volume 5 city sophisticate
new wedding style trends personalised details
stunning real weddings
from the editors www.theweddingplaybook.com Welcome to Volume 5! Our cover shoot this issue fuses so many beautiful styles together – a chic city setting, rustic ceremony space and sumptuous dinner party combine to create a sophisticated look we can’t wait for you to explore. If you’re seeking some fresh ideas for your wedding day look, we’ve got the new trends covered from page 37. Our interactive mood boards are also full of gorgeous ways to personalise your wedding. Whether it’s a vineyard, beach or secluded valley, our featured couples in this edition are tying the knot in some breathtaking locations – and with fabulous style! If there's one theme linking these beautiful celebrations, it's to choose what you love, dare to be different, and always, always be you. Happy planning!
Danielle & Kathy xx
playbook creative A talented group of suppliers who do great work with great style! Click on their artwork to visit their websites for more info on how they can (and will) make your day amazing.
get featured We'd love to share your stories, ideas and inspiration. Send your real wedding, styled shoot or article to submissions@ theweddingplaybook.com.
Your y wedding da is not the day for do-overs Pl a nning St y ling Coor dinating
girlfridayweddings.com.au + 61 2 8458 3309
Jonas Peterson
Sydney ž Melbourne
real weddings 07 adam & saskia 24 victoria & patrick 57 heather & shane 90 abie & dilshan 108 abigail & kellen ideas & inspiration 37 the new wedding style trends 72 city sophisticate interactive features 22 get personal 106 très chic
W jimbourweddings.com /JimbourWeddings E tanya@sassaffair.com
Saskia + Adam In the six years since they met, Saskia and Adam have shared many special experiences, from travelling, to buying a house and moving abroad together. A surprise proposal during a champagne picnic on the beach served as a romantic beginning of the next adventure for this lovely couple.
Starting Point Discussing the feel and flow of the day you would like is a great starting point, “For us, it was important that our guests enjoyed themselves - we planned our ceremony and reception close together so that there wasn't a long wait in between, and added touches like a cheese platter, port and cocktails. We imagined a wedding that we would really like to attend and planned around that!”
The Guest List Creating the guest list was the biggest challenge, with the juggle between inviting everyone you’d like and keeping numbers manageable, “We ended up with a much bigger list than we anticipated, but on the day it was worth it. We most enjoyed seeing it all come together, and seeing our friends and family enjoying what we had worked so hard to achieve.”
glow on your wedding day with melody falcinella
43 CARRINGTON STREET NEDLANDS WA 6009 PH: 08 9389 6011
info@touchedbyangels.com.au
DERAY & SIMCOE
Finding the Dress “My search started in Sydney with my best friend, where I fell in love with almost the first dress I put on. My Mom and Grandma came with me to see it and Mom convinced me to shop when we got home to Perth, just in case. “I went to several boutiques in Perth - Dion for Brides was the place I felt most welcome and relaxed. I knew it was the dress the moment I put it on. I slept on it, came back to try it on once more...I was convinced!”
The Ceremony The brief was simple, elegant and romantic, “with a string quartet at the top of a white carpeted aisle and an amazing arbour created by Touched By Angels. It was all white to tie in with our colour scheme, and we used rustic touches like the wooden benches to align with the outdoor setting. A lot of our friends commented that our ceremony was very ‘us’ while they expected something a bit more formal. We wrote our own vows and our whole ceremony was fun.”
Including Family “We’re both very close to our families and they were very involved in the planning. We had some great meetings, talking about the seating plan and other details. They weighed in on the wording of the invitations and we were lucky to have their guidance. My Mom immediately dubbed herself ‘MOBzilla’ and was absolutely incredible, researching, getting quotes and attending all of the appointments. She even found our wedding stationery whilst having a massage!”
Bridesmaid Styling Delicately draped, full-length gowns perfectly compliment Saskia and Adam's wedding colours of blush, pink and white. A different hairstyle for each bridesmaid looks beautiful, with statement crystal earrings and soft bouquets featuring Lisianthus, Disbuds, spray roses and freesias completing this elegant style!
