Real Wedding – Mathew & Rita, Hawthorn VIC
Whilst Rita may have originally struggled to put into words her dream vision, the end result is an elegantly modern dream of chic styling, effortlessly unfolding against elements of Rita and Mathew’s personalities.
We adore poring over the exquisite images by the stellar talent of Collections Photography, capturing to perfection the aesthetic impact of the day, without forgoing a moment of the beautifully natural emotion.
And can we take a moment for the dress?
After initial disappointment with the styles Rita tried, she turned to a custom Elly Sofocli gown, which was, in her words, completely transformative.
Multiple looks are built from the one gracefully minimal gown, adding exquisite statement sleeves and a flowing cape to create an impactful, fashion-forward silhouette and a collection of style moments.
We’ve certainly delighted in scrolling this dreamy day, and we’re sure you will too.
The meeting.
We were set up by mutual friends who, for reasons we’d soon come to understand, believed we were a perfect match.
Our first meeting was an awkward double date, filled with nervous laughs, hesitant conversation, and a lot of second-guessing. But there was something there, something unspoken that lingered beyond the awkwardness.
Then came the dinner date that changed everything. It was simple, effortless, even familiar. As if we had known each other in another life, a perfect example of the red string theory. From that night on, everything just felt right.
The one.
I knew Mathew was the one for me when he effortlessly became a part of my family, and I felt just as welcomed by his. Early on, we had a conversation about life – our hopes, expectations, and the kind of future we envisioned. To our surprise, everything aligned. We shared the same values, dreams, and aspirations, and it all just felt so natural. From the moment he said “I love you” for the first time, deep down, I knew this was it.
The proposal.
Mathew proposed in our home, and it couldn’t have been more perfect. It was intimate, personal, and completely us; a moment that took my breath away and left me absolutely speechless.
I opened our front door to a trail of flower petals and candlelight guiding me through the house. At the end was Mathew, down on one knee, waiting for me. The world around me stopped. I honestly couldn’t tell you what he said, I was in such a state of shock and overwhelming joy. All I knew was that it was everything I had ever dreamed of. Pure magic.
Planning process.
The planning process began simply; I knew exactly where I wanted to get married and what needed to be booked. But when it came to bringing my vision to life through styling, I struggled to put it into words. That’s when I chose to work with Stephanie from Melbourne Event Styling. She understood and captured everything I had dreamed of. The day flowed seamlessly, and Stephanie worked her magic to make every detail absolutely perfect.
Style inspiration.
The inspiration behind the styling was to keep everything elegant, fresh, and neutral. We wanted the day to feel effortlessly beautiful, relaxed, and completely authentic to our personalities and relationship. Nothing too overdone, just a natural reflection of us.
I found it overwhelming looking at other weddings, there were so many incredible ideas and beautiful styles that it became hard to know what direction to take. What helped most was turning to Pinterest and focusing on smaller elements that spoke to me, like simple florals and colour palettes. From there, I worked closely with Stephanie to bring everything together in a way that felt cohesive, personal, and true to our vision.
The ceremony.
We had a traditional ceremony at the Macedonian Orthodox Church where Mathew was christened. The entire service was conducted in English, and our priest was incredible; he thoughtfully explained the meaning behind each symbolic element, making the ceremony feel even more special and meaningful.
The outfits.
Dress shopping wasn’t the magical experience I had expected. I didn’t feel emotional, and nothing I tried on seemed to match my simple style or flatter my body shape. It left me feeling a little disheartened – until I decided to take a different path and have a custom gown made by Elly Sofocli.
I had followed Elly for years and had always admired the pure elegance and understated beauty of her designs.
Elly designed a gown that was truly transformative. It allowed me to have multiple looks throughout the day, all built around the same stunning base. After the church ceremony, I removed the sleeves for a more relaxed feel, and then after our first dance, I took off the cape, revealing the beautifully simple gown underneath. It was the perfect way to transition through each part of the day while still feeling completely myself.
Working with her was a dream. She created a gown that was not only unique and timeless but fit like a glove; it was everything I had hoped for and more. The entire process was seamless, and visiting Elly and her team for fittings became a highlight of the journey. Choosing her was, without a doubt, one of the best decisions I made.
Favourite moments.
There were so many favourite moments throughout the day, it’s hard to choose just one, as each part held its own special significance. One moment was having my maid of honour help me into my dress, followed by the emotional reaction from my parents when they saw me for the first time – it’s something I’ll never forget.
I chose to hire a car so my mum and dad could drive me to the church. I wanted that time to be just ours – a moment shared between the three of us that we’ll always hold close to our hearts.
At the church, the most powerful moment was finally reaching Mathew, kissing him hello, taking his hand, and knowing this was the beginning of our forever.
And at the reception, it was pure joy watching our families and friends come together, dancing and celebrating as if they’d always been one big family. It was magic.
Meaning of marriage.
To me, marriage is a lifetime commitment to love, through every hardship, every joy, and everything in between. It’s finding your forever partner, the one you’re willing to go to the ends of the earth for. Marriage means building a life together, sharing dreams, challenges, and growth. It’s choosing the person I want to raise children with and nurturing a love that continues to deepen and evolve throughout our lives.
Wedding soundtrack.
Entry to the reception was a combination of a Bouzouki played by Pantelli and a Macedonian band Zlatan Ton.
First dance: From This Moment On by Shania Twain
Words of wisdom.
Everyone always says the day goes by in a flash – and wow, they’re not wrong. It’s crazy to think that a whole year of planning and preparation can pass in just one day. I was really lucky to have a photographer and videographer who gently reminded me throughout the day to pause, take it all in, and be present. Those little reminders were so important because it’s so easy to get swept up in the excitement and for everything to feel like a blur. There were so many moments when Sash would look at me and remind me to breathe, to look around, and really soak it all in, and I’m so grateful for that. I can’t recommend enough having someone you trust gently guide you to step back, slow down, and truly feel every moment.
Loving going down the rabbit hole that is real wedding inspiration? We’ve helped you browse with intention by curating our real wedding archives by style and colour. You can find your perfect mood board match, here.
RITA & MATT’S VENDORS:
Ceremony venue: St. George and St. Mary Mother of God Macedonian Orthodox Church, Epping
Reception venue: Leonda by the Yarra, Hawthorn
Celebrant: Fr. Kliment Stankovski
Photography: Collections Photography
Videography: c2 Films
Styling & decor: Melbourne Event Styling
Florist: Floral Accent
Hair: By Janelle Hair
Make-up: Mon B Makeup
The dress & veil: Elly Sofocli
Shoes: Aquazzura So Nude 105 Satin Slingback pumps
Rings: Top Image Jewellery
Bridesmaid’s dresses: Effie Kats
Groom’s suit & bow tie: Dyonsu
Catering & bar: Leonda by the Yarra
Favours: Made by us.
Cake / Cake topper: Party Time Cakes
Stationery / Signage: By Thirty Five
Entertainment: Bouzouki – Pantelis Krestas. Band – Zlaten Ton. Singer during cocktail hour and first dance – Madeline from Entertainment Collective.
Transport: Image Limousines & Melbourne Classic Car Rentals
Hire: Amica Event Hire
Honeymoon: Winter in Europe
Photo location: Como House and Gardens, South Yarra
