Real Wedding – Matt & Diana, Collingwood VIC
Matt and Diana’s effervescent ‘I dos’ were brimming with high-impact hues and personalised points of difference that made the celebration feel uniquely theirs.
After a touching first-look with their adored dogs – who were sporting mini, matching tuxedos with Matt – the lovebirds took to the streets of Melbourne for playful city portraits where they were cheered and championed by a tribe they dubbed their ‘I Do Crew’.
The fashion-forward focal point of Diana’s wedding look was a pair of bright pink Valentinos, which were referenced subtly by Matt’s pocket square and echoed on an eye-catching scale through the dramatic floral installations and DIY stationery.
A vibrant, creative and personality packed affair calls for a talented celebrant and MC who could be described the very same way, so engaging the wonderous Precious Celebrations to steer the ship from storytelling through to declaring the dance floor open was an inspired choice.
Opting for a Cannoli Cart instead of a classic cake, a wedding website in lieu of paper invites, stellar photo sharing platform GUESTPIX and ‘hangover drinks’ on exit in place of party favours, were just a handful of the modern moments that distinguished Matt and Diana’s day from the rest.
Dive in and discover how it all went down through the lens of the incredible Anna from Lulu & Lime.
The meeting.
It all started with a Hinge date on May 2022. We met up for drinks at a pub—Di had a few too many, and Matt walked away with a kiss on the cheek. The whole date was pure fun—effortless conversation, plenty of laughs, and that instant this feels right kind of vibe. The next day, Matt called his best mate Chris (who later became our Best Man) and said, I think I just had my best date ever. Turns out, he was right!
The ‘one’.
Di: It was a mix of moments. When I tried to break up with Matt, he wouldn’t let me and instead let me ugly cry on his shoulder—that was a turning point. Another was when he booked a vegetarian restaurant, and I ended up eating a salami pizza—it just felt so natural. And when he got my dog a sleepover kit, I knew he was someone truly special.
Matt: It wasn’t one specific moment—it just grew naturally. I knew Di was special early on because of how she approached life, handled challenges and saw others. I had written a list of qualities I wanted in a partner and Di ticked every box. But when I saw how she embraced Ruby, my daughter, that’s when I knew I’d found the one.
The proposal.
On November 2023, Matt proposed during a picnic at the Royal Botanic Gardens. He had planned four surprise stops for the day, letting me choose between Option A or B, with the final destination being the gardens. The weather wasn’t great and poor Matt ended up with wet pants while sitting on the ground, while I was grumpy, wondering why we were having a picnic in such bad weather. That’s when he knew it was time to pop the question. I had been bugging him about proposing for a while but Matt had already picked the date months before—11:11, because it symbolises new beginnings.
Style inspiration.
Matt and I aren’t originally from Melbourne, but we both fell in love with the city—so much so that we moved here separately, only to have fate (and maybe a little Melbourne magic) bring us together. We wanted our wedding to embody everything we love about this place: creative, a little edgy and full of personality. A formal affair wasn’t our vibe. Instead, we envisioned an epic party with a bold, playful colour palette—fun, vibrant, and totally us.
Real weddings on Instagram and blogs like Ivory Tribe were my absolute go-to! There’s something about seeing real couples, real moments, and all those creative, personal touches that just hits differently. Plus, let’s be real—it made it so easy to go down the rabbit hole.
The ceremony.
Our ceremony was everything we hoped for—personal, heartfelt, and filled with love (and a few happy tears!). We wrote our own vows, which meant the world to us—a perfect mix of funny and heartfelt, reflecting our relationship perfectly. Our celebrant’s speech was another highlight. She captured our love story so beautifully—especially when she described why Matt annoys the heck out of me and what he loves about me. We had our “I Do Crew” instead of bridesmaids and groomsmen, and our daughter was our ring bearer. She brought so much joy to the ceremony—she got more special attention than us! I also loved dancing down the aisle with my dad to our wedding song, with my amazing “I Do Crew” ladies by my side.
The outfits.
Di: For me, it was all about the perfect shoes first. I was set on having pink shoes, my favorite color, and then finding a simple dress to complement them. Finding the right shoes proved more challenging than expected, but after a few Net-A-Porter purchases, I found my Valentinos—on sale, no less! As a woman with curves, I thought finding the perfect dress would be daunting, but many bridal shops cater to all shapes and sizes! Someone recommended Raffaele Ciuca and they were so helpful—they knew what would work for my body type. The first dress I tried on, I fell in love with. To add a unique touch, I chose a birdcage veil from an overseas designer on Etsy. My mum, an incredible craftswoman, custom-made my pink leather bag along with the groomsmen’s leather belts.
