Helen Rodrigues Bridal

• Appointments are made through the boutique's booking form; a stylist then calls to confirm.
• A maximum of three guests is recommended - the boutique notes that too many opinions can be confusing.
• Photography and videography are strictly not permitted before, during or after the appointment.
• Photos and video are welcome only once a gown has been purchased.
• Accessories appointments for veils, headpieces and earrings are offered separately and are strictly by appointment.
• Interstate and international brides return once, about three weeks before the wedding, with fittings turned around in two days, generally Thursday and Friday.
• Ask whether an appointment fee applies when you book.

• Elie Saab — +. The Beirut couture house; HRB is its exclusive Australian and New Zealand stockist.
• Oscar de la Renta — +. The New York house, at the top of the boutique's range.
• Galia Lahav — with pieces +. The Tel Aviv couture house.
• Monique Lhuillier Bridal. The Los Angeles house's main bridal line.
• Monique Lhuillier Bliss. The house's more accessible line, and one of the two entry points to the boutique.
• Marmar Halim. Part of the couture collection.
• Peter Langner. Part of the couture collection.
• Suzanne Neville. The British house, and the boutique's other entry point.
• Inbal Dror — Carried in the gown collection.
• Jennifer Behr — Jewellery and headpieces in the accessories range.
• Keren Wolf — Jewellery in the accessories range.

• Helen Rodrigues Bridal has been doing this since 2001 and runs the appointment with a formality that matches the price of the gowns. You book through a form and a stylist calls you back to arrange it. Bring no more than three people - the boutique says plainly that too many opinions get confusing. Leave the phone in your bag: photography and videography are not permitted before, during or after the appointment, and only become acceptable once you have bought the gown. What you are choosing between is over seventy sample gowns from nine international couture houses, and because HRB is the exclusive Australian and New Zealand stockist for every one of them, it can also order anything from those designers' full ranges or ship a sample in for you to try. Allow nine to twelve months. If you are not in Sydney the boutique has this worked out: you book the gown, and then come back exactly once, about three weeks before the wedding, with all your fittings compressed into two days. And if the budget is not there, they say so and point you at their own sample store rather than talking you into something.

• couture
• ball gown
• lace
• beaded
• fitted
• modern minimalist

• Ben Boyd Road, Neutral Bay – the boutique is on Sydney's lower north shore
• Military Road, Neutral Bay – the neighbouring retail and dining strip
• Neutral Bay Wharf – ferry services to Circular Quay
• Sydney CBD – about 4km south across the Harbour Bridge
• Mosman and Cremorne – the adjoining lower north shore suburbs

• Made To Order
• Sample Sale

• Veils And Accessories
• Bridal Jewellery
• Trunk Shows
• Sample Sale
• Interstate And International Fitting Service

No details available.