Nestled at the foot of the Blue Mountains is a bridal fashion mecca. Penrith Bridal Centre has been a successful fixture in the Sydney bridal retail space for over 30 years with countless brides and grooms choosing to be dressed by the experts for their big day.
The ever expanding business is dedicated to catering to the needs of couples offering up a collection of Australian Bridal Industry Awards (ABIA) nominated wedding gowns, bridal accessories, bridesmaids dresses and also an ABIA award winning range of suits. This recognition is a testament to their commitment to premium service, quality and value for money.
Penrith Bridal Centre boasts an exquisite range of over 300 bridal gowns from the best Australian and International designers. They are a premium Dealer of La Sposa, and stock Karen Willis Holmes, Wendy Makin, Roz La Kelin, Brides Desire, Sophia Tolli & Justin Alexander just to name a few! For brides looking for something unique, Penrith Bridal Centre also offer Couture services in store that allow brides to design their own gown.
Having a wide range of designers and a Couture service in the one store will make it finding your dream gown easier and, if you’re west of Sydney, you won’t need to make a trip into the city for your search or your fittings.
Brides will be helped with their decision by Penrith Bridal Centre’s team of consultants that will work with each bride’s taste, shape, size and budget in mind. They bring their years of experience to help every bride choose her wedding gown in a glamorous atmosphere without any pressure.
The groom and groomsmen are also well catered for with a large range of suits, shirts, vests and ties available for hire in a variety of styles. Brides can also shop for their maids, flowers girls and add finishing touches with veils, hair pieces and garters – all in store!
Few brides are equipped with a wealth of experience when they shop for their dream gown, so we break down the ‘must-knows’ for brides ready to shop.
MW: When should brides start looking for their dress?
PBC: Start looking as soon as you are engaged with the intention of ordering 9-12 months before your wedding. This allows time for the gown to be made (some designers take 7 months!) and also time for any alterations to be made to the gown once it arrives in store.
MW: Are there any things a bride can do to help show what kind of dress they are looking for?
PBC: Come with pictures of dresses that you love – good place to start is with bridal magazines. With over 300 gowns in store, this is a great starting point for your consultant to get a feel for the style of gowns you seem to be attracted to, even if this doesn’t end up being your final choice. It’s also best to come with an open mind – the dress you end up choosing might not be what your originally thought you wanted so it’s important to leave yourself open to new possibilities.
MW: Who should brides bring?
Think about only bringing people who’s opinions you trust and someone who will have an opinion such as your mum, sister or maid of honour. It is best to limit the number of people you bring along, as while it can be a lovely day out, it can often lead to conflicting views and end up leaving you confused. After all, it is your decision in the end!
MW: What happens at an appointment?
We allocate 1.5 Hours for your appointment. During this time, your consultant will take you through our collections, discuss at length the style you are after, and help you choose which four gowns you’d like to try on to start with. Having both ready to wear lines, as well as couture, you have the ability to alter some styles, and mix & match elements of gowns that you love.
You consultant will offer you an honest opinion at all times about which styles suit you and your shape best. They will guide you to which gowns flatter your figure best, but they will never overtake your style or decision. When trying on the dresses, it’s best not to get caught up in the sizes of the gowns. Just focus on the fit. What size you are, in mainstream stores, may not be your size in bridal wear.
MW: How much can brides expect to spend?
We can cater to most budgets in store, with so many designer gowns to choose from. In most cases, you can expect to pay between $2500 to $3500 for your designer gown. This is approximate, but the majority of the gowns in store fall into this price bracket. There are lots of gowns below and above this as well. Gowns start at $1500 and go to $7500. It all comes down to personal style, taste, design, quality & fit.
MW: Any insider tips?
Wearing a good fitting, strapless bra and flesh toned underwear is always best, but not compulsory. We also recommend keeping makeup and spray tan to a minimum as this can get all over the gowns. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays are our busiest three days of the week, and an appointment is required for any day of the week, so please phone us in advance to secure your consultant.
For more information on Penrith Bridal Centre and to view their entire collection, visit their website here. To book in for your appointment, get in touch with Penrith Bridal Centre here.
MW x
Gowns in gallery: 1. Watters / 2-3. Karen Willis Holmes / 4-5. Marianna Hardwick / 6-7. Justin Alexander / 8-10. La Sposa / 11-13. Jack Sullivan / 14-16. Wendy Makin / 17-19. Sophia Tolli