Real Wedding – Damian & Olivia, Dromana VIC
Olivia and Damian’s glam wedding soiree was a beautiful balance of classic elegance, modern romance and a touch of rustic winery styling. A colour palette of crisp ivory, soft dried grasses and sweet sage accents culminate in perfection alongside the bridesmaids in burnished slate.
Choosing the stunning Dromana Estate to host their celebrations meant for a seamless day set against sun-drenched bushland vistas, gorgeous vineyards and the expansively breathtaking barrel hall, lit by a skyscape of fairy lights. If you’re looking to keep the planning stress low, choosing the one venue for all elements of your day is a huge bonus.
For this glowing bride and handsome groom, only megawatt smiles made their way onto their faces. After a portrait session of pure romance captured by photographer extraordinaire Holly Osborne, the newlyweds headed inside to dance the night away to the tunes of entertainment masters The White Tree.
Scroll on to see each bliss-filled moment unfold!
The meeting.
Damian and I first met back in January 2018 at Mt Martha beach. I was at the beach with my sisters (Phoebe & Sarah) when Phoebe’s new boyfriend decided to come and meet us. Little did I know he was bringing two friends with him, Damian and Dakes (Damian’s best man). The three boys arrived at the beach, and I instantly noticed Damian due to his height and athletic build. I do, however, remember thinking his choice of outfit was questionable and whispered to Sarah, “Why is that guy wearing budgie smugglers?!”. Later I discovered the budgie smudger situation was a stitch-up from Dakes, who thought it would be a great idea for Damian to rock up in smugglers.
Damian was shy at first, but after a few hours on the beach together, I decided to invite the boys back to our house for pre-drinks before we headed off to Sorrento Hotel that evening. At Sorrento Hotel, I was taken aback when Damian proactively bought me a drink and from there on; we spent the rest of the night talking to one another. I don’t think I talked to another person the entire night.
The ‘one’.
A few months into dating. He was so different to any other guy I had dated before. There were no games. He was honest, genuine, and kind. He saw the best in me and wanted the best for me! My father once said if love is meant to be, it should be easy; with Damian, love was easy, and life is just better – full of fun, happiness, and laughter.
The proposal.
It’s a long story. But the short version is that Damian popped the question at Lui Bar (55th Floor of the Rialto). We had dinner at Cecconi’s in Flinders Lane beforehand, and Damian tricked me into drinks with his sister and brother-in-law after. He proposed after our second cocktail at Lui bar! I had no idea it was going to happen because a week earlier, we had been having a conversation about marriage, proposals etc., and he told me it was at least another year or two away. Great way to throw me off!
Planning process.
There was a lot of planning involved, lots of coordination and back and forth with various suppliers. People asked me if I had a wedding planner?! No, I was the wedding planner!
Style inspiration.
I really liked the idea of having a rustic wedding at a beautiful winery, and Dromana Estate captured that perfectly.
During planning, I found Pinterest super helpful and talking to friends who had previously planned weddings.
The ceremony.
Our ceremony was us to a tee: fun, down to earth and full of love and laughter.
The outfit.
The dress I wore from my wedding was a Vera Wang dress. It was the second dress I tried on. It fit like a glove, and I knew it was the one as soon as I had it on.
Favourite moments.
I’d have to say the drive up to sunset hill just before the reception started. Damian and I were driven to sunset hill with Holly, our photographer, to capture some photographs in the sunset. It was a bumpy and fun ride, and I remember looking across at Damian and just taking everything in and saying to each other, this is our wedding day; can you believe it?!
Meaning of marriage.
Marriage is a commitment for life, full of love, partnership, happiness, and ups and downs.
Wedding soundtrack.
Aisle: Fields of Gold – Eva Cassidy version
Reception entry: Sing Hallelujah – short version by Dr Alban
First dance: That’s Amore. Damian and I were dancing and wrapped in streamers (an Italian tradition) whilst this song was playing.
Planning surprises.
How far out you have to book a venue. There was a big backlog from covid. We were lucky to get the date we got.
Words of wisdom.
My advice is to plan as well as you can, but when the day comes, don’t stress and let things be. Whatever happens on the day is out of your control, so just enjoy and roll with it. Also, make sure you grab a moment on your wedding day where it’s just you and your partner to take it all in.
Beginning your planning journey? Chances are, you’re starting with the big ticket items – like your venue. For some of the most stunning locations in Victoria, check out our showcase of some of our favourite celebratory venues, here on the blog.
DAMIAN & OLIVIA’S VENDORS:
Ceremony & reception venue: Dromana Estate
Celebrant: Emma Tomlinson
Photography: Holly Osborne
Florist: Yvonne Caine
Hair & make-up: Tonic Agency
The dress: Vera Wang Bride
Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Rings: Cartier & Parker Diamonds
Bridesmaid’s dresses: Shona Joy
Suits & bow ties / ties: Formal Red
Catering & bar: Dromana Estate
Cake: The Butchers Daughters Cakes
Stationery / Signage: Pink Swann
Entertainment: The White Tree
Honeymoon: Maldives & Singapore
