AMIE + SIMON by Peppermint Photography

Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love, what is unique about you and your relationship:

Simon and I met on a work project in 2013. At the time Simon was living in Melbourne and I was living in Brisbane. I relocated to Melbourne after a year of long-distance and a 6-week Europe holiday to seal the deal.

We share similar life values with our love for family and friends at the top of the list. We both love to travel and have done so extensively over the course of our relationship.

We also both love to get creative in the kitchen and entertain friends and family, usually with a bit of Cuban music (or Jamiroquai) playing in the background. Our love grew and continues to grow every day as we explore how to challenge and inspire each other to be better to ourselves and to others.

Tell us about your special day, was there a specific theme? Walk us through the setting and your favourite details:

Simon: We wanted a relaxed atmosphere that felt more like a party than a series of formalities to work through. We knew we wanted a destination wedding and Byron was the perfect setting for this. Byron also holds a lot of memories for Amie who in her younger years spent many weekends learning to surf, relaxing on the beach and listening to some of the best musicians in the country.

Amie: The theme was simple and stylish with a variety of spaces to suit the evolution of the evening. Some of our favourite details were the hidden Cuba-inspired sitting area behind the bar complete with a chesterfield lounge, and Cuban rum and cigars. The greenery and flora completed the look, our plants were from Northern Rivers Plant Hire who were a true delight to work with, and the flowers – including a stunning hanging floral centrepiece – were created by The French Petal.  

Tell us about your main outfits:

Amie: I wore a Made With Love gown, it was the first dress I tried on and despite trying on what felt like a hundred more gowns, I couldn’t get this one out of my mind. It ticked all the boxes; sleek, lace & a perfect train. The gown was complemented with a Vera Wang veil for the ceremony and flower crown to match the bridesmaids in the evening. And to tie it all together, a gorgeous pair of nude Valentino shoes.

Simon: I wore MJ Bale, a favourite of mine. My suit jacket was velvet to honour my father who rocked a purple velvet jacket at his wedding.

What were some of the most memorable/unique moments from the day:

Amie: There were 3 key memorable moments for us.

Taking a moment to enjoy a glass of champagne with just Simon and me between the ceremony/photos and the reception. The two of us snuck away and shared a glass before jumping into the celebrations with our guests.

It was great to be staying on-site and being able to wave goodbye to our guests at the end of the night. We had a small group of friends staying with us at the property and we continued the celebrations including an outfit-change into some swimwear and diving in the pool to wash away the make-up and curls – it was the best feeling.

Having our grandma’s (who we both adore dearly) walk down the aisle as flower girls.

Any advice for other couples planning to spend the rest of their lives together:

No relationship is completely perfect, there will be challenges from time to time. What’s important is to communicate and listen to each other’s needs and to not keep score; be kind and patient to yourselves and each other.

Ceremony + Reception: Cedia House Byron Bay | Wedding planner: Creative Weddings Byron Bay | Videographer: Yellow Bull Weddings | Photographer: Peppermint Photography | Celebrant: Rosie Beaton | Entertainment: The Titanx Band | Marquee + Hire: Byron Bay Party Hire | Flora: The French Petal | Catering + Beverages: Anise Event Catering | Plant hire: Northern Rivers Plant Hire | Transport: Byron Bay Double Deckers | Bride’s Dress: Made With Love Bridal | Groom’s Suit: MJ Bale | Rings: Cerrone Melbourne | Shoes: Valentino | Other jewellery: Samantha Wills | Makeup + Hair: Elizabeth Crossley | Bridesmaid + Groomsmen attire: Shona Joy + MJ Bale | Flower Girls: Tea Princess