Real Wedding – Steve & Chelsea, Richmond VIC

Intimate, warm and emotion-filled were the first words that sprung into our mind when we saw Chelsea and Stephens’ magical micro-wedding. As Chelsea puts it, simple and casual is them all over, but their dream day shows that stress-free and relaxed can also be elegant and stunningly special.

Having just found out they were pregnant, Chelsea and Steve glowed in every image by legendary photographer One Spoon Two Spoon. Chelsea appeared at the end of the aisle in a sleekly chic gown from one of our favourite boutiques, Bluebell Bridal. With a simple, stunningly flattering silhouette, contemporary lines and a perfect pony by Shauna Elizabeth Hair, she looked every bit a refreshingly modern bride. And from that point on, the happy tears flowed.

As these cool cats hit the streets of inner Melbourne, there was no shortage of effortless romance and effortless electricity between them. As the night set in and they returned to the warm glow of Glasshaus Inside, the love and laughter ramped up a notch, proving again that intimate has an epic impact. Scroll on for your dose of feel-good vibes.

The meeting.

We met at University and then got together ten years later!

The ‘one’.

We had a crush on each other in the uni days, but the time wasn’t right. So as soon as we re-met and realised there was still a spark between us, it was a done deal.

The proposal.

Steve proposed on our balcony under the night sky at home, one of our fave spots to hang out.

Planning process.

I lived on our excel spreadsheet and followed the advice of family and friends to ensure we stuck to the important stuff and didn’t get carried away worrying about things that really didn’t matter.

Style inspiration. 

We just wanted simple and casual, which is us all over.

I found real weddings the most useful for inspiration as you could hunt down things that everyday people used for their special day. And it’s always nice to see real brides in gowns as opposed to models.

The outfit. 

I loved the idea of a clean, crisp and simple dress and, after trying on more than I’d like to admit, I found exactly that. Lots of trial and error, but we got there in the end!

Favourite moments.

Walking in with my dad. I was so excited all day, and we had spent months cancelling, rescheduling and questioning whether to keep postponing or go ahead with the day as we navigated the ups and downs of the pandemic. It was amazing to make it down the aisle and see Steve standing there – we had finally made it.

Meaning of marriage.

Being the ultimate super team. Riding the waves of life together, enjoying amazing experiences and having each others’ back at every turn.

Wedding soundtrack.

Aisle: We Could Fall in Love Again Tonight by David Gray.

Funny stories or near disasters.

Finding out that we were pregnant two days before the wedding! I had to contact the caterers and ask if they could sneak me non-alcoholic champagne after the ceremony so that nobody would know. We were so excited but decided to keep it to ourselves at the start. Little did we know that we actually had our TWINS Archie & Stella there at the wedding! We found out there were two babies seven weeks in.

Planning surprises.

How easily you can go down the rabbit hole and start really caring about things that you didn’t expect to. You can really start to obsess about every little detail of the day and get caught up in things that won’t even matter.

Words of wisdom.

Agree on what’s really important to you and stick to it. So much will unfold as it needs to on the day anyway. Be organised but also keep it simple. The day is about you and doesn’t need to be stressful and over complicated.

A micro-wedding can allow you the time (and budget) to choose which details to really focus on. With a small guest list, why not go big on the design elements? Beautifully crafted stationery and signage can define the look of your day, and be a treat for your guests. For some of the best visual creators in the business, check out our directory, here. 

STEVE & CHELSEA’S VENDORS

I found most things on Instagram! Ivory Tribe was a great starting point, and I used that as a ‘home base’ and starting point for lots of inspiration.

Ceremony venue: Glasshaus Inside, Richmond

Reception venue: We didn’t have one (Covid)

Celebrant: Krystal Hinwood

Photography: One Spoon Two Spoon

Florist: Glasshaus Florist, Richmond

Hair: Shauna Elizabeth Hair

Make-up: Cosmetique

The dress: Alyssa Kristin – Sydney (from Bluebell Bridal in Melbourne)

Shoes: Wittner

Rings: Arman Jewellers, Doncaster

Bridesmaid’s dresses: Shona Joy

Groomsmen’s suits and ties: MJ Bale

Bar: Fourside Events

Stationery / Signage: State of Elliot