Real Wedding – Felicity & Ryan, Sorrento VIC
Ryan and Felicity’s journey from housemates to husband and wife culminated in a cohesive, coastal celebration with a distinctly European sensibility.
Their decision to let the unique architectural beauty of The Continental, Sorrento, serve as the centre piece of their style ethos allowed them to channel destination wedding vibes closer to home.
To complement the refined, understated aesthetic, Felicity went on the hunt for a timeless and elegant gown – something minimalist in form and detail but crafted from luxurious fabric.
She found her dream dress at revered bridal designer, Kyha, and paired the square neck silhouette with a traditional veil for the ceremony, which was later swapped out for fashion-forward sleeves after the formalities were over.
The less-is-more sophistication of the day was captured in effortless elegance by Belos Photography. Bask in all the beauty and behind-the-scenes details below.
The meeting.
We first met nine years ago in London at the iconic Slug and Lettuce Bar, where Ryan bought me a jagerbomb. Two years later, I was looking at share houses in Melbourne and Ryan was looking for a housemate. I moved in, and six months later we started dating.
The ‘one’.
About a year into our relationship, I went on a backpacking trip to South America with my best girlfriends. Even though I was having an amazing time, I couldn’t stop thinking about Ryan, and I missed him more than I expected. I found myself wishing he were there to share the experience with me. It was then that I knew Ryan was my best friend, and he was the person I wanted to experience life with.
The proposal.
We were on holiday in Tulum, Mexico, and Ryan had originally planned to propose on the beach with a photographer secretly there to capture the moment. Unfortunately, there was a hurricane nearby and the weather was terrible, so the photographer cancelled. It seemed like the perfect proposal just wasn’t going to happen, but on the very last day, the skies finally cleared. While we were enjoying a quiet moment at the rooftop pool of our hotel, Ryan got down on one knee and proposed. It turned out to be an incredibly special and intimate moment, which was totally unplanned but perfect.
Planning process.
Deciding on the location and venue was definitely the toughest part for us. I had always dreamed of a destination wedding—something that felt like a little getaway with our closest friends and family, making the whole experience more fun and intimate. My dream was to get married in Europe, but realistically, it just wasn’t feasible for us.
When we visited The Continental in Sorrento, the first thing Ryan said was, “Well, you can have your European-inspired wedding here, and it’ll still be a weekend away for everyone,” and that’s when I knew it was the perfect spot. The rest of the planning process was much less stressful. I drew inspiration from the venue’s beautiful interiors and architecture for the décor, and The Conti made things even simpler by providing and coordinating all the furniture and catering, so it was just a process of selecting what we wanted.
Style inspiration.
We were inspired by a classic, elegant and timeless look. Since we were working within a budget and couldn’t go all-out with florals and elaborate table decor, we leaned into a more understated, refined aesthetic. We had a summer wedding, so we chose soft, fresh tones—mainly blue and white—which helped create a clean and sophisticated atmosphere without needing to overstyle.
For inspiration, I found styled shoots really helpful, especially the couple portraits, floral arrangements, table settings, and venue decor featured in articles and on social media. I’m a very visual person, so seeing everything laid out helped me picture what I wanted for our own day. It gave me a sense of the overall vibe and helped bring all the little details together.
The ceremony.
Our ceremony took place in the Grand Ballroom, and it was absolutely beautiful. The chandeliers and natural light created such an elegant, romantic vibe. One of the most special parts was that we wrote our own vows. They were a mix of sweet, funny, and really personal to us. It was a special moment with our closest friends and family.
The outfits.
I was looking for something timeless and elegant, minimal in detail, but made from luxurious fabric. I visited a few bridal boutiques, but I always had my eye on the dresses from Kyha. The dress I ended up choosing wasn’t the silhouette I originally pictured myself in, but the moment I tried it on, it just felt right. I absolutely loved the veil with the floral detail; this just brought the whole look together, and I’m obsessed with how beautifully Belin captured it in the photos. For the reception, I added the lace sleeves to change things up a bit and add some fun to the look.
Ryan went for a classic, traditional look, with a black tuxedo, while the groomsmen wore tailored black suits. The outfits captured our personal style and overall vibe of our wedding perfectly.
Favourite moments.
One of our favourite moments was the ‘first look’ before the ceremony. Ryan and I chose to do a private first look at the venue, and it was such a special, emotional moment with just the two of us. After that, we had our bridal party photos with the bridesmaids and groomsmen around the venue, which was so much fun and full of laughter. It was the perfect way to start the day.
Meaning of marriage.
To us, marriage means sharing your life with your best friend. Being there for each other through all the highs and lows, and growing together along the way. It’s about having someone by your side who truly understands you and is always there, no matter what.
Wedding soundtrack.
Aisle: Adore U – Beth (acoustic cover)
Reception entry: On Top – Flume
First dance: Beyond – Leon Bridges
Last song: Billy (Loving Arms) – Fred Again
Funny stories/near disasters.
Thankfully, there were no major disasters! Ryan did have a bit of a fall on the way to the venue. He tripped and fell down the stairs while holding a Melbourne Bitter in one hand and couldn’t grab the railing to stop himself. Luckily, no broken bones—just a few scuff marks on his fresh suit!
Planning surprises.
I was definitely surprised by how much time I spent stressing over the tiniest details – things like the wedding signs or exactly where the flowers should be placed in the room. Looking back now, I can laugh about it because those little things didn’t define the day at all. But in the moment, it felt so important! It’s all just part of the wedding planning journey.
Words of wisdom.
Choosing the right venue is key, and it really sets the tone for the entire day. For us, finding a venue that already had so much character and didn’t need a lot of extra decorating or outside suppliers made everything so much easier. As someone who isn’t naturally crafty or super into styling, having everything in-house took a lot of pressure off and made the planning process feel much more manageable.
Try not to overthink things or get too caught up in the tiny details. At the end of the day, if you’ve got good food, great music and drinks flowing, you’re guaranteed to have an amazing time surrounded by your closest friends and family.
For more luxe wedding looks, dive into the details of Tayla & Declan’s big day.
FELICITY & RYAN’S SUPPLIERS:
The Continental provided us with a preferred supplier list, which is how we selected the florist. The celebrant and DJ were recommended by friends.
Ceremony & reception venue: The Continental Sorrento
Celebrant: Candice Salvatore of Celebrate With Your Mate
Photography: Belos Photography
Florist: Poppy Culture
Bride hair & Make-up: Makeup By Ingrid
Bridesmaid hair: Runway Room
The dress: Kyha
Suits: Savile Row Co
Bridesmaid’s dresses: Bec & Bridge
Entertainment: DJ Cooper Sax
