Jacinta + Sam on Film by Hayley Rafton

We wanted a colour palette that felt fresh and different — bold, artistic, and uniquely us.

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

Sam and I both work full-time — Sam works in the mines and is also a builder, while I run my own wedding floristry business, which turns 4 next year. We’re homebodies at heart, but we love spending time with friends, enjoying a nice meal out, and unwinding with a good glass of red wine and a hearty dinner. Our two puppies, Simba and Nala, are our pride and joy. We love simple pleasures like long walks by the beach or lake, afternoon BBQs, or cozy nights in watching documentaries. Life can get a little chaotic as we chase our goals and create new milestones, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.

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

Sam and I met at the beginning of COVID — you guessed it, on the dating app Hinge. It was a bit spontaneous, but Sam was definitely the eager one! I decided to make the trip up north to meet him; at the time, I was living in Sydney, and what was meant to be a 2.5-hour drive turned into over 4 hours thanks to public holiday traffic and roadworks. I was only supposed to stay for one night, but it quickly turned into a three-night weekend. From the moment we met, we were inseparable. Sam likes to say it was love at first sight, and honestly, I think he’s right. We had both never met anyone quite like each other — so kind, genuine, and respectful. We knew straight away that this was something special, and that we’d found our person.

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 thing I knew I wanted to absolutely nail was the florals. Having my own business create the flowers for our wedding was incredibly special — it felt like the perfect opportunity to showcase my passion and bring our shared vision to life. Sam and I wanted a colour palette that felt fresh and different — bold, artistic, and uniquely us. Sam’s suit was another key element; we wanted it to truly stand out and be a statement moment.

Our goal was for guests to walk into each space and instantly feel the thought, design, and creativity that had gone into it — for every transition to feel like a new experience. The venue itself was already stunning, so our focus was on enhancing its natural beauty while layering in those personal, artistic touches that made the day feel like ours. We stepped away from current trends and really created a wedding that felt like us.

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

What I loved most about the wedding planning journey was creating our own vision — building a mood board that truly reflected what Sam and I love, and designing a day that felt authentically us. We didn’t want to follow trends or recreate what we’d seen before; we wanted to bring our own ideas to life and celebrate our story in a way that felt genuine.

If I could give any advice to future couples, it would be this: stay true to yourselves. Don’t get caught up in trends if they don’t resonate with you — Pinterest can be inspiring but also overwhelming. Focus on what feels right for you. And most importantly, invest in high-quality vendors you love and trust. Having a reliable team made our day run so smoothly and allowed us to be fully present, soaking up every moment together.

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

All of our vendors were absolutely incredible throughout the entire process. A huge shout-out to my amazing team at Flowers of Willow for creating the most magical setup — it was so special to see our vision come to life through my own business. We were also so grateful for Hayley Rafton, our wonderful photographer, and Sarbo Studio, our talented videographers. Both teams showed us so much care, attention, and selflessness on the day, capturing every moment beautifully.

A special mention goes to Rundle Tailoring, who created Sam’s suit. We had a clear vision, and they went above and beyond to bring it to life. Their kindness, professionalism, and exceptional service truly stood out — we were blown away and have already shared a glowing review.

Yasmin from YCM was another standout. From six weeks out, she was accommodating, calm, and always ready to answer my many questions, ensuring everything ran seamlessly on the day. And lastly, our celebrant was the perfect reflection of both Sam and me — warm, engaging, and heartfelt — making our ceremony one we’ll cherish forever.

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

While there wasn’t a big story behind our outfits, we had a very clear vision of what we wanted for the day. My bridal gown was modern and elegant, but I added touches of vintage flair through my accessories — the most special being a pearl necklace handcrafted by my dad, which perfectly tied my ceremony look together and added such sentimental value.

For Sam, we wanted something unique — a suit that stood out in both colour and style, something we hadn’t really seen before. It was bold yet refined, and it complemented the overall aesthetic of the day beautifully. Together, our looks felt like the perfect reflection of us — modern, timeless, and a little unexpected.

Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.

Sam knew exactly the style he wanted for his wedding ring, but left the finer details up to my dad — and he absolutely nailed it. Given how close he and Sam are, my dad knew exactly what would work and what wouldn’t. The result was something truly special and perfectly us.

My engagement ring was crafted by my dad with Sam’s vision. Having my dad design and create it made it even more meaningful.

My wedding ring was a complete surprise, and we both knew that with his creativity and attention to detail, it would be nothing short of perfect — and it truly was.

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?).

We always knew we wanted to invest in our floral design — it was something truly special to both of us. Being in the industry made it even more meaningful, giving us the creative freedom to bring our vision to life exactly as we imagined. Every detail felt personal, and it was so rewarding to see it all come together on the day.

Another element we were happy to prioritise was our venue. From the moment I first visited Krinklewood (ironically, for work), I knew it was something extraordinary. The atmosphere was unforgettable — the music playing softly, rosé on arrival, and the warmth of the staff made it feel instantly special. And of course, the venue itself speaks for its beauty. Once Sam had visited Krinklewood, it was a no-brainer for us. We knew that no matter what we added, it would always be breathtaking.

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

For Sam, one of the most special moments was being surprised with his favourite car — a vintage Mazda RX2 Capella. It was something I’d been secretly organising behind the scenes after telling him, “It’s not a car wedding,” when he first asked about having one there! Little did he know, I’d been searching high and low to find the perfect one so he could have his dream car featured on the day. Seeing his face when it arrived was priceless — and the photos that Hayley captured speak for themselves.

What does being married mean to you, and are there any special rituals you have that you would like to share?

For us, being married is all about commitment, loyalty, and respect. We truly are each other’s best friends and safe spaces — a constant source of love, understanding, and support. With one another, we’ve never felt so seen, heard, or understood. We embrace our differences and celebrate them, knowing that they’re what make us stronger and more connected.

One special part of our journey was Sam choosing to take my surname. While it’s not the traditional route, it felt perfectly right for us — a reflection of our shared values and the partnership we’ve built. It was such a meaningful decision and one that beautifully marks the beginning of our next chapter together.