For his surprise proposal after four years of dating, Matthew put together a sweet photo book of memories for Melinda’s birthday picnic for two, with the happy question spelled out inside! Their classic waterfront wedding embraces the beautiful location and features a romantic palette of soft pastel hues.
The Planning Experience
“We started planning a year from the wedding and enjoyed the DIY projects the most – it got us into a creative mode and working together like a project team. It gave us a sense of accomplishment, seeing all the different DIY parts coming together. Without a doubt, you are bound to get into arguments, whether it’s with your partner or with your family – learn to pick your battles and compromise!”
Finding The Dress
“It was a pretty fun process for me – I subscribed to various wedding blogs and wedding dress suppliers on Instagram, which is a good start for knowing what you may or may not like. Then I narrowed down the list of stores and designers and as I tried on dresses, I got a better understanding of what I liked. I actually saw a dress similar to mine worn by another bride on Facebook and absolutely loved it. I went to try mine and it suited me really well!”
Ceremony Styling
“We chose Sergeants Mess because the views were simply breath-taking, which means there wasn’t really much that was needed to be done for the ceremony! We had a red carpet, DIY ribbons along the stairs, and that’s pretty much it.”
Meaningful Music
“Our aisle song was a modern take on a classic, ‘Can’t Help Falling For You’ by Hailey Reinhart. My brother showed me this song that is used in a chewing gum ad, and I just absolutely loved it!”
Most Important
“Being organised – we had a pretty good spreadsheet for tracking completion of the various activities – which included macros to convert these activities into a calendar format! Being organised meant we weren’t feeling rushed or stressed in the weeks closer to the wedding!
Favourite Moments
“Walking down the aisle with my dad by my side and then with mum at the end, knowing the very next moment, I would be officially married to Matt! Exchanging our vows and trying to hold back my tears, seeing our classes paying off for the first dance, and party time – I just loved the band!
Reception Styling
“Again, it comes back to the stunning views – we kept it simple and elegant. Apart from table decorations, wishing well table and alcohol and whisky bar, we didn’t think there was more to be done. The venue is absolutely stunning and I knew this was the place after attending a wedding there.”
DIY Projects
“The stationery was a collaboration between the groom and the best man! For table numbers, we had photos of us when we were that age and cut corks to hold the name cards. Our wedding guest book was a rolodex of blank cards, which guests could fill with date night ideas or marriage advice.”
Melinda’s Top Tips
1. Be organised – saves you from getting stressed out and reduces stress on people around you!
2. Compromise – there will be things that you will want and your partner or family may disagree – choose your battles.
3. No matter how much you plan, things can and may go wrong – just enjoy every moment!
4. Make sure you are fed throughout the day because you will hardly have time to eat your own dinner during reception! You will be too busy talking to your guests, and for me, I was pretty nervous for our first dance. Also, pack some food in your overnight bag because by the end of the night, we were starving – as you can tell, food is really important to me!
Location: Sydney, New South Wales | Photography: We Are Origami Photography | Venue: Sergeants Mess | Celebrant: Laura Craddock | Gown: Pronovias, Fashions by Farina | Bridesmaids: Rodeo Show | Hair & Makeup: Sally Studio | Suits: Herman Bros & Co | Flowers: Wild Blossom | Cake: Art of Baking