Real Wedding – Anna & Callum, Barwon Heads VIC
Sun-drenched seaside energy, coastal inspired elegance and constant, striking smiles all add up to Callum and Anna’s vision of a wedding day. Skipping the popular winery venue choice and going with one they felt represents them best, At the Heads is a stellar setting for their love story celebration to unfold.
A colour palette inspired by the ocean surrounds effortlessly elevates the beautiful backdrop, with Cal and his groomsmen in soft sand linen and bridesmaids in gowns of sun-kissed taupe. Crisp cream florals with hints of sweet peach add a touch of vibrancy to the elegantly understated tablescapes.
And, of course, Anna is stunningly stylish in her dream gown by designer extraordinaire, Khya. A sweeping v-neckline and full skirt create a timeless effect, while the dropped waist detailing and exquisite open back make this vision of a gown perfectly on point.
There to capture every exquisite moment was visual talent Ed Sloane and Love & Other. Scroll on to see every laid-back, love-filled frame.
The meeting.
We met through mutual friendship circles. We were friends for a few years and always found ourselves gravitating towards each other on nights out. Then, one day, Callum took the plunge and asked Anna out on a date; the rest is history.
The ‘one’.
For Callum, it was very early on in the friendship. He was always drawn to Anna’s exuberant energy, kindness and down-to-earth nature. For Anna, she always knew there was a special spark. But it wasn’t until after a few months of dating, where Callum had let down his strong exterior and exposed his many beautiful layers, that she knew he was the one.
The proposal.
Callum proposed to Anna on Blairgowrie foreshore after a swim on a cold and windy November evening. Anna remembers Callum shaking on one knee as he was clearly overcome by love and nerves. However, Callum thinks it had something to do with being soaking wet, on a 9-degree evening, with a 20-knot southerly whipping across the bay.
Planning process.
Anna was mostly in control of the wedding planning in the year leading up to our special day. I think it’s fair to say Anna organised our wedding to reflect us perfectly as a couple – outdoors, by the ocean, in a relaxed and loving environment surrounded by all our special people. Anna nailed it to a tee (with some help from the weather gods!)
Style inspiration.
The coast; sun, sand and sea are our happy place. During our planning phase, we had inspected some beautiful wineries, but when we pulled into At The Heads and saw its sky-blue painted timber, exposed beams, river/ocean outlook and rustic piers, we both turned to each other and said, “This is the one”.
We reviewed countless blogs (including Ivory Tribe – free plug!) and drew inspiration from other beach weddings. We love earthy/sand/beige tones and picked this as our colour palette for our bridal party, flowers, arbour, signage, etc. This is probably commonly said, but as soon as the Instagram algorithm picked up on our most frequent searches, we were given plenty of content to review, screenshot and share with one another.
The ceremony.
We asked one of the groomsmen to marry us, which he agreed to and got his celebrant’s certificate just in time (three days) before the wedding – stressful! Ultimately, it is those 150 people in our lives that make us who we are, so we wanted to incorporate as many friends and family members as possible. From 12 nieces and nephews walking the aisle (tears galore!) to readings from brothers and sisters, ring bearers, you get it. It was our show of appreciation for all those people who have had such a positive impact on our lives.
The outfit.
Anna’s dress was from Khya Studio. True to the statistic, Anna went back and bought the very first dress she tried on! Callum wanted a linen suit to blend in with the laidback theme of the day. It ended up being a three-piece linen suit with a champagne bow tie, all fitted by Angela Nicolaides – strongly recommend her for any groom!
Favourite moments.
Standing in the company of 150 of our nearest and dearest while our close friend married us was a pinch-yourself moment. Also, our wedding dance was a moment of euphoria, and we love going back and watching the smiles on everyone’s faces in our wedding video.
Meaning of marriage.
It was our public show of our love, commitment and appreciation for one another, but also a chance to say thank you to our family and friends for playing a huge part in our story and lives.
Wedding soundtrack.
Aisle: Follow the Sun by Xavier Rudd and You’re Still the One by Shania Twain. Both were acoustic covers from our live soloist.
Reception entry: Praise You by Fatboy Slim
Wedding dance: A Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay
Funny stories or near disasters.
Yes! The speakers at our ceremony location blew up minutes before Anna was meant to walk the aisle. All hands were on deck, and our musician saved the day with spare equipment in his car. It delayed the ceremony by about 20 minutes, which was a very long time for a punctual bride to wait!
Planning surprises.
The entire planning process has made us both appreciate how much thought and hard work goes into a wedding. Whenever we are at a wedding, we now look around and appreciate all the hard work and effort that has gone into every last detail.
Words of wisdom.
Every wedding has its own nuances to reflect the couple, and that’s what makes the day so unique and special. The most important thing is that you prioritise what’s important to you, enjoy the ride and laugh whenever you can!
It truly is the best day of your life. We are three months in, and we still talk about our wedding every day!
When you’re deep into wedding planning, decision fatigue can be very real. And who gets it more than couples that have just come out the other side, newly married and full of planning wisdom (and excitement!). We’ve got some of their top tips to help make your dream day planning simple, here on the blog.
ANNA & CALLUM’S VENDORS
Ceremony & reception venue: At The Heads, Barwon Heads
Celebrant: Joshua Butler (Groomsmen)
Photography: Ed Sloane (Legend!!)
Videography: Love & Other
Florist: Alex Wood, Wild Wood & Co
Hair: Renee, Studio2 Makeup & Hair
Make-up: Nikizsha Lyons & Olive Torrance
The Dress: Kyha Studios
Suits: Angela Nicolaides
Bow ties: OTAA
Catering & bar: At The Heads, Barwon Heads
Desserts: Mini cannoli and lemon meringue tarts from Baby J’s Desserts (highly recommend!!)
Stationery / Signage: Etsy
Entertainment: Harry Lamb (live musician), Chris Meehan (DJ)
Honeymoon: Rottnest Island and Margaret River (WA)
