Real Wedding – Jordan & Tarsha, Warrnambool VIC

On a day overflowing with exquisite moments, one of Jordan and Tarsha’s absolute faves was sneaking off for their simply stunning sunset portraits. Whether it’s the newlywed glow or the incredible golden light, we agree that the electric emotion between these two has been captured beautifully by Katie Harmsworth. It was a brief moment of quiet at a party that truly wows the senses.

Choosing a soft, modern aesthetic with nods to timeless tradition made for a day as gorgeous as it was fun-filled. The wedding party in classic black and white anchors the creamy vanilla styling palette, creating a soft, romantic look with elevated with chic contemporary detailing – clean black typography, arc-inspired stationery and lush foliage.

Tarsha was a truly glam vision, beginning the day in a modern-day ballgown by Mariana Hardwick, the dramatic look completed with her sweeping floor-length veil and epic train. When it came time to party, she switched into a sequinned sheath by divine designer Khya that amped up the vibes even as the sun went down. Melbourne Entertainment Co brought the dance floor to life, ending the day on the highest of highs.

For more of this stunning party magic, scroll on!

The meeting.

We met at a bar in Warrnambool known as ‘The Shan’. Prior to going out that evening, I told my girlfriend I was looking to meet someone tall. A few hours later, she introduced me to my now husband, who just happens to be 200cms tall!

The ‘one’.

Tarsha – For me, it was after I had returned from five weeks overseas without Jordan. He picked me up from the airport and had the car loaded with pillows and blankets for the three-hour journey home. I was at university at the time and had a placement scheduled four hours from home a few days later. Jordan drove a separate car to stay with me for one night to make sure I got there safely (jet lag is intense) and settled into my accommodation. I vividly remember thinking I’m going to marry him.

Jordan – There was no defining moment when I knew. Our relationship continued to strengthen over time.

The proposal.

We went a little bit nontraditional and picked our favourite jeweller and diamond. Jordan then arranged the setting with Adriana at Saphira Diamonds. So I knew the proposal was coming, although I didn’t know when or how it was going to happen.

Jordan proposed at home with a special handmade book of our relationship memories, accommodation in Queensland for a few days later and even a certificate to say I had passed my ‘apprenticeship’. He then whisked me to a surprise dinner with our immediate families to celebrate and tell them the good news. It was incredibly special.

Planning process.

Jordan had three requests for planning; his non-negotiables were having the wedding locally, ensuring the guests had transportation and having round tables for the reception. The rest was up to me. I consider myself a decisive person but ended up second-guessing every choice I made. Having a marquee wedding and Covid tearing through the community at the time also made things a touch more stressful.

I primarily used Instagram to find our dream team. I did peruse the Ivory Tribe directory a few times, and the youandmepodcast was also super helpful listening to real bride experiences.

Style inspiration. 

Modern yet traditional.

We always had a vision of what we wanted the day to look like. We tried to pick suppliers that we loved and give them a general vibe of the vision, then let them work their magic.

The ceremony.

Our ceremony was incredible. Set in a bluestone chapel behind the church that Tarsha’s parents and grandparents got married in, surrounded by our nearest and dearest. We wrote our own vows and had our grandmothers sign our marriage certificate. It was perfect for us.

The outfit. 

I was always going to have two dresses. The ceremony and reception are so different; I wanted each gown to reflect the mood and atmosphere.

For my ceremony gown, I chose the Mariana Hardwick Rose gown. I was a little unsure at first until Frida pulled out a 5m train and added it to the gown. I knew it was the touch of drama I had been searching for.

For my second dress, I wanted something fun and easy to dance in, with a different silhouette than my first dress. The Muse by Kyha ticked all those boxes for me.

Favourite moments.

We have so many cherished moments from the day. A highlight for us as a couple was sunset photographs. The formalities are almost over, it is only you and the photographer/videographers, and you can’t help but sneak in a few kisses.

Meaning of marriage.

Solidifying our relationship

Wedding soundtrack.

Aisle: Canon and Gigue for Three Violins by Johann Pachelbel

Recessional: This Will Be by Natalie Cole

Reception entry: So Good by Lady Bri

First dance: We wanted something slow and romantic first, so we started with Can’t Help Falling in Love by Haley Reinhart, then did a fun dance that we choreographed a few days before to What I Like About You by The Romantics. Our guests loved it!

