Real Bride Elise marries in custom Passion wedding dress

Posted on Oct 27, 2025 By LeLeeStudio Admin

Let’s go back to where it all began. When and how did you meet your significant other?

Connor and I met back in 2019 toward the start of the year. I’d been interviewing for a job that I wasn’t sure would be a good fit for me, and had all but decided to decline the role…but once I met my would-be colleague Connor, I decided I’d have to give it a go instead!

How did your now-husband propose to you?

The proposal was so beautiful! He’d never travelled to Japan before but knows it’s my favourite country to visit, and we’d been talking about going there together for some time.

About 6 months before the trip, he asked my parents for permission — something they really appreciated, and very much struggled to keep a secret! — then spent months researching rings and jewelers and coming up with the design, all while I was none the wiser.

Once in Japan, he told me he wanted to see my favourite garden in Kyoto in person, and it was there that he got down on one knee and popped the question.

Describe your ‘yes to the dress’ moment. How did you feel and how did you know your dress was 'the one'?

The MINUTE I saw that beautiful floral detailing! I’ll admit, I wasn’t sure exactly what I was looking for when starting my wedding dress journey; wasn’t sure whether I wanted it to be form fitting or a-line, clean satin or lace or beaded — I knew I wanted something corseted, but other than that I was really just keeping an open mind and seeing what I gravitated to in person! And when I saw the unique detailing of the gown and the stunning boned bodice, it really stuck in my mind. Trying it on and seeing myself in it was the first time I could actually picture myself at the wedding venue, walking down the aisle, wearing that beautiful gown.

Explain your creative process behind the custom changes you made to create your dream Le Lee Studio wedding dress:

So…in my process of indecision, I ended up trying on a *lot * of different wedding dresses! This really helped me hone in on what design aspects I liked and wanted for my gown, and what didn’t feel quite right for me. For instance, I thought a basque waistline was flattering on my figure, and really hoped to have this be a feature of my final gown. I also loved the look of off-the-shoulder tulle sleeves, but wanted the option to have these detach to allow for extra movement in my arms — especially for the first dance!

Other customisations I wanted to make were adding a split into the skirt for movement, and altering the neckline into more of a scoop to better accommodate my bust. When I fell in love with the Passion gown I wasn’t sure what (if any) customisations I’d be able to make (especially to a design that is already so stunning) but I was completely blown away by how open Le Lee Studio was to green light the changes I was hoping to make. Thank you for bringing my dream dress to life!

How did you feel wearing your dream wedding dress on your wedding day?

It felt so incredibly special - it really did feel like a dream! I’m so in love with how the dress came out and wouldn’t change a thing.

What inspired you while styling your dream day?

We wanted to incorporate ethereal, whimsical elements into our day, and we took several points of inspiration - ranging from gothic architecture and dark academia styling to woodland and forest-inspired decor. Connor and I immediately fell in love with both Montsalvat as our ceremony venue and the apple blossom room of Riverlea Estate as our reception space at first viewing — both of which fit into the vision and provided so much further inspiration!