Mia + Neal by Alyssa Flood Photography

The vision was chic, modern, and unmistakably New York.

Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…

We’re both creatives with a love for storytelling, style, and spontaneity. I’m a wedding photographer, so I spend my weekends chasing golden hour and beautiful moments across Australia and beyond. Neal works in creative production and has a deep love of music and film. We both thrive in spaces that blend art and real life.

At heart, we’re pretty laid back. Weekend coffee walks, slow mornings, and really good food are our love languages. We also love to travel. New York felt fitting to mark this chapter in a city that holds so much history, cinematic energy and a little chaos. Our relationship is grounded but playful, and our elopement was a true reflection of that.

How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?

We met in 2017 while working at Canon, a global imaging company. Neal was based in the Melbourne office, and I was part of the Sydney team. We crossed paths at a work function, and something just clicked. We kept in touch after that, and a few weeks later, Neal flew to Sydney for what would become our first official date!

Things moved quickly in the best way. Within three months, I’d moved back to Melbourne and we were living together. It sounds fast, but it felt incredibly natural.

I remember thinking he was effortlessly cool, quiet, curious, with great taste in music and an annoyingly good eye for all things creative. He, on the other hand, remembers thinking I was confident, a little bit chaotic, and always laughing at something. From the start, we balanced each other without even trying.

Tell us about the vision you had for the mood and style of your wedding. (theme, key styling elements, florals, colour palettes etc.).

From the very beginning, we knew we wanted to elope and to do it entirely our way. The vision was chic, modern, and unmistakably New York – cool, confident, an editorial dream. We didn’t want a traditional wedding… we wanted something that felt intimate, personal, and true to us. It was less about formality and more about celebrating our connection in a city that inspired us.

We said our vows at the New York Public Library, wandered through the city, stopped for pizza, ducked into a bar, and finished with cake and drinks back at The Ludlow. The whole day was stripped back, stylish, and intentional, just the two of us soaking it in. Alyssa captured it exactly how it felt: cool, romantic, and totally us.

What styling and visual elements worked best for you? (could be things, the florals, particular hire products or your marquee, etc., something the stylist created or simply just the scenic beauty of your location or the existing design of your venue).

We really leaned into the natural architecture and energy of the city to do the heavy lifting for us. The New York Public Library set the tone for our intimate ceremony. Timeless, sculptural, and light-filled. We didn’t bring in any styling because we didn’t need to. The marble, the spring light, the city itself gave us all the atmosphere we could’ve hoped for.

Visually, the balance between softness and edge felt really true to us. The structure of my dress, paired with the playfulness of the veil and the pop of red in my heels and bouquet, created a look that felt modern and bridal, without being expected. Neal’s look was equally refined: His YSG suit, Cartier watch, bespoke signet wedding band, and tattoos peeking through made it feel cool and completely him.

What did you enjoy most about the planning process, and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?

We genuinely loved the planning process. Neal and I worked together as a team to discuss and prioritise what mattered most. There were no obligations or traditions to follow. Just the freedom to create something that felt personal, stylish and true to who we are.

The most enjoyable part was curating a day that felt like us from start to finish. Alyssa helped us scout New York locations in the lead-up, and we spent hours dreaming up how the day could flow. We knew we wanted to wake up somewhere that captured that quintessential New York energy, and The Ludlow Hotel was perfect with its view of the skyline to set the tone for the day. And of course, researching our post-ceremony pizza stop was a highlight in itself. The whole experience was fun, relatively stress-free, and creatively fulfilling.

Our biggest tip: design your day around how you want to feel, not how it should look. Let go of expectations, trust your gut, and lean into what excites you. And choose vendors whose work you genuinely connect with, it makes all the difference. We gave our photographer, Alyssa, complete trust and creative freedom, and the results were beyond anything we could have imagined.

Tell us about your vendors. Were there any standout suppliers you would like to make special mention of?

We feel so lucky to have had such an incredible group of creatives bring our vision to life. Every single one of them felt like the perfect fit.

Alyssa Flood, our photographer, was at the heart of it all. With both of us coming from creative fields — Neal in visual production and I in weddings— choosing a photographer felt like the hardest brief to fill. Neal wanted a documentary, nostalgic, film-inspired feel, while I was drawn to editorial moments with movement and flash. Alyssa brought both visions together seamlessly. From the start, she made us feel completely at ease and brought such a grounded, creative energy to the day. Her eye for detail, movement, and those effortless in-between moments is something truly special. She understood our vision and exceeded all expectations!