Funny stories or near disasters.

I didn’t factor in how windy Warrnambool could get, and my 5m train acted like a sail at times.

Our speeches were originally meant to be in the marquee, but because it was clear, it was too hot. They got moved to the garden, which turned out to be wonderful for photos.

Planning surprises.

How much you second guess every decision you make. On reflection, your first choice is usually the right one!

Words of wisdom.

Enjoy the process; it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Pick the elements that meant the most to you (e.g. photography), and don’t compromise!

Want to keep those magic wed day memories preserved for life? Milk Books offers a beautifully refreshing take on the classic wedding album – not only a place to browse your incredible images but also somewhere you can present your vows, speeches, and your written memories. Read more about this special offering here.

JORDAN & TARSHA’S VENDORS

Ceremony venue: St Joseph’s Parish Hall, Warrnambool

Reception venue: Blauvelt Park Terang,

Celebrant/Officiant: Sue Mcmillan

Photography: Katie Harmsworth. We do not have enough kind words to say about Katie. She was warm, professional, personable, and a pleasure to work with. Photography was the most important element to us, and Katie did get booked before we were ‘officially’ engaged. On the wedding day, Katie was super calm, brought along her wonderful partner Eric to help second shoot and gave us enough direction for portraits. We are absolutely in love with our photos and the way Katie captured the emotion within our day. We couldn’t recommend her more!

Videography: Annette and Dani. Annette and Dani are fantastic! Videography was another important element to us. We knew Annette and Dani were the perfect fit after an initial consultation. They were professional and funny and went above and beyond for us on the day. The highlight film we received really gives an essence of our day and the vibe of the wedding.

Styling: Myself with help from the wonder Kate from Hey Lovers for set-up.

Florist: Bloom Bar and Co. Jess from the Bloom Bar and Co was a dream to work with. I showed Jess a few inspiration photos and had a lengthy discussion about the vibe of the wedding. Jess and the team managed to make our floral dreams come true. Jess takes such pride in her week and was genuinely so excited about creating our elements.

Hair: Bonni and Clyde. Steph from Bonni and Clyde had been doing my hair for years and was the only choice. The day before, my bridesmaids and I went into her salon for a wash and blow wave; it was a great start to the wedding weekend.

Make-up: Hilary Holmes. Not only did Hilary slay the make-up, the vibe and energy she brought to the morning helped set the day up on a great tone. A favourite moment of the day was when Hilary finished my make-up, and the bridesmaids gathered around and started clapping her.

Ceremony dress & veil: Mariana Hardwick.The Mariana Hardwick experience was very special; it was amazing to have a gown made for your body with any custom touches to help the dress reflect your personal style. The team were so attentive to all of my requests and alterations.

Party Dress: Kyha

With thanks to Dressmaking and Such for alternations.

Shoes: Aquazzura

Rings: Saphira Diamonds. Adriana is a dream; her knowledge of diamonds and passion for her work helped us decide on her for our rings.

Bridesmaid’s dresses: Hexie

Suits & bow ties: Clancey’s Menswear. Clancey’s not only looked after Jordan and his groomsmen but most of our family in preparation for the wedding. They even honoured a gift voucher that Tarsha’s grandfather had in his wallet for almost 50 years!

Catering: Wyton Events

Stationery / Signage: Wimmera Design and Print

Entertainment: Melbourne Entertainment Company – Jaaz DJ/Sax. Jaaz absolutely brought the magic to reception. Once the dance floor started, it did not stop. My gosh, he was good on the sax!

Décor: The Ivory Scribe (table numbers and wishing well) and Party and Pout (Mr and Mrs Dillon custom arches)

Hire: Grand Events Warrnambool

Honeymoon: Whitsundays, we couldn’t think of anything nicer than laying down for two weeks after planning a wedding!

Other: My gorgeous morning robe was courtesy of Elle Bridal Couture, and my bridesmaids were in Homebodii. I wanted everyone in all white for the morning; it looked so fresh in photos.

One-the-day coordination thanks to Hey Lovers. Kate helped to ensure our day ran smoothly. To any brides wanting a stress-free wedding day, a day of coordinator is a must!