The bride wore colour: a chic Melbourne celebration
‘More party, more love – less wedding’ was the motto for Brontë and Shaun, who wanted a soiree that captured under the Italian sun vibes.
Their story begins with a meet-cute you can’t help but smile at, and a confession they’re proud to own: this entire day was inspired by a set of engagement photos they once saw and instantly fell for. The vibe was that good. It helped shape the day – including the choice of their dream photographer, Emma Hawkins.
The day began with a series of mini dates. A slow wander through favourite spots: a wine bar they adore, gelato in hand, and a final stop at the iconic Pellegrini’s for espresso and shared spaghetti, because if you’re doing it Italian-style, you do it properly. From there, it was on to Pepe’s Italian for both ceremony and celebration.
Nothing was rushed. Guests were welcomed with drinks, Brontë and Shaun mingled, and everyone was so drawn into the rhythm of the day that more than one person asked, “Wait… did we miss the wedding?”
And then the moment that truly made it unforgettable: Brontë’s mum officiating her very first ceremony. It was the perfect moment – Brontë and Shaun standing at the centre of it all, wrapped in love, laughter, and the people who matter most.
The meeting.
We first met over 11 years ago – Brontë the friendly barista, Shaun the snobby customer making a daily order for a layered piccolo with honey and always five minutes before close.
Safe to say there were no sparks then between the two of us… however somehow, we made our way onto each other’s Instagram feeds and through the years we’d share generic ‘Happy Birthday’ and Christmas messages.
A decade later with Shaun based back in Queensland and Brontë eyeing a move back (and eligible bachelors), she reached out. Shaun thought it was just two old coffee mates catching up. Brontë, wearing a cute dress and red lip, drove two hours for that “coffee” … and then didn’t hear from him again.
Three months later, she called him out: “You ghosted me!” Confused, he replied, “What, we had a coffee?” Brontë said, “Yes, but we’re both single…”
He smiled and replied, “Well then, we should definitely have another one!”
The one.
Less than two months later, we found ourselves hiking through the Dolomites and from that journey onward, our forever began ‘sotto il cielo d’Italia’… (under the Italian sky).
Proof, perhaps, that good things really do come to those who wait and that some love stories are simply meant to find their time.
The proposal.
It was two or so years later that we had an Airbnb booked in the Yarra Valley for the weekend, something I didn’t think twice about, as we often made a habit of little weekend getaways to break up our working year.
Shaun had not decided where he wanted to do it but had planned a day of beautiful wineries to visit and even secretly coordinated for me to get my nails done that morning with a friend (this made me a little suspicious)! Unfortunately, his winery plan did not unfold – with certain cellar doors being closed, the wind picking up and me not understanding why he wanted to go on so many walks when there was wine to be drunk!
After a day of failed attempts, we headed to an early pub dinner before going to our tiny home Airbnb. Shaun was hoping to catch sunset at the Airbnb to ask the question, after carrying the ring in his pocket all day! However, the quaint country pub informed us that we couldn’t order an early dinner as kitchen didn’t open until 6pm. Me none the wiser ordered more wine and told Shaun it would be ok the Airbnb isn’t going anywhere. To Shaun’s credit he was impressively calm and chilled despite all his plans being slowly torn away. Once we arrived at the Airbnb Shaun immediately lit the campfire while I unpacked – I remember thinking ‘why is he in such a rush to light the fire’? But then it was by his beautiful campfire, with the shadows of the valley in the night that he dropped to one knee and asked the question.
I said “Yes!” without any hesitation or even seeing the ring in the darkness by the fire. Shaun then got his phone light out to show me the most beautiful ring I had ever seen in my life. What made it even more special was the sentimental value, as it had been his grandmother’s!
We decided to wait until morning to share the news with loved ones and spent the night by the fire in our own little love bubble. Much to my surprise, the next day Shaun had organised for our friends to surprise us at one of my favourite pubs for us to all celebrate together – this was so special as our family are all in Queensland so to celebrate in person with people was a beautiful way to end a wonderful weekend!
Planning process.
Minimal fuss – focusing on only the things that really mattered or had meaning to us! We also had a lot of fun, exploring venues, visiting vendors and planning our photos, involving our friends where we could!
Style inspiration.
We wanted a love soiree under the Italian sun vibes – more party and love, less wedding!
The ceremony.
Our ceremony vision was to be married surrounded by our family and friends, soaking in the love in the room. And that’s exactly what happened. Looking around during the ceremony and seeing the smiling faces of the people we care most about is something we will treasure forever.
We also decided not to rush into the ceremony. Everyone arrived, enjoyed an arrival drink, and we spent time mingling and saying hello before we officially said, “I do.” Watching people walk in and ask, “Did we miss the wedding?” was priceless. It created such a relaxed, joyful energy and set the tone for the entire day.
