Real Weddings – Talia & Marcus, Warrandyte VIC
Primary school besties, high school sweethearts, lifetime partners – such was the love story of Talia and Marcus.
And a union that highly anticipated should only be celebrated at scale, so that’s just how the pair said I do; with 265 guests, a 1.5-meter-long train and an all-white reception aesthetic.
The bride – who self identifies as ‘extra’ (in the best way) – injected her own elegant personal style through an abundance of florals, candles and romance.
The couple’s top tip for those headed down the aisle is some golden advice they received on their own planning journey: ‘on the day remember you are the guest of honour, not the host’.
That level of mindfulness can only be achieved through the support of epic vendors, personified for this duo by the legendary Kinship by Kristy whose vibe and helpful nature felt like ‘having another bridesmaid’.
The results? A gallery brimming with candid, natural, in-the-moment magic. Scroll on to see for yourself.
The meeting.
Marcus and I met at the start of the school year in 2009. We were both in grade five attending neighboring primary schools. After school, I would often walk over to his school to see my friends, but we never had a chance to truly meet. That all changed when he spoke to me for the very first time on the OG of all social media… MSN. We organised to catch up, and our friendship blossomed. It continued to grow stronger once we both started high school together at the same school. There was always a spark between us – we always had a ‘crush’ on each other, if you will. But it was not until 2016 – in year 12 – that we decided to stop ignoring the signs and finally make things official. As I like to put it; primary school besties, high school sweethearts, lifetime partners.
‘The one’.
Throughout high school, both Marcus and I were in other relationships. We would often confide in and turn to each other for ‘advice’, but we always knew deep down we were bound to be more than just friends. Our connection was far too strong, and we were sure of this even at such a young age.
The proposal.
Marcus has always known how close I am to my family. He’s always known that I love sharing and celebrating milestones together, and he kept this in mind when organising our proposal. In July 2022, he asked for my parents’ blessing, and the planning began. September 22, 2022, was the date of the proposal. It was a Thursday – a last-minute public holiday due to the passing of the Queen – and Marcus had organised a family get-together with both of our families at his parents’ house (nothing out of the ordinary, as we did this often). The proposal was originally meant to happen that weekend, but due to the last-minute public holiday on the Thursday, Marcus decided to propose that day instead. This also worked in his favour as his favourite number is 22 – the stars were truly aligning.
The morning of the proposal, I woke up with a weird, intuitive feeling. Something in my gut was asking, ‘Could it be?’. I kept debating with myself all day. I debated with myself so hard, I even thought about my outfit ‘just in case’ (I went with a white off-the-shoulder knit). We arrived at Marcus’ parents’ house, and we all caught up with each other, laughed and ate dinner. Still nothing. I thought to myself, ‘Okay, maybe I was being delusional after all. ‘ Little did I know everyone in the room was in on what was about to happen. I got up from the table to help make tea and coffee for everyone, and as I made my way back from the kitchen, I saw my Dad stand up and take out his phone. I looked to my right and saw Marcus in the corner of my eye, facing me with a box. The room froze, everyone’s eyes locked on us, and my heart skipped a beat. In front of our family, Marcus got down on one knee and said, ‘Talia, you’ve been my rock for as long as I can remember. I couldn’t picture my life without you. So, in front of everyone we love, I want to ask you to be my bride for the rest of my life. Talia, will you marry me?”
Style inspiration.
The overall style for the wedding was elegant, romantic and timeless. I was inspired by lots of trending weddings at the time, but I still wanted to be unique. I always knew how I wanted my wedding to look – lots of flowers, greenery and candles. My friends and family would describe me as “extra”, so it was only fitting to be extra on our special day. Our styling team did an amazing job. Real weddings helped with the planning process because I was able to tell a lot about what I liked and didn’t. Information and reviews on specific suppliers were also super useful.
The ceremony.
