Real Wedding – Georgia & Declan, Bulleen VIC
Georgia and Declan planned most of their wedding in Melbourne while living in London.
Thankfully, the duo is pretty casual by nature and wanted their wedding day to embody a similar vibe.
The pair decided against a bridal party and said ‘I do’ hand in hand under the shade of a tree, whispering and giggling with excitement.
Georgia wore a chic silk gown she ordered online, and Declan matched her timeless sophistication with a classic black suit and bow tie from the tailoring experts at InStitchu.
Their styling decisions are a stunning example of how really can be more – more warm, more intimate, more authentic.
It’s no surprise that with their laid-back energy, and the talent of Liz Barnes behind the lens, their gallery is a delight to behold.
The meeting.
We officially met at a mutual friend’s party in March of 2019 in Melbourne. We had crossed paths a few years earlier, however, only Dec seemed to remember that. We were introduced by Dec’s Aunty who asked if I was ‘still’ single, she then said she had ‘someone she would like me to meet’ and introduced me to Dec and here we are six years later.
‘The one’.
Georgia: Honestly, from the first night we met. It’s easy to say now, knowing where we’ve ended up, but I was hooked from that very first evening.
Declan: There wasn’t a single lightning-bolt moment. It was more the realisation, over time, that I didn’t want to do anything without her.
The proposal.
We were living in London at the time, and Dec was determined to make it a surprise. On his lunch breaks, he would sneak off to Hatton Garden to organise the ring while we spent weekends exploring the city together. On our four-year anniversary, I was feeling under the weather and nearly stayed home from work. Dec insisted I go in (little did I know balloons and flowers were arriving at 9am!). After a long day, I came home expecting a quiet dinner. Flowers at the door didn’t raise suspicion; it wasn’t unusual for Dec, but when I walked into the living room to find huge balloons, more flowers, and Dec down on one knee, it clicked. He said, “These have been the best four years of my life. How about we do this forever?”.
Planning process.
Most of the planning happened while we were living in London, which was tricky since the wedding was back in Melbourne. Thankfully, we flew home for a friend’s wedding and managed to scout venues, instantly falling in love with the gardens at Heide MoMA (Museum of Modern Art). My older sister was a huge help keeping me organised. I’m quite relaxed, but she made sure I booked things like photography and hair and make-up well in advance, which was a lifesaver.
Style inspiration.
We’re pretty casual people and wanted the day to feel relaxed and effortless. The gardens at Heide are already so stunning that they didn’t need much. My sister discovered the most incredible florist, Minka, and we trusted her completely. What she created was beyond anything I could have dreamed of.
The ceremony.
We decided against having a bridal party, so it was just the two of us at the altar, which felt so personal. It gave us space to whisper to each other, share a giggle about how nervous we were and really soak it all in.
The outfits.
I knew I didn’t want a big, traditional gown, but living in London made the search harder. I tried shopping with my cousin, which was fun, but nothing felt quite right (especially once I saw the price tags in pounds!). After hours of scrolling online, I found a simple dress on Reformation that felt like me. I ordered it, thinking worst case, I’d return it. My cousin and I tried it on at a department store in a lovely change room, and as soon as I slipped it on, I knew it was perfect.
Favourite moment.
Georgia: I was SO nervous in the car on the way to Heide and whilst waiting off to the side with Mum and Dad, and then as I turned the corner and saw Dec, all nerves disappeared, and I was just so excited to be marrying him.
Declan: When I saw G walk down the aisle, she was absolutely radiant.
Meaning of marriage.
Georgia: Sleepovers with your bestie every night!!! And always having your person who’s there for you through anything.
Declan: Giving my love and loyalty to my best friend forever.
Wedding soundtrack.
Aisle: Bella by Angus and Julia Stone
Signing: Bloom by The Paperkites & Extraordinary Life by Gordi
Exit Song: Love Song by Angus and Julia Stone
First Dance: You & Me by Mt Warning
Funny stories/near disasters.
When my spray tan looked green before I washed it off and I sent panicked photos to my sisters. Other than that, it was smooth sailing!
Planning surprises.
Just how many tiny details go into the day. Even when you think you’ve covered everything, there’s always more to consider.
Words of wisdom.
Do it your way and make sure you’re not caught up in trends or what you think you should be doing.
Make sure you have fun and that the day is actually enjoyable for you both.
And choose a celebrant who makes you feel comfortable and relaxed – Emily from Le Lien was amazing.
For more epic garden style ceremony inspiration, check out our Real Wedding back catalogue.
GEORGIA & DECLAN’S SUPPLIERS:
Ceremony & reception venue: Heide Museum of Modern Art
Celebrant: Le Lien – Emily was so amazing on the day and in the lead up to the wedding, she really guided us through the whole thing and was so cool calm and collected.
Photography: Liz Barnes Photography – We feel so lucky that Liz was available on our wedding date. Not only are her images breathtaking, but the way she captured our day felt effortless and true to us. She made us feel completely at ease in front of the camera, which meant we could just enjoy ourselves and the result is a collection of photos we’ll treasure forever.
Content creator: Wed Social – Having Sasha there was one of the best decisions we made. She captured all the candid, behind-the-scenes moments and turned them into beautiful content we could relive straight away. It was such a joy to watch it all back the very next day.
Florist: Minka at Minka Studio – Minka brought our vision to life and then some. We trusted her completely and what she created was beyond what we could have imagined; romantic, whimsical, and perfectly suited to the gardens. The florals truly elevated the whole day.
Hair: Jamie Minney Bridal – Jamie was such a calming presence on the morning of the wedding. She nailed the brief and created hair that felt elegant but natural it lasted the whole night and made me feel so confident.
Make-up: Madeleine Goldsmith Bridal – Madeleine is a true artist. She made me feel like the best version of myself — glowing but still natural. Not only is she insanely talented, but she’s also such a warm, grounding energy to have around on the morning of your wedding.
The dress: I tried going wedding dress shopping in London with my cousin, we had a lot of fun trying on dresses and different styles, but nothing felt quite like me, especially after seeing the price tag in pounds! I found a dress I LOVED on Reformation and ordered it online, thinking worse case I try it on and send it back. My cousin and I took the dress to a department store so we had a nice change room and I tried it on and it was exactly what I was looking for.
Veil: Tania Stokes Design – Tania did an amazing job slightly altering my Reformation dress, changing the straps, adding lining and then created a beautiful veil to match the dress.
Shoes: Zara – Reworn shoes from our engagement party.
Rings: Daniel Christopher (London) and Cullen Jewellery
Suits: Institchu
Cake: Miss Trixie
Stationery / Signage: DIY
Entertainment: KG Entertainment
Honeymoon: We followed up the incredible day with a pool party recovery at my mum’s property and then headed to Rossfarm in Meeniyan, Victoria, for a few days to relax.