Matt: It was much easier for me. Since my “I Do Crew” lads were interstate, I simply hired tuxedos from Ferrari Formalwear in Myer so they could match. After a few rounds of finding the perfect fuchsia pocket square to match Di’s shoes, we finally landed on one from OTAA.
Favourite moments.
Our first look with our dogs before the ceremony. They couldn’t attend the wedding but they mean so much to us. Dressed in their tiny tuxedos, they were waiting alongside Matt—it was adorable and instantly relieved any pre-ceremony nerves. After that, we did all our bridal party photos with our I Do Crew in the laneways and streets of Richmond, where we live, which created some amazing photos. It also meant we could jump straight into cocktail hour and start the party, without needing to leave the venue for more photos afterward.
Meaning of marriage.
Marriage, to me, isn’t about perfection or grand gestures—it’s about having a partner in life who makes the good times better and the tough times easier. It’s about choosing each other, every day, through the highs, the lows, and the moments in between. It’s knowing that no matter what, we’ve got each other’s backs. And, let’s be honest, it’s also about having someone who puts up with my quirks—including the occasional ‘hissy fit’—and still loves me anyway.
Wedding soundtrack.
Aisle: You Send Me – Aretha Franklin
Ceremony Exit: This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – Natalie Cole
Reception Entry: Crazy In Love – Beyonce
First Dance: The Way You Look Tonight – Tony Bennett mashed with Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars
Funny stories or near disasters.
Always have a plan B wet weather option – as soon as our First Look outside happened, so did the rain. The groom nearly tripping the bride up down the aisle by treading on the dress as he was too busy saying hello to everyone.
Planning surprises.
Sticking to the budget was definitely one of the biggest challenges! To keep things in check, we focused on three non-negotiables: finding the perfect venue to set the vibe, choosing stunning floral arrangements that doubled as statement pieces and locking in a killer photographer to capture all the memories (especially since we decided not to have a videographer). We also knew the right celebrant would make all the difference in setting the atmosphere and guiding us through the process.
On the flip side, one of the biggest joys was DIY-ing our own stationery, wedding favors and props. If you’re up for the challenge, it’s such a fun way to get creative and add personal touches. We also wanted to keep things as sustainable as possible, so we went fully digital—emails instead of paper invites, and a custom-designed website via Wedsites to keep everything streamlined.
Words of wisdom.
Canva is your best friend – don’t forget to create your moodboard + pick a colour scheme early on.
Do what works for you – you don’t have to follow tradition. We did things our way for a lot of things, like opting out of a wedding cake and having a Cannoli Cart instead, so people got up and danced after dinner, we didn’t have wedding favours, but Hangover drinks as people left.
I recommend a first look if you’re an anxious person like me, it allows a precious moment between the two of you, and it relieves the pressure of the aisle walk.
We outsourced our MC on the night to our celebrant, which was the best thing we did – it relieved so much stress, and she rallied the troops in such a professional manner – the reception just went so smoothly.
Organise a QR code + website like GUESTPIX so you can get all the guests to upload their captured photos and video – we didn’t have a videographer, so it came in handy.
Delegate all actions to your nearest & dearest on the day so you can just relax and have fun without being pestered.
Ensure you have at least tqo moments throughout the night just for you and your partner to take it all in, the night goes so fast and you want to stop and just remember some great moments of the night.
MATT & DIANA’S SUPPLIERS:
Ceremony & reception venue: Rupert on Rupert
Celebrant/Officiant: Precious Celebrations
Photography: Lulu & Lime
Florist: Pomp & Splendour
Hair: Megan Lee Parnnham
Make-up: Sharni Rose Beauty
The dress: Raffaele Ciuca
Veil: Etsy
Shoes: Valentino
Engagement Ring: Black Finch
Bride Wedding Ring: Sarah & Sebastian
Groom Wedding Ring: Grandfather’s own wedding ring
Suits & ties – Ferrari Formalwear
Favours: Dodge Drinks
Cannoli Cart: Cannoleria
Stationery / Signage: Bride’s own design
Website/Email Invites: Bride designed on Wedsites
Photo capturing and sharing platform: GUESTPIX
Entertainment: Heartbreak Hotel DJ
Honeymoon: Fiji