Our beautiful outdoor ceremony on the deck at Bramleigh Estate was simply magical. As the eldest child, only daughter and first grandchild on both sides this day was so special, not just to me, but my entire family. The very first wedding. It was a huge deal. Having my Dad walk me down the aisle was a moment I’ll cherish for the rest of my life. As the string musicians played our song (Can’t Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley) and my eyes locked with Marcus, time froze and although there were close to 300 people on that deck, it felt like we were the only two people there. Our ceremony script could not have been more perfect (thanks to our incredible celebrant and now friend, Sarah Davoli). We wrote and read our own vows to each other, and it was the purest I had ever seen Marcus. I fell more in love with him then and there (even though I did not think it was possible to love him any more than I already do)!
The outfits.
Finding our perfect dress and suit was a breeze. We both knew exactly what we were after, and our incredible designers Antoinette Fusillo and YSG Tailors brought our vision to life seamlessly. For myself, I wanted my dress to be more classical and traditional with a hint of modern. The structured bodice, sculpted draping and 1.5 meter long train depicted this perfectly. I always said to myself that my wedding day is the one chance I have got to wear a big white dress, so why not go all out?
For Marcus, he knew he wanted to steer away from the standard black or white suit – he wanted to be more original. He is an old soul at heart, so he designed a grey, three-piece suit inspired by the 1920s with a gold pocket watch to match my gold accessories and classical vibe. Our styles matched perfectly.
Favourite moment.
It’s cliché to say, but every moment of the day was my favourite. Every aspect of the day was magical, like a dream. But if I really had to narrow it down, it would be the ceremony. When Marcus and I exchanged our vows. It was so heartfelt, genuine, personal and raw. Marcus is a music writer, so I always knew his vows would take my breath away – and that they did. He even wrote and shared his new lyrics on the day:
“My mind was led astray,
But you brought me here today,
Picking up the pieces of my heart,
Nothing could tear us apart”.
Meaning of marriage.
Marriage isn’t just a ceremony; it’s a sentiment. A lifelong promise to love unconditionally, to choose each other every day, to grow together. It’s knowing that in each other we are safe.
Wedding soundtrack.
Groom & Groomsmen Entrance: Something – The Beatles
Bridesmaids Entrance: Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles
Brides Entrance: Can’t Help Falling in Love – Elvis Presley
All of the above were performed by Vivid Strings.
Reception Entry: Traditional Turkish Drums
First Dance: Songbird – Fleetwood Mac (super significant as we saw Fleetwood Mac live in 2019 & it was also our first concert together)
Near disasters.
The lead up to the wedding day was super smooth, I was very relaxed and calm throughout. However, the night before the wedding day at 8 pm I received a phone call from my hair stylist who told me she was super unwell and couldn’t make it. I was a bit stressed at the time, but the stylist sent a replacement, and she was incredible. On the wedding day, as we were about to put my veil on, the zip of the dust bag got caught, and the only way to get it out was going to cause damage (very minor!). LUCKILY, the veil was four meters long and you could not even tell!
Planning surprises.
I was super surprised by how relaxed and calm I was. I’d heard many stories of brides being absolutely stressed out of their minds and how it negatively affected their overall planning experience. However, I was super lucky – I knew what I was after and I got it done. I did not shop around much. If I vibed with a supplier, I booked them instantly, and this worked in my favour as there was no procrastinating.
Words of wisdom.
The way you are on the day affects how everyone around you is on the day. If you’re calm, happy, positive, carefree, enthusiastic, and full of energy, that vibe will naturally spread to others. Embrace the day for what it is. Expect a few bumps along the way but don’t let them shake your good mood. Protect your peace and keep your joy intact. Someone once told me; on the day of the wedding, always remember you are the guest of honour, not the host. You are the moment. Do not forget!
For more luxe real wedding inspo, check out Mai & Luke’s spectacular soiree.
TALIA & MARCUS’ SUPPLIERS:
Ceremony & reception venue: Bramleigh Estate – I can’t fault this venue. The staff were incredible. The look speaks for itself. We loved having the ceremony and reception all in one location. The food was delicious, and the portion sizes were fantastic. The inclusions were amazing. It ticked all the right boxes!
