Real Wedding – Nicole & Kyle, Richmond VIC
For a couple who wanted a wedding day that felt intimate but not too traditional, a first look at the architecturally sublime Mid Air bar at Hyde Melbourne Place was a fitting place to start.
What began as a dancefloor kiss between Nicole and Kyle in 2009 (egged on by my mutual friends, of course), evolved into a 16-year partnership that was sealed with ‘I do’ in the chicest of urban settings.
Given the duo has an affinity for all things dark, moody and art deco, the colour palette organically landed in the realm of greens, golds and whites with a pop of dark maroon for depth.
The dark timbers and an abundance of greenery at Glasshaus provided a canvas that needed little styling, so a slew of cylinder candles simply enhanced the mood of romance through soft lighting.
Delight in all the behind-the-scenes stories and snaps from lens-wielding legend Leah Hulst below.
The meeting.
Many years ago (2009), there was a spot the youth of the area loved to go and have a very respectable time out in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Mutual friends introduced us on the dancefloor in a very subtle way (‘Kiss my mate?’) and the rest is history.
‘The one’?
It sounds cliché but we knew right from the very beginning. Our love started fast but grew slowly and steadily all at the same time. Mere weeks into knowing each other, we spent a dreary Melbourne morning embracing outside my childhood home as we left each other for six months to both travel abroad. That was the moment.
The proposal.
We had a relaxed day visiting some art exhibitions in Melbourne, followed by a picnic in the park with a soundtrack of our favourite tunes as we overlooked views of the city. It was a moment all to ourselves.
Planning process.
Nicole is Project Manager out in the real world, so a budget, a timeline and a checklist are her forte. Lots of mid-week planning nights were enjoyed over a Malibu and Coke.
Style inspiration.
We like dark and moody art deco vibes so the colour palette organically landed in the greens and golds and whites with a pop of dark maroon/burgundy. Glasshaus’s abundance of greenery stuck out to us as it created a relaxed atmosphere that didn’t need to be altered and we really leant into its aesthetic when planning other details of the wedding.
The ceremony.
We wanted something that felt intimate and not too formal. The ceremony really exceeded our expectations. Alongside having an absolute killer celebrant who made the whole affair so warm and engaging, the feeling of having your absolute nearest and dearest surrounding you as you take this leap into the next part of your lives is truly amazing. There were a lot of tears!
The outfits.
The thought of finding ‘the dress’ seemed ridiculous to me, but I was on board with making this a special process where I invited lots of close friends and family to attend and toast a glass of bubbles. I had a few appointments early on where it was all about quantity and trying lots of dresses and different styles. There is only so much research you can do online before needing to see the designs on your body. What stood out at Grace Loves Lace was that every dress I tried on felt comfortable and easy to move in. It was a pretty amazing feeling to put on the Aire gown with the Pierlot viel and go ‘oh wow, this is it’. And what rounded out the whole process was then going through Bluebell Bridal for alterations to make the dress fit me perfectly.
Favourite moment.
Taking a breath after the ceremony and being consumed by hugs from all our friends and family whilst toasting with a prosecco and some oysters!
Meaning of marriage.
Evolving and growing together as a couple. Kyle and I have been together for almost 16 years so marriage is an ongoing commitment to continue to grow and learn and love.
Wedding soundtrack.
Ceremony entry: House of Cards – Radiohead
Certificate signing: Simple Song – The Shins
Ceremony exit: Friday I’m In Love – The Cure
Reception entry/Cake cutting: Always – Blink 182
First dance: Baby I Love You – The Ramones
Funny stories/ near disasters.
We had a close friend spend a lot of time and energy creating an absolutely amazing DJ mix of songs via MixCloud to cover the reception and late-night beats. Two days prior to the wedding, we found out the files wouldn’t play via the in-house sound system. We made it work, and the dancefloor still went off.
Then, we had a giggle when a good friend accidentally knocked over a flower vase on the dance floor, but then proceeded to mop it up whilst twerking. Kept the dancefloor going hot!
Planning surprises.
We made a last-minute call to include a content creator for the day, as we hadn’t secured a videographer, and it was hands down one of the best decisions we made. The raw footage and curated reel we got from Sarah, you can’t put a price on.
Words of wisdom.
You will feel like the do list keeps growing and never seems to end! It can be quite an overwhelming experience in terms of planning and preparations but remember that the outcome is going to be one of the most magical days you will ever experience and all that time and effort is worth it.
When it comes to your photographer, make sure you find someone who matches your energy levels. Kyle and I are not super romantics or formal and we just wanted someone who would effortlessly capture the candid moments without making it feel forced. Leah absolutely nailed this brief and made us feel so comfortable.
For more city chic Real Wedding inspiration, check out our back catalogue of urban ‘I dos’.
NICOLE & KYLE’S SUPPLIERS:
Ceremony & reception venue: Glasshaus
Celebrant/Officiant: Wed With Sheridan
Photography: Leah Hulst
Content – Between Moments
First look venue – Mid Air at Hyde Melbourne Place
Florist: Daisy May Florals
Hair: Tonic Agency (Kim Tavares)
Make-up: Tonic Agency (Eleanna Hingston)
The dress(es): Grace Loves Lace – Aire Dress (Ceremony) + Henne – Noa Dress (Reception)
Alterations: Bluebell Bridal
Veil / headwear: Grace Loves Lace (Pierlot Veil)
Shoes: Covet Shoes
Rings: Ringwood Jewellers
Suits & ties: Briggins
Cake: Family friend
Stationery / Signage: Ivory & Ink
Honeymoon: Italy & Austria
