Kris + Maha by Caity & Duncan

The vibe and theme we were going for was classic with a modern twist.

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

Outside of our professional careers, we love just hanging out with each other, drinking coffee, slow morning walks along the Brisbane River, or watching the sunrise from our balcony. When Kris gets the chance to sneak off golfing (which is often), I love getting stuck in a good book.

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

We met at a bar in Melbourne almost 10 years ago. It was a public holiday weekend, so it was very busy, but I remember the moment I saw Kris, and I just knew this was my person. Kris couldn’t stop smiling at me from across the bar and finally made the move to talk to me. We went for pancakes at 4 in the morning, and that was the start of our story.

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).

Once we picked Jimbour House, everything fell into place. The vibe and theme we were going for was classic with a modern twist. I was really drawn to silk fabrics, antique silverware and flowers in deep burgundy colours mixed with white. The end result was romantic and intimate, but still grand enough to tie in with the gorgeous heritage beauty of Jimbour House and surrounding gardens.

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

Planning our elopement was part of the story for me, because it was just for us two. I was able to really focus on exactly what we wanted, and that was a lot of fun. I took on planning the elopement, and Kris planned the honeymoon, which made it even more fun, because I love surprising him. I had a vision for how I wanted the entire experience to flow, and I couldn’t have done it without our good friend, Amanda. Having her with me every step of the way made it even more special and meaningful. So my tip would be to really understand what you want your experience to be like and don’t be afraid to trust your instinct. Weddings are special because they are a choice you make to celebrate each other and your love, so make sure you do that exactly the way you want to. And have genuine people that you love along for the journey to get there.

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

All the vendors were amazing, but a couple of them deserve special mention because they added so much love to the experience. Firstly, Caity & Duncan! Because it was just us two, we really needed to find people that we clicked with and who felt like they could be our friends. And that’s exactly what it felt like with Caity & Duncan. Not only are they the most talented photographers and so so good at what they do, but they are also really beautiful, fun and easy-going people. We were so lucky to have them. Our celebrant Mitch was absolutely amazing, and we knew from the first time we met him that he was our guy. Another special mention would be to Bianca at Sphere Bridal and Tom at Phjohnson; both were amazing and made us feel so beautiful during the process of choosing the dress and suit. And Amanda knows this already, but if anyone is ever lucky enough to have her along on their wedding planning journey, I can guarantee their day will be perfect. She is that good.

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

I fell in love with my gown as soon as I put it on. I always envisioned getting married in a Vivienne Westwood gown; however, nothing felt more like me than the dress I chose. It matched the vision I had of that old Hollywood glamour, but with a little twist. I sent pictures of my gown to Tom from PJohnson so he knew what the vibes were like, and he was able to help Kris pick his suit. We will never forget the moment we saw each other for the first time in our dress and suit; it was magical.

Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.

My engagement ring was designed by Kris years ago, and we were lucky enough to meet Matt at MSJ Jewellery, who reset my engagement ring and designed both our wedding bands. We both wanted something classic, but handmade by a craftsman, which is exactly what Matt is. Kris’s wedding band was a custom blend of gold to get the right colour, with a subtle design on the sides. Matt is amazing at what he does with an incredible eye for detail.

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?).

Because we were the only two people I had to consider, I was lucky enough to focus on each element equally. It was very important to me that each element I decided to incorporate had a purpose and told our story. When Kris arrived at Jimbour, he instantly felt at home as it reminded him of the home he grew up in in Northern Ireland. We chose Alan Dawes, who is an amazing private chef, to prepare a multi-course degustation inspired by one of our favourite restaurants in Melbourne. On arrival, I organised a special cocktail to be served from another favourite restaurant in Brisbane that is significant to us. From the type of florals that have a special meaning to setting up a custom sip and paint of Jimbour House and the bar we first met, all these little things added to really making this about sharing the memories and experiences throughout our relationship and what got us to this moment.

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

The entire experience haha. There were many moments we will randomly think of: The first look, the treasure hunt the night before Kris organised for me and the surprise Kris and our families organised, dancing in the hallways, calling family on the morning of…and many more.

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

Being married is about the journey before the moment where we said Yes and the journey after. Now, we have those special memories to think about, the pictures and videos to look at, and nothing makes us happier than thinking about or seeing how we celebrated our love for each other.