This post was last updated: 1st of January, 2020. (We will update this post regularly as we interact with more vendors.)
If you are engaged and reading this, congratulations from us! If you live in Brisbane, we want to make your new life of wedding planning a little easier by providing you with a list of some vendors we have either worked with previously or have hired for our own events. When we were getting married, everything went smoothly more or less. Except for the flowers. We were stung. We purchased our flowers from a florist at a local market. We agreed on the types of flowers, amounts and total cost. We paid in full. All good. That is... until the day before our wedding. We went to pick up our order and the florist said that she was not providing us with anything until we paid $$$ more. Her story was that she was unable to get the flowers from her usual wholesale supplier and that she had to pass her extra costs onto us as the client. We did not believe her story then and we do not today. We paid the extra as we were in a vulnerable position (time poor). If we can help to reduce these types of incidents with personal recommendations, we will. (No, you won't find this florist in the list below!)
Furthermore, our mission statement is this: "Provide a quality, bespoke service while supporting our local community". We enjoy supporting local businesses, preferably located in and around our hometown of Brisbane, Australia. We have listed our preferences below in alphabetical order. We are keen to hear your recommendations and success stories, too! If this list takes only a little bit of stress out of your planning and helps to minimise future regrets, we have been successful. Enjoy and please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
We have recommendations for the following:
Cake
Car
Catering
Celebrant
Dress
Event Hire
Event Hire & Styling
Event Styling & Floral Design
Floral Design
Furniture Hire
Gifts
Jewellery
Lighting
Location
Makeup
Music
Stationery
Suit
Swing
Cake
Cake House (specialty: cake masterpieces)
We first met Katrina at a shoot at Gabbinbar. Our first impression was being impressed at how generous she was; Katrina had brought a cake box full of goodies for the vendors to try. It was a lovely, thoughtful gesture. We sampled the cakes and biscuits and were impressed with how delicious and memorable they were. Since then, we have worked together a couple of times (consuming more delicious cakes and biscuits each time; therefore, we can also recommend Katrina at Cake House for a consistently high quality product). In summary, we can say that we highly recommend Katrina’s masterpieces & her wonderful, friendly & bespoke service (she is actually a treat - apologies for the terrible pun - to work with!). Watch this space for more up-coming shoots with Katrina; we can’t wait to share!
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Cake My Day By Jo (specialty: naked cakes)
We have worked with Jo here and here and here previously. It was a delight and we were lucky enough to get to try them, too. They tasted as amazing as they looked! Jo's upside-down chandelier cakes are next level and beautifully memorable (as you can see below).
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Macarons by Monika (specialty: creating mouth-watering cakes, macarons and meringues with love)
When your list of honourable mentions includes a feature in Food & Wines "13 Macaron Artists You Should Be Following On Instagram" list, it doesn't really matter what our Mr&MrsAverage opinion is but Monika's cakes, cake pops and macarons are delicious and you need to experience it for yourself. Here are some pretty images to seal the deal. You can see more from a shoot we worked on together here and here.
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Molossi Designs (specialty: custom-cut MDF & acrylic designs)
Molossi specialises in custom-cut designs, including cake toppers. (Check out the full range on their site linked above; at Molossi, there is no limit so have a chat with Josh or Suzanne and they would love to create something bespoke for you.) We are thrilled with their quality products and enjoy working with the friendly Molossi team. We have worked with them here and here. We interviewed Josh & Suzanne here.
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The Sweet Society Co (specialty: defying the traditional white wedding cake with a bold modern cake - simplicity at its best!)
Diana, the warm & friendly personality behind The Sweet Society Co, is a delight to work alongside. We have been lucky enough to sample her cakes. Em highly recommends the lemon coconut and Pete highly recommends the chocolate (ask him about how it brought back childhood memories of somewhere special in Perth!). We would not hesitate to recommend this lovely cake vendor and have absolutely no doubt that Diana would look after you!
Car
Roaring Twenties Vintage Wedding Car Hire
Moe & Samantha, the owners of Roaring Twenties Vintage Wedding Car Hire, are a delightful couple. Moe & Samantha are easy to work with and excellent with communication - so incredibly important when weddings can involve a lot of emails and paperwork. We recently worked with Bonnie, a pristine 1928 Chrysler, and she is memorable & full of character - just like her owners. Check out Moe & Samantha’s website here.