Perhaps what we will always treasure most is how we involved our parents in the ceremony. My mum was our celebrant, hands down the best decision we made. She executed everything to perfection and brought so much heart into the moment. It’s something we will cherish forever.
We then asked Shaun’s mum to be our ring bearer, and both of our dads to act as our witnesses. It felt so right for us, meaningful and deeply personal. Those moments will stay with us for a lifetime.
The outfits.
The whole wedding was based off someone else’s engagement photos I found the day after we got engaged! I turned to my (now) husband and said, “this is it; this is our wedding!” A gorgeous lady in my wedding dress, at Pepe’s sitting on the bar with her fiancée and the photo was taken by our photographer, Emma. In one sweep we decided on the photographer, venue, dress and vibes! We were not ashamed to just lift and apply to our wedding – there is so much out there that is stunning and beautiful, if we didn’t make decisions fast it could suck you into a big rabbit hole of indecision.
Favourite moment.
We planned a wedding week in Melbourne leading up to the night, as our family and friends are largely all over Australia. So, picking one moment is so hard! All our loved ones were in Melbourne and staying in the same hotel for the week – even just having this proximity to family and friends was such a great experience, we loved it!
We had our hens and bucks parties on the Tuesday, where both the parties then merged in the evening at an American style bar – Lulie’s, before spontaneously going to Jim’s Greek Tavern for a 9pm Greek Feast with a crowd of people. On Wednesday we spent precious time with our families and hosted drinks with both the families together at our wedding hotel, Rydges in the CBD – walking distance to Pepe’s. Then Thursday was the big wedding day!
One moment that was pure joy was waking up on our wedding day, and it wasn’t raining – after a week of deluge in Melbourne! We had conceded that for sure it was going to be a bleak, rainy Italian wedding, but we were so lucky and grateful that the sun came out for the whole day!
We had spent the night before the wedding together in the bathtub eating healthy Uber Eats and then the morning of the wedding together too. We walked Melbourne city to get coffee and our favourite croissants to start the day and honestly it was so perfect. We had the most wonderful time together. Our first dance was never something we planned extensively but was a highlight of the wedding day/night! During the morning Shaun attempted to teach me some ballroom moves he had hidden up his sleeve, laughing in the hotel room the morning of the wedding love drunk on good coffee and pastries will always be a favourite memory of mine. Then on the night, I executed the dance/dip poorly, but no one could tell as we were having so much fun. We then split off to have a father of the bride and mother of the groom dance; these were really meaningful moments for both of us.
Meaning of marriage.
Our celebrant shared this in our ceremony with our loved ones. Marriage for us is built on the foundation of mutual respect, trust, shared values and a commitment to growth and compromise. We find strength in knowing we always choose each other and stand side by side through all life’s seasons.
Wedding soundtrack.
We opened with romantic classic jazz, gathered for the ceremony to Volare by Gipsy Kings – very Italian. We had our first dance to That’s How Deep My Love is by Otis Redding and then transitioned to Motown, funk and soul crowd pleasers. Sweet Caroline was the last song the band played before we put on a ChatGPT generated wedding playlist based on our inputs – it was pretty epic!
Funny stories (or near disasters).
Mostly the relentless rain in the week leading up to our under the Italian sun style wedding!
Planning surprises.
Just how big and overwhelming it all can feel. The industry is huge and we are spoilt for choice. Pick a vibe and stick to it.
Words of wisdom.
Have fun planning your wedding, go with your heart, make choices that feel right for you.
Brontë & Shaun’s Vendors
I spent a lot of time on Instagram, looking at images of events, engagements, weddings and following their tagged suppliers to find what moved me and suited our vibe. Ultimately, our priority was to be husband and wife, so when we saw things we liked, we followed our hearts and made it happen. Some favourite sites to find this inspiration were blogs like Ivory Tribe and The Whole Bride.
Ceremony venue and reception venue: Pepe’s Italian – Pepe’s Parlour.
From the very beginning, we knew we didn’t want a traditional wedding. We wanted our guests to feel like they were stepping into a sun-soaked summer party in Italy. Most importantly, we wanted less formality or wedding fuss and more space for genuine connection with each other and with the people we love. We also knew we wanted everything in one place, so we could truly maximise every moment without rushing between locations.
The moment we walked into Pepe’s Parlour, it was instant love. The colours, the textures, the dreamy glass rooftop, it felt exactly like the atmosphere we had been trying to find in other locations. One room that flowed effortlessly through different spaces: the bar, a seated dining area, and an outdoor patio. It was everything we were searching for in a venue.