Sharp Suiting Navy suits look crisp and fresh when paired with textured bow ties sourced by Saskia and Adam on Etsy! This modern look is finished with simple white boutonnieres and pocket squares.
Favourite Moments “I loved seeing Adam's face when he first saw me at the top of the aisle - looking back on videos of the day I am literally running to get to him! Adam's moment is the same, seeing me at the top of the aisle. Our favourite memory is standing on the balcony at the reception, taking a quiet moment, and looking at all of our friends and family enjoying themselves!�
Reception Details Saskia and Adam considered the features of their venue and experience of other weddings to decide their decor, “The reception was designed to highlight the spectacular view of the city of Perth. We hung draping and a chandelier from the ceiling which made the room look super opulent. The tables were very minimal as we wanted low centrepieces so you could see the people on your table - and find a place for your champagne glass!"
Entertainment "The reception included lots of our favourite things. We worked closely with our amazing DJ to plan the music. The white dance floor was in the centre of the room so people were encouraged to get up and dance as soon as possible! The cheese board and port were also a huge hit - in fact I have a memory of coercing some of my cousins to move away from the cheese and onto the dance floor!"
Best Advice "Remember it's all about you as a couple. It's so easy to get caught up in other people's opinions of what you should be doing, ignore them! It's your day, so do what is best for you! Take some time on the day to stop, with your husband, and reflect. It's a long, complicated process to plan a wedding and when the day comes it goes so quickly. Take time to realise that you are married and also congratulate yourselves on all your hard work coming together!"
Photography Keegan Wong Ceremony Tuart Lawn, King's Park, WA Celebrant Kathy Lynn Pilkington Reception Fraser's Restaurant Styling Touched by Angels Flowers Petite Floral Studio Cake French Lettuce Gown Dion for Brides Hair Milena Milio Makeup Blank Canvas Makeup Bridesmaids Truese Suits Ben Sherman Bow Ties The Belle and the Beau Invitations One of Two Entertainment Kaviar DJs
Get personal Completely unique to you, custom details are a great way to add a personal touch to your wedding! Everything from dress hangers to guest books, address stamps and ring boxes are on offer - click on the images you love to visit the Etsy listings.
Victoria
&
Patrick After a sweet New Year’s Eve proposal complete with glow sticks reading, ‘Marry Me, Vicky?’, Victoria & Patrick planned their lovely Southern Highlands celebration. Featuring a country house reception, custom designed gown and pretty blush, peach and coral palette, this wedding is full of classic charm!
love story Victoria and Patrick have so much shared history, but it took a while for them to connect, “We both grew up in Canberra, attended the same high school and university, and worked at the same hospital! Funnily enough we didn't really have much to do with each other until we both moved to Sydney a few years ago. We managed to trace a link between ourselves, arranged a catch up and haven’t looked back since!”
personal touches Victoria and Patrick wanted a day that was simple and elegant, where less is more, “On the day, the reception and all the pieces we put into it were an exact reflection of what we wanted, what we have in our home, and what we enjoy. Our bonbonnieres were even jelly beans in test tubes - we're both in health/science. We brought along our own Polaroid camera for the guestbook!”
planning experience Combining full time work and study meant this busy couple needed a solid plan, “We divided the tasks up based on what we each placed value on. Patrick managed the music, cars and church; I managed the photographer, flowers and finishing touches. We came together to make the final decisions, but it was good to work this way as a team.” Everything was ready with a month to go, “We enjoyed travelling out to the country to meet with vendors. It was a good excuse to have a bit of break while we ticked things off for the wedding.”
the dress Victoria had a clear vision of her dream dress, “I wanted two dresses, a short one, with a long skirt to go over the top - a lace look with an open back, bows and tulle. Rather than search high and low, I decided to have it made. My designer created it with enough raw silk and French lace left over to trim my bouquet!” Her stunning bouquet featured peonies, ranunculus, roses, carnations, berries and anemones.