Catering
At Platter to Plate, lovely Rhiannon will look after you. Rhiannon puts a lot of thought into the entire grazing board experience and it is certainly reflected in the end product. The food is delicious, fresh and colourful. We have been lucky enough to enjoy Rhiannon's grazing board for lunch and it was memorable for all the right reasons. We have worked with Platter to Plate here and here.
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Professional bar service so that you can relax and enjoy your big event. We have worked with Stephanie from Rambling Rose Pop-Up Bar previously and can highly recommend. Rambling Rose Pop-Up Bar serves your chosen beer, cider, wine and sparkling - as well as tea, coffee and hot chocolate. In addition, they are happy to serve your personalised cocktails. Make your day that much more seamless! :)
We have worked with Sam (owner) & Jacqueline (catering planner) from Something for Catering. At the time of writing this feature (30th of May, 2019), Something for Catering has a 5-star review from 140 people on Facebook. This is amazing! It is not surprising, though, as the hard-working staff are friendly and keen to please and the food is memorable and worth telling all your friends about. Highly recommend.
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Fresh. Colourful. Full of flavour. Attention to detail. Lovely service. These are just some of the descriptors for Temptation Platters. We have been blown away by their creations previously; highly recommend.
Celebrant
As you chat with Anna, it soon becomes evident that she is passionate about her role. Also, there is always a laugh just around the corner - perfect match for any concerns about nerves or awkwardness. Or your priority is to have a fun & memorable wedding experience - Anna is your girl!
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UPDATE:
23rd of September 2018 - Fiona has announced that she will no longer be taking on weddings. However, she is available for naming ceremonies, vow renewals and funerals. We will update this if we hear anything to the contrary. In the meantime, we wish Fiona all the best for whatever wonderful adventures lie ahead for her and her family.
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If you are looking to inject some life and fun into your ceremony, Fiona is the celebrant for you. She has a fresh, relateable nature and a professional, calm demeanour. We have really enjoyed working with Fiona previously (here is the link). Feel free to check out our interview with Fiona here; it was great to get to know the personality behind the role.
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Renee is such a calm, reassuring presence on your <what can potentially be stressful> Big Day. Renee has a lovely demeanour. She is keen to work with you to create your own unique ceremony; Renee will help you to create a ceremony as unique as you are as a couple. <3
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Roxy, from Roxy Rocks, loves dogs. If you usually mesh with animal people (like we do), you will love Roxy. On a serious note (well, not that we were not serious before!), Roxy is one of the loveliest celebrants you will ever meet. She genuinely wants everyone to have a ceremony that is memorable for all the right reasons. Roxy is inclusive. She comes with a wealth of experience having officiated >400 weddings. Roxy is real, down-to-earth and will instantly create an environment that makes everyone feel comfortable.
Dress
You will find the sweetest flower girl dresses at Coco Blush Boutique. They have quite the range to accommodate for most wedding styles. Highly recommend.
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Look no further than Ginger + Blonde Co for a flattering range of bridesmaid dresses. The shoot here features a couple of Ginger + Blonde Co's dresses on the bridesmaids. Lovely Bek will ensure that shopping for bridesmaid dresses is fuss-free. <3
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We have featured Ivory Haus' robes in a previous shoot (here). These robes add a touch of luxury to the preparation stage of your big day and help to create photographic content you want to look back on for years to come. Dress to impress all day! :)
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Lovely mother & daughter team, Sew Master Fashions provides stunning gowns in conjunction with personable service and is nice and central in terms of accessibility (Adelaide Street, Brisbane; just a hop, skip and a jump from Central Station). We have worked with Vanessa from Sew Master Fashions previously and can highly recommend (they offer alteration services, too).
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Caitlyn, from Studio C Bridal, offers a range of services from custom design to made-to-measure to loving restoration of an heirloom gown. We featured Studio C Bridal dresses here and here. Caitlyn offers her brides a bespoke service incorporating timelessness and elegance. Caitlyn pays attention to detail and will look after you.
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Vanessa creates the most dreamy bespoke dresses at When Freddie Met Lilly. They are exquisite. Check out Vanessa's Bardon studio for something that is the perfect marriage of individuality, femininity and creativity. We interviewed Vanessa here.
Event Hire & Styling
If you are after event hire items that have been carefully curated and are luxurious, you have come to the perfect place. Collections range from light and free-spirited through to vintage with a modern twist through to alluring and rich in texture and colour. At Click Picnic, you experience a full set-up and pack-down service -> meaning minimal fuss for you. We have worked with Brodie & Dave here and here. We can personally recommend the very talented Brodie as both a planner and stylist. We interviewed the team here.
