king of Sydney wedding dress couture had to say about everything from finding non-ugly wedding shoes to the most figure-flattering styles for your big day. 

So we've gone and done a lot of crying in order to choose our top five waterproof mascaras. All jokes aside, though, your wedding day is probably the one day in your life you can guarantee you will cry, so it's important to turn up prepared. Waterproof mascara isn't everyone's cup of tea day-to-day, but it is the perfect bridal beauty product. We've gone for staying power, volume and a smooth consistency. Click through.

Whether you're a bridesmaid or a bride looking for dress ideas for your bridal party, look no further than these famous faces. Be your wedding black-tie, set in a casual garden, or beachside, these red-carpet moments will — no doubt — speak to you. What's more, the gowns certainly don't skimp on spotlight-worthy details, such as rich colours, exquisite fabrics, and dramatic silhouettes. Click on to see standout gowns worn by everyone from Kate Hudson to Solange Knowles for further wedding-fueled inspiration.