Sally and Adam

Lockdowns, restrictions and a take-two honeymoon couldn’t stop this couple’s big day from blooming.

Photography by Justin & Jim

It all started with an Aperol Spritz in the sun… or at least, the promise of one. Adam’s revelation that he enjoyed a spritz or two caught Sally’s eye on the dating app Hinge, and there’s been plenty of opportunity to toast to life since. Sally and Adam’s family and friends gathered to do just that when the couple married on December 18, 2021, at Churchill in Taradale; a 150-year-old former church operated by famed floral designers Prunella. “The flowers were honestly breathtaking,” Sally says, advising other couples to likewise “get yourself a venue that does all the work for you”. Sally wore a dress from Clifton Hill boutique Moonstruck and a pair of Jimmy Choos. Adam’s suit was from M.J. Bale, although he had an outfit change after the ceremony, into a green velvet suit jacket from Zara. “Our photographer was the lovely Jim, of Justin and Jim Photography, and the cake was made by a friend, Nicole. Our amazing DJ was Aleks Mac from One More Song DJs and we couldn’t recommend her highly enough,” Sally says. The couple memorably kicked off the party with their first dance to ! (The Song Formerly Known As), by Regurgitator. “We chose a song for our first dance that was unique to us, and had a fun dance to it, despite neither of us being particularly gifted with dance moves! We didn’t worry about doing anything that was ‘expected’ of us, or anything that is traditional but didn’t fit us,” Sally says. “We focused on only having things that we wanted on the day.” As with most things in life over the past two years, the COVID-19 pandemic also played a part in Sally and Adam’s plans and experience. “We had to postpone the wedding once,” Sally says. “We were originally meant to get married in June, but lockdown meant that we had to postpone. We had the most perfect day in December though, so it was perhaps for the best.” Adam says being surrounded by loved family and friends on their wedding day felt extra special, considering the lockdowns when they couldn’t be together. “COVID also restricted our original honeymoon plans to travel to Fiji, but we

instead spent a week at the Langham in Melbourne, where we booked into the many restaurants we’d been wanting to try, watched some theatre shows, and explored the city again after two years of lockdown,” Sally says. “Even getting COVID two weeks after the wedding couldn’t put a dampener on it! “We have returned to life as normal now, but getting to introduce each other as our ‘husband’ or ‘wife’ still feels really special.” And the couple’s advice to others planning a wedding? “It might sound cliche, but make sure you share some moments together on the day, and really take it all in. You’ll have lots going on around you, but these moments are precious, so make them a priority.”