Although Bianca Spender hasn’t been a bride herself, perhaps she can sympathise with those who have suffered from last-minute jitters. Last September she was planning to launch her first bridal collection in October. However, at the eleventh hour, the Sydney-based designer knew something was off with the 30-piece collection hanging in her Darling Point studio.

Stories had already been published in glossy fashion magazines to herald its arrival and industry chatter was whirling. But Spender’s gut instinct was giving her cold feet.