Building a Bridal Wardrobe You’ll Wear Again

As many of you know, I was a bride on February 14th! My husband and I got married in Lorne, a small beach town along the Great Ocean Road in Australia. He grew up spending summers there, and over the years, it’s become one of my favourite places too:)

We kept it simple and we loved every second of it.

It’s pretty easy to get pulled into the bridal world thinking you MUST have it all. I tried to be conscious of what I invested in, and what I left in the cart. Looking back, it is pretty special that the majority of my bridal looks were designed by me, second-hand, or borrowed from my lovely friends and family.

I didn’t approach dressing as a separate “bridal wardrobe,” and instead invested in pieces that were an extension of how I already dress. I found myself reaching for pieces I already loved, re-wearing them across different moments, and filling the gaps only where it felt necessary. This mindset allowed me to curate looks that I would wear again and again, past our wedding weekend.

Without overthinking it, Slate naturally became a part of the wedding. We put together bud vases with white cosmos and chamomile, and draped linen from past collections wherever possible. My bridesmaids got ready in Miso Addis Tee and Short sets and I made a baby Slate button-up for my nephew to wear as our ring bearer. It was important to me that what I gave them wasn’t just for the wedding, but something that they would reach for daily. Okay, maybe the baby button-up was more for me… but now we have a really good sample if we ever want to expand into kids!

On the wedding morning, we woke up early and walked to the beach for a small civil ceremony. I threw my white Watson Pant over a one piece and added a veil. My husband wore his wedding gift; the very first Slate mens button-up. A quiet moment before a busy day.

Post “I do,” the gals headed back to the bridal suite to get ready for the day. I changed into the Cloud Addis Short and Tank that I designed for the morning. Something simple, comfortable, and easy to move through the day in.

Since being engaged, many people would ask if I was going to make my own wedding gown. It’s the one thing I wanted to leave to the pros. There was something special about going to bridal appointments with my mom, sister, and best friend, trying on dresses and sipping champagne. The dress I ended up wearing I found second-hand after falling in love with a dress far out of my budget. After the second try-on, I couldn’t see past it. I took to the brand’s Instagram, clicked tagged photos and started messaging every single bride that wore “my” dress. A few months later, I was sneaking the package to my bedroom to try it on.

Looking back, getting dressed for our wedding never felt like stepping into a different version of myself. It felt like a natural extension of how I already approach my wardrobe - with intention, and with the hope that what I wear can move with me through different seasons of life. While I kept many pieces familiar, I also really valued the moments that felt special to invest in, especially pieces designed specifically for the occasion. 

I’ve since worn the majority of my bridal pieces many times. Now, they carry memories from our special week with them, in a way that feels far more meaningful than something worn just once.