Black bridesmaids and cascading orchids in a chic city celebration.
For Callum and Chloe, their wedding day was a celebration of style, personality and the people they love most – with every detail feeling considered, modern and effortlessly cool, styled and planned by Bow Creative.
Their garden ceremony set the tone, with sleek black bridesmaid dresses, cascading orchid bouquets and a sense of understated drama. Callum kept things classic in black before making a statement of his own with an outfit change into a crisp white suit jacket.
And Chloe? She saved one of her best fashion moments for the dance floor, emerging later in the evening in a second look ready to take the celebrations into the early hours.
One detail that stopped us in our tracks was Chloe’s bouquet handbag – a completely unexpected and incredibly chic creation by Tweed Twigs that blurred the line between floral arrangement and fashion accessory.
From an intimate garden ceremony to a Melbourne rooftop reception, Callum and Chloe created a wedding that felt uniquely theirs: artistic without being overdone, stylish without losing the sense of celebration, and always centred around the people who mattered most.
Then came the dancing, and plenty of it – with the party continuing well into the early hours and there to capture the magic moments was Ten Acres Agency.
Style inspiration.
From the very beginning, our vision was simple: we wanted an incredible celebration with all of our favourite people. Rather than focusing on traditions and formalities, we wanted to create a relaxed, fun atmosphere where everyone could enjoy themselves.
We knew that neither of us loves being the centre of attention for long periods of time, so it was important that the day felt less like a performance and more like a big party. We wanted plenty of opportunities to move around, spend time with our guests, and enjoy the celebration alongside them.
One of the biggest priorities for us was finding a venue that would allow the party to continue well into the evening. We were fortunate to have exclusive use of our reception space until 1am, which meant we didn’t have to rush through speeches or formalities and could dedicate plenty of time to the dance floor. That extra time completely transformed the atmosphere and allowed the celebration to unfold naturally.
At the end of the day, we wanted our wedding to feel like us—a joyful celebration of our relationship surrounded by the people we love most.
Our style was refined, minimal and intentional. Rather than filling the day with lots of decorative details, we focused on a few key elements that would make a statement and create impact.
The florals were one of those standout features. Our wedding planner, Kath from Bow Creative, introduced us to Tweed Twigs, and their work perfectly captured the aesthetic we were hoping to achieve. Their designs were unique, modern and artistic, elevating both our ceremony and reception spaces without feeling overdone.
We wanted the overall look to feel elegant and timeless while still being relaxed and approachable. Every styling decision came back to that balance.
Planning process.
If we’re being completely honest, we initially found the planning process quite overwhelming. We spent the early stages procrastinating because we struggled to make decisions and didn’t really know where to start.
My now sister-in-law suggested speaking with a wedding planner, and after our venue recommended Bow Creative, we met with Kath. From that first conversation, we knew she was exactly what we needed.
Working with Kath transformed the entire experience. She took away so much of the stress, guided us through every decision, and made the process feel enjoyable rather than overwhelming. We shared a Google document full of Pinterest inspiration and ideas from weddings we loved, and Kath took those concepts and refined them into a vision that felt authentically us. Her creativity, experience and calm approach gave us complete confidence throughout the journey.
By the time the wedding day arrived, we felt like guests at our own wedding—in the best possible way. Everything was handled seamlessly, allowing us to be fully present, relaxed and focused on celebrating with our family and friends.
Looking back, having Kath and the Bow Creative team by our side was one of the best decisions we made. Their support allowed us to enjoy both the planning process and the wedding day itself, resulting in a celebration that felt completely stress-free and truly reflected who we are as a couple.
Regarding vendors, a standout to us was our photographer, Andy from Ten Acres Photography, who was a perfect example. Neither of us loves being the centre of attention, and Cal is particularly camera-shy, but Andy made us feel completely comfortable from the start. Nothing felt forced or overly posed, and the photos are absolutely unbelievable. He captured not only how the day looked, but exactly how it felt.
Unscripted Socials offered to do our content, and it quickly became one of our favourite additions. The morning after the wedding, we woke up to the Instagram reel they had created and genuinely couldn’t stop watching it. It perfectly captured the emotion, energy and joy of the day, and we ended up playing it throughout our recovery party the following afternoon.
The ceremony.
Our ceremony took place in Fitzroy Gardens, and it was one of the most special parts of the entire day.
Our celebrant, Megan, was incredible. She told our story so beautifully while creating an atmosphere that felt relaxed, warm and genuine. She immediately put both of us at ease and made our guests feel connected and engaged throughout the ceremony.
The music also played a huge role. Tobi & Tobi performed throughout the ceremony, and their music created such a beautiful atmosphere. So many guests commented afterwards on how much they loved both the ceremony itself and the live music.
One of the most meaningful details for us was the aisle song, Quietly Yours by Birdy.
We first heard the song while watching Persuasion, one of the bride’s favourite films. While the lyrics are often interpreted as being about rekindled love, we have always connected with them in a different way. To us, the song reflects the idea that when you finally find your person, you understand why everything before them never quite fit.
We grew up alongside one another, our families having known each other, but we didn’t actually meet until we were twenty. Looking back, the song feels like a reflection of that journey—how two lives can run parallel for years before finally intersecting at exactly the right moment.
