Real Wedding – Naomi & Cameron, Mernda VIC
Naomi and Cameron knew they wanted to remain true to their own personal style when planning their wedding.
Sleek neutrals with infusions of tradition led them to create a dream day based around soft muted tangerines, olive and sage greens and minimalist, clean lines.
Add to this chic style their ultra-harmonious and dreamy romance and pure party vibes from their wedding party and guests, and you have a celebration for the ages.
Cam looks every bit the dapper gent in a traditional black tux by our friends at Instichu, while Naomi is jaw-dropping in an impactful and simply stunning Kyha gown and veil.
With Kelly of My Scandi Style behind the lens, every genuinely gorgeous moment is captured with a fresh feel in timeless style.
The meeting.
Naomi: It was in between one of the 2021 lockdowns. After a night out with my friends, a work pal was out for a birthday at a pub, and invited me join her and her friends. Cameron was one of those friends, we got talking, hung out that whole night, and from there it feels like we didn’t stop talking. He asked me to dinner the next week and it was so easy and effortless from then.
The one.
Cameron: I loved how strong and independent Naomi was; she had her own successful career and ambitions. When we moved in together, I then realised how caring and loving she was, and I appreciated all that she did for me and then realised I could spend my life with her.
Naomi: I definitely knew Cameron was “the one” early on. I always felt safe and looked after when we were together, and just wanted to spend all of our time together, it was so easy to be with each other and talk to each other.
The proposal.
We were away at Cam’s family’s beach house in Inverloch for the weekend and were due to drive home that night. Cam had booked us to go out for dinner, which Naomi thought was strange, but she was happy to be going out to eat. Naomi was getting ready to go out for dinner while Cam was waiting and waiting for her for what felt like ages. Cameron then proposed at home, just the two of us, it was private and perfectly suited to us. We then went out for dinner to celebrate.
Style inspiration.
I found it really difficult in the beginning, I am generally pretty simple from a style perspective, so I was struggling to get ideas and colour inspiration when I’m not really a fan of colour.
I knew I had to keep it super simple, sleek and neutral, but also incorporating traditional and timeless elements. I’m typically drawn to deeper neutrals, browns, greens, burnt orange, and I think the florals, greenery and candles still made it feel really warm, soft and welcoming.
I got all of my inspiration through vendors on Instagram. I would scroll through posts to find other vendors and get my visual inspiration that way. For me, that was a fantastic way to see all the styling elements of a wedding put together and work.
The ceremony.
We wanted the ceremony to be quick and concise; we didn’t want to write our own vows either, but otherwise, I would say it was pretty traditional. Cam’s very close family friend was our celebrant, which made the ceremony even more special and personal to us. It was a lovely element that we were lucky enough to have.
The outfits.
Cam: Cam knew exactly what he wanted; he wanted to keep it traditional with a black tuxedo. He did some research on tailors and landed on Institchu, who made his and the groomsmen’s suits all in black. Along with the bridesmaids in black, it worked really well together.
Naomi: Again, I know I have a pretty simple style, I don’t like a lot of texture. Much like styling the room, I knew I’d get overwhelmed if I had too many options. I did a lot of online research and only allowed myself two designers to visit. By the end of the first day of shopping, I had narrowed it down to two dresses, and then I couldn’t stop thinking about the Kyha dress for the whole week after, so I knew that was the one.
Favourite moment.
I really enjoyed the first look and the time before the ceremony. The first look was a beautiful icebreaker to calm the nerves before the ceremony, and it was so nice to enjoy this time and have fun with our families and bridal party.
Meaning of marriage.
Cameron: Marriage is doing life with someone who has the same goals as you, you both support each other through the good and bad times.
Naomi: I agree with Cam, marriage is also a safe space and that person who promises to give you mutual support, companionship and security.
Wedding soundtrack.
Aisle: Acoustic version of Love at First Sight – Kylie Minogue, sung by the beautiful acoustic duo The Dunes, from Tillee Music.
Reception entry: Sun Don’t Shine – Sonnentanz, Klangkrussell, Will Heard. Such a catchy song and we wanted something that would lift the room up.
