Jacqueline + Linford by Bayleigh Vedelago

We wanted to create something true to us…

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

We have the privilege of calling Perth, Western Australia, home, surrounded by our family and friends amongst the beautiful beaches and quiet lifestyle. We love to travel, exploring new food, cultures and the nature that surrounds them. Central to our lives is spending quality time with our beautiful family and friends, and. we are forever grateful to share this life with them.

Our relationship is grounded in authenticity, vulnerability, and curiosity, values that guide us through life and work. Jacqueline is a former lawyer and now advises on the primary prevention of family and domestic violence, while Linford works as an employment and industrial relations lawyer. We continue to share new perspectives and ways of seeing the world with one another. Jac has shown Linford that strength and vulnerability can live side by side, and Linford has shown Jac the ease of surrendering and letting life unfold without overthinking. To be lighter.

We travelled together for eight months around the world, and no matter how far we were from Perth, we always felt at home alongside one another. A reminder that home is less about place and more about the people beside you.

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

Jac and Linford met at their former law firm. Not exactly a rom-com. This was no Suits. Just long hours and quick hellos in the hallway.

From the very beginning, Linford admired Jac. He saw the courage it took for her to step into a high-pressure, often intimidating environment, while quietly carrying the emotions of being the primary carer for her mum, Libby, who was battling pancreatic cancer. To him, Jac was both deeply professional and hardworking, yet openly vulnerable. A rare balance that left a lasting impression on him, and on many others. From the outset, Jac witnessed Linford’s jovial and infectious love for life, always lifting the spirits of everyone around him.

The timing of this story holds deep meaning for us. In the same year Jac’s mum passed, Linford came into her life in a new and unexpected way. Linford arrived in Jac’s life as a gentle presence, calm and steady, when the world felt fragile. A reminder that love continues, even after loss. Amid the darkness of grief, Jac quickly fell in love with Linford’s lightness. His ability to light up a room with his contagious laugh, his excitement for life and his unwavering kindness. To Jac, Linford makes the world gentler and brighter simply by being in it.

Linford fell in love with Jac’s compassionate and grounded nature. With her, he feels truly seen and deeply understood. She has a rare gift for creating connection, inviting authenticity, and offering a magnetic warmth that makes people feel safe to be exactly who they are.

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

The vision for our wedding day was centred on three key words: nature, authenticity and joy. The spectacular setting of Huka Lodge, nestled along the banks of the Waikato River, became the heart of that vision. Every decision flowed from the landscape itself, inspired by the movement of the river, the ever-changing form and colour of the trees and the tranquillity of the lodge. We wanted to create something true to us and timeless, harnessing the natural beauty of the surroundings.

Working alongside our talented wedding planner and stylist, Tiffany Keal, our creative brief became a visual story of light, layering and intentional refinement. To honour the landscape, the design centred on soft tones and polished details, gathered florals, silver accents and the quiet beauty of natural light.

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).

Huka Lodge set the tone for everything. It needed very little beyond what nature had created. Every corner of the lodge holds a sense of calm and timelessness, from the manicured gardens to the soft light that shifts across the water throughout the day. It is a place that invites stillness and connection.

Our styling choices were guided less by high-impact statements and more by small, meaningful moments designed to make guests pause and reflect. The arc of a branch, the weight of a bloom, the way foliage catches the light, each element was placed with intention, loose, natural and quietly refined. The beautiful, romantic draping added soft texture and intrigue to the reception space, while the table styling was refined and understated.

Set before the Waikato River, the ceremony embraced the intimacy of the landscape. Michele and her team thoughtfully gathered seasonal florals of iris and cherry blossom along the riverbanks to create a garden setting that felt as though it had grown from the land itself. To bring the beauty of nature indoors, Tiffany later repurposed the ceremony florals to frame the DJ set, creating a seamless continuation of the natural story from day to night.

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

One of the many gifts of choosing a venue like Huka Lodge was that so much of the beauty was already there. It allowed us to focus less on constructing details and more on how we wanted the day to feel, its mood, its flow and the experience we wanted to create for our guests. At the very beginning of the planning process, we sat down together and came up with a list of keywords that captured how we wanted to feel on the day. Those keywords evoked an energy or feeling and were something we would circle back to time and time again. It guided our design choices and helped us avoid doing things simply because they are traditionally done or were on trend.

When it comes to planning, our biggest advice is to be intentional with every decision. Choose elements that align with your values and invest in the areas that bring you the most joy. For us, music was a focal point as it shaped the energy of each moment. When your day feels true to who you are, it creates a sense of calm and space for spontaneity. We surprised our guests with a band that emerged from the trees after the ceremony, and to our delight, Linford’s dad pulled out a harmonica and played amongst us all.

Spend time with your vendors and choose people who feel aligned with your energy and approach. Our photographer and videographer understood who we were, and that connection created an effortless rhythm on the day. It allowed us to be completely present and relaxed, something that transcends through the photos and videos, capturing the essence and magic.

