Olivia + Matt by Sarbo Studio

Our aim was to keep the styling minimal and allow both venues to speak for themselves.

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

I (Olivia) grew up in the Hunter Valley, and Matt grew up in Hay, rural NSW, before moving to Newcastle on the NSW coast in Australia nine years ago. Newcastle is where we met, and where we now call home.

I’m a practice manager in professional services, and Matt works in mining after spending time as a carpenter. Outside of work, we both love travel and have spent much of our relationship exploring different parts of the world together. We love experiencing different cultures, trying new food and discovering new places, and those trips are some of our favourite memories.

But day to day, it’s the little things that make up our relationship, a walk to a local cafe for a coffee, walking our dogs, a beach day in Newcastle, or trying a new restaurant. We love taking it easy and just living our lives together in our hometown, making new memories along the way.

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

We met in the summer of 2018/2019 through a social mixed Oztag team a friend put together. We were on the same team all season, but it wasn’t until the end-of-season celebrations that we noticed each other. We went on our first date, and conversation flowed so easily that it felt like we had known each other forever.

Beyond the initial attraction, my first impression of Matt was that he was laid back and caring, and that’s what drew me in. Matt’s first impression of me was that I was easy-going and easy to get along with. We balance each other out completely. I’m the fast-paced, always-on-the-go type, and Matt is the relaxed, level-headed one, so we meet in the middle, and it works really well.

A few months after our first date, I booked us a spontaneous long weekend in Melbourne, and we stayed at QT Melbourne. After dinner and drinks on the QT Rooftop, Matt asked me to be his girlfriend, so QT became a full circle part of our story, and it felt so special to have our wedding reception at QT Newcastle.

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).

Our aim was to keep the styling minimal and allow both venues to speak for themselves. Both spaces already have such a strong look and feel, so we focused on elements that elevated everything without competing with the architecture or views.

The Hunter Balcony at Newcastle City Hall was the perfect ceremony backdrop. The sandstone, the red stairs, and the balcony overlooking lush green Civic Park felt so grand and romantic, almost like being transported to a European city. Because the location was such a statement, we kept the ceremony styling clean and chic, and the visual impact came from the setting itself and our guests.

The parasols and personalised fans were one of our favourite details. They were practical for a warm afternoon ceremony, but they also looked beautiful and created a cohesive moment on the balcony, especially with our guests dressed for a black dress code.

For the reception, the Rooftop at QT Newcastle matched our style perfectly. We love great views, good food and a great cocktail, so leaning into the rooftop bar and restaurant vibe felt natural. We kept the styling and stationery simple and modern. Our black and white palette, paired with white and green textural florals, tied everything together and felt timeless, minimal and elevated.

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

What we enjoyed most about the planning process was getting clear on what we really wanted and then making every decision from that. We initially planned to elope overseas, but we quickly realised we wanted our nearest and dearest there to celebrate with us, and we are so glad we did. From the beginning, we knew we wanted the day to feel fun, relaxed, and centred on us as a couple, with an amazing guest experience.

We gave ourselves eight months to plan, and once the venues and vendors were locked in, everything really flowed from there. My background in planning corporate events helped me plan our wedding from start to finish, but it also gave me a whole new appreciation for wedding planners. With so much inspiration online, it can be easy to get pulled in different directions throughout the process, especially when our goal was to keep things minimal. We just kept coming back to our original vision and stayed true to what felt like us.

Our biggest tips would be to be clear on your non-negotiables and focus on how you want the day to feel rather than trying to recreate what you have seen online. If you stay true to yourselves as a couple, everything comes together so naturally. We truly had the best day and are so happy our wedding felt exactly like us.

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

It was important to us to use local vendors, and the Hunter Region, NSW, is spoilt for choice when it comes to incredible wedding suppliers. We were so lucky to have all our favourite vendors available on our date, and we honestly had the best experience. Every supplier was incredible to deal with and added so positively to the day.

A special shoutout to Sarah from Sarbo Studio. As a couple who were a little nervous about being in front of the camera, Sarah made us feel so comfortable. She guided us so naturally, kept everything relaxed and fun, and delivered exactly what we wanted.

Gabby from Bold and Blooming also went above and beyond. She is calm, caring, and so talented, and we were blown away by the florals on the day. They were textural, modern and perfectly suited to the venues.

We were also so lucky to have Britt from Per Sempre Ceremonies as our celebrant, especially since she is my oldest friend. Britt told our love story with such warmth and emotion, and we couldn’t be more grateful for the time, thought and love she poured into every detail.

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

My dress was actually the first one I tried on at Grace Loves Lace in Sydney. I tried on other dresses and designers afterwards, but I kept coming back to that first dress. Once I said yes to the dress, it had a flow-on effect and helped us lock in the venue and date too.

Matt wore a custom-tailored white peak lapel dinner jacket and black pants from Rundle Tailoring.

Later in the night, I changed into a Natalie Rolt skirt and corset. The second look felt fun and made it easy to dance all night (which was very much the plan).

One of the most meaningful details for me was wearing my great-grandmother’s crystal necklace and earrings. It made the second look feel really special.

Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.

My engagement ring is from a family-owned jeweller in Newcastle, NSW, which made it feel special and personal from the start. For our wedding bands, we chose Kate & Kole, who are also Newcastle-based. Their style felt very us, modern and timeless. Our rings reflect the same approach we took to the wedding: classic, minimal and meaningful, with a strong connection to our hometown, Newcastle.

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?).

Food, drinks and photography were our top priorities.

The day goes so quickly, and we knew we wanted photos that captured the feeling of it all. Choosing a photographer we trusted and loved completely meant we could relax and be present, and now we have photos that reflect the style, the energy and how much fun the day was.

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

It’s hard to choose just one favourite moment, but a few really stand out. Walking down the red stairs at City Hall and arriving on the Hunter Balcony to see Matt standing there and our guests with parasols and personalised fans in hand was unforgettable. Everything looked so good! Tyler from Tyler Chapman Functions serenaded our guests on the balcony and sang as I walked down the aisle.

Another standout was arriving at QT and seeing everyone already having the best time. Margaritas, oysters, views and laughter, it was exactly what we wanted.

We also loved sneaking away in the vintage Mustang and driving around Newcastle together. It gave us a moment of calm in the middle of the day, with just us, taking it all in, before heading into the party.

And our first dance to Never Tear Us Apart by INXS was the perfect kick off, it pulled everyone onto the dancefloor for the rest of the night.

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

For us, it really comes back to shared values and feeling like we can both be ourselves in our relationship. That’s something we’ve always had, and being married just feels like a deeper commitment to keep choosing each other and building a life together.

We don’t have any big rituals, but more of the little things in everyday life. Making time for each other, checking in, finding little ways to celebrate along the way, and being present. We’re really looking forward to the next season of life.