Minimalist St Kilda wedding with scarlet florals
Carlie and Daniel knew the key to their dream day came from first assembling a stellar team.
Afterall, the weddings with the most effortless style or relaxed atmosphere are in fact quietly curated over months of intentional decision making.
Chief among them was vendor selection. Industry legends Hey Jack were the duo’s one-stop-shop for creating and capturing unforgettable memories, trusted to take care of the ceremony music, photography and videography.
We were chuffed to hear Ivory Tribe played a hand in guiding the pair to their adored celebrant, Marry Me Tee, who was encouraging of their decision to share personal vows at the first look, and yet still managed to deliver a ceremony that was romantic, deeply personal and fun with just the right amount of formalities.
And finally, given the overall vision was a modern take on a traditional celebration, there was no more aligned bridal designer for Carlie than Kyha. She eventually returned to purchase the very first gown she tried on at her very first dress shopping appointment – a vision of contemporary glamour.
Scroll on to learn about their considered approach to wedding planning, which commenced after a heartwarming proposal at Michelton.
The meeting.
We had broadly been in each other’s lives for long time – from high school to social events – but never directly crossed paths. However, after we ‘officially’ met, we both quickly felt that there was something special between us and we have been together since March 2017.
‘The one’.
We realised very quickly! Meeting each other felt different for both of us, and it didn’t take long at all for both of us to notice and feel that.
The proposal.
Daniel booked a surprise weekend away at Mitchelton for a belated seven-year anniversary celebration. After dinner on Friday night, we went down to one of the boat docks on the river and sat talking for a while. Daniel proposed, and I wasn’t expecting it at all!
On Saturday night, before we went for dinner, we went to the restaurant to get a drink, where he surprised me with my parents, who came to dinner with us, and when we got to dinner, Daniel’s parents were also there. The six of us had a great dinner with plenty of delicious food and wine.
Planning process.
We had a clear vision and style in mind for how we wanted our day to look, so our process was about bringing that to life. As there are so many great vendors out there to choose from, a big part of our process was taking to time to look through a range of vendors and make a solid decision of who we believed would bring our day to life in the best way for us.
Style inspiration.
Inspiration through real weddings was key during the planning process as it helped to show a concept brought to life. From there, we were then able to envisage our venue, guests and ourselves in that moment to decide whether it would work for us.
Neither of us ever wanted an overly traditional wedding to begin with. We wanted to prioritise a day that was really fun for us, as well as for our family and friends. We knew that if we stayed true to what our vision of a wedding looked like, the fun and comfort would come through our day and our photos so naturally. We couldn’t be happier!
The ceremony.
Ivory Tribe was a great help in finding our celebrant, Tee. Our celebrant was one of the most important factors of our wedding day, as we were wanting to ensure the right person told our story the right way. We were wanting a celebrant who we could relate to and who we could trust. We were beyond grateful for Tee on the most special day of our lives!
As we had already done our first look and personal vows prior to the ceremony, the formalities ended up being short and a lot of fun. We kept the romantic and traditional nature of the service through our legal vows and signing of the paperwork. One of the most special memories we will have for the rest of our lives is the big cheer and celebration our guests made when we were walking back up the aisle, officially married! The support and love they gave us were amazing and set the tone for the rest of the reception.
The outfits.
Our goal was a modern take on a traditional wedding, and we knew our outfits were a big part of bringing that to life. Even though I tried on quite a few gowns, the dress I chose was actually the very first one I tried at the very first appointment.
For the bridesmaids, we thought chocolate-brown dresses created a sense of modern chic while still feeling timeless.
For Daniel and the groomsmen, we wanted an elevated version of a classic formal suit. Paired with dark red florals, their looks tied in beautifully with the modern colour palette.
Favourite moment.
Our first look and private vows! Our wedding was the most amazing day, but it was also went by so quickly. Having the time to ourselves to slow down and truly listen to and embrace each other’s words alone, instead of in front of a crowd, was really special.
Meaning of marriage.
It’s an everyday, conscious commitment to choose each other, and choose our life together, as a priority.
Wedding soundtrack.
Aisle walk: Latch (acoustic version) – Sam Smith & Disclosure
Recessional: Dancing in the Moonlight – Toploader
Words of wisdom.
Enjoy it! Trying to work, live your normal life and plan a wedding isn’t easy – but once it’s over, you begin to really appreciate the excitement and happiness the planning brings with it. Appreciate the special time, make the day all that you want it to be, and remember to slow down to take all the magic in.
CARLIE & DANIEL’S SUPPLIERS
Ceremony & reception venue: Stokehouse St Kilda
Celebrant/Officiant: Marry Me Tee
Photography, videography & ceremony music: Hey Jack
Florist: Vasette
Hair: Hair by Neeven
Make-up: Makeup by Enrica
The dress & veil: Kyha
Shoes: Dune London
Rings: Cullen Jewellery
Bridesmaid’s dresses: Bec & Bridge
Cake: Cake Me Crazy
Stationery / Signage: Self-designed and printed at Smada Print & Design
Entertainment: DJ Sean Hugo
Transport: Opal Chauffers
Engagement location: Michelton
Honeymoon: Fiji
