Real Wedding – Gemma & Josh, Yarra Glen VIC
Gemma and Josh didn’t envision an aesthetic for their dream wedding day but an atmosphere.
Styling touches were secondary to the fun, party-like sensibility they were trying to curate.
And who better to make the transition from hilarious and heartfelt speeches to a joy-filled dancefloor than the entertainment experts at Hey Jack who know just how to capture – and elevate – the energy in a room.
From the moment guests caught a glimpse of the bride at the top of the aisle, her Kyha gown was a focal point. From the contemporary corset to the sheer sleeves and thigh-high split, it was a gown that commanded attention and made Gemma radiate with confidence.
For laid back lovers like Gemma and Josh, the warm and wonderful Jess Nicholls was a perfect choice of photographer – vibrant, talented and real. The kind of vendor who feels like an old friend from the moment you meet.
The results of their effortless connection can be seen in the stunning, love-filled gallery below.
The proposal.
Josh’s proposal was very low key. We both love the beach so we went to Edithvale beach for a swim one warm Sunday morning where Josh proposed to me with a $3.00 fake engagement ring he had bought from the Queen Victoria Market (it actually looked real… I thought it was at first!). We then went and designed my real engagement ring together. I had absolutely no idea it was happening on the day which I love! I found out afterwards Josh had asked my Dad for permission beforehand which is an old tradition I like.
Planning process.
We really wanted a relaxed vibe for the wedding and we tossed up eloping then having a big house party or just a backyard wedding. We decided to look at a few venues to be sure and we looked at three before we found Acacia Ridge and I fell in love. I found the venue after my sister was speaking highly of it after attending another wedding. As soon as I walked in and saw the outlook I knew it was absolutely perfect. The venue is absolutely stunning.
Funnily enough I found a lot of our other vendors through none other than Ivory Tribe! Honestly all of our vendors were amazing!
Our photographer Jess Nicholls was SO much fun to work with. She was hilarious and knew exactly how to whip me and Josh into gear when it came time to get photos. She was so efficient and made us both super relaxed.
My make-up artist Ash was also an angel. She made the wedding morning so enjoyable and was so easy to work with, listening to what each bridesmaid and I wanted and making sure we all felt beautiful.
Style inspiration.
We didn’t really have a theme for the wedding – we just wanted everyone to have fun and be relaxed. We wanted a big party to celebrate with all our favourite people!
The outfits.
My wedding dress was from Kyha and I was/still am obsessed with it! I left my wedding dress shopping quite late and didn’t start looking until 10 months before. I went to four different boutiques with Kyha being the last visit. I found the overall experience super easy. I felt quite relaxed about finding the dress and had a rough idea of what I wanted which helped. My bridesmaids and Mum were also the biggest hype girls! Kyha were amazing to deal with and made me feel super at ease. Their boutique and staff were beautiful to deal with.
The suits were all from Men’s Suit Warehouse in Abbotsford. We both fell in love with a classic black tuxedo and knew that was what we wanted. The staff were easy to deal with and all the groomsmen were easy going which made the experience relaxed and fun.
Favourite moment.
It’s hard to pick a favourite moment, but walking down the aisle was a highlight for me. I had my Mum and Dad both walk me down and I was crying so much! The combination of the music, seeing Josh waiting for me and the guests made me so emotional – I made an effort to just soak it all up as much as I could. The speeches were another highlight. They were hilarious, heartfelt and so, so perfect. Everyone laughed and so many people cried, they were beautiful.
Meaning of marriage.
Marriage to us means committing yourself completely to your other half. It means working together through life to navigate all of the ups and downs. In our case, I think we definitely balance each other out. I know that life will undoubtedly throw challenges our way in the future, but I know I have someone in my corner that has my back no matter what.
Wedding soundtrack.
Aisle: True Companion – Marc Cohn
Recessional: Riptide – Vance Joy
First Dance: Can’t Help Falling In Love – Elvis Presley
Funny stories.
When we first started planning the wedding we thought we might have a backyard wedding at my parent’s house. We vaguely mentioned this idea to my parents one evening over dinner to which my Dad almost immediately took a sledgehammer to the kitchen wall and commenced what would become a 6-month major kitchen renovation. My Dad is my hero and he was so keen to make the house perfect for our potential wedding. We ended up changing our plan, but my parents now have a beautiful new kitchen!
Words of wisdom.
Do it however you want! Don’t be influenced by what other people say or do. It is YOUR day and you’ll only do it once. Don’t be pressured into making the day something that isn’t purely for you both.
GEMMA & JOSH’S SUPPLIERS:
Ceremony & reception venue: Acacia Ridge Winery
Celebrant/Officiant: Anna Smale
Photography: Jess Nicholls
Content Creator: Bridal BTS – I am so glad we decided to hire a content creator last minute! I knew I didn’t really want a videographer but I was recommended Bridal BTS by my make-up artist and after seeing their work I knew it would be perfect for what I wanted.
Florist: Flowers of Yarra Glen – Our flowers were absolute perfection and brought so much colour to our table settings. We didn’t really have any other decorations, the venue did all the talking, however the addition of the blue and yellow flowers really had an impact. Our arbour was incredible as well.
Hair: RAE Hairstylist
Make-up: Ashleigh Fenton
The dress: KYHA
Veil / headwear: Micaela Debney
Shoes: Carvela
Rings: JMS Diamonds
Bridesmaid’s dresses: Shona Joy
Suits: Mens Suit Warehouse
Catering: Locavore Catering
Stationery & Signage: Canva – We DIY’d all the stationery including invites, seating chart, table numbers and place cards. We also had a large selfie mirror with a decal on it at the entrance of the wedding which I did myself. I had everything printed by the same company which was Minuteman Press.
Entertainment: Hey Jack
Transport: Enrik Limousines
