Sophie's choice

Convenience at her fingertips, good old-fashioned customer service and the desire to support local business - that was Sophie Betts' choice.

DECEMBER 25, 2012 4:19am

When planning her November 12, 2011 wedding to high school sweetheart Drew Fimmel, sourcing locally didn’t restrict Sophie one iota in creating her wedding with a difference.

The type to bypass department stores in favour of local specialist shops, Sophie didn’t hesitate to source her major ticket items locally. 

“Some people have a false belief they can get something different and bigger by seeking the city stores,” Sophie said.

Her glamorous white Italian-designed Mancini gown was happily bought off the rack – locally.

Sophie said it was the first wedding dress she tried on and “fell in love with”.

Browsing in shops along Shepparton’s Maude St Mall, Sophie firmly fixed her eyes on a flowing, floral-patterned, strapless Cooper St frock for the bridesmaids.

“I bought the dresses 12 months before the wedding and the staff were extremely helpful with ordering additional dresses in the sizes I needed,” Sophie said.

And like a marriage made in heaven, the shop next door specialised in suit hire and sourced the stone-beige suits from the Spurling range with flattering pale pink shirts.

“Glen from Mensland made it a breeze, especially when I would go in and change my mind about the colour of the shirts,” Sophie said.

The value of a positive referral and the flow-on effect can also generate money for local business.

“A friend had her engagement ring designed by Craig Blizzard and I thought it was just beautiful,” Sophie said of her choice of jewellers.

Drew wasn’t planning on wearing a wedding band, however he liked Sophie’s and chose a two-toned white and yellow gold ring.

Sophie gravitated to local specialists in their field who expressed passion for what they do.

Blooms on Bridge enthusiastically sourced the hot-pink peonies, Harris from Gravitee Hair Studio fashioned the retro finger wave to the side hairstyle and make-up artist Angela Deppeler related to Sophie’s individual style.

So where did Sophie have her eye on for the wedding reception? Fast forward to a warm, spring November day before an intimate crowd of 90 guests; the cocktail-style garden wedding was held at the Olivehouse Restaurant, overlooking the picturesque olive grove.

At the end of the day, Sophie kept within her $20,000 wedding budget, sourcing locally when she could, with the majority of the budget injected into the local business community. 

Sophie sourced locally from:

Wedding reception: Olivehouse Restaurant, Kialla West

Wedding dress: Michele’s Bridal and Formal Wear, Shepparton

Bridesmaids’ dresses: The Road Way, Shepparton

Suit hire: Mensland, Shepparton

Wedding rings: Blizzards Fine Jewellers, Shepparton

Flowers: Blooms on Bridge, Benalla

Hair: Gravitee Hair Studio, Shepparton

Table decorations: Spotlight, Shepparton

Make-up: Angela Deppeler