Real Wedding – Steven & Clare, Port Melbourne VIC
From very early on in their relationship, Clare and Steven had that pinch yourself, this is something special, feeling. So when it came to creating their I-Do day, soft romance, intimate moments, and understated elegance were front and centre.
Realising that a micro-wedding doesn’t have to equal small on style, Clare focused on the little details to create a timeless look of old-world elegance. From her simple yet stunning bouquet, her contemporary twist on a classic gown, to Steven’s lush velvet jacket, this day was filled with echoes of effortless class.
An emotion-filled ceremony lead by celebrant superstar Sally Hughes set the tone for the celebration, set against the historic architecture of Ciao Cielo. We loved the contrasting images from the newlywed’s portrait session lead by visual poet Finder Seeker photography, framed to perfection by the urban vista of Melbourne’s cityscape.
The meeting.
We met through an online dating website at the end of 2014. After our first date, I remember thinking, this guy is too good to be true!
The ‘one’.
Pretty soon, I would say after the first month of dating, we both knew this would be something special.
The proposal.
We had discussed getting married, so I knew it was coming, but I didn’t know where or when. Then, on Stevens birthday in 2019, after getting our greyhounds a special treat from MacDonald’s, we were back at home and then out of the blue, he gets down on one knee and proposes.
We then spent his birthday looking at the engagement ring and celebrating out at dinner.
Planning process.
It was the beginning of COVID when we decided to arrange the wedding. We wanted to use as many local suppliers as possible. Google and Facebook were my go-to, and then I would read reviews and check their socials to see if they would suit our style.
Style inspiration.
I wanted a very classic, relaxed, intimate wedding.
The ceremony.
Because we chose to have an elopement style ceremony, it was quite short; however, it was filled with emotion.
The outfit.
My aunty makes wedding dresses for a living, and ever since I was a little girl I could not wait for the day she would make my dress. I went to one dress shop to try on different styles and see what suited my body shape.
But after that me and my aunty, Michelle, just designed the dress together.
Favourite moments.
I have so many! But there were three stand-out moments for me. When Steven and I saw each other all dressed up for the first time (we had a first look). I also had a first look with my mum and that moment was so special. Finally, the ultimate was our ceremony. Just sharing our vows with each other was very special.
Meaning of marriage.
To me, it means finding your best friend and being their biggest supporter through life!
Funny stories or near disasters.
When we got to our hotel room, we, unfortunately, realised Steven’s bow tie had fallen out in the limo. Luckily we called the concierge, and they brought up a new bow tie to our room on a silver platter!
Planning surprises.
Just the constant date changes, we had to change dates three times. Although it did bring on more challenges and uncertainty, it made the actual day that much more special!
Words of wisdom.
Very cliché but don’t stress over the little things; at the end of the day, all that matters is the love between you and your partner.
Love a classic wedding? So do we. There’s so much to love in elegant styling and timeless traditions. We’ve gathered some of our favourite romance filled real-weddings here, to inspire your dreamy desires!
CLARE & STEVEN’S VENDORS:
Ceremony and reception venue: Ciao Cielo, Port Melbourne. We had our ceremony out in the open dining room and had our reception/dinner in the private dining room. It was better than I could have imagined, the manager and staff were so helpful, especially throughout all the date changes. And the food and drinks were A++!
After-dinner drinks: Boilermaker House . Our after-wedding drinks plans fell through (thanks again, COVID), but this was a blessing in disguise. Two days before our wedding, we called through, and the staff rearranged their bookings to fit us in. It was a great way to end the day!
Celebrant: Sally Hughes. Sally was a perfect fit for our small ceremony. She was very helpful throughout the whole process, including how we wanted the ceremony to go and helping with our vows. Sally’s part in our wedding day was small (elopement short style ceremony) but she made such a big impact on our special day!
Photography: Finder Seeker Photography. Amazing! It was so lucky I came across Dee’s website while searching for a photographer. Dee was very helpful leading up to the day and always offered her assistance. We got along and felt so comfortable with Dee; she took charge when needed and faded onto the background beautifully. She captured so much emotion from our day, and we were so pleased with our choice.
Florist: Wildblooms Floristry. We wanted to hire a small local company, and we were pleased to find Wildblooms. As a company, they very easy to work with and very responsive. We wanted a classic feel for our flowers, and we are very happy with what we received!
Hair and make-up: The Runway Room. Better than expected! I wanted the day to run as smooth as possible, so hiring one company to do hair and make sounded perfect. So professional, on time and made getting ready fun and not stressful.
The dress: Michelle Delacy (my aunty!)
Veil and headpiece: Michelle Delacy & Jeanette Marie
Shoes: Wittner
Rings: Michael Hill
Groomsmen’s suits: M.J.Bale
Bow tie: Crown Towers!
Catering: Platter & Boe. We had arranged pre-wedding catering boxes while we were getting ready. It was a great mix between sweet and savoury, and the presentation was beautiful.
Cake: Love Cake Bakery. We found a local cake maker through Facebook, and we were blown away at how our cake turned out.
Honeymoon: Crown Towers
