European-inspired wedding at Coombe Yarra Valley
Bree and Justin wed at the stunning Coombe Yarra Valley, a setting that perfectly reflected their clear vision for the day. An interior stylist by trade, Bree knew exactly what she wanted, a Euro-inspired celebration surrounded by sweeping green hedges and immaculately manicured gardens. Coombe Yarra Valley delivered it all, effortlessly.
Fashion was considered and intentional. Bree wore a timeless two-piece gown, styled to evolve throughout the day with carefully chosen accessories, creating distinct looks from ceremony to celebration. Justin complemented the aesthetic in a tailored InStitchu suit, keeping things sharp and contemporary.
With guests dressed in black, the ceremony was heartfelt and elegant, before the energy lifted and the dance floor came alive. As Bree put it best, Married to the Groove were the perfect choice — dancing so hard her calves were still sore days later. A true celebration of style, love, and joy from beginning to end and beautifully captured by Mandy Wood Studio.
The meeting.
We met sixteen years ago when we were kids. Justin was my best friend’s brother’s older friend, so we used to go to this house most weekends and I developed a big crush on Justin very early on.
The one.
After we bought our first house together and renovated, I think we just knew this was the beginning of setting up our future.
The proposal.
Justin proposed on Christmas Day 2024, a truly special occasion as it was the first time in over ten years that all of Bree’s family had been together. Surrounded by loved ones, the day already held so much meaning. Justin took me to a private spot on the family property in Bairnsdale, accompanied by our two golden retrievers, and officially got down on one knee. We then celebrated our engagement over Christmas lunch with our nearest and dearest, plenty of laughter, and lots of wine.
Planning process.
The planning process was one of my favourite parts. As an interior designer with experience styling events and weddings, organising and styling came naturally to me. Creating mood boards and building my Canva document filled with inspiration was especially enjoyable. We planned our wedding within eleven months of getting engaged, so everything moved quite quickly, but I took it all in my stride and it never felt overly stressful. We were also incredibly lucky to have such an amazing venue in Coombe Yarra Valley, along with their wedding coordinator, Angela, who made the entire process feel seamless.
Weddings today have become incredibly high-end, and the pressure to create a perfectly curated day can feel overwhelming. During my initial research, I found it difficult to relate to many weddings that aligned with both our vision and our budget. I started by turning to Pinterest, collecting imagery and building ideas in my mind before searching for specific visuals that reflected what I was envisioning. I also began listening to wedding podcasts, choosing episodes that broke down different aspects of the planning process as I went. This helped me approach each stage step by step without feeling overwhelmed and gave me a clearer understanding of the order in which to plan things. When it came to selecting suppliers, Justin’s experience as a wedding photographer in the Yarra Valley made the process much easier, as he already had a trusted list of highly sought-after vendors.
Style inspiration.
I envisioned a European-inspired wedding. Bringing that vision to life began with choosing the right venue and how it embodied that aesthetic. The sweeping green hedges, vintage heritage urns, and beautifully manicured gardens were all elements the venue already offered, making it the perfect setting. We completed the Euro-summer feel with spicy margaritas and limoncellos, of course.
For styling, I wanted everything to feel minimal and timeless, so we kept to a neutral palette of green and white florals, linen signage, and asked all our guests to wear all black to create a truly elegant and refined atmosphere. While this initially caused some concern among our older guests, they ultimately agreed that it looked stunning on the day.
The ceremony.
Many of our guests said the ceremony was the best part of our wedding. It was one of the most emotional moments of our lives, and there truly wasn’t a dry eye. Just thirty minutes before the ceremony, an unexpected storm rolled in and we had to make a last-minute decision. As I was on my way to the venue, we decided to go ahead with our original plan, being married in the Italian gardens at Coombe, which was the reason we chose the venue in the first place. I arrived just minutes before walking down the aisle, rain falling as my dad held an umbrella over me. As I began walking down the aisle to Turning Page, it was still raining until I turned the corner and saw Justin, and the rain suddenly stopped. Everyone noticed. It felt like a truly magical moment, especially knowing the storm had completely passed around the venue. That moment set the tone for the rest of the day. We also chose not to have a wedding party, wanting the ceremony to be entirely about us while allowing our closest people to simply be present and enjoy it.
The outfits.
My style has always been very true to who I am, so many of our guests weren’t surprised by the direction I chose. It felt like an authentic reflection of me. I wore an understated, timeless two-piece dress, and because of its simplicity, I incorporated a few accessory changes to create different looks throughout the day. The two-piece was by KYHA, featuring an A-line chiffon skirt and a long corset. For the ceremony, I styled it with gloves and a statement pearl necklace, then switched to a neck scarf for portrait photos and the reception.
I found the wedding dress process quite easy, as I had a clear idea of what I wanted from the start. Justin’s suit process was just as seamless with InStitchu. I joined him for the final selections and fitting, and we both quickly agreed on the overall look and the details we loved.
Favourite moment.
Walking down the aisle to Justin and exchanging our vows was unforgettable, followed by an epic four-hour dancefloor that we barely left. We even asked our guests to quietly slip out without saying goodbye so we could keep the dancing uninterrupted. Our DJ, Married to the Groove, curated the perfect soundtrack, and I couldn’t walk properly for five days afterwards, my calves were still sore from dancing.
Meaning of marriage.
Marriage, to us, represents commitment, unity, and building a life together. Having both grown up with parents who have been married for over 30 years, we’ve seen firsthand the strength, stability, and love that marriage can create, and the beautiful family environment it provides for children to grow up in. For us, marriage means supporting one another through every season of life and being each other’s biggest cheerleaders, always.
Wedding soundtrack.
Aisle song: Turning Page – Sleeping at last
Aisle Exit song: The Mountain is You – Chance Pena
Reception entrance: Freed from Desire – Gala (original)
First Dance: Adore U – Fred again (Acoustic version by Sidney) then remixed into Delilah by Fred again for the drop.
Funny stories (or near disasters).
Apparently, my Nan in her electric wheelchair ran into the table and knocked all the red wine onto guests. Thank fully everyone was wearing black.
Planning surprises.
I probably didn’t prepare myself enough for how much that last two weeks is stressful organising so many tiny little logistical things, but thankfully with such beautiful family and friends around me I was able to allocate some things off my plate so I could go into the wedding week calmly.
Words of wisdom.
Invest in a venue with an experienced wedding coordinator and as many inclusions as possible. Choosing a venue that already provided furniture, tableware, catering, staff, and a clear run sheet was a gamechanger. It made the day run seamlessly, and our guests truly felt that. I initially considered a DIY wedding but knowing how stressful it would have been to manage everything myself, I’m so grateful we chose an established venue instead. Staying calm throughout the planning process and being fully present on the day was my top priority, and I can’t recommend enough a well-established wedding venue as a foundation for your entire wedding journey.
BREE AND JUSTIN’S VENDORS
Ceremony and reception venue: Coombe Yarra Valley – with venue coordinator Angela
Celebrant/Officiant: Kahani Celebrant
Photography: Mandy Wood Studio
Videography: Dean Atherton Creative
Styling: Styling By Bree
Florist: Sundar and Bloom
Hair: A Hairstylist Secret
Make-up: Makeup by Alexandrah
The dress: KYHA
Veil / headwear: Calily Bridal
Shoes: Bilini
Rings: Cullen
Suit: InStitchu
Stationery / Signage: Signed by Shaun
Entertainment: Married to the Groove