diy projects Victoria and Patrick completed some easy (and not-so-easy!) projects. “We ordered custom stickers, wax seals and stamps that we used to put together the save-the-dates and wedding invitations. We designed, printed and assembled our church booklets. We also painstakingly filled cake pop containers with hand cut confetti to make our farewell poppers. We also arranged the frames and illustrated the guest book instructions."
reception styling “The reception was held at Milton Park's Orangerie, with its French manor styling, chandeliers and French windows that opened out into the gardens... aside from organic arrangements in different crystal vases, we didn't add much. To keep things natural but personal, we opted to have the table seating in picture frames - we kept these afterwards to feature prints of our wedding photos.�
including special people “We knew so well what we wanted that during the planning, we mostly managed it ourselves. We enlisted some support along the way to source vendors or to bounce ideas off. On the day, we had a role for almost everyone. My best friends and niece were bridesmaids and flower girl, Patrick's brothers were groomsmen, our families contributed at the ceremony and delivered speeches, and our friends were MC’s. For our bridal dance, Patrick's cousin Lauren arranged for piano and sang Jason Mraz's, ‘The World As I See It’. It was amazing!”
Dessert tables CanDy buffets butterCream Cakes nakeD Cakes maCaron towers CupCake towers bonbonniere prop Hire
best advice Know what your ‘musts’ are. We wanted great photos, but were nonplussed about a videographer - we didn't have one but it's easy to be caught up with thinking about all the things you 'should' have. Know what you want before you start looking for vendors. Collect Pinterest ideas. Print them out, and ruthlessly cull ideas. You'll narrow it down to key themes and then that's what you know you have to look for. Don't be quick to say 'yes'. It could be so easy to say yes to your first vendor - flowers, makeup artist, photographer - just out of politeness. If you're not 100% happy at a meeting or trial, take time to think about it.
Photography Blumenthal Photography Ceremony St Paul's Church in Moss Vale Reception Milton Park Country House Hotel, Bowral, NSW Flowers Affair with George Cake Friend Gown Oanh Ma Couture Hair Scissor and Roc Makeup Bride & Bridesmaids Suit Ron Bennett Invitations Minted. com Transport The Vintage Factory
A Little Vintage Bliss - vintage hire & wedding styling -
blu wren photography
contact tricia on 0411 510 441
www.alittlevintagebliss.com.au
the new wedding
style
trends
Words Ashley Rose & The Wedding Playbook
The New Boho A pastel palette and abundant florals offer a gorgeous twist on boho style.
Makeup
Take inspiration from your flowers and add accents from your palette to your lower lash line for a soft, romantic look. Finish with wispy false lashes, beautiful glowing skin and peach tones on your cheeks and lips.
Hair
You can still achieve a boho look without beachy waves! Opt for a soft, textured low style and take into consideration the design of your floral crown - whether the style is centred or to one side. Experiment with different braids to add interest.
Decor
Florals in peaches, pinks, purples and blues are the perfect combination for this pastel confection. Hydrangea, Lisianthus, delicate fern and ivy take centre stage. Pair with whimsical details like peacock chairs and birdcages in earthy, neutral tones to keep this look relaxed.
The Look
Sheer detail and delicate lace paired with floaty tulle offers low-maintenance elegance. Accessorise with subtle drop earrings featuring fine filigree detailing, or simple studs for a touch of sparkle.
The New Vintage Bring the past into the present with this modern take on 1920’s style.
Makeup Clean crisp eyeliner and false eyelash sets create an elongated eye shape. A matte finish on the skin with a cool toned blush and wine red lip complete this exquisite look.
Hair Instead of traditional vintage styles such as pin curls or finger waves, consider a style with a deep part and low, smooth chignon. This allows you to experiment with one of a kind hair pins and other statement accessories.
Decor Enhance simple and elegant styling with a decadent lounge in the colour of the year, Marsala! This stunning piece adds plenty of romance – why not use it as a centrepiece for a DIY photo booth filled with 1920's themed props?