Our florist, Emthurium, created a bouquet that was the perfect blend of sculptural and romantic. It complemented the look and feel of the day beautifully, with a single hit of red that tied everything together. I wanted to add roses as a memory for my late pop. She was so accommodating throughout the whole process.

We also loved working with Miss Harlequin for hair and makeup. Our artist, Alicia, nailed the brief: natural, timeless, and polished without feeling overdone. And as a last minute idea (we organised the day before!) Sugar Sweet Sunshine Bakery made us the most joyfully retro vegan cake that we devoured back at the hotel.

Every vendor felt aligned with our style and values. Creative, down-to-earth, and genuinely excited to be part of something a little different.

Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, and is there a story?

As soon as we decided on New York, I knew I didn’t want a traditional gown. I wanted something modern, fun, and a little unexpected but still bridal. The KYHA mini ticked every box. The structure, the fit … it felt like a fashion moment but also something I could truly enjoy the day in. Pairing it with the red satin Magda heels set the tone – it added a bold, confident twist that pulled the whole look together. The veil was non-negotiable. As a wedding photographer, I’ve always loved how it brings softness and movement. It made me feel like a bride.

I wore my grandmother’s pearl earrings that she wore on her wedding day – they felt like a quiet nod to the women in my family.

Neal was channelling a bit of a Nick Cave vibe: cool, confident, and slightly undone. He had his shirt custom-made so he could wear it open, no tie, just relaxed tailoring done really well. His YSG suit was timeless but not overly formal, and paired with his Cartier watch and signet wedding band, the whole look felt elevated but very him.

Our outfits felt considered but effortless.

Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.

We had our rings custom-made by Steven Childs Jewellery, a Brisbane-based designer. He had created my engagement ring, so it felt natural to return to him for our wedding bands as well. His pieces are timeless with a subtle edge. Refined, but never too traditional. It was important to us to work with someone whose style aligned with ours and who understood the significance of what we were creating.

My engagement ring features all white diamonds set in yellow gold – classic and timeless. For my wedding band, we matched it with a simpler version of the engagement ring: a single row of diamonds, shaped to sit perfectly alongside it.

Neal’s signet-style band was designed to feel masculine but refined. Something with weight and character that he could wear every day. Onyx set in yellow gold with my MW initials engraved on the side.

What were one or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on? (food, photography, florals, the venue, your outfits?).

Photography was always at the top of our list. As a photographer myself, and with Neal working in the creative industry, we understood the significance of finding the right fit. We didn’t just want beautiful photos; we wanted the day to be documented with care, style, and honesty. And because we were eloping, it was just as important to find someone who matched our energy. You’re essentially inviting that person to experience the day alongside you, so connection is everything. Investing in someone whose work we admired deeply and trusted completely was a non-negotiable.

Our accommodation was another priority. We wanted to wake up somewhere that felt special, and The Ludlow was exactly that – full of character, flooded with natural light, and with skyline views that reminded us that we were in New York City.

To close the day, we splurged on dinner at Eleven Madison Park. A plant-based Michelin-starred restaurant we’d always dreamed of experiencing. It was the perfect way to end the day: just the two of us, reflecting, celebrating, and soaking it all in over an incredible meal.

Was there a favourite moment (or two) that you will treasure always?

There are so many moments that live vividly in our memories, but a few stand out.

Waking up on our wedding morning at The Ludlow, watching the sun rise over the city skyline from bed, drinking coffee and eating croissants. We just sat there, soaking in the excitement for the day ahead. It was the calm before the chaos, and such a grounding way to begin.

Saying our vows at the New York Public Library, just the two of us, felt incredibly surreal. We’d written personal vows, and hearing them aloud, with all the emotion and meaning behind them, was something we’ll never forget.

Right after the ceremony, we shared our first kiss on the steps of the library and were met with a spontaneous cheer from a group of bystanders. It was such a New York moment!

Later in the day, we ducked into an old-school photobooth to capture a strip of black and white photos, something tangible we could keep from the day and thoughtful suggestions from our photographer. It was a small, spontaneous stop, but one we’ll always remember.