Real Wedding – Tom & Harriet, Brunswick East VIC
With only ten months to plan their dream day, creative Harriet and organised Tom leaned into their natural tendencies to arrange an epic celebration of laid-back, laughter-filled fun in a stunning setting.
Superstar Kyra Boyer was an inspired choice of photographer, bringing her signature creative passion along with her charmingly offbeat energy to create an album that is more of a visual story than a series of shots.
And our captivating couple at the heart of it all are every bit a stylish dream. Equal parts elegance, timelessness and fresh modern feels, they nail the brief. Harriet wears a striking off-shoulder gown in a contemporary silhouette by Rachael Gilbert, while Tom cuts a sharp figure in a custom suit by Oscar Hunt.
Whimsical florals by Pomp and Splendour in pastel hues and lashings of greenery perfectly complement the warm natural timbers of Noisy Ritual.
For these two, it’s the sweet emotion, laughs and heartfelt moments throughout the speeches that really captured their hearts on the day. Scroll on to see it all unfold.
The meeting.
We met through friends on a night out in Brisbane.
The ‘one’.
We aren’t sure there is ever a precise individual moment that you know. For us, it was knowing our relationship grew stronger through the tough and heartbreaking experiences as well as the fun ones.
The proposal.
Nothing fancy, Tom proposed in the kitchen at home. It was a cold and rainy afternoon which happened to be the first day out of Melbourne’s covid lockdown. We had a dinner reservation for the two of us but surprised Harriet with her family waiting at the restaurant.
Planning process.
Our engagement was quite short (ten months), so we had to get cracking early. Like most couples planning their wedding, we had weeks where we were motivated and excited, and weeks we couldn’t bear to think about it. Tom is the organized one, and Harriet is the creative one, so we made a good team, albeit with our fair share of ‘constructive discussions’. The final push in the weeks leading up is stressful and exciting, but the day with your family and friends is completely worth it.
Style inspiration.
Modern, relaxed, and timeless, with plenty of greenery. We could not have asked for a more perfect location than Noisy Ritual. Shoutout to Kate for all her help.
Once you attend a few weddings, you certainly get an idea of what you like and don’t like. You can also pinch a few ideas and put your own twist on them. It goes without saying that wedding articles, blogs and photographer shoots are huge sources of inspiration (shoutout to Kyra Boyer).
The ceremony.
Truth be told, we got married at the Registry a few days before the wedding. We did this to allow more time for socializing and dancing. Because we were already officially married, our younger brothers acted as celebrants on the wedding day with a short ceremony, which provided a nice personal touch for the guests and us.
The look.
Harriet: I wanted something simple and classic, a dress that when I looked back at pictures in 20 years, I would still want to wear. I wore a Rachel Gilbert off-the-shoulder dress. I searched online for a while and knew that I wanted to buy off the rack. I found a yellow dress on the Rachel Gilbert website (as I was sure I wasn’t going to wear white), but when I went to try it on, I fell in love with this one instead. It fit perfectly, and I knew it was the one.
Tom: I had a clear idea of the style I wanted, so I didn’t need too much influence. I wore a dark brown patch pocket custom-tailored suit. I wanted something versatile I could wear again, which Wei at Oscar Hunt nailed. Capped off with my favourite Klemen France shoes.
Favourite moments.
Speeches from family and friends. Easy question!
Meaning of marriage.
Firstly, it’s the best party you will ever have. Secondly and most importantly, it’s about our two family’s officially coming together in union. We all love each other and get on so well, so why not make it official and grow our family.
Wedding soundtrack.
Aisle: Time Moves Slow by Badbadnotgood
Recessional: Right Down the Line by Jerry Rafferty
Dance floor: Fast Love Pt.1 by George Michael
Funny stories or near disasters.
We forgot to hire 100 chairs! Luckily, we got it organized with a day to spare.
Planning surprises.
There are always lots of little things to do. They’re so small we can’t even remember what they are, but they’re important and add up!
Words of wisdom.
Don’t feel like you need to follow a template. Plan your wedding in a way that works for you. And lastly, enjoy the process. You will stress about guests, money, venues etc., but that’s normal. Just know it will all work out, and it will be the best day of your lives.
Want to follow Tom and Harriet’s lead and get legally hitched before the big day? Chat with our team of amazing celebrants about their legals only packages for a personal take on a registry-style ceremony.
TOM & HARRIET’S VENDORS
Ceremony & reception venue: Noisy Ritual, Brunswick East VIC
Officiant: Lachlan Falconer & Oliver Nunan
Photography: Kyra Boyer
Florist: Pomp & Splendour
Hair: A Hairstylist Secret & 210 Barber
Make-up: Imogen Stuart Makeup Artistry
The dress: Rachel Gilbert
Shoes: Tony Bianco & Klemen France
Rings: Pip Stent & Range Antiques Toowoomba
Suit & tie: Oscar Hunt
Catering & bar: Noisy Ritual
Stationery / Signage: Designed by Harriet Falconer
Entertainment: DJ Louis not Lewis (Syd)
Honeymoon: Margaret River, Denmark & Esperance, WA
