Real Wedding – Jess & Jack, Fyansford VIC
For Jess and Jack, their two-year planning process was relaxed, enjoyable and cohesive. After locking in their non-negotiables and sticking to them, and building a supplier team of true talent, the day unfolded in a harmony of breathtakingly elegant, understated styling that allowed the raw beauty of their venue, the indomitable Provenance Wines, to shine.
Jess looked a dream in her Kyha ensemble; the contemporary yet timeless silhouette of the Apollo gown was enhanced for the ceremony with the Echo skirt in duchess satin. Her gorgeousness wasn’t lost on Jack, whose face says it all, while he elevated his look with a classic black suit and bow tie from Eddy Elias.
We love seeing this darling day unfold through the legendary lens of Ryal Sormaz. And, Jess spoke to the Wedding Talk podcast this week, so for a detailed description of her planning process and fab stories of her celebration, we highly recommend diving in!
The meeting.
We met over ten years ago at Deakin University, we were both studying the same course and met through mutual friends during Orientation Week. We became fast friends and after a few months, we decided to take the plunge and start dating. A decade later, it’s clear it was the right choice!
The one.
I knew Jack was special when we met, often saying, ‘He’s the guy you marry.’ Jack’s moment of realisation is both funny and beautiful. One day, we were working on an online quiz for uni, and I was particularly frazzled, trying to finish it before heading to work. Jack says it was in that moment—seeing me stressed and overwhelmed—that he knew. He realised he loved me even when I wasn’t at my best.
The proposal.
In December 2022, Jack asked me to take a few days off work because he had booked a couple of nights in Lorne, where we had our first official date. Since I’m usually the one who plans our trips, I had a pretty strong suspicion that he was going to propose.
On the day, Jack was acting a bit odd, but we set off towards Lorne as planned. Then, out of the blue, he took a different route. That’s when he confessed that we would be going to Lorne the next day and that tonight was a surprise. We arrived at a stunning Airbnb called “Boonah View” in Deans Marsh, and the moment I saw the view, I knew. A few hours later, while we were standing there taking in the view, he got down on one knee!
Planning process.
We had nearly two years to plan our wedding, giving us plenty of time to save and plan the day. Despite hearing how stressful it could be, we really enjoyed the process. We agreed on the venue, vendors, and overall style. Jack’s non-negotiables were great food and drinks, while mine were finding the perfect wedding dress and putting together a solid vendor team.
Support from friends and family, especially those recently married, made it easier. Once we locked in the big-ticket items, we gave ourselves some time to explore styles and figure out exactly what we wanted. We did all the styling ourselves and sourced everything from different companies. It was time-consuming, but in the end, everything came together perfectly on the day.
Style inspiration.
Provenance Wines was a venue that truly spoke for itself. We were drawn to the European charm of the Grand Hall and loved that it offered three distinct spaces for the ceremony, canapés, and reception. The venue was already so beautiful that we knew we wouldn’t need to do much in terms of styling. We opted for a simple, dreamy, and classic design with a touch of fun, aiming to enhance the natural elegance of the space.
I drew inspiration from real weddings, especially through blogs like Ivory Tribe and podcasts. I went through phases of exploring different types of wedding content—sometimes focusing on real weddings, other times listening to vendors like photographers or makeup artists. It gave me great insight into the planning process and what to expect on the big day.
The ceremony.
My favorite part of the day was the ceremony. It took place in the Grand Hall at Provenance Wines, and it truly felt like something out of a movie. We had all 100 guests seated, including our bridal party in the front row, as we wanted everyone to feel comfortable. Instead of facing each other, Jack and I linked arms and faced our guests, making the ceremony feel more intimate. Our celebrant was captivating, and the way she told our story was perfect.
One unexpected but magical moment happened just after I walked down the aisle— it started raining outside and created a beautiful rain sound on the roof of the building. It made the ceremony feel even more dreamier and special with the background noise of the rain.
The outfits.