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We have worked with Stephanie from Scenic Rim Wedding Hire on a couple of occasions. We cannot wait to share the links to these shoots asap. Stephanie is a stand-out. One of the shoots was organised at the last minute (only weeks to go); however, nothing was too hard & the final service/product was impeccable despite the tight timeline. We highly recommend Scenic Rim Wedding Hire for the creation of a bespoke design and execution for your event. Check our their expert services & extensive stock list (including, just to name a few, timber picnic & trestle tables, umbrellas, barrels, peacock/tiffany/bentwood/bistro/ghost chairs, antique lounges, & festoon lighting).
Event Planning & Styling
We have worked with lovely Marisha from Magnolia Studios here. Marisha is amazing to work with! She demonstrates impeccable attention to detail, professional efficiency and is an all-round lovely person to work with. We highly recommend Marisha and her bespoke planning, styling, and on-the-day coordination.
Event Styling & Floral Design
We have worked with Carissa & Serena from Emunah Events and we have a couple of things to say about them. Firstly, they are a dream team. It is true that two heads are better than one; Carissa & Serena work off each other really well and bring out the best in each other. Secondly, they are determined and resilient. We have worked on a couple of tough projects together and we are yet to see anything get in their way. It is rare for weddings to go absolutely smoothly and without a hitch; you need a team that can hack it and back you all the way. You will get this AND stunning styling and floral designs from Emunah Events. We featured the team here. We did a bridal shoot together here. You will find our Parisian-inspired shoot here. Highly recommend.
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If you are after a head-turning statement bouquet, you have the right person in Francesca (of Francesca's Flowers). We don't really have much to add to this as it's pretty obvious from the images below how solid Francesca's stunning work is.
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Nadja, from Le Sans Souci, is someone you will never forget when you meet her. She is a real treat! You will also not forget Nadja’s whimsical creations. Her inspiring brand is bursting with life and colour - and more than a hint of love. During the planning phases, Nadja talks about creating a “floral recipe”; we love that! We feel that it encapsulates her mindful approach to every step of the floristry process. Floristry can really set the tone for your wedding day; with this in mind, we highly recommend Le Sans Souci! <3
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Your one-stop shop for hand-dyed, dreamy silk ribbons. You will also find velvet ribbons and silk table runners in Tamara's store. Perfection.
Furniture Hire
The range of furniture available at Hodgepodge Hire is both comprehensive and high quality. We have worked with Hodgepodge Hire previously and found exactly what we needed for two diverse shoots from their range. The friendly staff at Hodgepodge Hire are super easy to liase with, too. :)
Gifts
We like to keep our recommendations as close to our hometown of Brisbane, Queensland, as possible. Raw Cotton is based in Perth, Western Australia. HOWEVER, we are so impressed with Anna's products that we simply have no choice but to include. Just some of the applications that we can think of for Anna's beautiful clutches: thoughtful gift for bridal party, suitable solution for bridesmaids to store phone, keys, etc, on the big day, and - of course - perfect for any stylish bride! We featured Anna's clutches here and here.
We have filed this recommendation under 'gifts' but there are a couple of applications for Sophia Mulheran Designs (click here for a shoot we worked on together). Sophie, the artist behind and owner of Sophia Mulheran Designs, creates and produces beautiful & unique homeware, giftware and stationery (we interviewed Sophie here). The Sophia. brand is easy to support as the business model is both sustainable and ethical; Sophia. strives for a happier, cleaner and greener earth. Follow Sophia.'s instagram for updates on good deeds the team undertakes for causes they are passionate about (clearing rubbish, planting trees and recycling materials, to name a few of their interests).
All of the Sophia. brand products are thoughtfully executed. We worked with the copper plates (pictured) recently for a shoot (looking forward to sharing more in the coming months). Not only are these plates stunning but they are something you can use time and again after the wedding is all done and dusted! In Sophie's own words, "When it comes to weddings, I have a few unique things to offer. The first being custom-designed wedding invitations and menus to suit your flowers, style and wedding layout. I’ve also introduced wedding hire items. These include my hand-crafted copper bowls and plates, which bring a striking colour and texture to the wedding dining".
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If you are looking to thank and spoil your bridal party at the same time, the beautifully unique Australian handmade keepsake boxes at The Bridal Box Co are perfect. They are wooden and custom engravable. We have worked with the lovely Bijour from The Bridal Box Co here.
Jewellery
We have worked with Bree from Little White Couture here. Little White Couture offers an exquisite collection of handcrafted accessories ranging from earrings and necklaces to hair accessories to garters to belts. You will find friendly service and a one-stop-shop for gorgeous bridal accessories at Little White Couture.
