Real Wedding – Steve & Marie, Dromana VIC

Sunshine, smiles and stunning style are front and centre for Steve and Marie’s gorgeous gathering. From the breathtaking lakeside backdrop of the ceremony to the warmly elegant exterior, Trofeo Estate provided the perfect setting for a day of relaxed fun, sweet sensation and, later on – an epic dance floor.

Tribe superstar Megan Thompson set the vibe with a ceremony filled with all the best elements; personal stories, a relaxed, uplifting tone and, of course, all the celebratory moments to create the best memories.

Laughing and ravishingly radiant, Steve and Marie are an absolute treat to behold. Marie wears Georgia Young Couture, a picture-perfect realisation of timeless elegance with a contemporary edge. A streamlined silhouette is enhanced with soft chiffon draping across the bodice, and dynamic, geo-inspired detailing over the skirt. The combination is giving us soft romance meets modern goddess – and we love it!

For these two, maximising their mingling time with their guests was a priority, and photographer Brendan Creaser has worked magic to make this happen while capturing every sun-drenched, bliss-filled moment with aesthetic artistry.

For more of this refreshingly sweet soiree, scroll on.

The meeting.

Marie: We met at work! We are both primary teachers. I was an emergency teacher at the school Steve was working at. I was a regular relief teacher there, so we got to know each other quite well, and it was pretty obvious to everyone around us that there was a bit of a spark. With the not-so-subtle help of a few other staff members, things went from there! It got a bit more complicated when I got a full-time job at that school the following year, and we were working in the same team together. Not the most ideal scenario for a new relationship; however, seven years later, we are both still working there!

The ‘one’.

Marie: It is hard to pinpoint a particular moment! I’ve always felt really calm and comfortable in Steve’s company. I think over time, I realised that I wanted to be in his company forever.

Steve: I went on a trip overseas with a mate of mine and spent most of my time texting and face timing Marie. I couldn’t stop thinking about her and really missed her throughout the trip. I think I may have already known; however, this trip certainly solidified it all!

The proposal.

Marie: Steve organised to send me out to lunch with a friend for the day, and when I arrived home, there was a sign on the front door saying, ‘front door is locked, come round the back.” I clued on then as this is very unusual in our house! When I came around the back, there was a picnic set up, and he went for it!

Steve: Marie has never been a huge fan of being the centre of attention, so I knew a public engagement wouldn’t be looked upon too fondly. I was pretty nervous waiting for her to come home, but it obviously went really well!

Planning process.

I don’t think either of us loved the planning process, as we are both shockingly bad at making decisions! We would go back and forth and drive ourselves up the wall! It’s embarrassing how many times ‘wheel decide’ (a customisable spinning wheel) made some of the big decisions for us. We left a lot of the ‘small’ things to the last minute, which of course, coincided with a very busy time at work. In hindsight, it wasn’t our best move!

Style inspiration. 

We wanted our wedding to feel like a big party with a few formalities mixed in. We didn’t want it to feel too structured, and we were so lucky to work with such great vendors who made this really easy for us.

We love going to wineries on the weekends, particularly down to the Peninsula, so it was the perfect location for us. Aesthetically we wanted something classic with neutral tones. Both the exterior and interior at Trofeo are so beautiful and were the perfect spaces on the day.

Inspiration via real weddings was probably the most useful thing to us. We were lucky to have friends who had been married recently to give us lots of advice.

The ceremony.

We really wanted our ceremony to set the tone for the rest of the night. Our celebrant, Megan Thompson, really understood what we wanted, and it was light, fun and personal. Looking back on it, we can’t quite believe how much we both cried during our vows!

The look. 

Marie: I didn’t have a particular dress in mind but had seen so many Georgia Young dresses that I just loved. I went there with my sister and friends and tried on a few which I really liked. My sister actually picked my dress off the rack for me to try, and it was something that I never would have picked myself! Once I tried it on, I just loved it!

Steve: I was originally set on some chinos and a blazer; however, in the end, I decided on a black tux. I had it custom-made at inStitchu and was really happy with how it looked on the day!

Favourite moments.