My wedding dress was the Apollo gown from Kyha Studios. It featured a scooped neckline, a structured waist with a dipped corset, and a draped wrap skirt. For the ceremony, I paired it with the Echo skirt, made from duchess satin, which I wore over the dress. Surprisingly, the Apollo gown was the first wedding dress I tried on. Although I didn’t expect to fall in love with the first one, I still visited two other stores and tried on different dresses, but by the end of the day, I came back and chose the first dress!
Favourite moment.
Seeing each other for the first time as I walked down the aisle and then hearing our story shared by the celebrant during the ceremony was truly unforgettable.
Meaning of marriage.
Marriage means that we are a team, committed to improving ourselves and each other whilst growing together as a couple.
Wedding soundtrack.
Aisle: Is this Love by Bob Marley (acoustic version)
Signing song: The Best by Nicotine Dolls
Recessional: You are the best thing by Ray LaMontagne
Reception entry: September by Earth, Wind & Fire
First dance: Sure Thing by Miguel (live version)
Funny stories or near disasters.
We had a few funny mishaps leading up to the wedding, but the big one was me getting acute gastritis from taking Nurofen on an empty stomach on the week of the wedding! On the day, there was a huge spider in the car as the girls were leaving, which gave us a laugh. Meanwhile, Jack had to swap shirts with a groomsman because his had been altered incorrectly, and the collar wouldn’t button up!
Planning surprises.
The week of the wedding flew by, especially the last three days! We felt organised throughout the planning, but it all went by so quickly, more than I was expecting.
Words of wisdom.
Don’t stress about the little things—plan your wedding exactly the way you and your fiancé want the day!
For more wedding planning inspiration, tools and insights, we’ve compiled a list of our favourite wedding planning resources. Pop your headphones in, grab your planning guide and your phone, and enjoy!
JESS & JACK’S VENDORS
I found our celebrant, photographer, musician, and videographer on Instagram after following them for a while. I loved that they shared each other’s content and were clearly friends, which made me confident they’d be a great team. We also discovered our florist, makeup artist, and hairstylists through Instagram, with glowing recommendations from word of mouth. Our content creator was a friend I had previously worked with and we found our stationery designer through a friend.
Reception & ceremony venue: Provenance Wines – After having lunch at Provenance Wines a few times, I joked to Jack that we’d get married there one day. When we were looking for a venue, we met with Candice, the Wedding and Event Coordinator, and she blew us away. We already knew the food and space were incredible, but after meeting with her, we were sold.
Celebrant: Kahani Montani – Kahani was incredible—she tailored the ceremony perfectly to suit us, and when she shared our story during the ceremony, it felt like time stood still.
Photography: Ryal Sormaz – The photos speak for themselves! Words cannot describe how phenomenal Ryal was, so easy going on the day but an absolute magician behind the camera.
Videography – Josué Torres – Torres Wedding Films (TW Films) – I have re-watched our video a million times. Josue was so much fun on the day but his videography left us speechless, capturing the day perfectly.
Content Creator: Candid Studios – Han was phenomenal, she is so easy going and fun whilst capturing the most romantic moments.
Florist: Emma Lane – Emma nailed the brief! such amazing floristry.
Hair: Kelsey Monea – Kelsey was amazing. I adored my hair, and my bridesmaids were so happy with their styles.
Make-up: Maddi Nicholls / Dear Boa – The most talented and amazing makeup artist you can find! Maddi made the morning so much fun.
The dress & veil: Kyha Studios
Shoes: HARLO Australia and Bared Footwear
Rings: Sarah and Sebastian
Bridesmaid’s dresses: Bec + Bridge
Suits and bow ties: Eddy Elias Menswear
Cake: Collins Cakes
Stationery / Signage – Studio Denham and Geelong Reprographics
Entertainment: Cal Young – We wanted a party and Cal brought the party and more!! No one left the dance floor all night.
Décor: Bought online and slowly collected over the two years of planning.
Hire: Signage stands from Small Things Co
Honeymoon: Fiji – A week relaxing by the pool/beach!