The Look With its long, fitted satin bodice and tulle skirt, beaded detail adds opulence and dimension to this gown. A low cut back featuring lace embellishment offers wow factor! Vintage chandelier earrings give a nod to the past as the perfect choice for this sophisticated style.
Bouquet A structured bouquet of blooms in bold crimson tones is the perfect pairing. Include proteas, dahlias and orchids for a touch of luxury, with sunflowers for added personality.
The New Classic
This timeless style, with its palette of green, white and gold, is anything but traditional!
Makeup
Add a touch of glam to this light and natural look with a hint of gold shadow in the inner corner of the eye. Keep skin looking fresh with a soft, rose-toned blush and pair with a lipstick in a brighter, orangebased red for a modern twist.
Hair
Take notes from Audrey Hepburn with a sleek, high chignon – a great alternative to the ‘Donut Bun’ and beautiful style for brides considering veils. A braid, fresh floral comb or ornate headpiece is the perfect way to add interest.
The Look A voluminous skirt, pleated waist detail and deep cut V neckline complete this modern look. Keeping gown embellishments simple allows for statement earrings featuring unique designs and plenty of sparkle.
Decor
Incorporate chandeliers, candles, glass or crystal vases into your styling and pair with wild greenery and mixed white blooms for an elegant look. Include ornate gold frames for a luxe touch or do the unexpected, such as adding a framed chandelier! Florals for this look are all about texture – think tulips, roses, berries and Queen Anne’s lace.
Coordination & Model Styling The Wedding Playbook Concept, Hair & Makeup Hair & Makeup by Ashley Rose Photography Naomi V Photography Venue Restaurant Two, Brisbane QLD Gowns When Freddie Met Lilly Accessories Roman & French Styling A Little Vintage Bliss Flowers Kate Dawes Floral Design Models Allana & Madi, Que Models
Heather & Shane Ten years after meeting on a Valentine’s night out with friends, Shane planned a surprise trip to one of the couple's favourite getaway locations, Margaret River, to propose. They returned for an elegant destination wedding set against a backdrop of stunning natural landscapes.
finding the dress Finding the dress was a special experience, toasted with bubbly in the last store of the day! “I had booked in at three shops on one day. In tow was my sister, bridesmaid, mum and mother in-law. The third shop I went into was Samantha Wynne. I explained the styles I had previously tried on and what I liked. Samantha chose five dresses for me - the first dress I tried I knew it was ‘The One’. I couldn’t stop smiling, it was everything I had pictured in my head, simple and elegant. It’s true what they say, you will just know. Everyone cried and we all had a glass of champagne to celebrate. Samantha was so down to earth and clearly great at what she does. She made the experience even more special.”
pretty paperie Delicate watercolour illustrations added a creative touch to their day, “The stationery theme from our wedding invitations flowed through to the reception with the menus, seating plan and bonbonnieres. Guest’s names were also handwritten by the stationer at the top of the menus.”
sweet ceremony Styling for the ceremony was made easier in an already gorgeous setting, “The ceremony didn’t need a lot of styling as the venue and garden were so beautiful at that time of year. My sister, Liz did up a chalk board for when the guests arrived with all the information instead of programs. The seating was simple and white, and cones were filled with coloured rose petals and hung from each chair. We also had a drink station and food for guests after the ceremony, so they had time to look around the Secret Garden.”
favo urite moments Heather’s favourite moments were all about the people sharing them, “Walking down the aisle was the standout. Hearing our singer perform our song; having my dad by my side; seeing all my favourite people in the world and then seeing Shane at the end of the aisle. I couldn’t stop smiling! Getting ready at the Secret Garden with my Mum and bridesmaids on the day was lots of fun. Seeing my Yia Yia (Grandma) on the dance floor all night having a great time made my night too.”
