Real Wedding – Carla & Terry, Melbourne VIC
Carla and Terry’s celebration was the perfect blend of inner-city sophistication and all-out fun – a day where elegance met effortless joy, set against the vibrant backdrop of Hyde Melbourne Place – the adaptable, modern, inner-city space of their dreams.
While their vision wasn’t about following a trend or executing a grand, over-styled concept, they chose to simply focus on what felt right: bold bursts of colour, modern touches, and an atmosphere that encouraged laughter, connection, and a full dance floor.
From the moment Carla took to the aisle in her Christie Nicole embellished gown, backed by the vocals of Tarryn Stokes, to their deeply personal ceremony, the day was layered with sentiment. Their mums signed as witnesses, loved ones read poetry, and live music set the tone for an evening where drinks flowed, friends and family cheered them on, and the dance floor never let up.
For Carla and Terry, that was the whole point – a wedding that felt as good as it looked, and it was captured just as perfectly by the talented Chloe May.
The meeting.
Terry and I were introduced through a mutual friend at work, right before Terry zipped off to London for two years. Fast forward a little, we matched on Hinge when he returned to Melbourne and it was onwards and upwards from there!
The one.
Honestly, it was immediate! From our very first date, the connection was instant, natural and completely seamless. We just clicked!
The proposal.
Terry surprised me with a stay at Mitchelton Winery for our anniversary. After going to a wine bar, we were walking around the property when he suddenly got down on one knee. I was completely shocked!
Style inspiration.
Our wedding style was heavily inspired by the modern, vibrant and colourful atmosphere of Melbourne Place. We aren’t naturally ‘creative’ types, so instead of a grand vision, we simple chose elements we genuinely liked that felt right for us. We wanted to avoid anything too typical, serious or overly formal. Our amazing suppliers truly helped us bring everything together, making the celebration cohesive and uniquely ‘us’.
Planning inspiration.
For us, it was all about the real weddings! Seeing how other couples brought their unique visions to life was incredibly inspiring. It helped us figure out what we truly loved and what felt authentic to us.
The ceremony.
I’ll never forget walking down the aisle at our ceremony – it was honestly unforgettable. Our ceremony was deeply personal and meaningful to us. We wanted it to be fun but also sentimental, ensuring our loved ones were at the heart of it. Our mums were our witnesses, my brother in law was our ‘celebrant’, and my sister in laws read a poem. Tarryn Stokes (my absolute idol!!) sang me down the aisle, she was incredible. Filled with laughter, flowing drinks and live music, it was everything we had envisioned.
The outfits.
I wore a Christie Nicole gown, I was the first to wear this design of hers so I was so excited! My mum found it online and we loved it so much we immediately flew to Sydney to meet with Christie. The moment I tried it on, we all knew it was the one. I kept an open mind while dress shopping, trying on a variety of styles to find what truly suited me, as dresses can look so different in person than online!
Favourite moments,
It’s tough to pick just one! Our first dance was a definite highlight, it was fast, so much fun and we were just having the best time. Watching the dance floor kick off and seeing all our friends and family cheering us on was incredibly memorable. In that moment, I remember thinking ‘this is the whole point!’
Meaning of marriage.
To be by each others side no matter what life throws your away.
Wedding soundtrack.
Aisle: Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol
Reception entry: These Words (Remix) by Badger, Natasha Bedingfield
First dance: Dancing in the Moonlight by Toploader
Planning surprises.
The sheer number of decisions and especially the seating chart really surprised us! We’d been to so many weddings, but never fully realised the immense effort and detailed thought couples put into all the finer points of their big day!
Words of wisdom.
Our biggest piece of advice is to stay true to yourselves! Don’t lose sight over what the day is truly about for you as a couple.
Are you seeking an inner-city celebration? Read all about Melbourne wedding venues we love, and some hot tips for marrying in the big smoke, here.
Carla & Terry’s Vendors
I feel blessed to have worked with such incredible suppliers. I really do miss collaborating with them! They cared so much about the day as if it was truly their own, bringing our vision to life with immense hard work.
Fortunately, my sister had recently gotten married, so I was able to leverage many of her recommendations! Otherwise, it was simply research, research, research!
Ceremony location: JFK Memorial, Treasury Gardens
Reception: HYDE Melbourne Place
Celebrant/Officiant: Sian Holm
Photography: Chloe May Studio
Videography: Ten Acres Agency
Florist: Flowers Vasette
Hair: Lia Hanson
Make-up: Stella Tu
The dress: Christie Nicole Bridal
Bridesmaid’s dresses: Bec + Bridge
Cake / Cake topper: Myriad Bakery
Stationery / Signage: Samantha Colling Creative Studio
Entertainment: Amy Vaughan Creative, Tarryn Stokes
Favours: Designed Memories. They took photos of our guests on the day and turned them into instant photo magnets on the spot for them to take home.
Honeymoon: Calile Hotel and America! (New York, New Orleans, Austin, Palm Springs)
