Annika and Tristan wanted an outdoor ceremony and an evening reception where they could dance the night away! Their relaxed and beautiful waterside wedding keeps things pretty and stylishly simple, with a soft neutral palette, expert touches where needed and well-crafted DIY.
The Planning Experience
“I’m quite an organised person, so I had a monthly to do list for the eight months leading up. The planning was a good excuse to spend lots of time with family and friends, shopping for things for the wedding and going to flower markets, which I really enjoyed. Choosing vendors was the most stressful part of planning, because the amount of choice makes it really difficult to make a decision. We were so lucky that all our vendors went above and beyond to make our day the best it could be.”
Most Important
“We imagined a wedding that was about family and friends being together for a celebration. We always knew we wanted an outdoor ceremony and an evening reception, with dancing into the night. I think we are lucky enough to say that the day was exactly as we envisioned, if not better.”
The Ceremony
“We had an outdoor ceremony overlooking the water. Other than including a personal touch with a sign, the outdoor space was enough on its own – the view was stunning and made the perfect backdrop.”
Wedding Day Look
“The dress was one of five I tried on. I fell in love with the stunning low back and detailed lace. It was simple but striking, which is exactly what I was after. For the bouquets, I wanted something wild and natural that would make a statement of their own.”
Meaningful Music
“Our band did an amazing job learning all the songs for the important moments of the day. Our entrance song was, ‘On Top Of The World’ by Imagine Dragons – a great upbeat song to walk in to. My favourite was the leaving song ‘Stand By Me’ by Ben E. King, which the band performed perfectly.”
DIY Projects
“My friends and cousins did all the table arrangements and styling at the reception. We used baby’s breath and gum leaves as the centrepieces, with the jars collected from my Nanna and other family members. I designed my own stationery and my mum handcrafted everything from the invitations to the menus and place cards.”
Sweet Treats
“We wanted something simple and elegant, so we opted for a small naked cake with native flowers. We imagined that people would be too busy dancing to eat cake, so we combined favours and dessert with a tower of chocolate, butter cake and red velvet cupcakes.”
Best Advice
1. Enjoy the planning process, because once it’s all over you’ll realise how much fun it was.
2. Get organised early so you can relax and enjoy the weeks leading up, as well as the day itself.
3. Take time on the day to pause and soak in everything around you, it’s an amazing feeling!
Location: Sydney, New South Wales | Photography: Bless Photography | Venue: Sergeants Mess | Pastor: Ben Sattler | Gown: Stella York | Bridesmaids: Cooper St | Hair: Flawless Beauty | Makeup: Rebecca Jayne | Jewellery: Fletcher & Grace | Wedding Rings: Blue Nile | Suits: Institchu | Flowers: Sierra Blooms | Stationery & Signage: DIY | Cake: Art of Baking | Band: Twentysomethings | Photo Booth: Photo Corner