This gorgeous dress is a size 10 Wendy Makin Ellie. The fabric is incredible - champagne-coloured silk with a white French lace overlay. The inside layer is silk and it feels so good on. I wore it for our spring garden wedding in September 2013 and I was going to change later but the dress was so comfortable I didn’t. The back has a zip with a line of pearlescent buttons. I pinned a picture of the buttoned back of the dress on Pinterest and seriously, I have never had so many repins! It is gorgeous.

The dress is fitted with a boned bodice but still very comfortable. It sucks you in really well but you can eat, drink, move and dance. I normally hate wearing anything really fitted and tight so that says something! It is so flattering, holds you in beautifully, the train is so elegant and the lace is timeless. On the day, despite it being quite fitted and the fact that I feel a bit self-conscious about my tummy, I didn’t feel at all uncomfortable in it. And the cut makes your waistline look great! We had a spring garden wedding and it was the perfect dress for it.

Please excuse the photo of me looking like an idiot. But it does show the cut of the dress quite well! It is a soft semi-mermaid style, very fitted up top with a sweetheart neckline and a boned bodice, fitted down the body and then trailing off into a beautiful train that gives the dress a gorgeous shape that photographs really nicely.

I am 165cm tall and wore 8cm heels; this dress is a size 10 with no adjustments to size or length. I had a couple of minor alterations done. I ordered handmade lace straps from Wendy Makin at a cost of $250. I had these sewn on by a seamstress and they button at the nape of the neck. These can be removed very easily if desired.

When you buy the Ellie it also comes with a satin ribbon that you can tie around the waist. I wanted something that would make the dress look unique. So I ordered this beautiful handmade crystal detailing from the U.S and had this added to the waist to make a crystal-encrusted sash. It is actually a 1920s Gatsby-style headband, but I thought it would work as a crystal sash and it did. It is one of my favourite things about the dress. I had my seamstress add the standard silk ribbon from the Ellie to turn the headband into a belt and it really defines the waist. It was sewn on by my seamstress but can be easily removed.

A few mm of lace was removed from just under the arms as well for comfort; but because it is only just under the arms it is not noticeable when you are wearing it, unless you plan on helping people crowd-surf. I bought the dress from Bride’s Selection in West Leederville for a total of $2500 (dress was $2250, lace straps an extra $250, belt was $60) & am selling it for $1300. It has been professionally dry-cleaned by Stannards for $365. I had the BEST day of my life in it and would love to know that it will bring someone else happiness too. Please email if you have any questions or would like to see mor