Looking for local Brisbane and Gold Coast designer wedding dress inspiration? Delve into this dreamy portfolio of 24 beautifully styled photoshoots by Helena Couture Designs that are packed with ideas for creating your dream wedding gown.
“Keeping busy” seems something of an understatement when we’re talking about Gold Coast-based bridalwear designer Helena Karkovic. Case in point: her non-negotiable commitment to keep creating. Even in the face of a pandemic.
During 2020, with a workroom of designs ready for their close-up, the wedding dress designer turned her attention to awakening an industry largely on pause. She put out the call to a few like-minded Queensland wedding pros … and things snowballed from there. The result? 24 styled shoots in 10 months! WOW!
Channelling wanderlust yearnings and mini wedding trends, themes run the gamut from Bridgerton, Chanel, and Slice of Europe to Boho Beach Bliss and the aptly titled Silver Linings. Photographed at scenic locations around Brisbane and the Gold Coast, each is an intimate journey featuring Queensland talent and new-season gowns (as well as a few existing favourites) from Helena Couture Designs.
While she was keen to give her collection of gowns life outside the workroom, Helena says the true motivation for coordinating the shoots went much deeper. “I really wanted to help bring the industry together during such a tough time,” she explains. “It was a way to keep everyone connected, help generate positivity, and keep everyone doing what they love.” We love.
Take a peek below at our highlights of the inspiration-packed portfolio of beautiful designer styled shoots (and click on the title of each to see the full styled collection).
#1 Isolation
Dress: Faith // Models Ashleigh & Jake // Venue Cowbell Creek // Photos True North Photography // Florals Moss n Stone // Food Conk & Co // HMUA Bella Brides // Suit Black Jacket Suiting
Dress: Hope // Models Mimi & Eli // Location Tallebudgera Creek // Photos Florin Lane Photography // Florals Flowers by W Events // Styling W Events Group // Cake Sweet Art Creations Cakes // Food Conk & Co // HMUA Amanda Higl Hair & Makeup // Suit Black Jacket Suiting
#3 Holy Trinity
Dress: Flamenco // Models Polina & Barrington Scott // Venue Holy Trinity Church // Photos Kylie Williams Photography // Florals Garden Graffiti // Cakes The French Patisserie // HMUA Hollywood Brides // Suit Urbbana
#4 Austinvilla Estate [1]
Dress: Aurora // Models Georgia & Montez Venue Austinvilla Estate // Photos Tom Judson Photography // Florals MTS Floristry // Cakes The French Patisserie // MUA Nicole Peterson MUA // Hair Jenna Leigh Styling // Suit Black Jacket Suiting
#5 Ooh La La! at the French Quarter [1]
Dress: Persephone // Models Georgia & Relja // Venue French Quarter, Emerald Lakes// Photos Ben and Hope Photography // Florals Moss n Stone // HMUA Blake Designs // Suit Urbbana
#6 Austinvilla Estate [2]
Dress: Byron // Models Emily & Hayden // Venue & Styling Austinvilla Estate // Photos & Film Danielle Knight & Co. Photography & Film // Florals Pollinate Gold Coast // Cake Gareth Keenan Catering // MUA Nicole Peterson MUA // Hair Jenna Leigh Styling // Suit Black Jacket Suiting
#7 Austinvilla Estate [3]
Dress: Summer // Models Mimi & Eli // Venue & Styling Austinvilla Estate // Photos & Video Leigh Warner Weddings // Florals Pollinate Gold Coast // MUA Nicole Peterson MUA // Hair Jenna Leigh Styling // Suit Black Jacket Suiting
#8 A slice of Europe at French Quarter [2]
Dress: Charity // Models Denika & Aaron // Venue French Quarter, Emerald Lakes// Photos & Film Danielle Knight & Co. Photography & Film // Florals Flowers by W Events // HMUA Blake Designs // Suit Urbbana
#9 The Whimsical World of Mt Tamborine
Dress: Isla // Models Piper & Barrington Scott // Venue Lisson Grove // Photos Claire Elise Photography // Florals Moss n Stone // Food In Season Catering & Events // HMUA Amanda Higl Hair & Makeup // Suit Urbbana
#10 Enchanted World of Elegance
Dress: Florence // Models Tina & Carlo // Venue & Styling Evergreen Garden Venue // Photos Ben and Hope Photography // Film Motion Art // Florals Moss n Stone // Music Naomi Tershima Harpist // Food In Season Catering & Events // HMUA Amanda Higl Hair & Makeup
