Deep wine colourway and a letter for every guest.
When Shanai and Joshua sat down to define their wedding non-negotiables, guest experience was firmly at the top of the list. From personalised letters for every guest to incredible food and wine, every detail was thoughtfully considered to create a celebration that felt just as meaningful as it was beautiful.
Set amongst the picturesque grounds of Sunnyside on the Mornington Peninsula, the venue provided the perfect backdrop for a day that balanced romance with revelry. A rich wine colour palette flowed seamlessly through the invitations, florals, signage and bridesmaids’ gowns, creating a cohesive and elegant aesthetic. Shanai looked stunning as she made her way down the ceremony steps in her beautiful KYHA gown to exchange vows with Joshua, surrounded by the people they love most.
Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for – the party. We’re always here for a bride’s second look, but Shanai took it one step further by having her bridesmaids join in on the fun too, swapping their gowns for chic minis ready to dance the night away. A detail we don’t see often, but one that perfectly captured the joy, personality and celebration of the day.
Every beautiful moment was captured by Ivory Tribe talent Emma Hawkins, preserving the energy, emotion and thoughtful details that made this celebration so uniquely Shanai and Joshua.
The meeting.
We met at church in 2023. Started dating two months later and haven’t looked back since
The proposal.
We went to a winery for lunch in March 2025 and went to explore a maze afterwards. As we turned the corner into the maze, a beautiful setup was at the end of the runway asking me to marry him!
Planning process.
The planning process was definitely a little bit stressful, but only because I wanted to make the day as personal for our guests as possible. I was set on writing a personalised letter to every guest and placing it on the tables instead of a place card. This added pressure to everything else, but I’m so glad I did it. I hope every guest felt valued and loved; it was so important to us.
Style inspiration.
I was looking to create something timeless to look back on. I loved the deep wine colour and felt it was so elegant. I incorporated as much of the colour as I could throughout the decorations, invitations and other details to bring the theme to life. Sunnyside were so helpful with this as well!
The ceremony.
Our ceremony was traditional in many senses. We shared personalised vows as well as biblical ones. We had our family pray over us, and we also spent time worshipping the Lord. This day was for Him as well.
The outfits.
I knew I wanted to have two looks on my day so that I could cover all bases. If I hadn’t done that, I think my wedding dress wouldn’t have felt so timeless because I would have added so many accessories!
So I decided to wear a very simple KYHA dress – no lace, no beads. Then I wore a fully beaded mini dress for my reception. I wanted it to be fun, and I loved the idea of my bridesmaids changing into mini dresses with me – this was one of my favourite parts of the night.
Favourite moment.
Walking down the aisle was hard to beat – seeing each other for the first time and realising what we were doing and how it will impact our families forever is such a beautiful moment.
Meaning of marriage.
We are both Christian, so marriage was more than just a ceremony and a celebration with our family and friends. It was about making a covenant with God to love one another for the rest of our lives and to keep Him at the centre of everything.
Our pastor officiated our wedding, and he is someone who has walked alongside us and loved us for many years. Having him pray for us and guide us through this significant step was incredibly special.
Wedding soundtrack.
We love Angus and Julia Stone – our third date was at their concert in Melbourne! It was fitting to walk down the aisle to their song Mango Tree, and share our first dance to Bella.
Planning surprises.
The creative freedom you have when planning your wedding really surprised me. I always thought there was a set order for how things should go and that there were all these rules – but that’s not true! It’s your day, and you can do it however you like.
Words of wisdom.
I think once you figure out what your non-negotiables are, the rest will fall into place. It’s easy to experience decision fatigue after a while, but if you have a clear focus (ours was guest experience), most decisions become much easier to make.
And most importantly, enjoy it – you only get to do it once!
Joshua and Shanai’s Vendors
Ceremony and reception venue: Sunnyside, Mt Eliza – incredible team, beautiful scenery, delicious food!
Pastor: Craig Clark
Photography: Emma Hawkins – incredible experience, the photos speak for themselves.
Videography: Daniel Turner – these guys are a dream team you can’t go past.
Styling and decor: The Small Things Co – attention to detail was amazing, would definitely recommend.
Florist: Leilani by GG – an incredible florist and even better friend. She went above and beyond and cared for everything as if it was her own day!
Hair: Hair by Kaitlyn Greaney – so, so lovely, we could have chatted for hours! She wanted my opinion and was so collaborative, I felt so seen and valued, and I was so happy with how my hair turned out
Make-up: Lauren Del Tondo Artistry – I could recommend Lauren until the end of time. I have no words, I would book her every time!
The dresses: Kyha & Rosie Etienne Bridal
Veil : Kyha
Shoes: Dior
Catering: Food and Desire at Sunnyside
Favours: Homemade limoncello!
Cake: Cake 4 Me – so yum!
Entertainment: Like This Entertainment
Honeymoon: Africa!