mo st important “We wanted an intimate wedding and invited our close family and friends only. Our ceremony was short and sweet, which allowed us to celebrate with our bridal party and guests before leaving for our photos. We decided to not have a videographer, so having great photographers was important. It was also important for us to organise a bus to pickup and drop-off guests to and from the wedding, to ensure everyone arrived safely back to their accommodation.�
the experience Sharing a destination experience with their guests created some special memories, “All wedding guests were staying at Margaret's Beach Resort, so we put on a dinner in the alfresco area the night before. Everyone helped and had a great night - it also took my mind off the wedding! Our wedding day was all about having fun, relaxing and not taking things too seriously. We wanted our family and friends to experience why we love Margaret River and most importantly have a great time with good food and a lot of champagne! �
handmade details “We organised for each of our guest’s rooms to have a thank you poem and a map of the region for their arrival. My best friend’s husband made the sign for our flower girl to hold walking down the aisle and another friend made the rose petal cones using doiley paper. My sister did some gorgeous blackboard signs for the ceremony and reception. I bought table numbers from Bunnings, covered them in silver glitter and sprayed them with a clear lacquer. I also did the same for some ‘Love’ signs to place near the wishing well, which Shane had made. In the bathrooms we had a poem inviting guests to freshen up and provided a box full of deodorant, bobby pins, hairspray, face wipes, tissues etc.”
creative lighting Heather & Shane included lighting features, creating atmosphere as the sun set, “The reception has an amazing view of a vineyard valley, so we incorporated lights to reflect down into the valley so you could see the view at night. We organised a white marquee with two chandeliers over the dance floor. At the end of the marquee we had the word, ‘LOVE’ in light up letters. Everything was white, including chair covers, tablecloths and clear vases with white carnations and roses spread along the tables.”
best advice "It’s your day so do what you want to do - there is no need to do things traditionally if it’s not who you are as a couple. Trust your suppliers, they organise weddings all the time, so they know what they are doing. If you are having a destination wedding, check with the local council or area that there are no major events on the same weekend. This can cause issues trying to find accommodation for all your guests in one place. Having all our guests at the one resort made the weekend extra special."
Photography Merge Photography Ceremony Margaret Rivers Secret Garden Celebrant Jennifer Etherington Reception Wills Domain Margaret River, WA Marquee & Chandeliers Cape Marquees Love Sign Love Letters Decor Wez Enterprises Flowers Zest Flowers (bouquets & boutonnieres) & Bloomtastic (reception arrangements) Cake Edible Art Gown Samantha Wynne Bridesmaids Zimmermann Hair DJP Designs Headpiece Bo and Luca Makeup A Brush with Colour Invitations & Stationery Mitchell & Dent
city sophisticate An elegant, inner city event space, Autumnal palette and feasting table abundant in style‌this eclectic celebration is inspired by early morning trips to farmer’s markets, where crates overflow with gourmet produce and freshly picked flowers in deep seasonal hues. Perfect for creative couples who love to think a little differently, this is a warm and inviting setting where good friends gather and delicious food, wine and stories are shared.
the ceremony A floral arc creates an intimate ceremony space, enveloping the bride and groom. Flowers in deep burgundies, reds and pinks mix with berries and spill from woven bamboo baskets. Dark-leaved smoke bush add height and natural definition to this spacious. softly lit setting.
groom style Well-tailored but relaxed, our groom wears a mid blue suit, crisp white shirt and fine patterned tie, which complements the floral palette and brings some personality to the look.
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fashion forward Our gorgeous bride wears sleek, side swept hair, softly defined cheeks, subtle smoky eyes and a nude lip. Simple accessories such as these unique diamond drop earrings complement the intricate beaded detailing of her satin gown.
the bouquet Such a streamlined silhouette lends itself to a statement bouquet! Featuring dahlias, David Austin roses, snowberry, smoke bush and ivy berry foliage, this bright bouquet has been gathered and arranged from the blooms of the season and finished with trailing ribbons.
the reception Gold, brass and candlelight bring warmth to this stunning tablescape. With oatmeal cloth, oyster coloured plates and crystal glassware as a neutral base, dark teal napkins and lush florals offer depth of colour. Oyster shells, used as salt and pepper cellars, are a clever addition.
fresh idea As an alternative to individual menus, place one menu on each table in a free standing frame. Clear glass or acetate offers a modern, seamless look.
the cake The feast continues with this decadent two tiered cream fondant cake. Rich buttercream is paired with matching florals and foliage, presented in its own candlelit setting and featuring fruits and floral accents from the main table.
the celebration Atmosphere is everything! Champagne is popped, lavish cheese platters served and the setting enjoyed by a relaxed bride and groom. Pomegranate, grapes, plums and russet pears offer the perfect final touch as decorative and delicious additions to this beautiful feast.