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

We hold so much gratitude for every one of our incredible vendors. Each brought their own artistry and care to the day, and together they created something truly special. From the beautifully curated florals by Michele Coomey to the delicate cake by K Cake that looked like softly draped fabric, every detail reflected intention and quiet beauty.

There aren’t quite enough words to describe the talented Tiffany Keal, who was so much more than a planner and stylist. Tiffany is a person of calm and light, someone who holds space with grace, empathy and unwavering care. She felt like family from the very beginning, guiding us with both artistry and heart.

Our photographer, Bayleigh Vedelago and videographer, Angus Williams, were also extraordinary. Their presence was warm and effortless, their eye for beauty instinctive. They captured not just how the day looked, but how it felt. The energy, the laughter, and the stillness in between. Their work reflects exactly who we are and the love that was shared, and for that, we are endlessly grateful.

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

Jac: Admittedly, there was a degree of initial discomfort with sourcing my bridal look. I had never really envisaged being a “bride”, so I focused on what felt aligned with my personal style. Something that was elegant, modern, and true to me. Danielle Frankel embodied everything I was drawn to: classic, yet contemporary, with romantic fabrics and silhouettes. The moment I tried my ceremony dress on, I felt like myself, and that was the only answer I needed.

I wanted to weave elements of my mum’s style into my look. She did not adhere to trends and embodied timeless elegance, often floating around in her white silks and textured garments. She married my dad in her forties, and she wore a broad-brimmed straw hat for her garden wedding. I honoured that memory by wearing the beautiful Gigi Burris Jeanette hat. It elevated the look, adding a fresh, modern element while bringing me deep comfort in knowing a part of her was with me, in both style and grace.

My second look, a Dilara Fındıkoğlu dress sourced by Caroline Tran, completely shifted the tone for the evening. Known for her imaginative and avant-garde approach, Dilara’s designs celebrate freedom and individuality. It was the perfect way to end a magnificent night.

Linford: I wore P Johnson, as did many of the wedding guests. Known for their effortless tailoring, refined cuts and luxurious natural fabrics, P Johnson perfectly captured my style, and Dante from the team made the custom tailoring process a dream from start to finish.

Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.

Linford: I chose Jacqueline’s engagement ring with the guidance of Olivia Bond. The design was Olivia Bond’s signature scallop setting in white gold, featuring a solitaire diamond. The process felt effortless, and the vintage design felt special and uniquely Jac. The scallop detail resembles the petals of a flower, one of Jac’s favourite things to pause and marvel at wherever we go.

Our wedding bands were created by local Perth jeweller, Rohan Jewellers. We wanted something classic yet meaningful. Linford’s band was engraved with our birthstones on the inside, a quiet detail that makes it uniquely ours. Rohan and his team were meticulous in every step, making the experience deeply personal and memorable.

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?).

The venue was the foundation of everything for us. Huka Lodge holds such natural beauty and quiet grandeur that it became both the inspiration and the canvas for the entire day. It also holds a special place for Jac’s family, who celebrated her grandmother’s 89th birthday there before her passing. From the sound of the river to the stillness of the gardens, it offered a sense of peace that made the day feel effortlessly special.

Photography and videography were equally important. We wanted to capture not just the details, but the emotion of the day. It was important to us that the people behind the camera understood who we were and the feeling we hoped to create.

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

There was an abundance of favourite moments, many of which are hard to articulate. A few weeks before the wedding, Jac found a letter from her mum. A letter of love, unity and harmony. It was a reflection of gratitude for the people she had loved and who had loved her in return. Her words so beautifully captured the essence of what this day came to mean for us.

Jac: One of my favourite moments was the way nature seemed to hold space for all the love that surrounded us. A beam of light shone through the trees as I read my vows to Linford, birds moved in rhythm with the flow of the river, and a rainbow appeared just after the ceremony. It felt like a gentle reminder that love transcends the physical. To stand in that place, surrounded by some of our most cherished people who have walked beside us through our journey, was a feeling of profound gratitude I will carry always.

Linford: The vows were one of the most special and favourite moments of the day. Our first dance was another I’ll never forget. In the River Room at Huka Lodge, beside the fireplace, my brother-in-law, John, performed This Year’s Love by David Gray on the keyboard. It led to our spontaneous first dance that unfolded into a group song. This was a moment of pure joy.

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

For us, we are whole as we are, but we have chosen to walk this path of life together. To be each other’s witness to it. Marriage, to us, is a conscious choice to keep showing up with openness, vulnerability and kindness. To continue learning and growing, to guide and be guided through the ebb and flow of life.

Marriage is less about grand declarations and more about the everyday. It’s the quiet, sometimes mundane moments – the cups of coffee made without asking, the plans dreamed up over dinner that end up shaping a life.

Our love and marriage are about finding joy in each other’s individuality, forgiving quickly, laughing often, and building a life as equals. It’s being on the same team, even when the world feels hard, especially when the world feels hard.

Love, to us, is most powerful when it is shared. We are so honoured to share this life together.