A Tuscan long lunch in the lavender fields
A Tuscan-inspired long lunch, fields of lavender and the people they love most – Laura and Mark’s midweek wedding was designed to feel less like a traditional wedding day and more like a beautiful escape.
With Laura’s love of Italy at the heart of the styling, the couple kept things simple and timeless, pairing olive green, cream and earthy brown tones with long Tuscan-style tables set amongst the sunshine and countryside. They enlisted the help of family and friends, kept things close to home and created exactly the atmosphere they wanted: relaxed, generous and centred around good food, great company and being present with the people they love.
And then there was Laura, who looked effortlessly beautiful in D’Italia, perfectly suited to the romantic, understated feel of the day.
The result? The most luscious long lunch – beautifully captured by White Shutter Photography.
The meeting.
We met at work as teachers. Mark eventually moved into management, so we had to keep our relationship secret for a while before it finally came out. We’d leave work separately and meet around the corner at the Book Grocer on Elizabeth Street in Melbourne, which still amuses us when we think about it. There was something exciting about having a secret relationship in the beginning.
The one.
Laura: Somewhere between Mark’s terrible jokes and the way he made even ordinary days feel special.
Mark: When Laura would fall asleep with her head on my chest, I knew I wanted that feeling forever.
The proposal.
The question was popped at the Milan canals of Navigli where Laura once lived and a place close to her heart. We were surrounded by a lot of people and beautiful lights along the canals, and once Mark got down on his knee and asked Laura to marry him, there was a group of young Italians singing ‘Auguri’ and clapping. It looked like Mark had planned a choir.
Planning process.
Our aim was to enjoy the planning process and make the whole experience feel like a relaxing getaway rather than a stressful event. We stayed in Daylesford for three days with our close family and even had a couple’s massage at the spa the day before the wedding. Having a midweek wedding on a Tuesday also made the whole celebration feel intimate and relaxed.
Originally, we planned for the wedding to be just immediate family (only 10 people in total) but about three months before the day, we realised it didn’t feel complete without our closest friends there too. So, we sent out a message telling everyone to get ready for a midweek party, and we’re so grateful we made that decision. Having our friends there made the day even more special.
We planned everything ourselves because we wanted the wedding to feel personal and authentic to us, without overcomplicating things. We were encouraged a few times to hire a wedding coordinator, but we knew it wasn’t something we wanted. Instead, close family and friends helped throughout the day, which only added to the warmth and intimacy of the celebration.
We also tried to keep everything as local as possible, supporting small businesses and talented artists around Melbourne and regional Victoria. As a graphic designer, Laura designed all of the stationery and styled the wedding around tones of olive green, cream, and brown. She also handmade the guest favours, sourcing lavender lollies and tea from a farm in Tasmania before assembling each jar by hand. One of the most meaningful details was creating a personalised poem, song lyric, or movie scene for every guest – pieces that had shaped our relationship and reminded us of each person in some way.
Throughout the planning process, we often felt the pressure of what weddings are “supposed” to look like, but it ultimately reminded us to stay true to ourselves. In the end, the most special parts of the day were the simple and meaningful ones – that was good food, beautiful people, and thoughtful details shared with the people we love most.
Style inspiration.
There wasn’t one specific inspiration behind the style of our wedding – it was really a reflection of the things we love most. Laura has always loved Italy and simple, timeless styling, while Mark wanted the day to feel completely centred around love and connection. We love being outdoors, soaking up the sunshine, sharing good food, and gathering everyone around one long Tuscan-style table where people could relax, enjoy themselves, and just be present. Everything about the day was designed to create that feeling.
The ceremony.
Our ceremony was intimate, and we could see everyone’s faces and smiles throughout the entire moment, which made it feel incredibly personal and emotional. There was such a strong sense of warmth and support, and being surrounded by the people we love made the ceremony feel very special. It all seemed to go by so quickly, even though we had looked forward to it for so long. We had spent the previous night apart, so seeing each other again at the ceremony felt emotional and exciting, and made the moment even more meaningful.
The outfit.
Laura was drawn to something simple, timeless, and effortless – a long skirt paired with a lace corset. Because she had such a clear vision in mind and wanted to enjoy the intimate process of creating the dress alongside the dressmaker, she decided to have it custom made. Although there were a few small bumps along the way in finding a dressmaker who was open to Laura’s simple vision, it ultimately led her to the perfect dressmaker, Eva, who completely understood her. Watching the dress come together step by step felt incredibly special, and the final piece unfolded in the most beautiful and heartfelt way.
Mark is Irish and Laura has an Italian background, so Mark chose a green suit with an Italian design, as it represented both cultures. Mark always wears suits at work, so for the wedding he wanted something different and chose a looser cut.
Meaning of marriage.
We think marriage is more important than people admit these days. It meant a lot to stand in front of the people we love and promise the rest of our lives to that person. We feel marriage is a promise that we are in this together and that we have each other’s backs no matter what.
Wedding Soundtrack.
We had a harpist play Neil Young’s Harvest Moon as Laura walked down the aisle, and Elvis’ Can’t Help Falling in Love and an Italian song Ti Amo made the soundtrack. We didn’t have music over lunch, but we had a spontaneous first dance to John Lennon’s version of Stand by Me. I think that was Laura’s favourite moment of the day. Everyone came up dancing with us.
Funny stories (or near disasters).
We thought Laura had lost her engagement ring a few weeks before the wedding. We were in a panic for a few hours before we suddenly found it in Bailey’s (our Cavoodle’s) bed. We still don’t know whether he was looking after it or trying to prevent the wedding.
Planning surprises.
What surprised us most was just how naturally everything seemed to fall into place. We really trusted that whatever happened was meant to happen the way it did. On the day, everyone felt relaxed and completely themselves, and that was the most important thing to us.
Words of wisdom.
Stay true to yourselves and don’t feel pressured to follow other people’s expectations or ideas of what a wedding “should” look like. There’s more than one way to create a meaningful day and spending more money doesn’t necessarily mean something is more special or more “right” for you.
One of the best things we did was trust the artists and creatives we chose. We shared inspiration and ideas but also gave them the freedom to bring their own style and artistry to what they created – from the flowers and cake to the jewellery. Everything turned out more beautiful than we could have imagined because it was made with genuine care, creativity, and love.
Oh, and don’t ever have anyone tell you not to bring your dog (….and have him walk down the aisle)!
Laura and Mark’s Vendors
Ceremony and long lunch location: Lavandula Farm
Celebrant: Tim Bell
Photography: White Shutter Photography
Florist: Aga Jones Flowers
Hair: Rosalba Haircare
Make-up: Mel Comelli Makeup Artistry
The dress: Eva Tomala Couture / d’Italia
Shoes: Charlotte Mills
Rings / Bride’s Jewellery: Natalia Milosz-Piekarska
Suits: Atlea Milano
Grooms tie: Paul Smith
Shoes: Aquila
Cake: The Bitter Tart
Styling / Stationery / Favours: la.creative
Ceremony Harpist: Lua from Hey Jack
Nails/Beauty: Slender Essentials
Pet’s attire: Bow tie – Fido Creative / Wedding Pet Bandana – Barx And Boo
Honeymoon: Bali and Uluru to come this winter!
