Choosing your wedding dress and accessories can be a daunting experience. Superstar stylist, Lana Wilkinson, beautifully styled our Wittner Bride campaign, and shares with us her tips for modern brides – from choosing the dress to walking down the aisle in the perfect shoes.

What was the inspiration behind the beautiful gowns used in the Wittner Bride Campaign?
Wittner’s bridal collection is inspired by the idea that as a bride to be, you step into love. The collection was designed with the stylish and fashion forward bride in mind, so I wanted to ensure that the gowns featured in the the campaign, spoke to this bride-to be. I turned to two iconic Melbourne bridal couturiers, Kyha Simpson of One Day Bridal and Sonia Cappellazzo of Cappellazzo Couture.

Kyha Simpson’s Oneday Bridal collections represent a focus on innovative fabric treatments with a modern aesthetic. These are the kinds of details that make fashion editors giddy, and will always keep high-fashion brides and brides alike, coming back for more.

Sonia Cappellazzo, of Cappellazzo Couture has been in fashion design since 1987, which led her to designing in Europe and Asia, before returning to Australia and establishing her bridal couture label. Her designs are renowed for their elegance, combining classical elements of bygone eras with a contemporary edge. They have each also established a reputation for creating custom red-carpet couture gowns for celebrities, so it seemed only natural to include them in this project.

What advice would you give to brides searching for the perfect wedding dress?
The first thing I say to any bride who wants to find the perfect dress, is don’t go into the process with a pre-conceived idea about what you want. Be open to shapes, fabrics and silhouettes. This is the most important “red carpet” moment in your life, be true to yourself. Make sure that the dress you choose reflects your own personal style. The most beautiful brides are the ones that look like the best version of themselves. Also, ensure that the fit and construction of your gown is second to none.

How do you think brides should use accessories to complete their outfit?
Take the less is more approach when it comes to accessorising your gown. Choose a feature like a statement pair of earrings, bracelet or neck piece. If you choose a headpiece over a veil, keep your accessories minimal as your ring and gown are the stars of the show. Ensure your shoes in every instance are equally stunning. Often people make the mistake of thinking shoes can’t be seen and therefore don’t matter. They can be seen and they are paramount to completing the look.

Do you have any tips for choosing bridesmaids dresses?
This is a job I’m very familiar with, not only because I’m a stylist, but I have been a bridesmaid five times. The most important advice is do not choose your bridesmaid dresses before you choose your gown. Often people make the error of styling the bridesmaids before they style themselves. The bridesmaids should compliment the overall look and feel – not compete or detract from the bride. Pastels and soft muted palates are always a safe choice as bold colours can often date quickly. Choose styles that are classic versus trend-based. Down the track, you don’t want to look back at photos with regret. Finally, ensure that the style you choose suits all body shapes, in the event that style is the same. Don’t be afraid to use different silhouettes and colours – we often don’t all have the same body shape.

What are your tips for finding the perfect wedding shoes?
Ensure the shoe compliments the dress and reflects your own personal style. Comfort is important, but don’t let it be to the detriment of the overall look. It’s a long day, so I often tell brides to invest in a second pair of shoes –these may have a lower heel or perhaps a ballet flat.

What is your favourite style from the Wittner Bride Collection?  
I’d probably find it difficult to choose one style – but my favourites are the Page metallic heels and the nude Adalena sandal with gold trim – I’m not getting married but would wear these myself and style on clients for their events.

What do you think of the trend for non-white wedding gowns?
I think the trend is here to stay as pure white doesn’t necessarily suit every skin tone. I also like that Brides today make fashion choices when it comes to the overall design. My only recommendation, consider your bridal party when choosing your colour, to ensure you’re the standout.

What did you wear to your wedding?
I wore a Collette Dinnigan gown with an embellished bodice and tulle skirt. I paired it with a
head piece and cuff from Sydney bridal couturier Johanna Johnson and a silver pair of Christian
Louboutin’s. I was very me. Fortunately my guests thought the same, telling me later that it was
very much a ‘Lana’ dress.

Which iconic wedding do you love the most?
It’s so hard to choose one. As a young teenager, I can remember the marriage of John F Kennedy Jnr to Carolyn Bessette. It was a turning point for brides at the time, with Carolyn pushing the boundaries and walking down the aisle in a $40,000 pearl-colored silk crepe floor-length gown, hand-rolled tulle silk veil and long silk gloves by Narcisco Rodriguez. I remember thinking, wow, she looks beautiful.

What’s your favourite memory from your wedding?
This is probably going to sound cliché, but walking down the aisle and reaching my now husband, Liam. The song that was playing was ‘Feels like home’ by Chantal Kreviazuk, the words really described our relationship – he is my best friend. I just remember his smile and thinking to myself, can life get better than this! It was the best feeling.