Amelia Waddell & William Guy

THE DECK AT CIRCA, ST KILDA, VIC

photos captured by: Blossom Daisy Creative

Growing up, Amelia and Will were practically neighbours. “We lived only a street apart but didn’t meet until we were adults. We would often see each other at parties and then when my friend started dating one of Will’s mates it all just worked out. Will asked me to marry him after ten years together and after many, many hints had been dropped! It probably didn’t help that I work in the wedding industry. One night I came home from work to flowers, a custom-made velvet ring box and a very nervous Will who proposed with my grandmother’s wedding ring. She had passed away a year earlier so it was very special to me.”

CEREMONY & RECEPTION

Amelia and Will chose the historical The George Ballroom for their wedding ceremony. Located on the first floor of The George Hotel in Fitzroy Street, St Kilda the grand Victorian era ballroom with its stained glass windows and etched glass gasoliers was added in 1886. “It was an incredible space to be married in. Having an indoor wedding also took the stress out of worrying about the weather. The ballroom was a short walk from our reception venue.” Amelia had visited The Deck at CIRCA while studying events and had always hoped that one day she would celebrate her reception there. “The service, food and drink were wonderful. It’s also a boutique hotel which meant we could stay the night.

AN INSIDERS PERSPECTIVE | As an event manager and bridal store-owner, Amelia thought she knew everything there was to know about weddings. “Boy was I wrong! When it came to planning my own wedding it really took me by surprise. I tried to please everybody and did a lot of second-guessing. However the wedding day itself was so exciting. I had the feeling like when you are a child and it’s Christmas day. Will and I had the opportunity to see everyone we love, take a big life step together and celebrated by dining in a beautiful space. What’s not to love about a wedding?”

SWEET & SAVOURY | “I adore dessert and Will loves cheese so we had a lot of both! Our cheese bar and chocolate station were both big hits with our guests. There were also mini ice creams and lemon sherbet doughnuts!” For wedding favours each guest took home a small bag of chocolate-coated freeze-dried raspberries.

“We had three wedding cakes on display at the ceremony and decided to cut them there. I love cake! They were chocolate and salted caramel, lemon and blueberry and pavlova flavoured. I loved how our flowergirls’ faces lit up when they saw them! We had a coffee cart for our guests so they could enjoy afternoon tea before the reception.”

POSIES OF PEONIES | Having worked closely with the floristry team at Floretta on many events for work, Amelia was thrilled to have her friend Grace from Floretta do her own wedding flowers. “The brief was peonies, sea holly and garden roses in dreamy tones and Grace absolutely nailed it!” Concrete pots of cascading flowers featured as the reception centrepieces and for the ceremony, two freestanding arrangements on either side of the aisle made for a wild but whimsical look. Amelia and Will were married in front of a decorative curtain of grey chiffon. “I carried a large bouquet of pink peonies, sea holly and roses tied with trailing pastel ribbons. Sea holly dries well so I was able to save it as a keepsake.”

A BURST OF COLOUR | The styling of Amelia and Will’s wedding had a modern ethereal quality. “It felt like a fairy party for grown ups!” Drawing on the vintage gilded walls of The George Ballroom and the light and airy feel of The Deck, the couple wanted the wedding to feel a bit out of this world. “We used soft dreamy colours of grey, blush and cream for with lots of candles, sequins and rose gold accents.”

GOWN | “I didn’t overly enjoy bridal dress shopping. Nothing I tried on truly felt like me and it wasn’t as exciting as I’d hoped it would be. This is actually one of the reasons I’ve decided to open my own bridal store many months later!” After an exhaustive search, Amelia ordered a dress online from London designer Needle and Thread. “It had an ombre effect from the pale pink tulle underskirt. The dress was covered in lace-inspired beading and its iridescent sequins caught the light whenever I moved. It had a gently gathered waist which was both flattering and comfortable to wear. I also wore a pearl encrusted Stephanie Browne crown over an ivory veil.” Amelia’s bridesmaids wore sliver or dusty pink sequined gowns with chiffon skirts while Will and his groomsmen wore dark blue suits with white shirts and black bowties. “The suits were the perfect mix of formal and modern.” As a point of difference Will’s jacket had a black satin lapel. “I loved choosing our flowergirls’ dresses. They were so glittery and fun in tones of silver and pink to match my bridesmaids.”

The reception tables were set with grey linen, blush coloured napkins and rose gold cutlery. White Bentwood chairs completed the look. Outside, festoon lighting twinkled in the evening sky and
a 10-metre balloon installation was a fun feature above the dance floor.