I had known I wanted to be a wedding stylist for some time when I first noticed a gap. The wedding blogs were filling up with DIY, vintage and handcrafted weddings and yet Melbourne’s wedding related stores were mostly limited to dresses and accessories. Brides to be were overwhelmed with fantastic ideas but had nowhere to explore them, no physical space to be inspired beyond a computer screen.

After a trip to the US I quickly realized why American brides were able to fill their blogs and magazines with such amazing weddings, their stores were creative havens of everything handcrafted and unique. From the whimsical windows of anthropologie to the craft wonderland that was Michaels, inspiration was everywhere and at arms reach. One particular store in New York, Greenwich Letterpress, literally took my breath away as I explored the tiny, fully laden shelves. Full to the brim of exquisite stationery, decor, cards and books, I watched bridesmaids giggling at honeycomb balls and mothers gasping at the stunning invitations; it was a one stop handcrafted wedding shop!

Amelia outside Greenwich Letterpress in New York

Photograph by Make Your Day

That night I decided that as soon as I got back to Melbourne I would start looking for a space. It was by chance I came across a tiny store in Sparta Place, Brunswick. I arrived to check the place out and was delighted to find it was part of the heritage listed Hardwick Building, home of wedding dress royalty Mariana Hardwick. With seriously high ceilings, a ladder leading to a mezzanine and a lane way location I knew it was perfect and I signed the lease within a month.

Photograph by Commercial Real Estate

Fitting out the store was like furnishing a dream home; I scoured vintage stores and garage sales for unique pieces and then painted them bright colours. Many hours were spent obsessing over paint colours and wall paper samples, finally deciding on soft grey for the walls and whimsical “woods” wallpaper by Cole and Sons for the mezzanine. I imported some products from the US but mostly stocked the store with Australian products made by local and emerging designers who were only too happy to make special wedding products just for Make Your Day (the name I had decided to call my store). Combined with my range of invitations and hire products the store started to look less like a store and more like a wedding fair!

Photograph by I Got You Babe Photography

The first weekend was chaos, but at the end of it I knew Make Your Day was here to stay. The store compliments our styling service so well and it’s a space our brides love coming to. Always inspiring, Make Your Day is never the same store twice. We host a monthly pop up florist with Pomp and Splendour, dessert tastings and soon DIY classes featuring some of our favourite products and vendors. Running the store is sometimes challenging but it’s worth it every time an overwhelmed bride pops in and is giddy with delight to find all the little touches she was looking for but could never find.

Amelia in the finished store

 Photograph by I Got You Babe Photography

Photograph by I Got You Babe Photography

Ms Gingham says: A real, live diy bride’s paradise! Somewhere you can source all that diy stuff without having to dedicate hours to it yourself! So great for the time challenged bride! Congratulations on your store Amelia. I hope to visit soon!

Make Your Day is open Thursday-Sundays at: Shop 14 Sparta Place, 459 Sydney Rd Brunswick 3056