Celebrant: Sarah Davoli – My sweet Sarah. What an angel on earth. Sarah welcomed us with open arms. From our very first meeting, I knew we had made the best decision. She is so much more than a celebrant. She is a beautiful, loving, caring and nurturing human being who brings out the best in people.
Photography: Kinship By Kristy -Kristy, Kristy, Kristy. What a woman. I genuinely believe our wedding would not have been the same without her. I could talk all day about how incredible she is. Her work speaks for itself, but as a person, she leaves me speechless. From the moment I hung up our first phone call, I did not even need to think about my decision. It was made then and there. On the day, she was more than just our photographer; it was like having another bridesmaid. She helped me in ways beyond her photography abilities. She made me calm, she made me happy, she made me smile all day long – literally. Her naturally candid, documentary style was perfect for us. She captured our wedding for what it truly was – limiting all the posing and embracing us living in the moment.
Videography: Film My Wedding & MTL Socials. The team at Film My Wedding were amazing. Originally, a video of theirs popped up on my Instagram feed and I knew I had to book them right away. I really loved their style and had heard great things from other couples. Adam was awesome to communicate with, and the video created was magical. I’m still in awe!
Styling & decor: Cloth and Confetti – Jaz and the team brought my vision to life. With a short brief, I let Jaz take the lead, work her magic and do what she does best. She understood the assignment to a tee and created the most incredible ceremony and reception setup that our guests are still talking about it. On the lead up to the day, we realised our original idea for the seating chat was not feasible. With a simple phrase of “trust me, I have this idea” Jaz then created the most stunning design that exceeded my expectations. I walked into the room with my jaw on the floor.
Florist: Wild in Love Florals – Sarah, what a beautiful human being. Her arrangements exceeded my expectations and literally took my breath away. The florals were even more beautiful than I had imagined. The colour combination was everything. My guests loved being able to take home their very own repurposed bouquets as their wedding favour -it was such a hit.
Hair: Harlen Hair & Shauna’s Big Tease – With very short notice and no trial, Shauna absolutely killed it. She made me feel so beautiful. Her warm energy during the morning was so comforting. She made all the girls look incredible.
Make-up: Tahlia Liapis & Laura Di Francesco – These two, what a dream team! Tahlia and Laura brought the best vibes in the morning. We danced, we sang and laughed hysterically. They made us all feel so beautiful and confident. All my girls and my Mum were so happy with how they looked. The make-up lasted all day without feeling heavy. These girls are true artists and seriously the best in the business. I am so lucky to have had them both on my day.
Dress & veil: Antoinette Fusillo – Antoinette created the dress of my dreams. She made me feel the most beautiful I have ever felt in my life. She is so talented and has such a kind soul. Working with her to design and create my dress was magical. After showing her just two photos of inspiration on our first meeting, she understood my vibe instantly and sketched the most beautiful design. Every suggestion she made turned into a big yes from me – I trusted her with all I had. Bringing my Mum along and seeing her face light up at every fitting was one of the most memorable moments of my life. Spending time with Antoinette was like spending quality time with a beloved family member. My wedding would not have been the same without her.
Shoes: Bella Belle
Rings: Linghams Jewellers
Bridesmaid’s dresses: Shona Joy
Suits & ties: YSG Tailors & Ferrari Formal
Breakfast catering at bride’s house: CateringByNez
Cake / Cake topper: Mad About Cakes -Sooo delicious! The cake was to die for.
Stationery / Signage: Cloth and Confetti & By Thirty Five
Entertainment: Vibe Entertainment Company, Vivid Strings and Melbourne Davul Zurna –I could not recommend all of our entertainers more! They were all so fantastic. They brought the best vibes and great energy from the start to the very end.
Transport: EH Limo Hire, Only Limos
Hire: Ghost Booth Events, Kerr Events
Honeymoon: Europe