The cocktail hour after the ceremony. We didn’t want to spend too much time getting photos done after the ceremony so we could spend time with our guests. Our photographer, Brendan Creaser, had so many great suggestions as to how we could do this and still get an abundance of wonderful photos. It was so nice to be able to enjoy a cocktail on the lawn in the sunshine with all of our friends and family.

There was also a particular moment later in the night when just the two of us were chatting at the bar, and we looked at the dance floor where it was getting a little bit wild, and it was exactly what we wanted from our day!

Meaning of marriage.

Marie: Supporting, loving, caring and choosing your partner every day for the rest of your life.

Steve: Making a lifelong commitment to the most amazing woman I have ever met.

Wedding soundtrack.

Besides the reception entry, all the songs we had were played acoustic by Issac Main.

Aisle: Simply the best by Tina Turner

Signing: Follow the sun by Xavier Rudd and Love Me Now by Ziggy Alberts

Recessional: Here comes the sun by The Beatles

Reception entry: You’ve got the love by Florence and the Machine

First dance: Lover by Taylor Swift

Funny stories or near disasters.

Steve: I had never worn a self-tie bow tie before but figured, how hard could it be!? I decided to give it a go on the night before the wedding, and it was a total disaster. After a few more tries, I decided to give Mum a call and have her pick up some clip-on bow ties for me to choose from in the morning. Thanks, Mum!

Planning surprises.

I think how many small things pop up beforehand that need to be organised/amended and how stressful it all feels at the time!

Words of wisdom.

Don’t worry about the small things. We got told this by so many couples, and I wish we had listened more. The amount of stress we had over such little things, like the size of the confetti, is laughable now!

So you’ve set the date, planning has begun, and it’s time to find your own gorgeous get-up. We’ve got the low down on all you need to know to prepare for your first outfit appointment, here on the blog. 

STEVE & MARIE’S VENDORS

Ceremony & reception venue: Trofeo Estate, Dromana. Lisa from Trofeo Estate was so wonderful to work with. She had so many great suggestions and went above and beyond to make our day as special as possible, even going so far as to hang some fairy lights with her husband the night before the wedding!

Celebrant: Megan Thompson Celebrant. We had so many comments from our guests about how much they enjoyed our ceremony. We felt like it was a true reflection of us, which was all thanks to Megan and the effort she put in when learning about our love story.

Photography: Brendan Creaser Photography. Neither of us are particularly comfortable in front of a camera; however, Brendan made us feel so comfortable from the beginning. He captured so many wonderful shots of our wedding and fitted in seamlessly throughout the day. Highly recommend!

Videography: Westward Films. Like Brendan, Erik made us feel so comfortable straight away, making sure to keep it lighthearted and fun. His ability to capture all the highlights of our day was incredible, and we are so grateful for the memories he has provided us. Erik and Brendan worked so well together it is hard to believe they aren’t a permanent partnership.

Florist: Amalfi Floral Design. Bess was so easygoing and approachable throughout the whole process. Marie’s everlasting bouquet still looks amazing in our living room!

Hair: Unveil Bridal Melbourne. Jess and Jess did a wonderful job on the day. All the girls were so pleased with their hair, and they were able to cater to everyone’s different look.

Make-up: Madeleine Goldsmith from Tonic Agency. With six bridesmaids, all with different looks, a bride and the mother of the bride, Maddi sure did have her work cut out for her. I cannot speak highly enough of her, and what a wonderful job she did; everyone looked and felt fantastic, and her calming presence on the day was very much appreciated!

The dress & veil: Georgia Young Couture. Georgia made the process really enjoyable and easy.

Shoes: Loeffler Randall

Rings: Mike – Classical Diamond

Suits & bow ties: Institchu (followed by Myer for a clip-on bow tie!)

Cake: Caked By Katrina. We still dream about how delicious this cake was!

Stationery / Signage: WilsonInkDesigns

Entertainment: Issac Main. We just loved what Issac brought to our wedding. Playing acoustic throughout our ceremony and the cocktail hour afterwards, we were all blown away by how talented he was! Not only that, he then had our guests on the dancefloor for hours on end, happy to take requests and read the room perfectly.

Transport: Watson the Grapevine

Hire: Wishing well and easel – Signed by G

Honeymoon: The Beach Club at Hamilton Island