Tashreeqah Sadien

19 Dec Xeniah Asia-Gorries

Posted at 13:41h in Brides Stories by Word Couture

Opposites attract, and this is especially true in the case of bride Xeniah Asia-Gorries, whose exuberance, blonde locks and creamy complexion drew in her contrasting yet complementary prince charming, Paul, like a moth to a flame. The pair said “I do” amidst the picturesque landscape of Hermanus in the Cape on 6 October 2018, almost ten months after Paul got down on one knee to propose twice! Xeniah recalls, “It was possibly the most emotional experience I’ve ever endured. On Christmas Day, he pledged his undying love for me and asked me to be his wife. Then he took me outside onto the terrace and proposed again just so my parents could witness it.”

The couple wasted no time setting their nuptial date and booked Bon Dea Private Estate, a magical venue which would play host to Xeniah’s childhood dream of a fairytale wedding. “I always wanted a classic hotel wedding with the reception held in a ballroom. I felt that the wine farms were a bit overdone, and I wanted something unique and enchanted.” With preparations well underway, finding a designer who could realise Xeniah’s ideal bridal gown was the next crucial task. Initially, Xeniah contemplated the idea of two dresses. In keeping with her personality, she imagined herself floating down the aisle in a dramatic princess-style gown with a lengthy train, but wanted the ‘no fuss’ flexibility offered by an elegant dress which would simultaneously flatter her feminine figure.

Xeniah’s struggle to find the perfect dressmaker or bridal boutique seemed endless, before she fatefully stumbled across Tashreeqah Sadien on Instagram. “Let’s just say I knew she was my go-to girl. Her designs are perfection!” Tashreeqah took the bride’s dilemma into consideration and sketched a stunning solution during the very first consultation. “We decided on a gown with which she could change it up and get two looks for the day,” Tashreeqah explains, “ the fitted mermaid-style, with detachable overskirt, gave her a princess look and she could easily remove the overskirt to dance the night away.”

Bride, Xeniah Asia-Gorries

Not much of a jewellery kinda gal, Xeniah steered clear of distracting bling and chose to don a simple pair of diamond drop earrings while relying fully on the bead-less gown and veil to achieve her showstopper look. The couture gown was custom made using two luxurious French laces, while a layer of soft light Champaign tulle against the ivory fabric created contrasting shades of nude and blush depending on the light reflected. The double layer of soft Italian veiling with lace edging complimented her exquisite gown beautifully, and when the voluminous lace-trimmed 1.5-meter overskirt was shed, Xeniah underwent a metamorphosis while still maintaining a manageable 70 cm train on the fitted fishtail silhouette. To complete her look, Xeniah opted for an illusion neckline and open back which lent an elegant yet contemporary feel.

“Funnily enough, I wasn’t emotional,” Xeniah says, “I was bursting with excitement and couldn’t get my dress on quick enough! It took a few minutes since each layer had to sit just right.” When the bride made her grand entrance, she instinctively knew that she had indeed surpassed her aim; to blow her spectators away and reduce her husband to tears of joy and appreciation. “OMG!! My wedding gown was breath-taking!!! I felt like a million dollars and I still get compliments to date.”

With memories of their wedding day still fresh, Xeniah eagerly looks to the future and aspires to hear the gentle pitter-patter of tiny feet. Summoning his sports management skills, Paul happily concedes and playfully shrugs, “Happy wife, happy life.” We wish them a lifetime of happiness together and well, a football team would be a great addition too…

Overskirt with 1.5-metre train