The overall look felt relaxed but still considered, with lots of texture and movement.
Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…
Dec: We’re both Project Managers working for small Melbourne construction companies, so we share a mutual appreciation for all things building and design. Phoebe works across high-end residential projects, while I focus on commercial fit-outs and refurbishments. There’s definitely some crossover, but we try to keep a loose “no construction talk at home” rule—although with plans to renovate our own place, that’s being tested a bit at the moment!
Phoebe: Outside of work, our life is pretty simple. We have a beautiful Chocolate Labrador, Rue, so our spare time usually involves long strolls in Edinburgh Gardens, multiple coffees and catching up with friends and family – whether that be at the pub or around the dinner table for a home-cooked spread.
How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?
Dec: We first crossed paths at St Hilda’s College while studying at the University of Melbourne, although we didn’t properly connect for quite some time. I was a year above and probably leaning into a slightly awkward “too cool for first years” phase, combined with a fair bit of shyness, so we barely spoke despite knowing who each other were.
That all changed at a mutual friend’s party, where we ended up talking for most of the night. There was an immediate ease to it—I remember thinking Phoebe was incredibly genuine, easy to talk to, and a lot smarter than me. And yes, her eyes definitely made an impression, too. I must have felt pretty comfortable, because I invited myself into her Uber at the end of the night—luckily, that decision worked in my favour.
Phoebe: I think Dec has covered it well! From my perspective, it felt like we went from barely speaking to knowing each other quite well in the space of one night. There was something very natural about it—no pressure, just an easy connection. I remember thinking he was someone I could be completely myself around. Everything that followed felt very organic from there.
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).
Phoebe: With a Valentine’s Day wedding, my initial thought was to lean into deep reds and a more traditional romantic palette. However, our wonderfully down-to-earth florist, Alyssa from Sour Sunflower, gently reminded us that sourcing those tones on Valentine’s Day comes at a premium. That prompted a shift towards a softer, meadow-inspired style, which ended up suiting both the venue and our taste much more.
The overall look felt relaxed but still considered, with lots of texture and movement. Alyssa incorporated subtle hints of burgundy and red throughout, which tied in beautifully with the other small nods to Valentines day, like my shoes, our stationery, and our tacky-chic heart-shaped ring box.
Dec: We’re not usually big on Valentine’s Day, but we liked the idea of acknowledging it in a way that felt fun rather than overly traditional. We included a mix of subtle and not-so-subtle nods throughout the day—in the menus, seating chart, speeches, and even the wishing well.
What started as a date chosen out of availability ended up adding a lot of personality to the day. Valentine’s Day now holds a pretty special meaning in our lives.
What did you enjoy most about the planning process, and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?
Dec: We started planning about 12 months out and spent some time early on identifying what was important to us—our non-negotiables. Locking in key things like the venue and photographer upfront made the rest of the process feel much more manageable and allowed us to relax into it.
Planning and scheduling are a big part of our day-to-day work, so we naturally approached it with lists and timelines. It worked well for us, but I think the biggest takeaway was realising that not everything needs to be decided straight away. A lot comes together in the final couple of months, and stressing too early doesn’t help.
My advice would be to focus on the big things first and trust that the rest will fall into place.
Phoebe: I found the biggest challenge was the sheer number of options—for everything. There’s definitely pressure from social media to have the “perfect” wedding, and it can be hard to stay focused on what you actually want (and what works for your budget).
Getting perspective from friends who will be honest with you helped a lot. It gave me confidence in my choices and reminded me not to overthink things.
Also—trust your first instinct. I spent months looking at shoes, only to go back and choose the first pair I loved. It takes up a lot of mental space, so if something feels right early on, it probably is.
Tell us about your vendors. Were there any standout suppliers you would like to make special mention of?
Dec: Our photographer, Tom, was incredible. Not only is he an amazing photographer, but he’s also a genuinely great person to have around. From the moment we got in touch, about a year out, he was so helpful—regular check-ins, plenty of quality advice, and a lot of laughs along the way.
By the time the wedding came around, it felt like having a friend there rather than just a vendor. He made everything feel easy and natural, and we feel very lucky to have had him as part of the day (and the lead-up to it).
Phoebe: We were drawn to the Euroa Butter Factory early on. It’s close to where I grew up and where my parents still live, and when we visited together, it just felt right. We always joked that it was “Tuscany in Euroa”—from the brick buildings to the huge plane trees and courtyard, it’s such a beautiful setting.
Being able to stay on-site with our bridal party made the whole weekend feel really relaxed and easy, which was so important to us.
The team there are also incredible—it takes more than just a pretty backdrop to create a great wedding, and they really know what they’re doing.
Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, and is there a story?
Phoebe: I was really keen to have something made-to-measure by a local designer, and Van Der Kooij was a dream. Tash is based just around the corner in Carlton North, and her gorgeous collection of pieces has such a romantic feel. I fell in love with a champagne silk fabric that had a slightly vintage look, and we designed a two-piece from there. I also loved the idea of just being able to switch out my long ceremony skirt for a mini to dance at the end of the night! It was so special to have something made just for me – quite probably a once in a life time experience!
Dec: The suggestion to go to P. Johnson came from our photographer, Tom, and I’m very glad I listened. We were set on a black-tie dress code from the start, and I wanted something that felt a bit more elevated than what I’d worn to other weddings. I went with a double-breasted jacket and cummerbund—something new for me—but with the help of my tailor, Cailain, it all came together really well. Most importantly, I felt comfortable and confident in it.
Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.
Dec: My wedding band is a titanium ring designed and made by my soon-to-be brother-in-law, Dylan. He works in 3D printing—mainly in the medical and defence space—but also creates pieces on the side, so it was pretty special to keep it in the family. It also helped the overall budget! As someone who has never worn a ring, I wasn’t sure if I’d like to wear one all the time, but I’ve barely taken it off!
Phoebe: I’ve been a Lucy Folk fan for a long time, so when Dec decided to pop the question, he had a bit of direction—but the final choice was all him, and he absolutely nailed it (even if it was several sizes too big at first!). He also knows how clumsy I am, so the low-profile setting is perfect. My wedding band is also Lucy Folk—I couldn’t resist another piece of bling!
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?).
Dec: Photography was a big one for us. Everyone says the day flies by, and it really does—you can’t see everything in the moment. Being able to look back on it all afterwards is pretty special. For us, it was worth investing in someone we trusted to capture it properly.
Phoebe: Again, photography! I still can’t stop looking through our photos…
My outfit was also a really important part of the day for me, so I was happy to spend a little bit more here. I felt it came together as perfectly as I’d hoped. I adored my Van Der Kooij two-piece and veil, which I topped off with the most glorious necklace and earrings from By Nye.
Was there a favourite moment (or two) that you will treasure always?
Phoebe: I hadn’t given a whole lot of thought to how the ceremony would feel, subconsciously it may have been to keep my nerves at bay, so the ceremony as a whole is a favourite moment of mine – I was really surprised about how beautiful and fun it was. We did a first look, which got a lot of initial nerves out of the way, and meant we could just enjoy ourselves.
We had one of our closest friends, Charlotte, be our unofficial celebrant (while still having Sally make it official for us on the day!). Charlotte was so amazing, and Dec’s vows were so beautiful and funny that I couldn’t keep the smile off my face.
Dec: On the other end of the spectrum—the dancefloor. At one point, I was up on friends’ shoulders singing (yelling) along to “Unwritten,” which pretty much sums up the night.
There were so many good moments—Phoebe whipping her hair to Nickelback, people dancing with shoes in the air, an attempted worm (more of a slug), and things getting slightly out of hand towards the end (I think my bare chest got licked at some point!). It honestly felt like the best dancefloor ever.
What does being married mean to you, and are there any special rituals you have that you would like to share?
Dec: At its core, it’s a commitment to spending your life together, which is pretty huge. After more than 10 years, we weren’t second-guessing anything, but being able to celebrate that with our closest family and friends was as good as it gets.
Phoebe: For us, the special rituals are the everyday ones—walking Rue in the evening while we catch up on each other’s days, making each other coffee in the morning, cooking for friends and family, or heading out for dinner at one of our favourite spots.
Getting married doesn’t change a huge amount day-to-day for us, but it does feel like a commitment to keep building on the amazing relationship that we have, and it was a great opportunity to celebrate that with all of our favourite people.
LOCATION Euroa Butter Factory, Euroa, Victoria, Australia, @euroabutterfactory BRIDE Phoebe, @phoeblarson GROOM Declan, @declanganz PHOTOGRAPHER Tom Hvala, @thomasjpg FLORIST Alyssa Trenerry – Sour Sunflower, @soursunflower CELEBRANT Unofficial – Close Friend, Charlotte Prendergast, @charlotteprendergast__; Official – Sally Hayes, @sallythecelebrant ENTERTAINMENT Matthew Hughes – Dr Condiments, @dr_condiments HIRE, CATERING & CAKE Euroa Butter Factory, @euroabutterfactory STATIONERY & SIGNAGE DIYed by the couple BRIDE’S ENGAGEMENT RING & WEDDING BAND Lucy Folk, @lucy_folk GROOM’S WEDDING BAND Custom 3D Printed Titanium Ring by Close Friend/Brother-in-law, Dylan BRIDE’S WEDDING DRESS ‘Lina Silk Bodice’ & ‘Brielle Silk Draped Skirt’ in ‘Champagne’ – Made to Measure with Bespoke Adjustments – Van Der Kooij, @van.der.kooij BRIDE’S PARTY OUTFIT ‘Ina Silk Mini Skirt’ in ‘Champagne’ – Made to Measure – Van Der Kooij, @van.der.kooij BRIDE’S SHOES ‘Mazy 75’ in ‘Pomegranate’ – Anonymous Copenhagen, @anonymous_copenhagen BRIDE’S ACCESSORIES Veil – ‘Long Two Tiered Veil’ in ‘Champagne’ – Van Der Kooij, @van.der.kooij; Necklace & Earrings – By Nye, @bynyejewels HAIR & MAKEUP Kate Radford, @kateradfordmua; Bec Shannon, @becshannonmua BRIDE’S FRAGRANCE ‘Coco Mademoiselle’ Eau De Parfum – Chanel, @chanelofficial GROOM’S TUXEDO Bespoke Tuxedo with Cummerbund in ‘Black Grosgrain’ – P. Johnson, @pjohnsonweddings Bow Tie in ‘Black Grosgrain’ and Pocket Square in ‘White Linen’ – P. Johnson, @pjohnsonweddings; Cufflinks: Square Silver with Mother of Pearl Centre – Peter Jackson, @peterjacksonau BRIDAL PARTY OUTFIT Wore their own suits and dresses in black
