Real Wedding – Aaron & Liv, Warrandyte VIC
Liv and Aaron designed their wedding around an ethos of how everyone would feel versus what their day would look like. Asking themselves, will this create fun and relaxed vibes, make the day better and truly represent us, meant that each decision was informed and guided by the most genuine of feels.
But boy, don’t let this mislead – this is one absolute vision of effortless elegance, a gorgeous Australian summer wedding personified. From Liv’s breathtakingly refreshing lilac Zimmerman fit, complemented by a perfectly on-point pastel bouquet, to artfully understated styling touches, this day is a visual and emotional utopia. Beginning with a ceremony bathed in sunshine, resounding with laughter and intimately epic by celebrant Nat Sproul set the tone for the party to follow.
Choosing to say their I’Dos at their favourite local and then party on in their own backyard was equal parts breathtaking and beautiful. Upbeat vibes, relaxed emotion and a party till dawn were all part of this stunning soiree, and we simply love it.
Soak up every genuinely gorgeous moment through the lens of super-talented photographer Georgia Verrells.
The meeting.
We met at a bar called Fargo & Co. in Richmond in May 2019. Aaron was at the bar ordering a couple of drinks, and I stole one. We got to talking, and that was it!
The ‘one’.
There wasn’t really a moment, but we both think that our trip to Lucindale for a music festival was a turning point for us.
The proposal.
Aaron proposed while we were camping in Ben Boyd National Park. He asked me to marry him on a cliff top overlooking the ocean. We put fairy lights up, drank champagne, cooked dinner on the fire, listened to music and chatted about the whole lead-up. We shared our news with family and friends when we arrived in Eden the next day.
Planning process.
We had known for quite some time that we wanted to get married by the river at our favourite local spot and afterwards have a party in the backyard. We started planning our wedding five months in advance. Emmanuela and her band’s availability in March determined our wedding date. We then spent much of the lead-up to the wedding landscaping the backyard and enlisting our friends and family’s help. There were some pretty intense to-do lists!
Instagram was great for researching and finding our first couple of vendors, like our celebrant Nat Sproal and our photographer Georgia Verrells. Once we had locked these two in, we were able to look at who they followed and read the recommendations on their websites. Booking one vendor usually led to booking someone they recommended, and so on!
Style inspiration.
We tried not to worry too much about what the wedding looked like. Instead, we spent more time thinking about how we wanted it to feel. We wanted it to be relaxed, fun and authentic. We wanted to share a real, genuine piece of our life and our home together. When we needed to make a decision, we asked ourselves, ‘Will this make our day better? Will it create fun, relaxed vibes? Is it a true representation of us?’ That seemed to help.
The ceremony.
Our ceremony by the river was relaxed, light-hearted, full of laughs and really set the tone for the day. We had drinks on ice in wine barrels for when our guests arrived while they waited under the gums for it all to begin. Our nieces made the most gorgeous flower girls and read aloud some funny marital advice.
The outfits.
I first saw the Zimmermann violet midi skirt, matching blouse & tie up heels online. I tried on other outfits, but my heart was set. When it sold out, before it was even available in store, my bridesmaids were determined to hunt down a set, which they did!
Aaron wanted tailored shirts for him and the boys to wear. He wanted the rest of their outfits to be affordable and something they could wear again. They added a touch of native floral to match the area.
Favourite moments.
Our favourite part of the day, apart from our vows, was standing on our deck, looking out over our friends and family, having fun in our backyard, drinks in hand, great music, lots of smiles and positive energy.
Meaning of marriage.
For us, marriage is about knowing that we’ll be by each other’s side always.
Wedding soundtrack.
Aisle: Next To Me by Rufus
After ceremony: The Real Thing by Client Liaison
Reception entry: Sending Me Ur Loving by Jungle Giants
First dance: All I Want Is You by Barry Louis Polisar
Planning surprises.
Planning a backyard wedding was more expensive than we anticipated. We saved in some areas but spent more in others.
Words of wisdom.
Think carefully about which aspects of the day are most important to you. Rather than going all out on every single element, spend your money on those that matter most.
Plan to have a couple of bottles of bubbles for your bridal party to drink during the photos and a couple more to pop!
It’s your wedding. Do it your own way.
Love Liv’s non-traditional, lavender-hued fit? For another take on this sweet shade, check out Lilli and Cuz’s gorgeous inner-city celebration, complete with a lilac gown (and another super cute pooch!).
AARON & LIV’S VENDORS
Ceremony location: Taroona Reserve, Warrandyte
Reception venue: Our home in Warrandyte
Celebrant: Nat Sproal. Everyone loved Nat. She helped set the tone for the day.
Photography: Georgia Verrells. Georgia is ridiculously talented. We LOVE our wedding photos and our Super 8 film. She was such a lovely, calm presence, and we couldn’t recommend her more highly.
Florist: Flower Jar
Hair: JL Colour Studio. Julie is a friend of a friend. We loved having her in our home to help us get ready. The timing of everything was perfect, and she did an amazing job.
Make-up: Beauty by B. Bianca is a friend, so I was so happy when she agreed to do the make-up for the wedding. Not only did she make us all look beautiful, she brought just the right type of energy to the start of the day. Can’t thank her enough!
The dress & shoes: Zimmermann
Rings: Jasmine Fraser. Jasmine makes beautiful, handmade, one-of-a-kind pieces. We absolutely loved working with her, and we are completely obsessed with our rings.
Bridesmaid’s dresses: SIR.
Suits: Shirts by YSG Tailors
Bow ties / ties: Peggy & Finn
Catering: Essential Catering. They set up in our kitchen without any fuss and left without leaving a trace. They had everything under control.
Bar: Cheers Darling. The team did a great job. They kept drinks flowing but also made sure to keep clearing the empty glasses. They were even kind enough to let us use the glassware till the end of the night.
Favours: Stubby holders
Stationery / Signage: Parker Effect
Entertainment: Emmanuela Costaras and her team Eliza & Jarrod (DJ & Saxophone). These three honestly made our wedding night just what we dreamed it would be and so much more. They created the perfect feel from beginning to end. No words can express just how incredible these guys are! So fun!
Transport: The Grand Hotel offered a complimentary shuttle bus to our guests from the pub to our home. Best local ever.
Décor/Hire: Peppersprout. Peppersprout were great to deal with. They had an extensive range of furniture and lights to choose from. They did all the set-up and pack-up, so we didn’t have to worry about a thing.
Honeymoon: Fiji
On-the-day coordination: Gathered Events
