"Love is beyond either condition: without spring, without autumn, it is always fresh." Rumi
To all our newly engaged couples. Congratulations! Be yourselves and create a wedding that truly reflects who you are together. We hope we inspire you and introduce you to the wonderful world of weddings.
25 June 2016
The Team Room Queen Victoria Building, Sydney, NSW
Photography by Dan O'Day
"David and I met in a nightclub! It was his sister's birthday and I came with a mutual friend. I spotted David from across the room, a real-life cliche! As for the proposal, one lazy Sunday afternoon I was coaxed into going for a stroll with my now sister-in-law to our local park. She gave me an envelope. Inside was a lovely letter from David (which also teased me about my bad navigation skills!) which started a lone trail to find other little letters. I eventually found David by the pond with a picnic and an engagement ring."
While at times the wedding organisation felt like a never-ending to do list for Amy and David, the planning process was still easygoing. "David and I were on the same page about all the aspects for the wedding and we never overanalysed anything. As a designer, I've been lucky enough to work on wedding stationery projects over the years, which means I've engaged in a lot of conversation with couples about the whole planning process, so I think that prepared me quite a bit!"
"I think like most couples, we were so excited when the day finally arrived. that every aspect of the day was completely joyous. Walking down the aisle with my dad was a personal highlight."
Amy's advice for brides-to-be, "In terms of planning, my advice would be to trust your instincts, try not to overanalyse your decisions and have as much fun as possible!"
In the world of weddings, the perfect scent can become a timeless memory—a fragrant signature of the most special day in a couple's life. We delve into the olfactory artistry that goes beyond mere perfume, exploring the essence of luxury fragrance with Nick Smart, the visionary Founder and Director of Agence de Parfum and Libertine Parfumerie.
Talitha Cummins, founder of The Cut Jewellery explains what makes lab-grown diamonds so special, why they’re gaining popularity, and dispels common misunderstandings about their quality, value, and environmental impact.
AYANA Estate is a world-class destination resort sprawling 90 hectares across the cliff-tops above Jimbaran Bay, Bali’s best sunset coast. The resort flaunts a myriad of exclusive facilities and the islands most sort after sunset venue, Rock Bar.
To fall in love is something amazing. To celebrate your love and get married in the most romantic city in the world, well... that’s what dreams are made of. That dream can become a reality. Shangri-La Paris, the former home of Napoleon Bonaparte’s grandnephew Prince Roland Bonaparte. At Shangri-La the royal treatment lives on.
Lisbon, Portugal, is a romantic honeymoon destination that offers a perfect mix of culture, history, and charm. From the stunning architecture to the delicious cuisine and lively nightlife, there is something for everyone in Lisbon. Find our favourite places to stay, explore and eat.
Chateau of Domaine Des Etangs, nestled on 2500 acres of sprawling meadows and farmland is the eleventh century castle known for its seven lakes or ‘étangs’. A Small Luxury Hotel with a Michelin star restaurant and a spa that’s second to none, it’s a place filled the finest in French country living.
Karma kandara is a multi-award winning 5-star resort of outstanding natural beauty, situated atop the spectacular limestone cliffs of uluwatu overlooking the indian ocean. Featuring 54 luxurious private-pool villas, each blend traditional balinese architecture, lush gardens and ultimate privacy.
One of the most desired honeymoon locations is a remote African adventure and you can be one of the first guests to stay at the newly opened Singita Kwitonda Lodge and Kataza House in Rwanda. Opening this month the lodge is set on 178 acres (72 hectares) on the edge of Volcanoes National Park, Kwitonda Lodge boasts eight luxurious suites, while Kataza House, an exclusive-use villa, features four spacious suites.
Travellers have fallen in love with Japan, the country becoming one of travellers top destinations of choice. And whilst we know some of the more iconic places to go and visit we went a little off track and discovered some real romance with Japan!
A contemporary hotel in the heart of vibrant Seminyak with all the class of five star luxury offering but with boutique charm. It has the feeling of a chic urban resort. From the moment you step inside the tone is set for the high level of attention and service you will receive throughout your stay.
The infinite views of the Indian Ocean are what make Uluwatu a truly
exotic destination! Alila Villas Uluwatu would have to be one of the most luxurious destinations and certainly makes for honeymoon heaven!
‘Riverside elegance in Europe’s golden city.’ There’s a certain magic in the air that flows effortlessly through Old Town Square, onto Charles Bridge, over the Vltava River and all the way up the tallest spires of Prague Castle. Experience it all from your doorstep at Four Seasons Hotel Prague.