Concept, Coordination & Model Styling The Wedding Playbook Concept & Styling Capote & Peachy Photography Elleni Toumpas Venue Alto Event Space, Melbourne VIC Table Linen Table Art Flowers Good Grace & Humour Cake Sweet Bakes Gown Mariana Hardwick Jewellery Hardy Brothers Jewellers Makeup Perfect Pout Hair Hair by Neveen Suit Urbbana Models Paige & Will, London Management Group
Abie & Dilshan Abie and Dilshan’s celebrations are full of vibrant colour, honouring tradition with two beautiful ceremonies and partying with family and friends at a stunning, flower filled reception! Keeping their large events personal and enjoying every moment were priorities for this gorgeous couple.
Love Story Meeting at university, Abie and Dilshan were together for three years before getting engaged, “The proposal was something that I could never have imagined. Dilshan took me hot air ballooning in the Yarra Valley, then for morning tea at a chocolate factory. He used the excuse that we had both been insanely busy with work and hadn't spent quality time with each other in ages. I didn't think anything of it as he has always been quite thoughtful. On the way back to Melbourne, we stopped at a winery. A girl who worked there said we were welcome to take a look, even though it was closed that day. We came to an old barn, where Dilshan had a picnic set up. As we sat there he gave me a present - a custom made ‘Where's Wally?’ book. Instead it was, ‘Where's Abie and Dilshan?’
Turning the Pages "Each page was a moment in our relationship - our first date at Brunetti's in Lygon St, first trip to the Gold Coast, etc. In each scene I had to find a number of items that had some significance to us and there was a small note on each page. The last scene was the Yarra Valley and I had to find a hot air balloon, box of chocolates, flowers and also a little box. As I found each item, he gave it to me and when it got to the box - he got down on one knee and proposed. It was so perfect!�
Planning Experience Having plenty of time made the planning less stressful, “We had seventeen months to organise everything. I loved the process of finding our venues, choosing things with the different suppliers and all the creative meetings. It was great fun seeing our vision become a reality. We wanted to make sure that everyone enjoyed themselves. We knew the ceremonies would be quite traditional, but really wanted the reception to be a big party.�
" We both love colour and fun and really wanted every guest to feel a part of the wedding, not just a spectator."
Wedding Style Abie had three looks to select – no pressure! "My wedding dress search was luckily very easy, and I went to India to find the outfits for the Hindu ceremony. This was quite overwhelming as there were so many beautiful options! Finding what I wanted for the reception was the most time consuming, as I knew the colour would determine the palette of the invitations, church wedding and reception. I never thought I would choose purple, but I fell in love with the outfit as soon as I put it on."
The Flowers Abie's gorgeous bouquet featured lillies, roses and peonies, perfectly complimenting their wedding colours of purple and gold. "I wanted bouquets full of beautiful, bold flowers with different textures that weren't too perfect or put together."
Helping Hands Friends helped them stay relaxed throughout, “We were very blessed that all of our friends were so willing to help us with the planning of the wedding. We wanted to have all of our closest friends have a significant role. They all spent endless hours discussing the plans, decor, dances and all the small details, taking part in the dance performances and continuously making themselves available. It helped us to not stress and enjoy the lead up to the wedding.�
The Ceremonies With two ceremony spaces to decorate, the couple worked closely with their stylists to help keep it simple, “The Hindu ceremony had a lot of colour and the temple was already beautiful without too much additional decor. We wanted the church styling to be quite soft and romantic, with lots of fresh flowers along the aisle. St John’s is a beautiful church, and given its size has a very intimate feel.”
