Opal as a gem we usually expect to see in rings, pendants, bracelets and necklaces but Australian actress, singer and former model Holly Valance found them another use. On the 29th of September this year, Holly Valance tied the knot with her property multi-millionaire beau Nick Candy. The glittering ceremony was held in Los Angeles in front of the “big stars” and well-heeled people like Simon Cowell, Sir Elton John, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and their mother Sarah Ferguson. The rumour has it that the couple (meaning Nick) spent almost 5 million dollars on their fairy-tale wedding, of which almost $1.5 million were given to Katy Perry for her 45-minute show.

But it’s not the four-day long party that intrigued the masses, it was the bride’s $55,000 worth wedding gown. The extravagant white and grey J’Aton Couture gown inspired by Valance’s love to nature, was made from silk and French laces in Australia, and finalized in Los Angeles. It took three months to the team of six to have this dress with a feather-like skirt embellished with fanciful details - the embroideries, pearls, and Swarovski beads.

But the story of the gown doesn’t end here. On the top of all, Valance wanted her dress to remind her of her mother land, Australia, so the designers, Jacob Luppino and Anthony Pittorino, decided to decorate it with magnificent Australian opals cut in various shapes. The gems gave the opalescent glow to this dramatic hand dyed white and silver dress and made Holly shine like a princess.