Pepe’s gave us the freedom to let go of styling stress or creating endless mood boards because it already was the mood. That meant we could focus on what really mattered during the planning process by being present, creating memories and actually enjoying the experience.
Less fuss. More presence throughout planning and then onto the whole wedding night!
Having the ceremony, drinks, dinner and dancing all in the same space meant we never felt like we were missing anything. We were able to savour every hug, every conversation and every laugh and our guests could too. And of course, the food… always incredible, delivering exactly those Italian party vibes we were dreaming of.
The staff at Pepe’s were amazing to work with, so responsive and quick to action any requests or questions we had! I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to leverage the superb atmosphere of this restaurant.
Celebrant: Karen Lynch (Mother of the Bride) – this was my mum’s very first wedding as a celebrant! She had recently qualified but was yet to officially marry anyone, so we excitedly asked her to be our celebrant – it just felt so right for us. And it was perfect, she was sensational. I would say the best in the business (despite not starting one up yet – perhaps we can create some demand for her!) Every single guest commented on how wonderful she was and how perfectly she brought our unique vision to life! I still get goosebumps thinking about how special that memory will be to have and to hold forever. Thanks Mumma xx
Photography: Emma Hawkins Photography – We found Emma through the image that inspired the foundations for most of our wedding! Emma was instantly responsive and excited about the different and unique plans we had for our wedding day. We were breaking away from some wedding norms and trying to create unique moments more about us as a couple vs tradition and Emma was all in. During the planning process I would send images and inspiration to Emma via Instagram (she probably felt totally spammed by me) and she would always reply with an even better idea or even more excitement than me for giving it a go! One of the fondest memories I have is our Mr. & Mrs. Fyfe launch video: popping Champagne on a park bench reading a newspaper saying “Just Married”! I shared a reel I had found with Emma and a couple that used it for their engagement announcement. I said “If I had my time again!” Emma swiftly replied – “‘Just Married’ would be even better as a launch video” and so we locked that in as a plan!
We decided to get our couples photos taken before the wedding and wanted them to be a series of activities we love as a couple or date night experiences instead of posing.
We went to the Fitzroy gardens and popped champagne, caught a tram to the exquisite Anita ice-cream bar, had a whisky and prosecco at a wine bar in the CBD, drank coffee at Pellegrini’s Italian bar and then ordered Nonna’s spaghetti before stepping outside for bespoke photos with our friend’s red MG in the iconic laneway. Finally we made our way to Pepe’s for Aperol Spritz and a quiet moment together before the wedding kicked off.
This adventure really felt like us, less posing and more candid moments that we would be able to recreate in the years to come! Thanks to some really special friends we were able to execute in a timely and efficient manner, running around all of Melbourne. We had practiced it on a girls night and also made so many great memories trying all different locations out! It was a really special way to keep our loved ones connected and involved in our day.
Videography: To add a nostalgic, home-video feel to the day, we bought $40 camcorders from Kmart and handed them to our loved ones and guests. Instead of perfectly polished footage, we wanted raw, heartfelt moments captured through the eyes of the people who mattered most to us. It was such a beautiful way to relive the day from perspectives we never would have seen otherwise!
Hair & Make-up: Madeleine Goldsmith – I was at the coffee machine at work, talking with a work friend about the wedding and how all I really had left to organise was hair and makeup. I had no idea where to look or start looking. My work friend then recommended Madi to me. She told me that she had just been a bridesmaid for her friend and Madi was the artist on the day and that they had totally hit it off. Said she was an expert at effortless beauty vibes and an all around really cool chick. What more could a bride want? I instantly reached out to Madi and within the week had booked in for myself and family getting ready with me on the day. From the moment I met Madi, I felt comfortable to be exactly myself. This is so important when getting your hair and makeup done for the biggest day of your life. I remember telling Madi, my signature look is a red lip but you hardly see any brides wearing a red lip…and I think I want to do one. She replied, “YOU ABSOLUTELY SHOULD DO IT!” … and just like that, with all the confidence in the world I rocked a red bridal lip! She proactively booked in a trial for me (thank goodness as I would’ve missed it, the date crept up so quickly) and a second artist to support with timings on the day (who was also incredible). Madi was a dream to do business with, I highly recommend her!
The dress: Rachel Gilbert (Francesca gown) – The girls at Rachel Gilbert were amazing, they helped me so much with securing my dress, extra beading and sizing support!
Shoes: Badgley Mishka – I searched everywhere for the perfect wedding shoes and I don’t mean casually. I went through at least three different pairs, determined to find something that truly did my dress justice. When I finally discovered these ones online, my heart sank when I realised they were only available on backorder. Cue weeks of nervous anticipation, would they arrive in time? They did and they were absolutely perfect. Worth every moment of the wait.
