Real Wedding – Ash & Bec, Yarra Valley VIC
No Victorian wedding is complete without some sort of weather worry, but for Ash and Bec, a little rain simply added to the excitement and romance of their celebration. And wow, did it make for some dreamily dramatic photos by visual poet Tess Follett.
A ceremony filled with personal touches and created by one of the best, Megan Thompson, got everyone feeling the warm, celebratory vibes. Standing against an epic backdrop of moody skies, Ash and Bec were entranced and emotional in the best possible way. Bec is simply glowing in a custom gown by our friends at d’Italia, with sweet sleeve detailing and a crisply draped, effortlessly elegant full skirt.
Florals in fresh modern shades of soft pink, apple green and tendrils of cream add a contemporary timelessness, lit softly with candlelight.
This is one stylish soiree, so scroll on to see every epic moment unfold.
The meeting.
We met at a bar/restaurant in St Kilda, both of us were out with friends.
The ‘one’.
No definitive moment, but we just evolved as a couple. It didn’t take long to know we had someone very special.
The proposal.
In 2020, putting up our Christmas tree at home. Private, low-key, it was perfect.
Planning process.
It was a team effort, with both of us providing input into the planning process. We had similar ideas and selected many vendors from previous weddings we had attended and loved. The planning involved lots of emailing and waiting, spreadsheets and checklists. But it was all worth it, in the end, to make it such a special day.
Style inspiration.
We wanted a black-tie wedding as everyone loves an occasion to get dressed up! We also wanted traditional and romantic with elements of a modern day celebration.
One of the most useful aspects of navigating blogs, websites, Instagram and magazines was having brands and companies tagged or acknowledged. This allowed us to continue our search for particular items we may be interested in. Ivory Tribe real weddings were extremely helpful in stimulating inspiration and creativity for our colour pallet, music choices, venue and overall styling.
The ceremony.
Our ceremony was authentic to us; there were some tears, but mostly big smiles. Our celebrant was fun and engaging and found the perfect balance between tradition and a modern twist.
Other special moments during our ceremony included: writing our own meaningful vows, friends and family being present to share our happiness, warming of the rings during our ceremony, readings by family members, including our family members throughout our ceremony.
The look.
Bec: My brief was simple elegance and something that would be timeless. I wanted it to reflect my style and to feel like myself on the day. I never had a moment dress shopping where I found ‘the one’, which made the process stressful at times.
Finding d’Italia was so special; they placed me with an amazing dressmaker, which meant I could create my own dress. I could make changes along the way, which suited me. My second dress was not a planned outfit, but due to the weather on our wedding day, I needed something to change into. I also swapped from heels to sneakers, which was reflective of my style.
Ash: Went the classic tuxedo with shiny dress shoes. Simple brilliance.
Favourite moments.
Our favourite moment was seeing each other enter the chapel; it was quite surreal. This was followed by our first dance, once it was over and riding on friends’ shoulders on the dance floor.
Meaning of marriage.
A lifetime of commitment and security between each other. Entering the next chapter as a team and spending the rest of your life with your best friend.
Wedding soundtrack.
Aisle: Stand by Me, Tom Speight version
Recessional: Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay
Reception entry (bridesmaids and groomsman): The wedding party entered in pairs or trios to different songs we felt reflected them and was upbeat for their entrance: Firework by Katy Perry, Cold Heart by Dua lipa and Elton John, About Damn Time by Lizzo.
Reception entry (bride and groom): Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield
First dance: Mash up of Shallow by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper and Jump (for my life) by The Pointer Sisters.
Funny stories or near disasters.
First wedding date in 2021 – Covid-19 hit
Second wedding date in 2022 – Melbourne flooded. But this wasn’t going to ruin our day finally arriving.
Planning surprises.
How early you need to book vendors.
The organization and spreadsheets required to pull off a wedding.
Words of wisdom.
Don’t sweat the small stuff.
Make your day reflective of you and your partner; there are no limits.
Start your own traditions.
Have a moment together as a newly married couple to take it all in. The day goes so quickly.
It’s undeniable that the weather is the one element we can’t control on a wedding day. But, preparation can make all the difference in turning a nightmare downpour into a dreamy romance. We’ve got all the tips and tricks to outwit the weather, here on the blog.
ASH & BEC’S VENDORS
We literally had the dream team of vendors at our wedding. Many had worked together before, which made it seamless and collaborative on the day. We are so very grateful for all of them and would highly recommend them to others who are looking to get married. All lovely people to deal with and absolute professionals. A shout out to our photographer Tess Follett who went above and beyond for us and who spent most of her night in the rain! You took some magical photos.
We found our vendors through Ivory Tribe, word of mouth and through other friends’ weddings. We took the best parts of other weddings we had attended. It was great to try before you buy.
Ceremony venue: The Capella (Chapel) Zonzo Estate
Reception venue: Zonzo Estate restaurant
Celebrant: Megan Thompson
Photography: Tess Follet
Florist: Sassafras Wedding
Hair: Marchesi Coiffeur (by Dave Marchesi)
Make-up: Louise Jean Makeup by Louise Griffin
The dresses: d’Italia (wedding dress maker: Dragana), Country Road (second dress, unplanned outfit)
Veil: My ‘something borrowed’ was my veil by Shehzarin Batha Couture. I borrowed it from a dear friend of mine; it meant a lot to me how excited she was for me to wear it.
Shoes: The White Collection (brand Badgley Mischka).
Rings: A Class Jewellers (Adelaide)
Bridesmaid’s dresses: Shona Joy
Suits & bow ties / ties: Daniel Hechter
Catering & bar: Zonzo Estate
Cake: Cake n Co ( by Olivia Glen)
Stationery / Signage: Etsy for menus, place settings, table numbers and wishing well. Homemade signs for wishing well ( printed at office works), seating chart (homemade) with envelopes from Vista Print, photo book supplied by Undisposable.
Entertainment: Like This Band
Transport: McKenzie’s bus company for guests, private cars for bride and groom.
Hire: Table Art Napkins. Photo booth Undisposable.
Purchase: Black taper candle holders from IKEA, Pillar candle glass holders and candles from Southern Lighting Candle Co, extra white candles from Kmart.
Honeymoon: Hamilton and Hayman Island