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We have filed Myaink Words’ beautiful book art under “jewellery” as we have personally used this product for unique ring shots (no one wants boring and prescriptive ring shots, right?!). We highly recommend Myaink Words for efficient, personalised service and a quality product.
Wendy Louise Designs speak for themselves. We worked with Wendy’s accessories on this shoot (here). One of the most difficult aspects of the shoot was narrowing down our options from Wendy’s stunning collection! Drop into Brisbane Arcade and have a look for yourself! You will find a range of options to complement classic, timeless bridal looks.
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You can probably skip our little paragraph on Xennox Diamonds and go straight to their google reviews instead but we'll add our $0.02 worth to the mix. We are one of Xennox Diamond's many happy clients. Karl and team produced something that thoughtfully executed Pete's vision. I could not be happier with the end product and so we confidently recommend Xennox Diamonds (but do make sure that you check out their reviews!).
Lighting
Brisbane Event Lighting/Brisbane Festoon Lighting
Jesse, owner of Brisbane Event Lighting/Brisbane Festoon Lighting, is your lighting specialist. You can elect to diy hire or arrange an entire installation. Check out Jesse’s inventory here for every possible light hire situation - festoon, fairy, pendant, chandelier, and more - that we can think of, for what it is worth! We worked with Jesse here.
Location
Abbey of the Roses is where we were married. Obviously it will always be special to us and, as our day went smoothly and is full of fond memories, we don't hesitate to recommend the Abbey to anyone else. :)
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Clear Mountain Lodge, Clear Mountain
Stunning views and vineyard? Clear Mountain is a world away in terms of mountain locale but still close enough to central Brisbane to not be an inconvenient drive. Well worth the trip in our humble opinion!
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Country Weddings Queensland, Burpengary (please note: this venue has been renamed and is now Sharla Park Country Weddings & Events)
Sharla Park Country Weddings & Events is s.t.u.n.n.i.n.g. We did a shoot that featured the property here. A few things that make it unique:
It is located approximately 45 minutes from Brisbane CBD (A3->M1->you are there)
it is also located approximately 45 minutes from Caloundra (M1)
It features 31 acres (some of which is a blank canvas so that you can create your own dream event; other parts feature country-inspired structures)
It is family run (David & Kerri will take care of you)
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We collaborated on a shoot with Mirra here. What a beautiful and unique space! Mirra describes the design of the converted warehouse space as “venerable Paris meets Shanghai”. It is certainly versatile! It comes with a long room and a courtyard, to name just some of its features.
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Riverside Receptions, New Farm
Riverside Receptions boasts a beautiful, relaxed view of the Brisbane River (90 metres of frontage, to be exact), open, green space, and is a stone’s throw from the popular-with-good-reason New Farm Park. Declan, the owner, is very welcoming and keeps the process of organisation straightforward and seamless.
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Riverwood Weddings
We approached Riverwood Weddings regarding a shoot with a quadriplegic. Carmen, from Riverwood Weddings, responded to our email with a beautiful, personable & heart-warming response; Carmen assured us that they are very proudly a wheelchair-accessible outdoor garden venue. It was such a pleasure to work with this venue on a very special shoot that celebrated diversity within the wedding industry. We highly recommend Riverwood Weddings and their stunning property.
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The Vale Australia Luxury Farmstay, Middle Pocket
Only a couple of hours outside of Brisbane (and a straight, direct route at that!), The Vale Australia Luxury Farmstay has to be seen to be believed. You can see it in more detail here and here. It was a dream to shoot at; pretty much all wedding photographer's dreams come true here. Have a chat with Elizabeth, the owner, and see what magic you can create for your own special and unique day.
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We have worked with lovely Cindy here. Her work is very easy to recommend. Cindy is really sweet, too. We really do not have that much more to say as Cindy’s work speaks for itself. Would work with again, for sure. <3
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We have worked with lovely Courtney and her beautiful artistry - both hair & makeup - previously (see here). Courtney is attentive and easy to work with. Absolute pleasure. We are looking forward to working with Courtney again as soon as the opportunity arises!
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Dyan brings to Brisbane a wealth of international experience and an impressive portfolio. (Dyan's celebrity clients include Chris Hemsworth, Adam Garcia, Kimberley Wyatt, & Trisha Goddard.) We worked with Dyan on this project (see here) and it was a delight. Highly recommend her beautiful work.