We also love how understated the song feels. It speaks about devotion and certainty without being loud or flashy, which perfectly reflects our relationship. Our connection has always felt steady, deeply personal and genuine rather than something that needs to be constantly displayed.
The outfits.
The groom and his groomsmen wore custom-made suits created by the uncle of one of our closest friends, who is a tailor. Having them made especially for the day felt incredibly personal, and one of our favourite details was the embroidered initials on each shirt cuff.
Cal wasn’t content with just one look for the day and had his own outfit change planned. He wore a classic black suit for the ceremony before changing into a white dinner jacket for the reception. I always thought I’d be the one with multiple outfit changes, but Cal was clearly determined to steal some of the spotlight! The white jacket looked incredibly handsome and was the perfect look for the party atmosphere that followed.
My gown was from Karen Willis Holmes. I was drawn to its simplicity and timeless silhouette, while the draping and neckline added just the right amount of detail and sophistication. It felt elegant, understated and completely suited the vision we had for the day.
I always knew I wanted a second look for the reception. While I adored my wedding gown, the train wasn’t exactly designed for hours on the dance floor. I also loved the idea of changing into something a little more playful for the evening celebrations. I found my second dress from Rosie Etienne and instantly fell in love with its beaded detailing, corset back and neckline, which subtly mirrored my ceremony dress. It was such a fun moment surprising both Cal and our guests when I emerged ready for the dance floor.
For our bridesmaids, we wanted a cohesive look while still allowing everyone to feel comfortable and confident. We chose the same colour and fabric for all the dresses, but each bridesmaid selected a silhouette that suited their personal style. It created a beautifully unified look while allowing each of their personalities to shine through.
Favourite moment.
Without a doubt, our favourite part of the day was simply being surrounded by all the people we love. Having been together for almost ten years, the wedding felt less like the beginning of our story and more like a joyful celebration of everything we’ve built together and the exciting next chapter ahead.
Looking around the room and seeing family and friends from different stages of our lives connecting, celebrating and sharing the day together was incredibly special. We had people who had known us as children, friends who had witnessed different milestones throughout our relationship, and loved ones who had travelled to be there. Seeing all of those people in one place, celebrating together, was something we’ll never forget.
More than any individual moment, it was the feeling of being surrounded by so much love, laughter and support that made the day so memorable. It truly felt like the perfect reflection of our relationship and the community we’ve built over the years.
Wedding soundtrack.
Music was one of the most important elements of the entire day and played a huge role in setting the tone.
One of our favourite ideas was giving every speech giver their own introduction song before they spoke. It became such a fun way to break up the formalities, get people out of their seats and bring energy back into the room. We had so much fun selecting songs that reflected each speaker’s personality, relationship to us, or included a funny inside joke.
As the evening progressed, the atmosphere only got better. Our DJ, Mark, was absolutely incredible. We had seen him previously at the Sorrento Hotel and knew he would create exactly the vibe we were after.
Then at 11pm, Sammy joined on percussion, which completely elevated the energy in the room. The combination of live percussion and DJ music had everyone on the dance floor and created the perfect party atmosphere right through until the end of the night.
Words of wisdom.
The biggest piece of advice we would give is to stay true to yourselves and make decisions based on what you genuinely want.
Wedding planning often comes with lots of opinions and outside influences, and it can be easy to feel pressure to include certain traditions or make choices that please everyone else. However, we found that the best decisions were the ones that reflected us as a couple.
Your wedding doesn’t have to look a certain way. There are no rules about what you must include. The day should be a reflection of your relationship and what makes you happy.
When you’re relaxed, present and genuinely enjoying yourselves, your guests feel that energy too. That’s what creates an unforgettable celebration.
We would also recommend investing in a planner if it’s within your budget. Whether it’s full-service planning or partial support, the experience, guidance and reassurance they provide is invaluable.
Working with the Bow Creative team allowed us to enjoy every stage of the process and completely immerse ourselves in the wedding day without stress or worry. Looking back, we truly couldn’t imagine doing it any other way.
Our wedding was everything we hoped it would be—a joyful celebration with our family and friends, an unforgettable party, and the perfect reflection of who we are as a couple.
Chloe and Callum’s Vendors
Planning, styling and coordination: Bow Creative
Ceremony venue: Dolphin Fountain, Fitzroy Gardens
Reception venue and accommodation: Hyde Melbourne Place
Photography and videography: Ten Acres Agency
Content creation: Unscripted Socials
Floristry: Tweed Twigs
Celebrant: Megan Thompson
Ceremony entertainment: Tobi Tobi
DJ and AV: Divine Audio
Feature entertainment: Sammy on Percussion
Hire: Weddings of Distinction, Cloth and Confetti Hire, The Hire Co
Linen: Table Art Event Hire
Draping: Feel Good Events
Stationery: Ra and Co Design
Cake: Torte by Mirjana
Transport: Quinces Coaches and Star Chauffered
Bridal make-up and hair: Georgia Hayes.
Bridesmaids make up: Liv Romeo and Hair by Neveen.
The dresses: Karen Willis Holmes and Rosie Etienne
Veil: Calily Bridal
Shoes: Prada and Pink Inc
Rings: Weckstein & Co
Suits and accessories: Carl Navè
Honeymoon: Hawaii
