Real Wedding – Kelsey & Alexander, Melbourne VIC
Pure, timeless romance and effervescent celebration underpin Alex and Kelsey’s gorgeous wedding day. Super stylish Georgia Young Couture and YSG Tailors designed the fits for this dreamy couple, and what a stunning centrepiece they make to this aesthetically artful celebration.
Kelsey’s off-shoulder princess gown is given a contemporary twist with a peplum style skirt detailing and fabric embossed with a soft abstract patterning. The overall effect is sweet romance meets chic beauty. For Alex, a classic black tux personalised with custom details is as sharp as it gets – and the look on both their faces when they first catch sight of one another gives nothing short of awed perfection.
Wanting to showcase their home city of Melbourne to their family and friends had the dual effect of gorgeous settings at the Porticio at Melbourne Town Hall and Alto event space, but also allowed the newlyweds and their wedding party to make their way on foot between venues – creating a photo journey through the urban landscape that captures every blissed out moments, through the exquisite lens of Nikki McCrone photography.
As visually impactful as this stunning day is, there is also an underlying sense of fun-filled, blissed-out celebration enhanced by Melbourne Entertainment Co behind the decks. Scroll on for this perfect combo of party and style.
The meeting.
We met in 2010 at a party in a friend’s basement.
The ‘one’.
Alex: Pretty much straight away, there was something that immediately made Kelsey different to every other girl I had liked before.
Kelsey: Definitely a spark from the get-go; however, I think I knew he was the one when he first double-bounced me on a trampoline.
The proposal.
We travelled to Japan in December 2019. Midway through our trip, we stayed at this beautiful Ryokan with a private onsen that we had rented for far too much money. Alex had big grand plans for the proposal with views of Mt Fuji but ended up asking the question whilst we were stuck inside during a rainstorm because the ring was burning a hole in our shared luggage!
Planning process.
Covid made a big impact on our planning and basically put a pause on it for 12-18 months. We got lucky during one of the Covid lockdown breaks in that we were able to find a venue and lock in our big-ticket vendors (i.e. photography, flowers) during this period. Most of the other plans then gradually fell into place over time once we had settled on a style.
Style inspiration.
Many of our friends and family needed to travel from regional Victoria to help us celebrate. We knew we wanted a location that had easy transport, lots of nearby accommodation, and no big gap between the ceremony and the reception. Our life and relationship have been built around Melbourne City; we both just love living here, and what better way to share the best parts of Melbourne City with our friends and family.
Kelsey’s brother had been married on the Balcony at the Town Hall, so it was a perfect sentimental choice, and Alto Event space is only a short walk away. We had originally entertained the idea of getting married in a garden setting, so lots of soft romantic floral energy was a necessity.
The ceremony.
We were so blessed with a beautiful sunny afternoon, and our florist Zoe just transformed the balcony with such beautiful romantic floral creations. Our ceremony felt intimate, like there were only the two of us present. I don’t think we stopped smiling. We both had our Dads act as our witnesses, which was a perfect decision.
The look.
Kelsey: I was studying for a major exam during the lead-up to our wedding, so I could only go dress shopping twice and had to be super organised and decisive. I’d loved GYC for a few years by then, so I knew from early on it had to be one of hers. I basically went in knowing which dress I wanted – thank goodness it felt just as good when I tried it on.
Alex: I chose to wear a classic black tuxedo. YSG Tailors were able to custom make my tuxedo with some personalised embellishments to signify the special occasion, our initials embroidered on the shirt sleeves and inside the jacket pocket.
Favourite moments.
Alex: Incredibly hard to narrow down, and to be honest, there isn’t really a single moment that I would put above all else. From the first look to the walk home, it was all exactly what I wanted.
Kelsey: I loved our first look and portraits. Spending time alone together and having a drink pre-ceremony was just a special way to get all the nerves out and soak all the good energy in. My second favourite moment was the ceremony; I was just so happy to be marrying my best friend and to be surrounded by everyone we love.
Meaning of marriage.
A commitment to the one you are choosing to marry, that you will be there for them when times get rough, and that you will explore life with them with whatever comes your way.
Wedding soundtrack.
Aisle: Time After Time by Eva Cassidy
Recessional: September by Earth, Wind and Fire
First dance: Lover Come Back by City & Colour
Funny stories or near disasters.
I think we were both just so excited that no minor drama could ruin the vibe. Kelsey did, however, manage to get bird poo on her dress during our first look, literally five minutes into wearing the dress, but it’s supposed to be good luck, right? Dad also spilled coffee on his shirt just before the ceremony. Our recommendation is to consider packing some baby wipes and sticking to clear beverages until post-ceremony!
Planning surprises.
Kelsey: being spoilt for choice by vendors and options. Too much of a good thing can be seriously overwhelming.
Alex: I was surprised by some of the decisions I made after trying things on, such as a gold-tone wedding band when I never would usually choose to wear that tone.
Words of wisdom.
The best bit of advice we have received is to take a moment in the first few days after your wedding to write down all the special memories and little moments that made it special. We did this both separately and together, focusing on how we felt and what made us laugh at different moments of the day. The day just goes by so quickly, so it is a nice keepsake for us to look back on.
It’s important to talk to each other to make sure your wedding day is what you both want. Try to start early, so you can take your time making the big decisions (and enjoy it!).
For Kelsey and Alex, choosing their venue was about practicality, showcasing Melbourne and making a nod to family. But for those beginning the planning journey, it can be hard to know what to look for in a potential venue. We’ve summarised some top tips, here on the blog.
KELSEY & ALEX’S VENDORS
Ceremony venue: Melbourne Town Hall Portico Room & Balcony, Epicure.
Reception venue: Alto Event Space, Damm Fine Foods Co. Our guests all raved about the food and views. We felt so well looked after by the Alto team.
Celebrant: Leah Weds. Leah made a big effort to create a ceremony that was exactly what we wanted. She sent through some great vow writing resources.
Photography: Nikki McCrone. Nikki is gorgeous. You spend the biggest part of your day with your photographer, so we knew we needed a ball of positive energy that you just want to hang out with. She really knows how to capture big smiles and joy perfectly.
Florist: Zoe, Botanical Quarter. Zoe is just so kind and a real pleasure to work with. She understood how to bring romance and colour into both our ceremony and reception venues. She went above and beyond to maximise our space and budget and genuinely made our floral styling some of the best memories we have of our wedding.
Hair: family friends.
Make-up: Suzy Sela Make-up. Suzy makes you feel beautiful inside and out – she really listens to your concerns and takes time to make sure everything is perfect.
The dress & veil: Vasette by Georgia Young Couture.
Shoes: Loeffler Randall, Reed Beauty Pleated Twist Heel.
Rings: Kelsey engagement ring and Alex wedding band: Michael Wilson Diamond Jewellers. Kelsey wedding band: Brilliant Earth.
Bridesmaid’s dresses: Shona Joy, Luxe Frill Wrap Dress in porcelain.
Suits: Alex suit & bow tie: YSG Tailors
Groomsmen suit & bow ties / ties: Black Tie Classic Carlton
Catering & bar: Damm Fine Food Co. Alto Events.
Favours: Foxtails & Co, Three Foxes Distillery.
Stationery / Signage: Hello Magnolia
Entertainment: DJ Tyla, Melbourne Entertainment Company
Hire: Boothalicious Photobooth
Honeymoon: East Coast Tasmania
