Real Wedding – Teddi & Matthew, Melbourne VIC

Proof that an intimate wedding does not have to equal low-key vibes, Teddi and Matt’s dreamy celebration is a masterclass in timeless elegance and classically chic style.

Beginning the celebrations with an emotion-filled first look moment, Matt looks striking in an ivory tux jacket, while Teddi glows in an exquisitely elegant Alex Perry gown. A cloud-like crisp white bouquet and simple accessories further elevate the look, while a perfectly-on-point thigh-high split brings modern appeal.

Arriving early to their reception, held at their favourite French restaurant, allowed the new Mr and Mrs a moment together to enjoy the darling decor details over a glass of champagne together – a class move we absolutely love! Fresh vanilla florals accented with touches of greenery add subtle texture to the tablescapes, while simple monochromatic stationary is enhanced by gorgeously whimsical ribbon-like script.

Every dreamy image by Blossom Daisy Creative captures Tori Allen’s sweet sophistication and styling perfection but also the underlying romance and blissed-up emotion of the day. Scroll on to see it all unfold!

The meeting.

Matt and I met for the first time 15 years ago when our friendship circles collided on a night out. For a decade, we didn’t keep in touch, but low and behold, ten years later, a familiar face slid into my (Teddi’s) DM’s to suggest we re-connect and grab a drink, and the rest was history!

The ‘one’.

We knew we had something pretty special when our dates lasted for eight+ hours week after week! After a few months of dating, Matt went on a boy’s trip to Los Angeles and ended up coming home early so we could be together; I think that was when we both knew.

The proposal.

We were on a three-week holiday in Europe, and it was the final night of the trip. We were enjoying our last night in Malta, overlooking the port on the balcony, and Matt suggested we have a bottle of champagne to celebrate.

The previous night when we were out at dinner, the table next to us were sketching each other, so on our final night, Matt suggested we sketch each other and bought pencils and paper onto the balcony.

We gave each other a few minutes to sketch before we handed our masterpieces over to the other person. When Matt shared his sketch, he had written on the piece of paper, “I love you, will you marry me” and dropped to one knee. It was very thoughtful, personal and romantic!

Planning process.

Our planning process was very fluid! We both wanted something which reflected the things that we enjoy, which is why we ended up having a small registry ceremony and focusing on a restaurant-style wedding (we love eating out and drinking wine, given Matt has a wine business).

Style inspiration. 

We wanted the wedding to reflect our personal style – classic but with modern elements!

We wanted something classic which we could look back on in 50 years and still feel drawn to. We both love Europe and have European backgrounds, so keeping our aesthetic and wedding day aligned with a more traditional, French European feel felt right!

We found real weddings and scouring Pinterest the most useful tools when planning. We also found that finding a venue that we loved and which already had beautiful design features and details acted as a great source of inspiration.

The ceremony.

Because we opted for a small registry ceremony, it felt extremely intimate and grounded. We held a first look before the ceremony and ended up walking to the registry with almost everyone who attended – it was like all of our guests were celebrating with us before we even got to the vows, which bought an excitement and ease to the room, which was incredible.

The look. 

Teddi: I wore an Alex Perry gown, which was a style that I wasn’t initially looking for at all! Initially, I wanted something sleek and minimal, but as I started trying things on, I started to experiment with the type of gown. The most important thing to me was feeling like myself on my wedding day and not like someone playing dress-ups. I felt so comfortable when I tried on the Alex Perry dress; I knew it was the one.

Matty: Because the dress code for the wedding was Black Tie, I chose to wear a tuxedo. But just like the wedding, it has a little bit of a twist which is very us. I opted for an ivory suit jacket in a natural fabric custom-made by REMY.

Favourite moments.

We decided to spend half an hour at the reception venue together before the guests arrived to reflect on the morning and ceremony – we had a glass of champagne and oysters and shared a croque monsieur together at the bar, which I highly recommend! The speeches were also so heartfelt and beautiful; we will never forget them.

Meaning of marriage.

Marriage to us means partnership, a commitment of selflessness, kindness and respect for another person. It means putting someone else’s needs next to your own and knowing the other person will do the same.

Wedding soundtrack.

Aisle: My Girl by Joy Oladokun (Cover)

Reception entry: Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! By Sgt Slick’s Edit (ABBA)

First dance: Sunday Kind Of Love by Etta James

Funny stories or near disasters.

My very close friend of mine, Posey, lent me her wedding veil for the day; it’s a good luck charm that has been passed around our friendship group since she was married almost eight years ago. In the lead-up to my final dress try-on, we couldn’t find it and thought my mum had thrown it out! I don’t think I’ve ever seen my mum so frantic – luckily, we found it, and the tradition can live on.

Planning surprises.

In the beginning, what was the most surprising was that one of us wanted a really big wedding and one wanted a tiny one – once we decided on the size of the wedding, the rest came pretty easily.

Words of wisdom.

Make sure you plan the wedding that you want – don’t think about anyone else! Don’t worry if it’s traditional! Don’t worry if it ‘isn’t how something is done’. That’s what makes it unique; that’s what makes it you, just do it.

Thinking about different ways to structure your dream day? We investigated the increasingly popular trend of holding an intimate ceremony, followed by a full-blown party at a later time, or sometimes, date. Read on to find out what we discovered and how this could work for you.

TEDDI & MATT’S VENDORS

We really reached out to our personal network to plan our wedding. With both of us working in marketing, events and hospitality, we found we knew so many talented people, and our personal relationship with them made the day even more special.

Ceremony venue: Victorian Marriage Registry

Reception venue: Bistro Gitan, South Yarra

Photography: Blossom Daisy Creative

Styling, floristry, stationery and signage: Tori Allen

Hair: Harpo Hair 

Make-up: Zoe Frenkiel

The dresses: Alex Perry via Bluebell Bridal. Second Dress – Kyha Studios.

Shoes: Aquazzura

Rings: His – Heirloom. Hers – Engagement Ring: Private Jeweller. Wedding Band: Cartier

Suit & bow tie: REMY

Catering & cake: Bistro Gitan

Entertainment: Tom O’Dwyer