Begitta Stolk, Fashion Designer and Director of the illustrious label Begitta, was incredibly excited about hopping aboard the magnificent Italian cruise ship, The Costa Luminosa with her brand new collection. One of our very own Queensland based emerging designers had been selected to represent Australia with her new collection The Forgotten Garden for the world renowned J Spring Fashion Show.  A fashion show like no other, featuring designers from all over the world and set in Sydney’s picturesque harbour which took place on 14th March 2016.
This year, under the creative direction of Jessica Minh Anh, The Forgotten Garden was showcased alongside international designers at what had been described as one of the world’s most iconic catwalks. The prestigious J Spring Fashion Show is well known for its daring locations and merging of art and fashion. Previous shows have been held on the Eiffel Tower, One World Trade Center and London’s Tower Bridge, just to name a few!
In front of Australia’s elite in fashion and media, the incredible catwalk was staged on the Costa Luminosa’s grand upper deck overlooking the breathtaking, iconic backdrop of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. The glorious Sydney sun beamed down on the exquisite models showcasing six international designers with Begitta opening the show to present her awe inspiring new collection.
The Forgotten Garden transported the audience to the garden beyond the hidden gate. A place forgotten through time that has seen little of the world but instead has created its own from within, made even more show stopping by the picturesque grand scale of this world class fashion show, catapulting this emerging designer to international fame.
 
Inspired by Begitta’s travels to Monet’s Garden in Giverny just outside of Paris. The Forgotten Garden takes the sculpture of flowers and their texture and emulates the rhythm and flow of an exquisite lush garden. Each piece of the collection is unique to Begitta’s story and yet tied together by signature hand-detailing and fabrics in tulle, silks, prints and beautiful French laces. With a colour story ranging from white to creams through blush, pinks and purples and divine floral prints. Featuring hand-draping, lace applique, subtle sparkles and adornments of handmade flowers. The collection is a high note on the breeze and a nod to Begitta’s love of otherworldly places and fairytale romances.
 
After gaining exposure as a student finalist at the Australian National Retail Awards in 2008, Begitta completed her studies in Australia and continued working on made-to-measure pieces for her clients including two celebrated contracts with prestige car company Peugeot. Begitta has then took her skills in the art of design to the next level by studying specialised Haute Couture Techniques in Paris and completed her final studies at Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design in London. Since returning home, Begitta has shown collections in Brisbane’s Mercedes Benz Fashion Festival for three consecutive years and works with private clients creating their dream formal and bridal gowns.
 
Begitta has gone from strength to strength throughout her short career. She has presented her new and most elaborate collection to date which inspired, captured and wowed at the J Spring Fashion Show 2016. The Forgotten Garden was a true highlight against the beautiful Australian landscape and architecture unique to the J Spring Fashion Show 2016 event.

Photographer: Milque Photography and Films
Producer: Justine at Beautiful Weddings Australia 
Styling: Nicole at Beautiful Weddings Australia
Gown: Begitta - Bridal & Couture
Suit: Black Jacket Suiting
Cake: Julie Whitehead Cakes
Florals: Bouquet Boutique (brides bouquet, table florals, Adam & Eve chair florals)
Stationary: Invitation Designs by Eliza 
Hair and Makeup: Twidale Hair and Makeup Artists
Bride & Groom: Courtney & Wade
Venue: Cloudland

The stunning bouquet from the fab shoot featured in Brisbane Wedding Weekly and the fabulous blog Nouba 
​
 Photography: Adam Ward Photography 
Bridal Gown & Headpiece: Begitta - Bridal & Couture
Hair & Makeup : Tiara Bridal Artistry
Floral Artistry: Missy La’Belle
Styling : Love Struck Weddings 
Bridal Wear:Begitta- Bridal and Couture 
 Grooms Wear: Urbbana
Videography: Yellow Bull Media 
Bride & Groom: Cara Lee Wiese & Darcy Thomson
Car: The Lincoln Limo
Location: Justin Lane Weddings

Merely weeks before their adventurous wedding on Stradbroke Island I was contacted to create a very special gown for the beautiful Lisa of 2People1Life. Talk about an incredibly exciting project! Lisa and Alex were to be celebrating their 68th Wedding after touring the world and being married in each country and taking on the soul touching customs and traditions that are present in each culture. To have a hand in creating their Australian wedding was an absolute privilege, this couple has nothing but beautiful love, adoring words and incredible admiration for each other. Their chemistry is simply undeniable and to see such love combined with the awe inspiring scenery and styling created by such a wonderful team and two of our lovely gowns, it truly was a wedding to behold.
 The ceremony was held at the sacred Brown Lake of the Quandamooka people who have been coming to the brown lake for centuries. With the help of the amazing Burnt Orange Events planning and putting together such an amazing team and creating a custom made alter.
Aunty Evelyn, an elder from the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation, had agreed to come and offer the couple her blessing to be the first people to ever hold a ceremony (with permission) at the lake.
The flowers were something in their own. WOW! Stradbroke Weddings  had beautiful arrangements floating in the calm lake where the couple would dip their toes during their vows that were overseen by the beautiful  Lindsay Carroll, the couples celebrant who presented such a heartfelt ceremony.
With post ceremony picnic treats by  Love My Food,  Cake and sweets by Hansel and Gretel and divine Succulent favours – Fair Light Blessed.

Each of these stunning images were captured by Shane Shepherd Photography and incredibly moving and beautiful video by Goldbear Wedding films. (see below!)

Whilst Alex looked incredibly dapper in his URBBANA Suit, Lisa was made up with fabulous Hair and make-up by The Beauty Case
I created two beautiful shimmering gowns for Lisa, one custom designed to show her beautifully petite figure. A design that would look at home at a beautiful venue as the Sacred Lake where the wedding would take place but also something that would stand out and sparkle in the sunshine.
I created such a gown, working with a beautiful metallic gold lace over a nude underlay creating the perfect amount of depth, grading into beautiful hand-appliqued lace and from here I worked with layers and layers of beautiful silk chiffon that would capture the wind and float beautifully in the breeze. Which it did, for a short time, until the heavens opened up and blessed us with a rather incredible rain storm!  Our gorgeous couple made the most of it, dipping themselves further into the lake.  

The second gown was our Golden Empress Gown – Complete with head to toe sequins, avant-garde shoulder pads with beautifully draped chains and jewels in the back flowing into an incredible train that could rival the most dramatic of gowns. When Lisa put this piece on she transformed from Blessed Lady of The Lake to an incredible Goddess of the Ocean!

As you can see by the exquisite images Lisa (and Alex!) looked divine!

Photography – Shane Shepherd Photography | Videography – Goldbear Wedding films | Planning and Arch – Burnt Orange Events | Planning and ceremony – Lindsay Carroll | Welcome – Aunt Evelyn | Couture dresses – Begitta – Bridal and Couture | Suit – URBBANA | Florals and bouquet – Stradbroke Weddings | Hair and make-up –The Beauty Case | Wedding Picnic – Love My Food | Cake and sweet treats – Hansel and Gretel | Succulent favours – Fair Light Blessed |

Read the whole story about the wedding in Australia on the 2PEOPLE1LIFE Website