Hera Couture, Le Lilac

Hera Couture Le Lilac wedding dress in ivory. Purchased from Auckland Hera Couture Boutique and unavailable at other Hera Couture stockists.

Worn once on my wedding day and custom made. It was so much fun to wear. I loved the simplicity of the tulle with the drama of the ruffles which also made for some amazing photos twirling it around on the hilltops.

The dress has been professionally dry cleaned and is in fantastic condition. There are a couple of small marks on the bottom satin underskirt from being on the ground which are not visible unless you lift up all the layers. The tulle and all other layers are in perfect condition. Comes with Hera Couture dust cover which it has been stored in since my wedding day.

I am a size 12/14 with a size D bust. The dress has built-in boning through the bodice so you don’t require a bra. It could be easily altered to your own measurements due to the tulle layers and the mesh V's on either side of the bodice.

I had a separate ivory satin belt made to give the waist of the dress more definition. Again, this could easily be altered to your waist measurement. The lower part of the skirt also very easily zips off to become a party dress and was so fantastic to be able to dance the night away in. Creating two dresses! There is also a loop under the train of the dress that you can slip over your wrist for ease of wear.

I also had tulle sleeves made which are elasticated and slip up your arm but didn’t end up wearing them on the day. These could also be used to make cap sleeves for the dress if you fancied a bit of extra coverage on your arms.

Dress was purchased for $6,500 (plus alterations) and is still available from Hera Couture and can be viewed on their website:

“Our Le Lilac gown is pure romance with layer after layer of hand cut and hand sewn tulle floating in cascading tiers. Crafted in ivory and three moody pastels; lavender, dusky blue and pistachio, Le Lilac is sweet and stylish. A ‘V’ shaped bodice and back are hand ruched and beautifully draped, with an inbuilt corset for the perfect fit. Mesh inserts add a modern touch, while a belt defines the waist and pearls finish this ultra-feminine look.”

Dress is currently located in Rangiora (just outside Christchurch). Try ons are most welcome, happy to answer any questions or provide more photos.