Amy looked stunning in her Mariana Hardwick gown with bold lace and deep V neckline. "I was quite open to what my gown would be like. I had a lot of fun trying on a wide range of styles before landing, 'the one'. It was the incredible embroidered motifs of the guipere lace and striking silhouette of my gown that won both myself and my bridesmaids over. I thought the design called for simple accessories, so I chose a pastel blue ear crawler for the ceremony and classic crystal cluster earrings for the reception."
"I wanted to make sure each of my bridesmaids was dressed in a cut they were comfortable with, however it was a bit tricky finding three perfect designs off the rack. In the end we found a gathered halter Zimmermann gown in dusty pink that was not only stunning on its own, but fit each of the bridesmaids beautifully."
David wore a classic, black Hugo Boss tuxedo with velvet bow tie and patent leather shoes. His groomsmen wore black suits and ties.
Having long been an admirer of Emily from Sydney boutique florist Boutierre Girls' work, it was a 'no brainer' that Amy would enlist the team for her wedding flowers. "She can mix royal tones with soft hues in the most stunning way, which was exactly the look I was after. It was also important to me that the flowers looked effortlessly assembled and the team executed this perfectly. For the reception, we had modest table centrepieces consisting of a mixture of dark and light blooms set in clear glass vases. Emily also created a stunning installation above the bridal table."
"We felt The Tea Room at QVB was the perfect venue for our winter wedding with its stunning old charm, and distinct style. It also meant we didn't have to think too hard about decorating. Food and service were also really important to us and we knew we would be in the best hands in that respect with Grand Pacific Group."
Amy and David entered the reception to the sounds of a traditional Middle-Eastern drummer. "It immediately brought everyone onto the dance floor!"
"David and I approached styling our wedding with the theme of classic elegance but we also wanted to inject a bit of fun! Being a winter wedding, I was inspired by a rich palette of reds and purples, which, along with ivories and softer pinks, became our loose colour scheme. This determined the look of our stationery and other elements from the bridesmaids' dresses to my shoes and the flower arrangements. As for the venue, because The Tea Room is so charming and decadent on its own, we only wanted to add accents rather than transform the space into something different. Beautiful flower arrangements did most of the talking and we created a little more mood with an abundance of candles. This was also a great way to make the 200-guest room feel more intimate."
"Our wedding favours were vanilla-caramel soy candles that my sister-in-law, Stephany lovingly hand-poured. Each was set in a small glass jar with a white lid and finished with a label that I had designed." Amy and David's invitations were a fun mixture of classic and modern. "We used letterpress and gold foiling. Being a paper nerd meant these were two obligatory expenses for me! I also created a painterly pattern of reds, purples and pinks that was used for our envelope liners and some of the on-the-day pieces."
Amy and David's wedding cake was a pretty 3-tier ombre ruffle cake. "Each layer had a different flavour and as a surprise for David, who is a big Star Wars fan, I added Han Solo and Princess Leia cake topper figurines."
Amy and David had their first dance to an acoustic version of Coldplay's 'Green Eyes' played and sung by David's groomsman, James. It's a song that has always reminded me of David."
gown: Mariana Hardwick, marianahardwick.com.au
shoes & bridesmaids: Zimmermann, zimmermannwear.com
photographer: Dan O'Day, danodayphotography.com.au
ceremony location: Saint Patrick's Church, Mortlake
reception venue & caterer: The Tea Room Queen Victoria Building, thetearoom.com.au
reception decorations: Love and Protect, loveandprotect.com.au
Liv & Co., livandco.com.au
flowers and floral decorations: Boutierre Girls, boutierregirls.com
cake: Faye Cahill, fayecahill.com.au
groom: Hugo Boss, hugoboss.com
groomsmen: Shoreditch, shoreditch.com.au
bridesmaids’ shoes: Alias Mae, aliasmae.com
bridal accessories: Kenneth Jay Lane, net-a-porter.com
Baublebar, baublebar.com
hair: House of Hair, houseofhair.com.au
makeup: Hilary Ho, hilaryho.com
additional suppliers: Showtime show-pro.com.au
The Atlantic Restaurant, Melbourne, Victoria
Photography Collections Photography
A proposal during Victoria’s lockdown 1.0 then came planning a wedding during a pandemic, but Christina and Christian knew exactly what was important to them and moved their date forward and created an intimate celebration with Melbourne’s city lights as their backdrop.
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The Little White House, Emerald, Victoria
photography by Karon Photography
Everything was all set and ready to go for the 100 guest wedding in Melbourne’s Fitzroy Gardens and a month before their date the tragic news of Covid-19 hit. “We were now faced with the realisation that we had to completely change everything we had planned and worked so hard towards.” It turned into a perfectly imperfect wedding day that was meant to be.
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Kisha and Don spent nearly a year planning their perfect wedding but nature had other plans, with bushfires ravaging across Australia and their a pandemic they were forced to abandon all their plans and still had the best day ever!
