Real Wedding – Alex & Luke, Trawool VIC

October 18, 2023 In Country, Real Weddings, Victoria, White By Ivory Tribe

Real Wedding – Alex & Luke, Trawool VIC

For a fresh, effortlessly elegant dive into a dreamy day, Alex and Luke’s celebrations are top of the list. Their laid-back approach to planning and support from talented friends and family meant that by the time this day rolled around, our bride and groom were relaxed and radiant. Celebrant star Kate Mac only increased the epic, ease-filled vibes with a ceremony filled with a harmonious balance of personality and understated romance.

Choosing the gorgeous Trawool Estate contributed to the ease-filled vibes with its expansive gardens and tasteful modern architecture. With the venue offering so many incredible photo opportunities, Rolan John created magic, capturing the new Mr and Mrs in locations from sun-kissed bushland to the moodily lit, sleekly contemporary bar.

Sans bridal party, the couple cast their own glow, and boy, do they shine. Luke is every bit the dapper gent in a crisply cut suit by YSL, while Alex stuns in a uniquely exquisite gown by Alena Leena. Accessories by our friends at Amelie George complete the look to perfection. As the sun set on their first night as Mr and Mrs, Alex switched out her gorgeous gown for a chic jumpsuit, perfect to hit the dance floor.

The meeting.

Six years ago, the wedding day was our six-year anniversary. We met at work: Alex, an interior designer and Luke, a project manager. Alex thought she was going out for a drink with a mate, but Luke had actually set up the first date.

The ‘one’.

We realised pretty quickly. A love of food, wine, people-watching and dry humour was pretty abundant from the first date.

The proposal.

We took a road trip to Adelaide after Melbourne lockdowns let us out. The proposal happened on a beautiful afternoon in the Eos by Sky-city Hotel, followed by dinner at 5 Regions Restaurant overlooking Adelaide Oval. Alex had no idea.

Planning process.

It was easy. We knew we wanted Trawool as our venue after driving past many times and watching the renovations invigorate the historic site. The venue was a single contact where most of our guests stayed, ate, drank and partied, so it didn’t leave us with a whole lot more we needed to organise.

Our photographer, Rolan, was our first choice as he had a style that isn’t your typical lovey pics. We wanted candid and to be able to spend our time with guests but be able to capture the day. Booked!

Make-up and hair were by friends. Invites, media wall, website and collateral by our mate, who is a graphic designer. Bridal accessories supplied by a friend’s business. Local floristry. Local buses transported our guests who were staying nearby. So many of our friends are musicians or DJs, so the party was sorted. We were really lucky we had so many contacts and friends keen to be involved; the planning was just done.

Style inspiration.

A party for our friends and family. Informal, non-traditional, funny, great music always.

We found inspiration through real weddings/parties. We had a focus on viewing rural and city weddings but nothing traditional.

The ceremony.

It was funny, our guests say this was their favourite part of the wedding. We used the opportunity to poke fun at each other, acknowledge our special family members who had passed or couldn’t be there, and thank our friends and family for how they contribute to our lives. We played scissors, paper, rock for who would deliver their vows first and had fun music. Our celebrant was amazing and let us do our thing; we didn’t want it rehearsed. It was structured, but the delivery was organic. We all laughed a lot.

The look.

Luke has a penchant for fine things and found the perfect suit pretty quickly with YSL, and he wore his Dad’s watch.

Alex found her dress after much Instagram searching from a bridal boutique off the beaten track in Yaragon. She didn’t want anything lace or florals. It was the first dress she tried on, and it stuck; the fabric was a major selling point. Our friend’s own bridal supply, Amelie George, provided us with beautiful accessories and jewellery. Alex wore her great-grandmother’s wedding ring for the day. Alex got changed for the afterparty into a white jumpsuit to take on the dancefloor.

Favourite moments.

It’s hard to choose, but two were very significant. The 15 minutes we took with Rolan to walk together and take the only ‘formal’ photos. We really needed that moment together just to breathe for a second.

The other was walking into the reception and seeing all of our guests there and standing for us and being so happy to be there. It was surreal.

Meaning of marriage.

For us, it was the next step; we wanted to formalise what was a relationship built on a great friendship and the melding of two lives when we met later on than many. We are just about last in line to marry amongst all of our friends, so everyone was waiting for the party.

Wedding soundtrack.

Our music was really special, too, as we had father and daughter family friends (Andrew and Ella Curry) who gave us really special acoustic renditions of all of the music we chose for the ceremony and cocktail hour.

Aisle: Chateau by Angus & Julia Stone. Alex’s brother walked her down the aisle, so the brother-sister duo was a nice link. Alex was also born in America, so had the song link to her birth country and state, too.

Reception entry: Better Than Ever by Flight Facilities feat. Aloe Blacc. We didn’t have a formal first dance; we just got up and boogied with everyone.

Funny stories or near disasters.

Nothing major, Melbourne had the year’s most rain the week before that flooded areas surrounding our wedding – but we were fine, and the weather put it on for us. The rain made everything green and lush.

Planning surprises.

It was honestly so easy; we were told it was one of the most stressful things you could do, and it simply wasn’t. We’re pretty chill and go with the flow. When we make the decisions, we stick with them.

Words of wisdom.

It seriously is about you; it’s a huge day, so make it about what makes you happy, not what you think will impress. Pick out the joys of your relationship and the things that make you smile on a daily basis, and make sure that’s the cornerstone.

Get a photographer who captures your vibe; it’s such a personal time it’s important the authentic you and the actual vibe of the day are captured. It’s a capsule of memories, after all, and, in our opinion, shouldn’t be staged.

Get a wedding website up. Our invites were all through this with details, FAQs and easy management of RSVPs and requests for transport, dietary requirements and the like.

To see more of the stunning venue Trawool Estate, check our Rebekah and Zach’s impactful celebration. Stunning style and epic amounts of fun coalesce in a dream day that is worth a look.

ALEX & LUKE’S VENDORS

Our aim for the day was to be with everyone. We had a very short time with just us when we had a sunset walk to take photos. It made it very special and allowed all of our memories to be captured in a way that was authentically us, really candid but personal.

We also made sure that we gave ourselves the opportunity to be with everyone as much as possible. We had post-ceremony cocktails before a long lunch, followed by a dance party. During the reception (long lunch), we had family-style sharing. We ate with one table for entrée, moved to another for mains and circulated for cocktails and dessert. The dance party was a surprise for our guests in the wine bar downstairs with mates DJing and party packs we’d make up with glow sticks, wrist bands, band-aids, lip smackers and hair ties. We had most of our guests stay on-site and enjoy a recovery breakfast the next day.

We were also eight weeks pregnant on the day, giving us a little secret to keep and a nice story to tell later.

We chose not to have a bridal party; our brothers were witnesses.

Ceremony & reception venue: The Trawool Estate, Trawool.

Celebrant: Kate Mac, Celebrant Kate

Photography: Rolan John

Florist: Flowers by Nici

Hair & make-up: Makeup by Stephanie Jane

The dress: Alena Leena via Twelve South Bridal

Veil: Amelie George Bridal

Shoes: Bride – Nina New York. Groom – Florsheim

Rings: Rod Valenz Jewellery

Suit & bow tie: YSL