Real Wedding – Vanessa & Rob South Melbourne, VIC
To
Vanessa and Rob set out to create an unforgettable wedding while remaining true to their personal style and values. Their ethos was to create a unique and sophisticated celebration, honouring the event’s significance while remaining enjoyable, natural, and glamorous.
The gorgeous day was all that and more. From Vanessa’s stunning Karen Willis Holmes gown and ultra-chic, sheer pearled gloves to Rob’s distinguished three-piece tux, these two were the epitome of modern glam. Add to the mix their daughters as the sweetest flower girls, a relaxed romp through the city for pre-ceremony cocktails, and a truly heartfelt vow exchange, and you have an epic day in all the ways.
Vanessa and Rob carefully curated a dream team of vendors around them, leaning on their guidance to piece together the elements of their wedding with care and consideration. Read on to see how their elegant vision was realised to perfection, captured by Rachel Khoo Weddings.
The meeting.
Our love story began during our final year of high school back in 2004. We were fortunate to share some classes and have mutual friends, which allowed us to cross paths frequently and get to know each other.
The one.
There was never a precise moment, but when the relationship flowed with mutual respect and admiration beyond attraction, and we could think similarly and discuss things at great length without getting bored, we knew we could get used to this!
The proposal.
The proposal took place on our anniversary in October 2022 at a charming 1930’s cottage in Merricks, located on the Mornington Peninsula. The cottage had a lovely garden where Vanessa was pleasantly surprised early in the morning, just before we went for a walk. Later that day, we celebrated with lunch at a private garden space of a local winery, where Vanessa was once again surprised by the presence of our girls and immediate family.
Planning process.
We are very organised people, so we started planning for our wedding in the early stages to secure the key elements that we knew would lay a solid foundation for our big day. Although we are tech-savvy, we went old-school with a notepad to jot down our ideas, guest lists, quotes, and everything else related to the wedding. We constantly stayed in touch with all suppliers and notified them of any updates immediately so that nothing would get lost. Likewise, when they needed something from us, including payments, we tried to act on it as soon as possible. That way, everyone was on the same page and committed to the outcome. As the wedding approached, we turned things up a notch by confirming and reconfirming everyone’s roles, responsibilities, and locations using detailed run sheets that we created in partnership with our suppliers. These run sheets were pre-approved and thoroughly checked.
Style inspiration.
We aimed to create a wedding that would be unforgettable for ourselves and our guests, it also needed to reflect our personalities and style. Our vision was to have a celebration that was both enjoyable and one-of- a-kind while still maintaining a professional and sophisticated ambience. We wanted the day to feel glamorous yet natural, with a focus on the significance of the event.
Wedding blogs were incredibly helpful in providing us with inspiration and practical advice for planning our wedding. We found real wedding stories to be particularly valuable, as they gave us insights into other couples’ heartfelt moments and unique touches. These stories showcased the diverse range of possibilities for a wedding celebration. In addition to visual inspiration, we found the countless articles on planning timelines, budgeting, and vendor selection to be immensely helpful. Real couples’ experiences with suppliers were especially useful in guiding our decision-making. The variety of content, from DIY tutorials to expert interviews, enriched our planning journey and empowered us to create a wedding that reflected our vision and priorities.
The ceremony.
Like many other couples, our ceremony was special due to the people present and taking part, most importantly our daughters. We were very thoughtful about the choice of music and carefully curated a playlist that enhanced every moment of the ceremony. At one point during the ceremony, Vanessa was standing in a spot where natural light was shining on her, and it was such a beautiful sight that it made many of our guests gasp. But in the end, it was our personalised vows that were the heart of our ceremony, each word a testament to our journey together, a genuine reflection of our unique bond and the adventures we have embarked on side by side.
The outfits.
Rob envisioned a classic yet distinguished look that would complement the occasion perfectly, deciding on a traditional three-piece tuxedo. After researching local tailors, we sought expertise in crafting a garment that would not only fit impeccably but also reflect my style.
Vanessa visited several bridal boutiques before finally finding her dress at Karen Willis Holes in Armadale. Her chosen dress was a simple and elegant strapless gown. She wore a veil during the ceremony and later at the reception, adding a pair of pearl gloves to give her outfit a unique touch.
Favourite moments.
There were so many memorable moments from our wedding day, but one of our favourites was the moment we entered the reception as Mr and Mrs. We surprised our guests by hiding behind a curtain and then revealing ourselves as the drapes fell to the floor. It was a magical moment that we’ll never forget.
Meaning of marriage.
