Real Wedding – Alanah & Davey, Brunswick East VIC
A torrential downpour was not going to impact the “lovefest” vibe of Alanah and Davey’s epic celebration.
For a couple who met and built their relationship in Brunswick, Melbourne, honouring their local community, their favourite people, and the things they love was key to creating their dream day.
Somewhere cool and rustic, with a great lineup of drops naturally led them to their local, Noisy Ritual, and locking in their vendors early allowed them to establish a stellar team whose style and ethos aligned.
And with such a grounded, clear vision, it was inevitable that the celebration would come together beautifully, with the inclement weather adding that quintessential Melbourne touch.
Photography legend Hailey of Love Bomb Photos went above and beyond to capture a visual narrative that stuns in every frame.
The meeting.
We met at the local BFT, where Davey was the head coach and Alanah had just moved to Brunswick.
The one.
Alanah – having to isolate for two weeks from each other during Covid lockdowns, I missed him a lot I knew I was falling for him.
Davey – when Alanah stepped down awkwardly off a curb and almost rolled her ankle, and I caught her. Full romcom moment.
The proposal.
In Margaret River, Western Australia – we were on the beach at sunset, Davey got down in the sand and asked Alanah if she would spend the rest of her life with him.
The planning.
It was very exciting and a seamless, enjoyable experience-mainly because Alanah knew exactly what she wanted and was so on top of locking in the vendors early on.
Style inspiration.
‘A lovefest’. We wanted to basically throw a big party that all our favourite people could take part in- as much as it was our day, we wanted everyone to feel that they were just as important to the success of the day. We’re also both big lovers of wine, so somewhere cool and rustic with a great lineup of drops was essential.
Looking up vendor Instagram pages and past work helped us narrow down the specific suppliers we wanted, and informed the style and location of our wedding day.
Because we met and built our relationship here in Brunswick, Melbourne, the community here means everything to us and is such a massive part of our daily lives. We chose a local venue Noisy Ritual for the day, who supplied us with recommendations for vendors close to the area such as Hailey our photographer.
We also used our connections to small businesses in the area that we had developed over time together, such as Sarah from Babylon Flowers.
We also relied on personal recommendations from friends who had utilised wedding services, such as Linda, our celebrant.
The ceremony.
All the little details and important people in our lives just coming together made the ceremony work. The venue was decked out perfectly, Linda, our celebrant, told an engaging story of our relationship that kept everyone hooked, and Bowie on the acoustic guitar set the scene musically. The rattle of a heavy downpour on the tin roof over our heads while we were reading our vows to each other was the icing on the proverbial cake!
The outfits.
Alanah – I really wanted something classic, off the shoulder and structured through the body. I was lucky enough to find the perfect dress at KYHA studios, which was a dream because I’ve always loved her gowns! I paired it with a lace trim veil from Grace Loves Lace.
Davey – I wore a black and white two-piece that was a cross between a classic tuxedo and a suit, which Oscar Hunt went above and beyond on. I wanted to wear a REAL bowtie (not a clip-on), so spending the month leading up to the wedding practising daily was a big factor.
Favourite moments.
So many great moments, it’s hard to choose. We’d say two: stumbling on a tucked away tattoo parlour in Brunswick East, where they let us take couple photos inside, and our upbeat first dance to Alesso and getting all the guests revved up to jump on the dance floor with us.
Meaning of marriage.
Marriage to us signifies the love and commitment to one another, that we are a team throughout our journey of life together. You get to share the journey of life with your best friend, the person who you can completely be yourself with, without judgment.
Wedding soundtrack.
Aisle: The Blower’s Daughter by Damien Rice
Reception Entry: You Make My Dreams by Daryl Hall & John Oates
First Dance: Personalised mix of Elvis Presley’s Can’t Help Falling in Love segued into Alesso’s Cool.
Funny stories (or near disasters).
Our first look photos didn’t go to plan – we originally were meant to meet at Carlton Gardens, but as soon as we turned up, it bucketed torrential rain for an hour. We were crammed up against the side of the Royal Exhibition Building with another bride and groom and their parties, laughing our heads off. Our poor photographer, Hailey, got completely drenched from head to toe, salvaging some great photos!
Planning surprises.
Nothing in particular. We think having a relaxed approach to planning and going with the flow, expectations-wise, helped.
Words of wisdom.
Decide what the most important parts of the day are for you, whether that be entertainment or venue, and splurge on those aspects.
Stick to your guns when it comes to what you want from your day.
Don’t sweat the small stuff. Everything will come together when the time comes.
Last words.
Getting married is a full day’s job, so make sure you eat at the reception! It’s so easy to get caught up interacting with your guests and time moves quicker than you think. Pause and take in every little moment if you can!
Love an inner Melbourne wedding vibe? Georgia and Mason also brought their own uniquely personal touches to their Richmond celebration, creating a day that is a stunningly stylish, upbeat party.
Alanah & Davey’s Vendors
Ceremony and reception location: Noisy Ritual
Celebrant: Linda Hamill
Photography: Hailey Birch – Love Bomb Photos
Florist: Babylon Flowers, Brunswick
Hair & make-up: Nat Ridler
The dress: Kyha
Veil: Grace Loves Lace
Shoes: Tony Bianco
Rings: Austen & Blake
Suits & bow ties / ties: Oscar Hunt
Catering & bar: Noisy Ritual
Cake / Cake topper: Made by a close friend Olivia Turnbull
Stationery / Signage: Peppermint Press
Entertainment: Josh at Married to the Groove and Frankie Says Sax (live saxophonist)
Transport: a 1960’s white Bentley Cloud LWB from Always Classic Cars, Melbourne.
Décor: supplied by Noisy Ritual
Honeymoon: Queenstown New Zealand