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We have collaborated with Gabrielle on a couple of shoots. You will find them here, here, here, here, here, here and here (phew!). We also interviewed Gabrielle here. Gabrielle produces gorgeous looks (see below) and makes the process effortless. When we organise shoots, we let her know the general direction and then we leave it in her hands (literally): she steps up and delivers perfection. If you want to feel like a queen on your special day, have a chat with Gabrielle and she will sort out the details so that you can relax.
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We worked with Hayley on a bridal shoot recently and found her work to be both impeccable & stunning. Hayley’s work speaks for itself really (see below) but sometimes it is nice to know a little about the personality behind the brand. Hayley is friendly and professional. In her own words, Hayley says, “I strive to ensure that every one of my clients feel truly beautiful on the inside & out”. Furthermore, we found her to be really easy to communicate with, too, during the planning phases and beyond (so important when weddings can be a very stressful time in life!). If this sounds like the perfect fit for you, book an appointment with Makeup by Hayley Gervais. This one comes highly recommended.
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Marley is one of these people who knows her job inside out. I remember feeling briefly overwhelmed on our big day but once Marley swung into gear, I took a deep breath and decided to go with the flow. It is so important to choose someone who can make you feel at ease and take care of the things that are important to you. Follow her instagram for some fabulous before and afters; they are testament to both Marley's confidence and ability.
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Choose anyone at The Powder Room and they will look after you. The Powder Room is well-established and produces consistently beautiful work = very easy recommendation.
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We love working with Tyneale; she is lovely and her work is exquisite. We interviewed Tyneale and enjoyed getting to know more about what inspires her. We highly recommend Tyneale and we know that anyone who chooses her will be absolutely delighted with both her warm service & flawless work!
Music
Chillingworth duo, Holly & William, are the sweetest. We had the pleasure of hearing them perform and, honestly, you can’t go wrong. Put them at the top of the list for music options. More about them here: “Chillingworth is an Australian based pop duo that formed in 2017. William and Holly Chillingworth started their music career playing acoustic covers at parties and weddings. William then made the duo official by ‘putting a ring on it’ in 2017, and the couple have since been working hard, writing and recording their own music in their home studio. William brings the sweet guitar tones while Holly graces the vocals”. A little more from their bio on Triple J Unearthed: “Their synth pop sound is complete only with William's glorious guitar tones and Holly’s sweet vocals, and the pair are already making a name for themselves with their debut single ‘Young Love’ released late 2018.”
Stationery
Rebecca, from Berry & Peg, pours her heart and soul into her beautiful calligraphy and watercolour illustrations and it shows. If you want someone who will take the time to collaborate with you each step of the way and deliver something that you will want to treasure forever, you will experience that with Rebecca. Rebecca created our own wedding stationery so this recommendation comes from our positive personal experience. :)
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We have worked with the lovely Tess from Little Duck Calligraphy here and here and here. In creative industries, it can be challenging to find someone reliable, excellent at communication and, finally, deliver a high quality product. With Little Duck Calligraphy, you will experience all of the above. It helps that Tess is lovely to boot. Check out her instagram (here) sometime for some swoon-worthy sets. :)
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There is something captivating about Lorelie's gorgeous handcrafted wedding stationery. Lorelie goes above and beyond to make sure that her work matches the wedding brief. All stationery from Studio B Couture is synonymous with elegance, timelessness and luxury. Add to that a whole lot of love.
Suit
If you want a suit savant, you will find the right person in Ryan from Black Jacket Suiting. By the time you have walked in the door, introduced yourself and told Ryan your wedding colours, you will have practically been measured and fitted and almost ready to go again. Okay, that might be stretching it a little but go on - you have to see for yourself! We have worked with Ryan here and here and here.
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Peter Jackson
From Peter Jackson: “We recognise there’s a huge disparity between ‘disposable fashion’ and luxury garments in both quality and price; we stand to bridge that gap because we believe that fashion and luxury should be accessible to everyone”. We have worked with James from the Peter Jackson store located in Grand Central, Toowoomba. It could not have been a more seamless process. Both the fitting and the suit was perfect Make sure you check Peter Jackson out for all groom/groomsmen requirements. We worked with Peter Jackson here.
Wil Valor prides itself on offering a bespoke garment produced from a range of over 3000 fabrics; the fabrics are sourced from High End Italian & English mills. Wil Valor operates on a relational business model so you will not feel like another number when working with the expert team. We liased with Mark from Wil Valor here.
Swing
We mentioned the Bridal Box Co above. They have also added a swing to their quality collection. You can see more of it in this post.