Engagement ring: A family heirloom – My engagement ring is very unique and the only one in the whole world. It belonged to my husband’s Grandmother, Wowee, who designed it herself. I feel so lucky to have something that is so special and sentimental that carries so much love and meaning. Every day I still find myself just staring at it, in total awe! I am absolutely in love with it. My husband’s family remember Wowee through the symbol of butterflies and one of my most fondest memories I have is just after we were engaged and Shaun was taking a picture of me with a celebratory champagne and the ring to share with the family, a butterfly landed softly on me. We managed to capture the moment and knew then that this moment was being shared not just with us but also Wowee.
Wedding ring(bride): Cullen Jewellery – We searched high and low for a ring that would complement my spectacular engagement ring. We looked at almost every jeweller in Melbourne and had scoped out vintage, art deco suppliers for inspiration. We had found nothing that we felt was the right fit and were starting to look at designing something. I tried one last stop, Cullen Jewellery in Kew. I had looked online and didn’t see anything, fortunately at the appointment a new ring was in store that I hadn’t seen online yet. It was a curved and plain gold bevelled band. To look at, it seemed simple but elegant. I put it on with my engagement ring and it was perfect. It sat beneath my ring like a perfect hug, incredible that it hadn’t been designed for this ring! It was simple but so elegant and heightened the beauty of my engagement ring. I was instantly sold and cannot wait to purchase the matching diamond band in the years to come (hint, hint hubby!)
Wedding Ring (groom): Ridge Rings– My husband works with his hands all day and has never worn rings so he was not fussed or overly interested in one. He was more excited to find a ring that matched my engagement ring and we had a great time shopping around for the perfect fit. He also loved all the different colour silicone rings he could buy super cheap to wear to work. He opted for an online purchased ring that is fabulous quality. By some miracle without trying it on, the size he ordered fits and he is slowly getting used to wearing a ring now.
Suits & bow ties / ties: The Gentry Menswear – The Gentry came recommended to us by a friend as a place with high quality, well priced suits without the fuss. Being Northsiders who wanted minimal fuss we were excited to try it out and support a local business. Wow – we were not disappointed! The service was hands down impeccable and the suit, amazing quality and value. They do all their own altering and tailoring too with quick turn-around! We had to go back to re-alter my husband’s suit and we were met with absolute professionalism and service with no extra charges. We can all agree that he looked so handsome on the night in the perfect olive green suit that offset the venue decor and my gold dress with jewelled embellishments.
Catering and bar: Pepe’s Italian
Cake / Cake topper: Melbourne Cake Studio – Gemma from Melbourne Cake Studio was a delight to work with. I emailed her to book a cake tasting and she said she could arrange for pick-up that day. It was a bit too far away for me to pick up so I rang my fiancee and asked where he was working that day and to my delight he was working out in a suburb just over from Gemma’s shop. It was a sign! We did the cake tasting in the comfort of our own home and loved all the flavours. Picking our top two was the hardest part. We had a vision for a simple but elegant cake that we sent over to Gemma and without hesitation it was locked in and ready to go.
Stationery / Signage: Canva, VistaPrint and Spotlight – Using free Canva I made some A4 signs for the wedding that we then placed in $3 gold frames I found on sale at Spotlight. It added the Italian nostalgic touch we were looking for. Our entry sign I made on Vistaprint for $40 that was posted within a week. It was incredibly easy, high quality and too efficient!
Entertainment: Orlando Combo Jazz Band – We wanted to fuss less about little things and invest in a great venue, great photographer, great dress/suit and GREAT entertainment! Orlando Combo did not disappoint. Recommended to us by a friend who is in event management as being excellent value for money and fantastic entertainers – they were exactly this! We wanted classic Italian beachside romantic vibes that moved into nostalgic party vibes and they were able to do just that. Lucas was so professional, fast to respond and great to connect with. We made little trips out to shows and wineries they were playing at in the lead up to the wedding to really get a feel and vibe for them. It created so much fun and excitement in the lead up to our wedding day. We requested a classic and beautiful song for our first dance, which the band had never played before but they were generous enough to learn it for our special day and it was magical. They bumped in and out with zero fuss, not a single guest noticed – only the disappointment when the band was over – queue the Spotify playlist! I would highly recommend this band.
Honeymoon: 2026 Europe loading! We are heading on a barging cruise throughout France’s wine regions, where we will captain our own houseboat, making adventure stops on the way. It is very romantic and picturesque scenery. We are then driving to Mont Blanc for some hiking and travelling down through the Dolomites to spend some time in Portofino before flying home.