First dance: 28 – Zach Byran. We are both big country music fans and that was something that has always bonded us together. This song sounds beautiful, has beautiful lyrics and is country without being too mainstream.
Funny stories (or near disasters).
I can confidently say there were no disasters on the day (none that anyone had told us about anyway)
Planning surprises.
Naomi: At the very start of planning, I had zero idea what I was doing or where to start. People always warn you about the stress, but by the end of planning and the final month beforehand, I absolutely loved planning every little detail that was exactly how we wanted it to be.
Words of wisdom.
Naomi: The whole time I told myself, “This is only as stressful as you make it”, and I really believed that. It’s such a beautiful and happy time, and I was determined to enjoy every second of it as I knew I would never do this again. I really encourage anyone planning a wedding to just be in the moment and enjoy it!
NAOMI & CAMERON’S VENDORS
We found Kelly, our photographer, through a wedding she had done at a different venue we looked at. I was drawn to her style of photography, how everyone always looked like they were having so much fun, they looked relaxed, and I knew that was exactly what I wanted.
From there, things snowballed. We saw Gareth through Kelly’s Instagram, and she posted the two of them at a wedding together and honestly, they looked like they were having so much fun! I knew that if your photographer and videographer are excited to work together, they must produce some pretty amazing results, and they did!
Laine was recommended to me by a friend who used her for her bouquets, and again, Instagram to the rescue, her work was amazing!
Ceremony and reception venue: FIVE Vineyard, Mernda. We were super lucky that Cam knew about FIVE, as he used to work with one of the owners. We had previously visited for dinner a few times, and it was always unbelievable. When it came to choosing a venue, FIVE was a clear winner for us. We loved their reception space, photo opportunities, and we already knew we loved their food and wine. They were the absolute best to work with throughout the entire planning process, and on the day, we couldn’t have asked for a better dream team, from Elysia, our planner, to the gorgeous staff serving us through the night.
Celebrant: Sue Muir, Speaking from the Heart. Having a celebrant that we knew felt so special, and we were incredibly lucky to have Sue for our special day. Our ceremony was so perfect, Sue told our story so well, and we are forever grateful.
Photography: Kelly, My Scandi Style.
Videography: Gareth, Solasta Wedding Films. Kelly was an absolute legend, she understood our brief and vision and knew exactly what we wanted, and she delivered to perfection. She and Gareth (videography) made us feel comfortable and relaxed, we were able to just be ourselves, and I think this shows in the final product.
Florist: Laine, Floral Accent.
Hair: Georgia, By Gia the Salon
Make-up: Steph Piazza. My gorgeous hairdresser Georgia, and the beautiful Steph were honestly the glam dream team. We had so much fun that morning and these 2 were a really important part of setting the vibe and making me and the girls feel at ease.
The dress & veil: Kyha
Shoes: Wildfire
Rings: Cullen Jewellery
Bridesmaid’s dresses: Billy J Store
Suits: Institchu
Bow ties / ties: Yd.
Catering & bar: FIVE Vineyard, Mernda.
Cake / Cake topper: Cakes by Samantha, Pelligra Cakes. The absolute perfect cake, and so delicious.
Stationery / Signage: Sea and Paper. Sea and Paper were recommended by a friend for invites and on the day stationery, and of course, they did not disappoint.
Entertainment ceremony and cocktail hour: The Dunes by Tillee Music. “Love at first sight” was the first song I heard the Dunes perform on their website and I fell in love immediately with her voice. They were the perfect canape hour vibe, the only thing I regret is being so busy on the day that I didn’t get to sit and listen to them the whole time.
Entertainment reception: Josh, Married to the Groove DJ/MC. Josh was absolutely amazing for our wedding! He understood the brief completely of what we wanted the vibe of the night to be, and then he read the crowd and played exactly what everyone wanted to hear. The dance floor was packed all night. We can’t thank you enough.
Honeymoon: SO/ Maldives. Truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, it was everything we could’ve hoped for. Beautiful weather and gorgeous views.