#11 Back to Nature
Dress: Ireland // Models Emily & Hayden // Venue Sol Gardens // Styling Arctic Fox Events // Photos Zoe-Marie Photography // Florals Flowers by W Events // Jewellery Crystal Dreamz by Ali // Cake Sweet Art Creations Cakes // HMUA Emilia Maria Make Up + Hair// Suit Black Jacket Suiting
#12 Angel at Scarborough Estate [1]
Dress: Angel // Models Mimi & Eli // Venue Scarborough Estate // Photos Ben and Hope Photography // Video Motion Art // Florals Petal Street // Food In Season Catering & Events // HMUA Amanda Higl Hair & Makeup // Suit Black Jacket Suiting
#13 Majestic at Scarborough Estate [2]
Dress Angelique // Models Georgia & Jared // Venue Scarborough Estate // Photos & Film Danielle Knight & Co. Photography & Film // Florals Flowers by W Events // Food Gareth Keenan Catering // HMUA Blake Designs // Suit Black Jacket Suiting
#14 Sophistication at Emerald Lakes French Quarter [3]
Dress Chanel // Models Georgia & Jared // Venue Emerald Lakes French Quarter // Photos True North Photography // Florals Flowers by W Events // Food In Season Catering & Events // HMUA Amanda Higl Hair & Makeup // Suit Black Jacket Suiting
Dress Liana // Models Paige & Sam // Location The Spit, Main Beach // Photos Mandy Martin Photography // Florals Flowers by W Events // Jewellery Crystal Dreamz by Ali // Food In Season Catering & Events // HMUA Aurum Bride // Suit Black Jacket Suiting
Dress Monique // Models Courtney & Will // Venue The Mouse’s House, Twin Falls // Photos Foy & Co. Weddings // Florals Moss n Stone // Jewellery Crystal Dreamz by Ali // HMUA Bella Brides // Suit Black Jacket Suiting
#17 Silver Linings
Dress Ashera // Models Sophie, Natalie, Maya, Sam, Dianne, Haawai, Martin, Torrek, Aaron & Ted // Venue Evergreen Garden Venue // Photos Danielle Knight & Co. Photography & Film // Film Tilley Film Co // Florals Moss n Stone // HMUA Students from Huxley School of Makeup: Carly Kingston HMUA, Gisele HMUA, Tanika White HMUA, Rozalija HMUA // Suit Black Jacket Suiting
Dress April // Models Tyla & Kurt // Venue The Grounds, Scenic Rim // Photos Claire Elise Photography // Styling Scenic Rim Wedding and Event Hire // Florals Moss n Stone // HMUA Amanda Higl Hair & Makeup // Suit Urbbana
Dress Daisy // Models Jessie & Nathan // Location Tallebudgera Creek // Photos Lauren Joy Photography // Florals & Styling Lola’s Wildflowers // HMUA Emilia Maria Make Up + Hair // Transport 75 Vibes // Suit Black Jacket Suiting
Dress Tyla // Models Tyla & Kurt // Location Tallebudgera Creek // Photos Mandy Martin Photography // Florals Moss n Stone // Styling Magnolia Studios // Stationery The Frankie Collective // Candles & Tableware Southern Light Candle Co. // Cake Cakes by Tammy // HMUA Emilia Maria Make Up + Hair // Suit Black Jacket Suiting
Dress Lily 2.0 // Models Sarah & Tom // Location Hancock Horsemanship // Photos Lauren Joy Photography // Florals Flowers by W Events // Styling Magnolia Studios // Cake Cakes by Tammy // HMUA Bella Brides // Suit Black Jacket Suiting
Dress Octavia // Models Rachael & Tom // Location Brisbane City // Photos Lauren Joy Photography // Florals Petal Street // HMUA Blake Designs // Suit Urbbana
#23 Bridgerton-inspired [1]
Dresses Tea, Hope, Charity, Maddison // Models Gabi, Georgia, Nikita, Jackie & Reece // Venue The Grounds, Mt Tamborine // Photos Ben and Hope Photography // Video Jackson Gooding Videography // Florals Moss n Stone // Styling Scenic Rim Wedding and Event Hire // Candles & Tableware Magnolia Studios // Cake & Food The French Patisserie // MUA Emilia Maria Make Up + Hair // Hair Emma Louise Hair // Suit Urbbana
#24 Bridgerton-inspired [2]
Dresses Ashera, Isla, Faith, Odessa, Maddison, Angel, Rosza & Le Plumage// Models Polina, Georgia, Abby, Tina, Emily, Taylor, Ariana, Tahana & Connor // Location Amoresque, Maudsland // Photos Nicholas Beissel // Video Jackson Gooding Videography // Candles & Tableware Magnolia Studios // Florals Run Wild Flora // Cake & Food The French Patisserie // MUA Emilia Maria Make Up + Hair // Emma Louise Hair // Music Ebony Curnette // Suit Black Jacket Suiting & Urbbana
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