Favourite Moments “My favourite moment was seeing Dilshan for the first time at the temple. I was so excited and nervous walking down the aisle with my family to meet him at the mandap. I don't like being the centre of attention, so seeing everyone watch my every step made me so nervous. I just had to concentrate and make sure I made it without falling over! However as soon as I caught Dilshan smirking at me, I knew that this was the perfect moment and that the next two days were going to be amazing. There were so many memorable moments, but I think seeing everyone having fun at the reception was the best. We could all relax knowing that there was nothing else to do or plan for, and enjoy it all with the people we love most.�
The Reception Abie asked for bright colours and abundant florals to create interest and impact in the grand ballroom, “I love flowers and wanted all the tables to be full of them, and also to give guests something to take away at the end of the night. Our stylist helped add a few personal touches, such as the guest signing board, thank you notes and photo booth, which had a beautiful floral backdrop.”
Creative Guest Book Dilshan set up an activity to entertain guests, which also doubled as a sweet keepsake, “He had a great idea to make a unique guest book. We had a big board covered in tiny coloured envelopes and asked guests to take a Polaroid picture of themselves, write a message and place them in an envelope. What seemed like a simple idea, took Dilsh and our friends probably more than ten hours to complete, but the result was amazing."
Best Advice 1. Be organised - start writing lists and timelines of everything that you need to do early on. Forward planning will help with your research and budgeting. 2. Have fun - make even the boring tasks fun! No matter what happens, everything will come together and only you know about the finer details. 3. Be yourself - allow your personality to come through in every part of the wedding. Your own style will add warmth to your event.
Photography Shevan J Photography Hindu Ceremony Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple, Carrum Downs, VIC Temple Styling Red Temple Events Church Ceremony St Johns Anglican Church, Toorak Church & Reception Styling Vogue Weddings and Events Cake French Lettuce Gown The Sposa Group, Sydney Wedding Saris India Hair & Makeup Sayuri Creations Bridal Dressing (Bride) & Jennifer Major (Bridesmaids) Bridesmaids Little Joe Woman by Gail Elliot Suit Hugo Boss Invitations Jaydee Interiors
Très Chic This gorgeous collection is inspired by rustic French style, with a hint of vintage! Beautiful hair accessories, a ring pillow fashioned from jute twine and skeleton key escort cards are just some of the lovely details waiting to be discovered. Click to visit the Etsy listings!
Le Entre deux coeurs qui s'aiment, nul besoin de paroles
Two hearts in love need no words - Desbordes-Valmore -
Abigail & Kellen Abigail and Kellen’s celebration is reminiscent of a fairytale – not the princess ball gown and castle type, though there is a knight in shining armour! Inspired by a rustic and enchanted woodland, it’s a unique theme, beautifully styled and utterly captivating. It’s time to get caught up in the magic…
Love Story "We met in New York City a week before he moved back to Los Angeles! Kellen worked in the same office as me but on the opposite side of the building so we had never met or spoken to each other. When I first saw him my heart skipped a beat. I had never had that happen with anyone before. I know now it was my heart recognizing him as the love of my life."
Finding Their Style "We started off wanting the wedding to have a rustic feel, as the beautiful 1909 in Topanga Canyon, California sets an incredible backdrop for it. The venue used to host Shakespearean plays so there is a lovely amphitheatre and an open meadow at the bottom of the hill. The owner, Amir, hand made a wood plaque with our names, wedding date and an image of a tree with The 1909 etched into it as a gift. He had a lot to do with our choosing it as the venue. He has a very peaceful energy and calming nature...that combined with the canyon itself and we were sold! We had both the ceremony and the reception there. The more we planned, the more it turned from rustic into having an enchanted forest feel.�
Planning Together "We planned most of the wedding ourselves, and both really enjoyed finding the location, the caterer, the themes and decorations. We wanted something as close to our hearts as possible. Piecing it all together proved to be the most stressful, so we decided to hire a ‘month of’ coordinator, which ended up being the best decision we made!"
