Real Wedding – Molly & Rhys, Lake Mulwala NSW
Molly and Rhys’ sun-soaked celebration on the banks of Lake Mulwala was stylish, relaxed and deeply sentimental.
After ‘I do’s’, guests were ferried from the water-side ceremony spot to a chic reception venue via The Cumberoona, a vintage paddle steamer once graced by Queen Elizabeth.
Their vision for the after-party was to channel a balmy summer night in Italy. From woodfire pizzas and local gelato to vibrant florals, a jazz hour and limoncello shots, the details were refined, but the atmosphere was relaxed.
Not only that, but the tunes were tried and tested. In the lead up to their day, Molly and Rhys – whose love story spanned almost 12 years before reaching the aisle – would pour a glass of wine and dance around the loungeroom to their in-progress wedding playlists to be sure the energy was top-tier.
Across the formalities, Molly wore not one but two stunning gowns by renowned designer Kyha, the first of which she customised with a sleeve detail and extra buttons down the back.
Tales of this duo’s wedding planning experience are sprinkled with plenty of practical tips and hits, such as practising the champagne spray before you’re in front of a camera wearing your best outfits (turns out, it’s much harder than it looks!).
Delight in the contemporary aesthetic and raw emotion, as captured by photographer Jessica Sim.
The meeting.
We first met as 12-year-olds in year seven. I already knew Rhys as the cute, blonde, tennis kid from primary school but it wasn’t until we sat next to each other in history class that we became friends. We were constantly being separated for talking too much. We stayed good friends all through high school, but we were always dating other people so nothing romantic ever happened. After school, we lost touch.
Until, in a twist of fate, we both moved back to Wodonga from Melbourne at the exact same time to save for separate trips to America. I was working with Rhys’ twin sister and would go to her house to hang out. When flowers rocked up at my work one Valentine’s Day, I started going over there to see Rhys more than his sister (sorry Tess!).
‘The one’.
Even though we’d been friends for years, I was weirdly nervous before our first official date (so nervous my Dad told me to do a shot!). But the second we were together, all of that melted away. It felt effortless! The next day we drove to Melbourne together and talked the whole time. We even went for coffee after because we still hadn’t run out of things to say. Since the very first date 12 years ago I don’t think we’ve gone a day without speaking.
The proposal.
Rhys proposed in Palermo, Italy, on a rooftop with my best friend Ben there to witness it. It was perfect. And filled with many limoncello shots afterwards. He had designed my ring with my favourite jeweller, Laura Miers, which made it feel even more personal and thoughtful.
Planning process.
Our focus was on making the day feel like us: relaxed, fun, a little sentimental, but mainly a really good time. I was lucky to already work with some talented vendors—most of whom are also friends—which made the process feel really collaborative and easy.
I never really considered myself a “wedding person,” so when we first started planning, there was a lot of unknown. There’s so much that goes into pulling off a wedding (especially without a planner), and there were definitely moments where I felt overwhelmed. Thankfully, Rhys was incredibly hands-on and shared the load 50/50 (sometimes more, especially when I was mid-meltdown).
Choosing our initial vendors, though, felt surprisingly easy. We knew from the start that we wanted Jess to photograph our day—we’ve always loved her work and trusted her completely. The Blacksmith in Mulwala also felt like an obvious choice for the reception as we’d spent a lot of time there and knew it would bring the fun, relaxed vibe we wanted. I recommend working with experienced vendors (if possible) and asking them lots of questions. They have done it one thousand times over and know what works!
Now that it’s over, I miss the planning and wish I could go back.
Style inspiration.
Our trip to Europe the year before we tied the knot was definitely the inspiration behind the whole vibe. We wanted to recreate the feeling of a balmy summer night in Italy. From woodfire pizzas and local gelato to vibrant florals, a jazz hour and limoncello shots, every detail was designed to feel relaxed—not too formal or stuffy.
I found it really helpful to look at other people’s weddings (via social media and blogs – thanks Ivory Tribe) because even small details, like where someone found their shoes, can save you hours of Googling!
But my biggest piece of advice? Start saving inspiration early! The last few months fly by faster than you think and it makes such a difference to have even the smaller decisions locked in.
The ceremony.
Our ceremony was held on the banks of Lake Mulwala at The Sebel, Yarrawonga. Just a few days out, the forecast suddenly changed to a not-so-casual 37C, so we scrambled to hire umbrellas to keep guests shaded. I had been feeling nervous in the lead-up to the ceremony, but the moment I arrived and saw Rhys and all of our favourite people, I was completely overwhelmed with happiness (and a few tears).
One thing that was really important to us was finding the right celebrant to tell our story, and Rebecca Bunyan was everything we could’ve hoped for and more. She was incredibly organised, a gifted storyteller, and made the whole process feel effortless and personal. I honestly thought the reception would be my favourite part of the day, but the ceremony and exchanging vows ended up being the highlight. We sealed the deal with ‘Witness Bingo’, which our guests loved. It was the perfect mix of laughter, emotion, and storytelling. So many people have told us how much they enjoyed the ceremony, and Rebecca, so I think the feeling was mutual.
