Real Wedding – Pares & Declan, Coldstream VIC
After a decade already shared together, there was no sweeter wedding day moment for Pares and Declan than walking into their reception as husband and wife.
Entering the architecturally designed dining room at Coombe Yarra Valley to the sound of 150 guests cheering them on and the venue’s signature floor-to-ceiling windows letting in an abundance of natural light filled them with unmatched warmth.
The pair’s love story was built on a foundation of friendship, sparked by a classic footy club meeting and sealed with ‘I do’ among Coombe Yarra Valley’s lush, European-style garden.
Planning a wedding in nine months was made easier by the venue’s natural beauty and endless photo-worthy features.
Enjoy the timeless details and ‘we did it’ euphoria, as captured by Lost In Love Photography, below.
The meeting.
We met through mutual friends at Dec’s footy club and were friends for a few years before we started seeing each other.
‘The one’.
There wasn’t a single moment; it was more about how natural everything felt, and I realised I could be completely myself around Dec.
The proposal.
Dec proposed on a farm property in Daylesford during sunset, just the two of us. We’d almost been together for 10 years, so it was a long time coming!
Planning process.
We got engaged and married within nine months, so it was a pretty tight timeline! It was definitely busy, but we prioritised finding the right vendors who understood our vision. We tried to stay organised and make decisions that felt true to us.
Style inspiration.
We wanted our wedding to feel elegant and romantic, but with a bit of an edge, something a little different from traditional. Real weddings were the most helpful for us in terms of inspiration – seeing how other couples and our friends brought their personalities into the day was great.
The ceremony.
Having our closest friends and family there, watching us promise to be together forever, was incredibly special.
The outfits.
I knew I wanted something that felt like me, something that stood out and wasn’t what I’d seen before. Dec opted for a classic tuxedo.
Favourite moment.
Our reception entrance! After such a full and emotional day, that moment of walking in as a married couple, seeing all our favourite people cheering for us was a highlight.
Meaning of marriage.
Marriage is about choosing each other every day and supporting each other through the good and hard times.
Wedding soundtrack.
Aisle song: Video Games by Lana Del Rey
Reception entry (with bridal party): Sweet Dreams by Eurythmics
First dance: Can’t Take My Eyes Off You by Frankie Valli
Planning surprises.
How long even the small tasks take!
Words of wisdom.
Be organised, but also know you can’t control everything. Everything always works out on the day.
PARES & DECLAN’S SUPPLIERS:
Ceremony & reception venue: Coombe Yarra Valley
Celebrant: Elisa Westein
Photography: Lost In Love
Videography: Film My Wedding
Styling & florist & signage: Floss & Fleur
Hair: Hair by Caroline
Make-up: Isabella Quinn
The dress: Mariana Hardwick
Veil: Eleanor Fleur Bridal
Shoes: Amina Muaddi
Rings: Anton Jewellery
Bridesmaid’s dresses: Shona Joy
Suits and ties: YSG Tailors
Favours: Pares’ mum Mary made bags with Koufeta
Cake: Mad About Cakes
Entertainment: Top Dog Entertainment
Transport: Caddyman & Yarra Valley Transfers
Honeymoon: Europe