Doing Things Differently "We asked one of my oldest and closest friends, Randy, to officiate. He was brilliant - now people call him The Reverend Randall! The women in our family spoke during the ceremony. We provided them with a word representing an aspect of our relationship, and gave them the freedom to run with what it meant to them and what they wanted to say from that feeling. We had the men in our family, as well as a few of our closest friends, involved in our grand entrance as a couple. Kellen has a collection of swords, and we wanted them to hold them up for us to walk under into the meadow for the reception. We needed a few more swords, so we rented them from an amazing place called Sword & Stone. Instead of a guest book we had a large scroll with a quill for signing, and our officiant read from a scroll as well.�
"We wanted our wedding to be a visual, emotional and spiritual experience that best represented our love and friendship for each other and our guests - and for it to be fun!"
An Unexpected Choice "Honestly, I have never enjoyed shopping for, or trying on clothes. After searching the internet, I stumbled on the fact that Anthropologie sells wedding dresses. It’s one of my favourite stores, so I was thrilled! Out of five dresses, I ended up choosing the one I tried on last, and it wasn't even on my initial list! It was beautiful, I knew it was amazing, but I didn't have that feeling some brides describe as it being ‘the one'. I ordered it and when it arrived I couldn't wait to try it on, and try it on again and again. Each time I fell more and more in love with it...and eventually it became 'the one'.�
The Tablescape "We share a love of Sci-Fi, fantasy and quest adventures. For the tables I was picturing the look of a 'treasure chest' for decorations. Luckily Kellen's family had a lot of interesting silver cups, goblets and sculptures which we integrated with moss and wood on the tables. And when his mom sent us a picture of the knights and candelabras she found at Home Goods, we knew they had to be included!"
Floral Inspiration "We didn't want to overshadow the already beautiful grounds. The florist suggested using a lot of vines, moss, wood and green flowing plants with a few hints of colour here and there which was perfect and flowed nicely. We wanted thistle to be the main plant and colour as I love them...and because Kellen and I both love the movie Braveheart. If you've seen the movie you will know why and what the reference is!"
Handmade Details "I thought it would be cool to have table ‘mythological creatures’ instead of table numbers, and in the shape of a shield so it could be considered the table's crest. We picked our favourites, such as the Minotaur, Centaur, Pegasus, Griffin, Sphinx, etc. Ours was the Unicorn, because both Kellen and I as children collected them in the form of pewter sculptures. I hand-made all twelve of them and enjoyed every moment as I love arts and crafts! You can see some of them in the photographs. We also designed the matchboxes, which had a Braveheart quote on the back, and were placed at every seat with twine wrapped around them. All the decorations were handpicked, including the giant K and A letters which were covered in moss by Kellen's mom and sister."
Most Enjoyable "The ceremony was fantastic – being surrounded by our family and friends in such a beautiful environment and celebrating each other’s love was amazing. Reading our vows took my breath away. Kellen is extremely articulate, a wordsmith, a poet. Listening to him read what dwells deep within him for me was heart melting. I had a tough time following it with my own! And personally, being photographed by Gabe was a big one. I had been looking forward to meeting him since I first saw his work. It is an inspiration, and so is he."
Best Advice "Relax! Enjoy the moment, it is guaranteed to become stressful at times, but it is so worth the outcome. Take some time for yourselves during the process, have a date night, watch a movie... do something completely unrelated to the wedding at least a few times to decompress. Then return to the planning with a fresh breath."
A Beautiful Memory "From the glorious landscape of Topanga Canyon to the woodland fantasy decorations; the Mystic we organised for tarot reading; the feast for dinner and dessert and the after party… it was all very ‘us’. We would do it all over again."
Photography Gabe McClintock Officiant Randy Tibbetts Venue The 1909, California, USA Planning & Styling Modern LA Weddings Flowers Jan Seabold Chair Hire Rental Connection Catering PDA Cuisine Cake Sweet Lady Jane Gown Anthropologie Hair Helena van Zandbergen Makeup Leya Oakley Swords Sword & Stone Mystic Shirley Lipton Transport EZ Vans Invitations Zazzle Inc.