Marriage to us was simple, it signifies the culmination of something we’ve known to be true for so long. It is the tangible realisation of our deep connection and commitment, solidified by vows and promises to continue building a life together.
Wedding soundtrack.
This was one of the highlights when putting together our special day, as music plays a big part in our lives. However, it was also quite challenging because there were SO MANY songs to choose from, and they varied greatly in style and genre.
Flower girl entry: Everlasting Love by Robert Knight
Aisle: O Solo Mio by Andre Rieu Orchestra
Signing: Hard To Explain by The Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Recessional: One More Time by Daft Punk
Couples entry: I’ll Be There for You by The Rembrandts
First dance: Custom edit created by Rob of Disclosures – Latch featuring Sam Smith
Eventually, we were able to make the appropriate choices, and the music added an extra layer of magic to our day. We also had a great time DJing the final part of the reception, with some amazing dance floor madness. Our music choice was fun and energetic, with singalongs from the 1990s and 2000s based on love!
Additionally, we curated all the background music, starting with old love songs from the 1950s to the 1970s for pre-ceremony. Our reception background music had a chilled contemporary vibe, leaving ample space for our fantastic DJ to do his thing during dance breaks, playing non-stop party tunes and remixes.
Words of wisdom.
For couples planning their wedding, treasure the journey as much as the destination. Approach the process with patience, open communication, and a willingness to adapt. Let every decision reflect both individuals, symbolising the unique bond you share. Stay grounded in what truly matters: your unwavering commitment to each other. And when the big day arrives, relish every fleeting moment, for it marks the start of an unforgettable adventure together.
Rob and Vanessa took the smart path when it came to finding, choosing and working with their vendors. But we get it, it can be overwhelming to navigate the epic landscape of wedding suppliers out there. That’s where our directory can be helpful – with a range of vendors who all share the same quality – they are some of the best in the biz.
ROB & VANESSA’S VENDORS
We had a clear idea of how we wanted our wedding to look and feel, so we focused on securing the main components first, such as the venue, caterer, and celebrant, using Google and many online blogs, then looking at previous work and reading reviews. In addition, we met with most of the vendors in person to ask questions and discuss our expectations, so we could determine if they were the right fit for our special day.
Ceremony & reception venue: Canvas House, South Melbourne. We had a great experience with Nash and the team, all staff were friendly professional and delivered excellent service for our guests.
Celebrant: Elisa Westein. Elisa conducted our ceremony in a fun, professional, and organised manner. She is a wonderful celebrant.
Photography: Rachael Khoo Photography. Rachael was proficient, knowledgeable, and reassuring throughout the planning process. Our photos are amazing and we could not have asked for anything more.
Videography: CKCS Films. Cass and Kane were incredibly reassuring and made us feel comfortable throughout the entire wedding planning process. On the day of the wedding, they continued to provide us with a sense of ease and calm. The high quality of their work is a testament to the amount of pre and post production work they put into our special day.
Florist: Floral Accent. Laine exceeded our expectations with the promptness and attention to detail.
Hair: RL Hair Studio
Make-up: Clara Makeup Artistry
The dress: Karen Willis Holmes
Shoes: Harlo Australia
Rings: Private jeweller.
Suits: YSG Tailors. The experience with YSG was positive; the staff were friendly, the process was smooth, and the outcome was outstanding.
Flower Girl Dresses: Mik & Me, Oui Babe
Catering: Italian Chef. Simone and his team catered for our wedding and did an amazing job. Everything was smooth from start to finish and our guests loved the food!
Dessert: Cannoleria by Bianco Latte. We opted for the cannoli cart as it was a delicious and unique addition that proved to be very popular.
Stationery / Signage: Sea and Paper. Sophie is an expert in her field and her wedding stationery elevated our special day with a polished and professional touch.
Entertainment: A good friend who would rather stay anonymous!
Photo Booth: In the Booth. Easily the best technology in the market and offers exceptional services. Their product is highly customisable and the process of using it was seamless, resulting in an outstanding outcome – our guests loved it!
Production (Sound and Lighting): Technical Events. The lighting at our wedding played a crucial role in setting the right vibe for the occasion. We were delighted with the services provided by the team at Technical Events for our wedding. They went above and beyond our expectations to cater to our needs and delivered exceptional quality. We would highly recommend their services to anyone looking for top-notch event management.
After Party: Golden Fleece Hotel. Our rooftop wedding after-party was amazing, all thanks to the excellent coordination and services provided by GFH.
Honeymoon: We were fortunate enough to plan a romantic honeymoon in Italy with our daughters just a few weeks before our wedding. It was a dream come true for all of us, and we created some unforgettable memories that we will always cherish.
