Judy Medway Bridal
About
Overview & Vibe
Judy Medway has been designing and making bridal couture for more than 35 years, and works from Tamworth in the New England North West. Every gown is a one-off, designed with the bride and built over a series of fittings. Her own phrase for the label is “divinely feminine”, and the work runs from clean bias-cut silk to hand-beaded period pieces.
Dress Styles & Designers
One name on the label — Judy Medway. She describes her design themes as modern, minimalistic and contemporary, fantasy, period era styles, alternative, or classical elegance, and she is trained across the whole craft: design, patternmaking, assembly, fitting, tailoring, couture finishing, garment detailing and fabric dyeing. Her gowns have appeared on the covers of Australian bridal magazines and in parades at Sydney Town Hall and Fox Studios.
Ideal For
A bride who wants a gown drawn for her rather than chosen from a rack, and who cares about how it is made — the hand beading, the couture finishing, the lace. It suits anyone hard to fit or working to a period or unusual brief, and anyone who wants the accessories designed to match: veils, headpieces, jewellery, garters and wraps are all made to complement the gown. Brides have travelled from overseas and had a gown made during their stay in Australia, by prior arrangement.
The Need-to-Knows
Strictly by appointment, pre-booked. Fabrics are chosen at the first design appointment, and a fabric dyeing service means the colour can be matched rather than compromised. There is a pre-gown fitting before any fabric is cut, then a progressive series of fittings that allow for design changes and weight adjustment. Phone 0429 031 051 or email judymedwaycouture@gmail.com. An online shop sells her handmade accessories, jewellery and bridal lace by the metre, from $15 to $590.
Standout Feature
She also coaches brides. Judy is a qualified art therapist, counsellor and coach, and offers bridal and personal coaching — in person, by phone, email or video — to help a bride plan, stay on track and manage the stress of the year before the wedding. No other listing in this directory pairs a couture atelier with a qualified counsellor, and after 35 years of watching brides through it she is unusually well placed to do both.
Appointment Policy
- The design service is strictly by appointment, and appointments are pre-booked.
- Fabrics are selected at the initial design appointment.
- A pre-gown fitting is done before the gown fabric is cut, to adjust for your proportions and preferences.
- The gown is then made progressively through a series of fittings, allowing for design development and weight changes.
- Accessories and jewellery are co-ordinated across those same fittings.
- Overseas brides can arrange to have a gown made during their stay in Australia, by pre-booking.
- Phone 0429 031 051 or email judymedwaycouture@gmail.com to arrange an appointment.
Dress Designers
- Judy Medway. Description: The designer and maker herself — over 35 years in bridal couture, trained in design, patternmaking, tailoring, couture finishing and fabric dyeing, with gowns on Australian bridal magazine covers and in Sydney Town Hall and Fox Studios parades.
Dress Experience
- Judy Medway has over 35 years of experience designing and creating bridal couture.
- She is based at Tamworth, New South Wales, and works with brides across the region and beyond.
- She is trained in every facet of the craft — design, patternmaking, assembly, fitting, tailoring, couture, finishing, fabric and garment detailing, and fabric dyeing.
- Her bridal gown designs have appeared on the covers of leading Australian bridal magazines and in editorial and celebrity shoots.
- She has shown in Sydney bridal exhibitions and parades including Sydney Town Hall and Fox Studios.
- She has made gowns for brides from around the world, often making the gown during the bride's stay in Australia.
- She works with natural, environmentally friendly and synthetic fibres.
- She is also a qualified art therapist, counsellor and coach, and offers bridal and personal coaching alongside the design work.
Dress Styles
- classic
- modern minimalist
- vintage
- romantic
- lace
- beaded
- satin
- tulle
- sheath
- column
- strapless
- two piece
Dresses
- Chantilly Lace Gown. Price: quoted at your design appointment. Description: One of her editorial gowns, cut in French chantilly lace.
- Latte Silk Trail Gown. Price: quoted at your design appointment. Description: A silk gown in a latte tone with a trailing hem, shown in her editorial collection.
- Slinky Halter Gown. Price: quoted at your design appointment. Description: A halter-neck gown cut close to the body.
- Bridal V Back Gown. Price: quoted at your design appointment. Description: A gown with a deep V to the back.
- Cape Gown. Price: quoted at your design appointment. Description: A gown worn with a matching cape.
- Bridal Tulle Gown. Price: quoted at your design appointment. Description: A full tulle gown from her editorial work.
- White Draped Gown. Price: quoted at your design appointment. Description: A draped gown in white, cut on the bias.
- Sheath Gown. Price: quoted at your design appointment. Description: A narrow sheath, one of her recurring shapes.
- Blush Halter. Price: quoted at your design appointment. Description: A halter gown in a blush tone.
- Blue Brocade. Price: quoted at your design appointment. Description: A brocade gown in blue, from her period-inspired work.
- Lemon Tulle. Price: quoted at your design appointment. Description: A tulle gown in lemon, one of her coloured pieces.
- Falling Leaves Dress. Price: quoted at your design appointment. Description: A dress named for its falling-leaf detailing.
- Bias Lace. Price: quoted at your design appointment. Description: Lace cut on the bias, one of the house signatures.
- Soft Bias. Price: quoted at your design appointment. Description: A softly bias-cut gown.
- Cover Editorial Gown. Price: quoted at your design appointment. Description: A gown photographed for an Australian bridal magazine cover.
Nearby Landmarks
- Tamworth – the largest city in the New England North West, and where the studio is.
- The Peel River and Bicentennial Park – where many Tamworth couples are photographed.
- Moonbi and the Moonbi Range – the climb north out of town, and a favourite for golden hour.
- Nundle and the Hanging Rock lookout – an hour south-east in the hills.
- Gunnedah, Quirindi, Manilla and Armidale – the surrounding towns within easy reach.
Price Notes
- Bridal gowns are one-off commissions and are quoted at your design appointment.
- The online shop's handmade accessories and jewellery run from $15 to $590.
- Bridal lace is sold by the metre — French guipure lace is $590 a metre, and remnant lengths are cheaper.
- Handmade bridal garters start at $25 and lace hair barrettes at $25.
- A hand-beaded chantilly lace tiara is $350 and a gold guipure lace silk bustier is $450.
- eGift cards are available from $25 to $200.
- Online payments are processed through PayPal or Square.
- Custom made items cannot be cancelled, because they are made to the buyer's own requirements and size.
Price Range
Purchase Options
- Custom Design
- Made To Measure
- Ready To Wear
- Online
Services Offered
- Custom Bridal Gown Design — one-off gowns designed with the bride and made to measure.
- Special Occasion Wear — designed to the same couture process as the bridal gowns.
- Accessory And Jewellery Design — made to complement the gown's design.
- Fabric Dyeing — so the colour can be matched exactly rather than compromised.
- Veils And Headpieces — including two-tier cathedral-length veils and beaded lace tiaras.
- Bridal Garters, Wraps, Shawls And Ring Pillows — all handmade.
- Bridal Lace And Fabric By The Metre — French guipure, chantilly, corded and embroidered nets.
- Bridal And Personal Coaching — face to face, email, telephone or video, from a qualified art therapist, counsellor and coach.
- Gowns For International Brides — made during a bride's stay in Australia, by prior arrangement.
- Gift Cards — electronic gift cards from $25 to $200.