About

Overview & Vibe

Fifteen years on the Central Coast under a new name. “We're Willow & White Bridal and Formal, formerly Kel-Leigh Couture, and we've been helping brides and formalwear lovers find their perfect look for over 15 years… we've given ourselves a fresh new name and a little glow-up, we're still the same friendly team.” At the centre is Julie, more than 20 years in the wedding industry with a lifelong passion for fashion and sewing; Sharon is the in-house sewing expert; and “if you're lucky, you might even see the legendary Kel still hanging around.”

Dress Styles & Designers

Tania Olsen Designs and Nicoletta — and the boutique's own exclusive private label, Kayelle, which it says “you won't find anywhere else”. The range is described from “romantic tulle and lace to modern minimalism, beach boho to princess ballgowns”. If a bride sees something on either designer's own website, the boutique will order it in.

Ideal For

The bride who has been told she is between sizes. Willow & White holds samples in size 8 to 28 — to “celebrate every shape and every love story” — and orders made to order in AU 2 to 40, the widest published size range in this directory. Its own pitch is a budget one: “Say yes to the dress without saying goodbye to your budget”, and “a premium boutique experience without the need to travel to Sydney.”

The Need-to-Knows

By appointment only, but no booking fee — bridal appointments run 90 minutes, formal, mother-of-the-bride and single or duo bridesmaid appointments an hour, and bridesmaid groups of three or more 90 minutes. Up to three guests. On Saturdays and during sales two brides may be booked at once — never more — and an exclusive appointment can be requested. Gown orders take 12 to 18 weeks, with a $100 rush fee bringing that to 8–9; the boutique recommends ordering 20 weeks out to leave time for alterations. Open Tuesday to Saturday, with a Thursday late night to 7pm by appointment.

Standout Feature

The seamstress is in the building, and she will work on a dress you bought somewhere else. Alterations are done in house — hems, straps, sleeves, buttons, beading, “from subtle adjustments to complete transformations” — whether or not the gown came from Willow & White. Its own photographs show it: hands at a sewing machine on lace, a lace back being done up button by button, a stylist settling a veil. For a Coast bride, that is the difference between one appointment and three trips to Sydney.

Appointment Policy

The boutique is by appointment only.
There is no fee for an initial appointment.
Bridal appointments run one and a half hours with a trained stylist.
School formal, mother of the bride or groom, special event and single or duo bridesmaid appointments run one hour; bridesmaid groups of three or more are given one and a half hours.
Up to three guests may come with the bride.
During sale events and on Saturdays the boutique may book more than one customer at a time, but never more than two; an exclusive appointment can be requested when booking.
Shop hours are Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, with a Thursday late night by appointment only taking a last booking at 7pm; closed Sunday and Monday.
Free parking is available in marked spaces, with street parking on Wells Street and Henry Parry Drive.
Appointments are requested through the boutique's own booking form, which asks whether the visit is for bridal, formal or alterations.

Dress Designers

Kayelle. Description: The boutique's own exclusive private label — a collection "you won't find anywhere else", thoughtfully crafted in quality fabrics, from romantic tulle and lace to modern minimalism, beach boho to princess ballgowns.
Tania Olsen Designs. Description: A stocked Australian label; the boutique is a stockist and will order any style from the designer's own site on request.
Nicoletta. Description: A stocked Australian label; the boutique is a stockist and will order any style from the designer's own site on request.

Dress Experience

Willow & White is a bridal and formal boutique at 58 York Street, East Gosford on the NSW Central Coast, trading by appointment only. It was previously called Kel-Leigh Couture and has been dressing brides and formalwear customers for over 15 years. Julie leads the business with more than 20 years in the wedding industry and a background in fashion and sewing; Sharon is the in-house sewing expert; and the founder, Kel, is still described as present in the shop. It stocks Tania Olsen Designs and Nicoletta and sells its own exclusive private label, Kayelle, and will order any style from its stocked designers' own websites on request. Samples are held in sizes 8 to 28 and gowns are made to order in AU 2 to 40, with off-the-rack purchase available for last-minute weddings. Orders take 12 to 18 weeks, or 8 to 9 weeks with a $100 rush fee, and the boutique recommends ordering at least 20 weeks before the wedding to leave time for alterations. Alterations and customisations are carried out in house on gowns bought there and elsewhere, covering hems, straps, sleeves, buttons and beading. Bridal appointments run an hour and a half, formal, mother of the bride or groom and single or duo bridesmaid appointments run an hour, and bridesmaid groups of three or more get an hour and a half; there is no appointment fee and up to three guests are welcome. On Saturdays and during sale events up to two customers may be booked at once, never more, and an exclusive appointment can be requested. The shop is open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, with a Thursday late night by appointment taking a last booking at 7pm, and is closed Sunday and Monday. It also sells formal wear, veils and accessories.

Dress Styles

ball gown
princess
a-line
fit and flare
mermaid
sheath
boho
romantic
classic
modern minimalist
lace
beaded
tulle
satin
corset
strapless
off shoulder
detachable sleeves
low back
high split
long train
cathedral veil

Dresses

No details available.

Formerly Known As

Kel-Leigh Couture

Nearby Landmarks

York Street, East Gosford – In the East Gosford village shopping precinct
Henry Parry Drive and Wells Street – The adjacent streets, with parking
Gosford CBD and Brisbane Water – About five minutes west
Erina Fair – About ten minutes east

Price Notes

No gown prices are published anywhere on the boutique's own site.
Its own framing is "affordable designer gowns" and "say yes to the dress without saying goodbye to your budget".
Bridal gown orders take 12 to 18 weeks, depending on the manufacturer's production times.
Rush orders are available for a $100 fee, taking 8 to 9 weeks.
The boutique recommends ordering at least 20 weeks before the wedding date to leave time for alterations.
Alterations and customisations are quoted individually and are offered on gowns bought elsewhere as well as its own.
Any style from Tania Olsen Designs or Nicoletta can be ordered in on request, even if not held in store.
Gowns held in stock can be sent out immediately for last-minute weddings.

Price Range

No details available.

Purchase Options

Made To Order
Off The Rack
Sample Sale

Services Offered

In-House Alterations
Alterations For Gowns Bought Elsewhere
Gown Customisation
Bridal Styling
Bridesmaid Dresses
Mother Of The Bride
Formal And Evening Wear
School Formal Dresses
Veils And Accessories
Special Orders From Stocked Designers
Rush Orders

Size Range

[2,40]

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Willow & White