No-fuss elegance and a surprise first dance
When Hannah and Bennett reflect on the most cherished memories of their wedding day, each one is set to a soundtrack which perfectly mirrored the feeling being experienced.
The anticipation of the aisle walk. The relief of the certificate signing. The joy of ‘just married’.
The sublime talent of the Baker Boys Band didn’t simply accompany key moments of the celebration; it infused them with emotion.
Thoughtful song selection paired with soulful delivery elevated the occasion in a way that quietly shaped the atmosphere and enhanced guest experience.
Capturing such an intangible romance and air of indescribable magic required a photographer as creative as Chloe May. The results of her attentive, documentary-style approach speak for themselves.
The meeting.
We met in 2021 via a little set up between two of our best friends. Our first date was at an Italian restaurant in St Kilda.
‘The one’.
We are both incredibly aligned on our values and our love for friends and family. We felt very comfortable in each other’s company after spending many ‘snap lockdowns’ together during the Covid pandemic. We had a very strong foundation to build from and our love for each other continues to grow over time.
The proposal.
Bennett proposed at the top of Mt Coolum (after a swift run to the base to stay ahead of me and hide the ring box in his front pocket!). Coolum was a very special location as my family had holidayed there for many years. The family were up there with us at the time, so we all celebrated together that afternoon and the following days.
Style inspiration.
There was no specific inspiration. We were true to ourselves and just chose what we liked. It was mostly no-fuss. Thankfully our suppliers helped guide us on certain decisions which was very helpful! We used Pinterest for things like colour, flower and styling ideas.
The ceremony.
Our best friend completed the celebrant training so she could marry us on the big day. We are forever grateful she put in the work to complete this training. It meant a lot to us.
The sun came out just as the ceremony started so the weather was perfect. Flowerdale also let the guests have some drinks at the bar before the ceremony, so the mood was jovial right from the start.
Bell from the Baker Boys Band played an incredible acoustic set (of our choice) at key points of the ceremony which was very meaningful to us.
The outfits.
I had a very clear vision of what I wanted from the very beginning. My Instagram was filled with stunning Spanish designers, and I was drawn to the long sleeves and beautiful backless structures. The challenge was that I couldn’t find anything in Australian boutiques that quite captured that same feeling. I tried on a number of beautiful dresses locally, but none of them felt like the one.
Everything changed when I met Tina from Bespoke Creations. She was recommended by a family friend and I’m forever grateful our paths crossed. I came to her with a collection of inspiration photos and ideas, and after looking through them she smiled and said, “you’re just going to have to trust me.” It was the easiest yes. From that moment, I knew I was in the best hands.
The process was so special — from visiting the silk store together to choose the perfect fabric, seeing the dress first come to life in cotton, and then watching it evolve through each fitting into the final piece. There’s something incredibly meaningful about witnessing your gown being created from scratch.
The dress was everything I had imagined and more! On the day, I felt entirely ‘me’.
For the bridesmaids, I really wanted the girls to feel themselves and be comfortable in what they were wearing (plus have a dress they could wear again!). We simply chose an earthy palette and they looked beautiful!
Favourite moments.
Our favourite moment of the day was without a doubt our first dance. We started with the opening of When You Say Nothing at All by Ronan Keating, before surprising everyone by transitioning into Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) by Shakira.
To make the first song even more meaningful, we printed the lyrics of When You Say Nothing at All on the back of our menus and asked our guests to bring them onto the dance floor and sing along while we danced. In that moment, it didn’t feel like everyone was just watching us — it felt like they were part of it. Standing there, surrounded by the voices of the people we love most, was incredibly moving. You could genuinely feel the warmth in the room. It was intimate, joyful and so full of love.
Then we switched gears into Waka Waka to kick off the party! Learning the dance together in the three weeks leading up to the wedding became one of the most special parts of our engagement. A best friend’s friend came over to our house and choreographed it for us — she was so positive, energetic and encouraging. Most nights we’d practise out on our backyard deck, laughing constantly and just soaking up that time together. Those rehearsals ended up being some of our favourite memories of the whole lead-up.
It was something we almost didn’t do, and we are so glad we did. We’d encourage every couple to consider it, even if you’re not a confident dancer. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about creating a moment that feels like you. And for us, it was pure joy.
Looking back on the incredible photos brings us a lot of joy – Chloe May is an incredible photographer.
Meaning of marriage.
Marriage, to us, means that we have found not only our partner, but our very best friend — someone who makes life infinitely better simply by being in it. It’s about choosing each other every single day. Celebrating the highs side by side, steadying each other through the challenges, and building a life together grounded in love, respect and shared values.
For us, marriage is a commitment to grow together, to grow old together, and to care for one another through every season. It’s about being each other’s constant — through the thick and thin — and knowing that whatever comes our way, we face it as a team.
Wedding soundtrack.
Bridesmaids and Flower Kids entry – I’m With You by Vance Joy
Bride entrance – Send Me On My Way by Rusted Roots
Signing table song – Coming Home by Leon Bridges
Leaving procession – Man I Need by Olivia Dean
First dance song – When You Say Nothing At All by Ronan Keating into Waka Waka by Shakira
Funny stories/near disasters.
There were no disasters on the big day, but we had quite the engagement story. Bennett’s parents discovered we were engaged via an accidental text message I sent. No commentary, no phone call, just an image on a screen. In the excitement of sharing immediate photos with my Mum (who was with us in Coolum) I accidentally sent the pictures to Bennett’s Mum who was yet to know about the engagement. While we can laugh now, it wasn’t the way Bennett planned to tell his parents. (They were ok about it in the end!)
Planning surprises.
It was more fun than we expected. Finding the right suppliers really helps – we had a great team who knew exactly what they were doing.
Words of wisdom.
- Definitely do a first dance!
- Try not to stress, in the end it’s just a big party.
- Enjoy the process of planning.
- Every dollar you spend on the day is worth it, you won’t regret it.
- A recovery is definitely worthwhile, so you can spend more time with friends and family after the big day.
- Canva is a great tool for graphic design.
HANNAH & BENNETT’S SUPPLIERS:
To find our suppliers we tended to use people we knew, word of mouth/recommendations or the Flowerdale Estate local business suppliers list.
Ceremony & reception venue: Flowerdale Estate
Celebrant: Brooke Plymin – A best friend who became a qualified celebrant for our wedding day.
Photography: Chloe May – A friend and former neighbour who is a very talented photographer who captured the day perfectly.
Videography: Annette and Dani Films – Fun and professional, capturing our day perfectly.
Florist: Mountain Daisy Florist
Hair & make-up: Andrea Takagi
The dress: Bespoke Creations – Tina is a family friend who is so incredibly talented.
Rings: The Diamond Guys
Bridesmaid’s dresses: Variety of brands, mixed and matched.
Cake: Renate Elise Designer Cakes
Entertainment: Baker Boys Band
Printing stationary: Strategic Flow Management
Drawing of Flowerdale Estate for stationary: Best friend Alice Handford
Recovery entertainment: Best friends Belinda Jenkin and Jamie Neville-Young played an acoustic live set
First dance choreography: Sophie Loughran – Sophie was recommended by a friend. She met us for two one-hour dance classes to create the choreography for our first dance. She was wonderful, fun, engaging, positive and engaging.
Honeymoon: Coolum, Sunshine Coast
