Sidney + Jarrod by Hailey Birch (Love Bomb Photos)

The main thing for us was creating a space where everyone felt free to enjoy themselves.

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

We’re both 26, working in media. We live together with our cat, Frankie, and take a lot of pride in our friends, family, and home. Jarrod, whom I call JJ, is diﬃcult to describe (in the best way). I think you could meet everyone on earth, and your meeting with him would stand out. He is one of the funniest and most ‘themselves’ people I know. He’s very into golf and a big movie buﬀ. I am a big family girl who loves spending quality time with the people I love, she’s passionate about art and loves to travel.

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

JJ and I met for the first time at a friend’s 21st Birthday at the races. I was fairly recently single and not looking for anything, but Jarrod (JJ) caught my eye. I could instantly see he was super charismatic. I loved how he laughed and how close he was with his friends; he and his mates were just being silly and laughing like crazy. JJ said that during the day, he remembers looking over at me so many times, he was surprised he didn’t pull a muscle in his neck. When we went back to our friend’s house, and I quote, “that’s when I saw Sidney close up – there she was, this gorgeous blonde girl wearing a beautiful tan dress with white flowers, and for me that was it”. He distinctly remembers saying to his best friend, “Well, that’s never going to happen.”.. Somehow, we ended up playing a game of pool together. Jarrod was exceptional, only charming, I could tell he was trying hard, but I loved that. He was so interested in everything I had to say and asked questions about American questions, a trait he hasn’t lost, and I love so much. Before we knew it, the night was over.. JJ got in the back of the Uber in disbelief at what had just happened, and asked his friends, “Is it just me, or do I have a chance with this girl?”.

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

The main thing for us was creating a space where everyone felt free to enjoy themselves, with a relaxed mood but elegant feeling. We wanted lots of beautiful flowers because we love pretty gardens – not to mention we got engaged in Monet’s Garden in Giverny. We DIY-ed a lot of the flower arrangements so that we could invest in even more flowers. We also wanted a tour of our old souls, which we bought with elements such as the Jazz Band and the way we were personally styled.

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).

One of the best things for us was the venue. It had a natural, relaxed feeling, but had a real beauty to it; the orchid and hills were the perfect backdrop. It was also a space that gave us the freedom to design a layout that suited the day we wanted. The flowers were probably the next best styling element; they brought an elegance to the space.

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

My biggest piece of advice for anyone planning is to think about the things that matter most to you both. For us, we wanted the day to be about our love, but also about all the people in our lives who have made us the people we are. This meant ensuring all our nearest and dearest had a special role to play in the day, such as our Grandparents, Sidney’s grandmothers were all flower girls, while JJ’s Nan was the ring bearer and Grandma his witness. Thinking of all these special moments was my favourite part of planning, and the joy people feel when you ask them to be a part of the day is so special. For anyone planning to DIY most of their wedding, it sounds silly, but really act out the day (and the setting up the day before), think of all the little things you’ll need and who will be doing them, because on the day, you won’t be! Do you need a corkscrew behind the bar? Who will put the cake knife out with the cake? It all adds up! Also, if you can, having someone come who isn’t a guest to help on the day was the best thing we did. It saves the family from getting distracted, and everyone feels like they can just relax and enjoy themselves.

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

Honestly, all of our vendors were amazing.. How can we pick! A couple of special mentions would be The Orlando Combo, whose Jazz set the perfect vibe, not just a Bartender who tended so kindly to our guests on our hot day, Hailey Birch, who captured the day perfectly, my tailor who lovingly perfected my dress, and our Celebrant Rob Grave delivered a very personal and special ceremony.

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

I wore my mum’s wedding dress. My sister and I used to wear it all the time as kids for dress-ups. As I grew up, I began to appreciate just how absolutely beautiful it really was. It has a timeless shape, while also being ahead of its time with a removable skirt to reveal a short one underneath. I was so incredibly lucky to be able to wear it; My tailor honestly worked magic, spending hours fixing discoloured sections and adding fabric to get my waist into the tiny corset! It just meant the world to me, it sounds cliché, but my mum really is my hero, and her and my dad’s marriage is one of those rare perfect ones most people can only aspire for. I hope the dress brings me the same kind of luck. Jarrod wore a timeless tux with an old school feel, with a beautiful big bow tie from the Frank Sinatra era, which he loves so much.

Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.

My (Sidney’s) engagement and wedding ring come from JJ’s family, hairlooms passed down on his mum’s side. They are so unique, and I treasure them so much. I never knew what style of ring I wanted, so I was absolutely delighted to have something I thought was perfect. We bought Jarrod’s engagement ring in Rome, after we got engaged in Monet’s Garden in Giverny, France, from a jeweller who engraved the signet ring with flowers from the garden. His wedding ring is a simple, thin gold band.

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 a big one for us. We wanted someone who would capture the special moments for us so we could keep them as memories forever, which is exactly what Hailey did for us. We wanted someone to capture all the little moments our guests experienced, from welcome hugs to dancing feet.

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

Arriving at the venue and walking down the aisle to see my forever was absolutely the number one highlight for me. Hearing our story, making our promises to each other, and committing to each other in front of everyone we love, there’s just nothing that can beat that.