The Cumberoona (a traditional paddle steamer we’d organised to ferry guests to the reception venue), showed up right as we were about to have our first kiss and honked its horn which was hilarious. It felt like we had their blessing too!
The outfits.
I wore two dresses by Kyh,a which I customised with added sleeves and extra buttons down the back. The whole experience was incredible—I couldn’t recommend them more. Their service was amazing, and they shared so many helpful tips along the way (like having a crochet hook on hand to do up the buttons on the day, what a lifesaver!). When I tried on the dress, my Mum and bridal party both screamed, so I knew it was the one!
Rhys wore a custom tuxedo from Trunk Tailors, who are absolute experts in their craft. He chose a beautiful Italian wool and opted for more of a relaxed style with a classic fit. He bought traditional (untied) bowties for his groomsmen, which were a bit of a disaster, so if you go for that style, make sure they practice before the day.
Favourite moments.
Walking back down the aisle as husband and wife was surreal – our cheeks were sore from smiling. Plus, the last song on the dancefloor before the night wrapped – every single person was on the dancefloor. My bridesmaid, Greta, captured a video of everyone singing and dancing. It will forever be my favourite video!
Meaning of marriage.
Marriage, for us, isn’t about grand gestures – it’s about all the small, ordinary moments. Like Rhys making my favourite pasta when he knows I’ve had a rough day, walking our dog in the mornings while chatting about everything and nothing, or laughing over something silly – those are the things that make up a life, even though they don’t make the IG highlight reel! We’ve had our ups and downs, but there’s always been a deep respect between us and a shared commitment to show up for each other. Being friends first has helped us navigate the harder times (including two years of long distance – 10/10 wouldn’t recommend!). Put simply, I think marriage should be about doing life side by side with your favourite person. And finding someone you can laugh with every day is a must!
Wedding soundtrack.
Aisle Song: Lana Del Rey – Say Yes to Heaven (This one got a few tears.)
Signing: Leon Bridges – Coming Home
Ceremony Exit Song: George Michael – Faith
First Dance: Alicia Keys – If I Ain’t Got You
Reception Entrance: Mariah Carey – Fantasy (This song is just so euphoric!)
Last Song of the Night: The Killers – Mr Brightside (We didn’t choose this, but it surprisingly went OFF!)
Apart from these key songs, Rhys spent a few months curating a few different playlists for the night. Most Friday nights leading up to the wedding, we’d pour a glass of wine and dance to them in our loungeroom – the only way to truly test the vibes!
Near disasters.
Not so much in the lead up to the wedding, but a near disaster was Rhys leaving his backpack with the engagement ring in it at a cafe in Italy. He went white as a ghost when he realised it was missing, so I should have known something special was inside. Thankfully, a lovely man came running down the street to find us and return it!
Planning surprises.
How emotional it all was! I thought after being together for over a decade, it wouldn’t feel like such a big deal—but it really was! Also, how much time the little details take! You think you’ve got plenty of time but the last few months absolutely fly. I also didn’t realise just how much joy would come from seeing all our friends and family in one place—it’s the kind of happiness you can’t quite describe.
Words of wisdom.
Don’t try to cram too much into the day/night. It goes SO quick, and you want time to be able to relax and enjoy the night together.
If your schedule and the time of year allow for it, I highly recommend a sunset or twilight photoshoot with just you and your husband/wife – they’re some of our favourite photos.
An obvious one, but pack comfy shoes for dancing – I had a pair of wedges on hand that saved my life after a whole day in heels.
Involve your friends and family in the planning where you feel comfortable – they will love it, and it’s such a nice bonding experience.
Bonus tip: if you plan on doing a champagne spray, make sure you practice! Maybe it’s just me, but it’s harder than it looks!
MOLLY & RHYS’ SUPPLIERS:
Ceremony venue: The Sebel, Yarrawonga
Reception venue: Blacksmith, Lake Mulwala
Photographer: Jess Sims
Film & Content Creator: The Social Groove by Kiara
Celebrant: Rebecca Bunyan
Flowers: Wren Floralista
Dresses: Both Kyah
Veil: My beautiful Bridesmaid, Chloe, lent me the veil she wore to her wedding – it was so special.
Shoes: Ceremony – Scanlan Theodore. Second dress – Tony Bianco wedges
Hair: Ben Bobby (Also my Maid of Honour) and Brooke Weiss (Bridesmaids’ hair)
Make-up: Meg McConville
Bridesmaids’ dresses: Shona Joy
Groom’s Suit: Trunk Tailors
Rings: Engagement ring – Laura Miers Wedding band – Bride’s mum’s. Rhys picked up an inexpensive band because, let’s just say, he tends to lose things. And lucky he did because he had it for a week. We’ve decided a tattoo would be the best course of action.
Entertainment: DJ Luke Merriman
Stationery: Jeanette Galway
Cake: Zackary Leon
Transport: The Cumberoona
Honeymoon: Crescent Head, New South Wales, then Bali
