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Maison IrèneBridal couture · Paddington
Bridal couture · Paddington, Sydney

A gown that was only ever yours.

Bespoke bridal gowns, designed together and hand-finished in our Paddington atelier over six to nine months. Couture alterations and bridal party dressing too.

5.0 41 Google reviews
18 yearsmaking gowns in Sydney
Lyonwhere Irène trained
Lace bridal bodice on a dress form in front of a gilded mirror in the atelier
In the atelier · hand-beaded lace bodiceNo. 01
Free for every brideThree quiet little helpers
Gown brief builderSilhouette, season, venue → your starting brief Wedding-date plannerEvery fitting, dated back from your day Measuring guideHow to measure, and your floor length
No. 02The atelier

Three ways we dress you

Every piece is cut, fitted and finished by hand in Paddington. We keep the book small, so there's always time for one more fitting.

Bride in a lace A-line gown and cathedral veil, holding a white bouquet at a timber church door
From a blank page

Bespoke bridal

Your gown, designed from a blank page around you, your day and the feeling you want to walk in with.

What's included
  • An unhurried first consultation (champagne included)
  • Sketches and fabric samples until it feels exactly right
  • Three to four fittings as the gown takes shape
  • A final fitting, pressing and packing for the day
Ask about bespoke
Back of a fitted lace gown with long lace sleeves and an illusion back, beside a sheer curtain
Refine

Couture alterations

Refining a gown you already love, so it fits like it was made for you.

Typical work
  • Hems for your exact shoe height
  • Taking in or reshaping the bodice
  • Bustles for the reception
  • Adding sleeves, straps or lace detail
Ask about alterations
Woman walking away in a champagne sequinned mermaid gown with a tulle skirt
In harmony

Bridal party

Bridesmaids and mothers of the bride, dressed to sit beautifully beside you.

What's included
  • Colour and fabric chosen alongside your gown
  • Styles to suit each person, not one dress for all
  • Fittings timed around your own
Ask about the party

Your first visit is a conversation, not a sales pitch.

We talk about you, your day and the feeling you want. Champagne included. Nothing to decide on the day.

Book a consultation
No. 03Free guides

Before you visit the atelier

Play with these at home. When you're ready, send the results to Irène and she'll have your brief in hand before you arrive.

Guide 1 of 3

Gown brief builder

Choose a silhouette you're drawn to, then tell us about your day. We'll suggest fabrics, train and sleeves that usually suit it.

Silhouette you love
Season of your wedding
Where you'll say "I do"
A slow danceA good few songsAll night
From the collection

General styling guidance, not rules. Irène will talk through every option with fabric in your hands.

Guide 2 of 3 · Your gown, step by step

Wedding-date planner

Enter your date and we'll work back to when each step usually happens. For a bespoke gown, allow six to nine months from first consultation.

What you need

Bespoke timings come from the atelier (six to nine months, three to four fittings). Alteration and bridal party timings are typical guides only; Irène will confirm yours. Getting married in Australia also means lodging a Notice of Intended Marriage with your celebrant at least one month before the day, and no more than 18 months before (Attorney-General's Department).

    Guide 3 of 3

    Measuring guide

    We'll always measure you properly at the atelier. These help us start sketching and choosing fabric quantities. A friend and a soft tape make it easy.

    Measure the back of the heel, sole to top. No shoes yet? Use your best guess.

    Tips for a true measure
    • Wear the bra or shapewear you plan to wear under the gown.
    • Stand tall, relaxed, feet together. Breathe normally.
    • Keep the tape level and snug, not tight. You should fit a finger under it.
    • Have someone else hold the tape. Measuring yourself reads small.
    No. 04Your first visit

    How it begins

    i.

    Send us a note

    Tell us your date, your venue and anything you've fallen for. A photo, a feeling, a fabric. Use the form or the guides above.

    ii.

    We find a time

    We'll get back to you to book your consultation at the atelier, Tuesday to Saturday.

    iii.

    Champagne in Paddington

    An unhurried hour to talk about you and your day. Bring your mum, your best friend or nobody at all.

    No. 05The collection

    Made in the atelier

    Long-sleeved lace gown with an illusion back
    The AureliaIllusion back, lace sleeves
    Bride in lace A-line gown with cathedral veil at a church door
    The LucienneLace A-line with a cathedral veil
    Close-up of ivory floral lace
    Silks and lacesFloral lace, up close
    Strapless ivory crepe column gown with fine open-work seams
    The MargotCrepe column, for the reception
    Champagne sequinned mermaid gown
    The CélesteChampagne sequin mermaid
    Lace bodice on a dress form before a gilded mirror
    On the formBeaded lace bodice, mid-fitting
    Bright bridal salon with gowns on dress forms and a round ottoman
    The salonWhere every fitting happens
    No. 06Kind words

    From our brides

    5.0
    41 Google reviews
    Sample reviews
    ★★★★★
    I cried at my first fitting and again at the last. Irène understood what I wanted before I did.
    Olivia R. · Woollahra
    ★★★★★
    Every stitch was perfect. My gown felt like it had always been mine.
    Sophie T. · Bondi
    ★★★★★
    A calm, beautiful experience from start to finish, even with a tight timeline.
    Chloe D. · Paddington
    The Paddington atelier salon with gowns on dress forms
    No. 07The atelier

    Lyon-trained. Paddington-made.

    Irène trained in Lyon and has made bridal gowns in Sydney for eighteen years.

    We take on a small number of brides each season, so every gown gets the time it deserves: the extra fitting, the hem re-pinned for the shoes you changed your mind about, the last hand-sewn button.

    “The best gown is the one you forget you're wearing.”
    Tap the signature. Irène signs every gown's label by hand.
    No. 08Questions

    Things brides ask us

    Anything else, just ask when you book. There are no silly questions in the atelier.

    How early should I come to you?

    For a bespoke gown, allow six to nine months from your first consultation. Shorter can sometimes work, so if your date is sooner, still get in touch. The planner above shows where your date sits.

    What happens at the first consultation?

    We talk about you, your day and the feeling you want. There'll be fabric to touch, gowns to look at and a glass of champagne. You don't need to decide anything on the day.

    How many fittings will I have?

    Usually three to four as your gown takes shape, then a final fitting before we press and pack it for the day.

    Can you alter a gown I bought somewhere else?

    Yes. Couture alterations are about refining a gown you already love: the hem, the fit through the bodice, a bustle, sleeves or straps. Bring it in and we'll talk it through.

    Do you dress bridesmaids and mothers of the bride?

    We do. We plan the colours and fabrics alongside your gown so everyone sits in harmony, while each person gets a style that suits them.

    What should I bring to my consultation?

    Your date and venue, any photos you've saved, and your shoes if you have them. The brief builder above is a lovely place to start.

    How much does a bespoke gown cost?

    Every gown is different, so each one is quoted on its own. Ask at your consultation and Irène will talk you through it.

    When is the atelier open?

    By appointment, Tuesday to Saturday, in Paddington. Brides come to us from Woollahra, Bondi, Double Bay, Surry Hills and further afield.

    No. 09Consultations

    Book a consultation

    Tell us a little about your day and we'll find a time for you to visit the atelier.

    • Phone0400 XXX 000
    • AtelierPaddington, Sydney
    • HoursBy appointment, Tuesday to Saturday

    Brides come from

    PaddingtonWoollahraBondiDouble BaySurry Hills
    Directions to Paddington ↗