Princess Ballgown in Rustic Wedding in Australia

Planning your dream nuptials? If a princess wedding dress is in the works, take a cue from Maggie bride Sami for a breezy and timeless look. Sami paired pretty posies and elegant accessories with uber-romantic Cameron, featuring a shimmering lace bodice atop a voluminous tulle skirt, and dressed her bridesmaids in soft pink cocktail dresses and simple hairpieces. Keep scrolling for Sami’s super-sweet love story!

Sami’s wedding was captured beautifully by Nicole Butler Photography of Australia.

Love Sami’s fairytale ballgown? Click here to find an Authorized Retailer near you.

Which gown did you wear?
Cameron gown by Maggie Sottero

How did you know when you found “the dress”?
The first time I tried on any dress was at Abbey Bridal in Sydney. I tried on numerous Maggie dresses (including “the dress”). I instantly fell in love. I was, however, blown away by how much I loved this dress as it was only the second or third dress I tried on! I convinced myself that I couldn’t possibly have found it yet so I searched for a few weeks in different shops. But I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I knew it was the one!

What was your favorite part of the dress?
The unique embroidered lace on the bodice of the dress. I still to this day haven’t seen a dress even remotely similar.

How did you and your partner meet?
We went to school together. He was the year below me but we were always great friends. We didn’t actually get together until we were both out of school for a few years.

How did he propose?
He proposed the day after our 5-year anniversary at a new restaurant in town where we were living at the time. Just us two on a fairy-light-lit balcony—it was my version of perfect.

Where did you get married?
We got married locally at Burnham Grove Estate in Cawdor. Both ceremony and reception were here. I stayed the night before with my bridesmaids and Karl and I stayed the night of. It was beautiful, relaxed, and perfect.

Did your wedding have a theme?
We always described our theme as “soft and romantic.”

How did you decide what you wanted your wedding to look like?
We already knew what sort of setting and details we liked and it wasn’t really like any wedding we had been to in recent years. We aimed for lots of flowers, pastel pinks, golds and whites for an elegant, romantic, and classy atmosphere.

What was your favorite wedding day moment?
I really can’t pick a favorite as the whole thing was exactly how we envisioned it, but one very memorable moment that sticks with me was a butterfly that hung around for the whole ceremony and sat on my flowers while I signed my certificate. I like to think a loved one was near.

Describe your wedding in one word.
Personal

What advice do you have for future brides?
Get everything as organized as you can early so you can relax and enjoy it all when it gets close.