Real Wedding – Alexandra & Michael, Flowerdale VIC
Sleek, minimalist and ultra-chic were the style buzzwords of Alex and Mike’s glam Yarra Valley soiree. But while the style was elegantly refined and pared back, the vibe was nothing but bold and vibrant – with unrestrained laughter and upbeat emotion filling every stunning frame by Nikki McCrone.
Gorgeously glowing Alex wore two gowns by our friends at Kyha. An elevated, grace-filled sheath with a statement back and artfully draped halter neckline, her ceremony gown gave effortless fashion girlie, while her sassy party mini was dance floor perfection. Paired with a pair of Valentino heels (sourced from Depop, we love a sustainable queen) and with make-up and hair by the impeccably talented Ashleigh Fenton, it was a look to wow.
We love the artfully curated day, with its sense of effortless emotion and big party feels, and we think you will too.
The meeting.
At a Grand Final AFL party in September 2019. We met at a friend’s house party in Richmond and chatted for a few hours. We then parted ways and didn’t see each other until we matched again on Hinge eight months later.
The one.
We both knew this was something special after our first date – it was eight hours of bar hopping from Romeo Lane to Pizza Pizza Pizza.
The proposal.
Mike and I went away to Jervis Bay for the weekend while on one of our regular Sydney stints. He suggested we go out for an ocean swim, so we went walking along Hyam’s beach to find the right spot. I was ready to put my goggles and cap on, but luckily, Mike knew better than to let that happen. He asked me pretty quickly to marry him after we’d set up a cheese and crackers platter, secluded with the beach to ourselves!
Style inspiration.
Sleek and minimalist. We’re both quite relaxed and wanted it to be a full weekend away as our families were travelling from far and wide.
For inspiration – Pinterest! Insta! Say no more. I loved looking at real weddings and recommendations/testimonials on suppliers.
The ceremony.
We had a stand-up comedian, Paul Bonadio, officiate our ceremony, which definitely brought great vibes. It was outdoors on a 29-degree cracking Melbourne day with all of our family and friends. It really focused on our story and our own vows, which made for a heart-warming, wholesome time.
The outfits.
I shopped at SO many bridal suites and was sure I wanted something off the rack. I tried on several Danielle Frankel dresses and was leaning that way, but I ended up finding my Kyha gown when I was nearly ready to stop looking! I loved the sleek, simple lines, and it was such an easy-to-wear dress. I fell in love, particularly with the backline, and wanted something more modern, without a veil.
Mike kept his pretty simple and wanted to wear a tuxedo. As per usual, he found a perfect one at the first place he went at Men’s Suit Warehouse during a fitting with his groomsmen.
Favourite moments.
My favourite moment was when we were just about to walk into the reception, standing outside, and we could see all of our friends and family gathered there to be with us, ready to stand up and spin their napkins as we walked into Let’s Get Loud by JLo… over 50 of them had travelled from Queensland, Sydney, Zurich and NYC just to be there.
Mike’s was a toss-up between that same moment and the ceremony (the whole thing); it was just so special and filled with love.
Meaning of marriage.
Marriage means having the best person in the world share the most important (and all the little boring) life moments with. It means trust, confidence and a safe place to come back to – the support you need to get out there and achieve your dreams.
Wedding soundtrack.
Aisle: Claire De Lune by Thelma Plum and Stand By Me by Florence and the Machine
Reception entry: Let’s Get Loud by J-Lo. Bridal party: Hot in Herre by Nelly and SexyBack by Justin Timberlake
First Dance: Real Love Baby by Father John Misty
Funny stories (or near disasters).
Our DJ got sick and cancelled the night before! Luckily, we were able to find another one – DJ Luke – who was incredible and drove all the way from Lorne.
Planning surprises.
How much of your mental capacity it takes to make the hundreds of small decisions.
Words of wisdom.
Do it quickly! We did our planning in five months, and I can’t recommend that enough if you don’t enjoy event planning.
Love Alex’s stunning statement heels? We’ve curated a list of our current favourite wedding-ready footwear, live on the blog.
ALEX & MIKE’S VENDORS
We found all our suppliers through research, online (Instagram, googling) and through recommendations or google reviews. Honestly, ALL of our vendors were world-class. They made the day so enjoyable and went out of their way to create beautiful experiences for us. From Anastasia at Urban Antidote to Ash, who did our makeup, Jordan on Hair, Nikki on Photography and Paul on the ceremony, the music and the Flowerdale team – we loved every minute with them!
Ceremony & reception venue: Flowerdale Estate
Celebrant: Paul Bonadio
Photography: Nikki McCrone – 10/10
Florist: Urban Antidote – I could not recommend it enough, it was such great pricing and the most stunning and unique florals. Anastasia was also a pleasure to work with!
Hair & make-up: Jordan & Ash from Ashleigh Fenton
The dresses: Kyha
Shoes: Valentino (never worn, from Depop!)
Rings: Novita Diamonds
Bridesmaid’s dresses: Bec and Bridge
Suits & bow ties / ties: Men’s Suit Warehouse
Catering & bar: Flowerdale Estate
Entertainment: Dalli (Musician) from Unplugged Entertainment
Transport: Seymour Coaches
Honeymoon: Japan, Turkiye, Sicily
