Real Wedding – Tayla & Matt, Hazelwood & Glengarry, VIC
Tayla and Matt’s shift from their original wedding plans could not have worked out better. They opted for a smaller, intimate ceremony with 30 of their closest friends and family on their private property in East Gippsland before heading to the picturesque Narkoojee Winery for their reception.
Tayla was sung down the aisle by close friends and talented musicians Tim Wolf and Piper from Little Wolf Entertainment, which captured all the love and emotion they wanted their ceremony to encapsulate. Her custom gown designed and made by the ever-talented Elissa Marie Design and was the perfect nod to Tayla’s style and personality. Tayla admits she’s sentimental, so incorporated a great piece of sentimental value; elements of her Mum’s own wedding dress sewn into her custom veil, making the dress and day even more special.
They kept their styling minimal with whimsical dried floral arrangements, allowing the focus to be on the rustic tones of any styling and the native lay of the land speak for itself.
Down to earth, natural and certainly a day to remember, all was captured exquisitely by Teodora Tinc and Hayley Hickman Photography.
The meeting.
We met in 2013 at the ripe old ages of 21 and 18. We had mutual high school friends and Matt did a little stalking on Facebook to meet up at the same bar ‘coincidentally’.
The ‘one’.
Tayla went to Europe on her own not long after meeting Matt but wanted to keep things fun and casual with him. However, when she jumped on that long flight, all she could think about for the whole flight was this boy with the big dimples when he smiled.
The proposal.
We travelled a lot together during our relationship to South America, North America, Bali, Thailand and interstate. Tayla thought it would have happened at one of those trips. But no, she was a bit gutted about that. We were on a family holiday on a cruise ship in January 2019 and Tayla had this feeling it wasn’t going to happen again so it didn’t cross her mind. We were at a beach off the ship, Matt was quiet that day. His brother had the camera and was really in our faces the whole day…which was slightly weird. Matt went and sat on a rock in the shallow water and his brother yelled out for me to come over and get a nice photo. So, I jumped up to this rock from the water and there he asked me. Everyone watching at the beach cheered for us!
I really didn’t want him to get down on one knee as I find it awkward, so that was something he remembered for all these years.
Planning process.
Stressful if I am honest. Purely due to COVID. We had to cancel our original wedding as it was at the time mandated vaccinations came out. It just wasn’t going to work as we needed certain people there for our big day. So we cancelled our big wedding at our dream place a month before the wedding. We lost thousands of dollars and then rushed around our own 5 acre property after a wet and boggy winter of renovating, to try and get it looking perfect to host our private ceremony at home.
Working full time, trying to tidy up our freshly renovated property and running our little hobby farm was a mission and a half. But we got there and it was perfect.
Style inspiration.
Our home. Our simple lifestyle. We love humble, rustic farm life and that is exactly what we did.
The ceremony.
We were meant to have our 110 guest list for the whole day at one venue, but as mentioned we had to change it completely so our ceremony was a private affair with family and fur babies only at home. I was heartbroken in the beginning, however when I saw it all come together it was everything and more.
I am a sentimental person, introverted and enjoy being home, so it was just perfect. I will never regret our ceremony. Alongside that, my Dad passed away when I was a little girl, so I was unable to have him walk me down the aisle or being present. So I had my beautiful stepdad walk me down and Matt came up with the idea of having his jacket around a chair left especially for him right next to his Mum (my Nonna) which contained our rings in the pockets which our nephew retrieved for us during the ceremony.
The outfit.
Tayla’s dress was custom made locally. She went to Melbourne and tried of so many dresses at so many stores. But none felt right. There were bits from a few dresses that she wished she could take off and put on one dress, but nothing was ‘it’.
She originally thought she wanted lace and super fitted. However when she tried them on at the Melbourne stores, it wasn’t her. She’s not a loud or out there person, and all the lace was very ‘look at me, look at me’ which is far from Tayla’s personality.
There was a wedding expo in Warragul, which is where she met her dress maker, Elissa Marie Designs. They got talking and as Tayla was describing what she had envisioned, she sketched it out. The end piece was exactly what was in Tayla’s head. It was perfect.
Tayla also had her Mum’s wedding dress in storage from when her and her Dad were married and really wanted something incorporated into her dress from it. So Elissa made that happen and took lace from the wedding dress and placed it onto the rim of her veil.
Favourite moments.
Definitely the ceremony. From start to finish, seeing all the emotion for both of us and also our family was so special and also having Tay’s best mates sing her down the aisle.
Meaning of marriage.
It means dedication, it means love, friendship and that your soul is joined with one person. It means forever – through the tough times and highlights.
Wedding soundtrack.
Aisle: For all I give by Paper Kites (sung by friends – Little Wolf Entertainment)
Reception entry: Head & heart by Joel Corry
First dance: Is that Alright by Lady Gaga (band version)
Father/daughter dance: You’ll Be in My Heart by Phil Collins (band version)
Funny stories or near disasters.
Just COVID cancelling our whole wedding a month before our wedding day.
Words of wisdom.
Don’t go over the top. Keep it sweet and intimate and don’t lose sight of what the day is meant to be about.
We didn’t have a bridal party. This helped keep the day intimate and solely about us.
We know how how hard it can be knowing where to start with planning a wedding, but we’ve got the goods to help you get started. Check out our blog on ‘How to plan a wedding’ here.
MATT AND TAYLA’S VENDORS
Ceremony location: Private Property, Hazelwood, VIC
Reception venue: Narkoojee Winery – The manager is a family friend.
Celebrant/Officiant: Love Lee Ceremonies – we met Lee at the Warragul Wedding Expo.
Photography: Teodora Tinc – by word of mouth through our dress maker and Hayley Hickman Photography
Videography: Alana Kate Films – Matt knows her husband.
Styling: DIY
Florist: Pipers Natives – Wife of Tay’s best friend Tim
Hair: Bowjanglz – family member’s old workplace
Make Up: Makeup By Brittany – word of mouth from friends & her Instagram
The Dress and veil: Elissa Marie Designs
Shoes: Payless Shoes
Rings: Tay’s – Custom made from Regal Jewellers & Matt’s – Tattoo of Tayla’s name & ring from Etrnl Rings.
Tay’s ring has two diamonds from her Mum & Dad’s wedding ring custom made into hers. Matt did the most amazing job with designing it, and really made it special.
Suits: Panthers Mensland (jacket only)
Bow ties / ties: Tay’s pooch Hugh wore a bow tie from Frankie Loves Barkery
Catering and bar: Narkoojee Winery
Cake / Cake topper: Family Friend
Stationery / Signage: DIY & Kailise Designs
Entertainment: Little Wolf Entertainment
Décor: DIY
