Ambience was everything for us.
Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…
Based in Adelaide, Angelica and Craig met at the start of COVID, so dating was a little different. Their first dinner date wasn’t for several months after they started dating. Craig works in Construction Management, and Angelica is in Property Sales and Marketing. They both enjoy travelling as much as possible and exploring the world.
How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?
First impression, Craig brought his dog to their first coffee date, but Angelica doesn’t love dogs… luckily, they found interest in other things.
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).
Ambience was everything for us. It wasn’t about a colour or a trend, it was a feeling. We worked closely with Sofitel to ensure the lighting, sound, and service were perfect. We wanted to make our guests feel special. Greeted by the Sofitel team in the lobby, wedding guests were escorted up the lift… to open into a warm, low-light, soft romantic jazz, candlelight room and a decadent oyster bar and cold sparkling to welcome our guests. The entry was everything for us.
We followed suit… so once guests arrive, we took the lift down from our suite, and upon the door opening, we waltzed out dancing to one of our favourite jazz songs.
What did you enjoy most about the planning process, and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?
What we didn’t enjoy… 4 months out, our wedding venue shut down. So the entire concept and styling were reset. We then fell in love with the beautiful Garcon Blue, and also loved that they hadn’t hosted many (if any) weddings before!
We always wanted a destination wedding, but wanted it to be easy for family and friends. There is something we love about stepping into a grand hotel lobby, going up a lift, and the fit out of Garcon Blue made you feel like you’re stepping into somewhere new, somewhere different.
Music was so important. We found our singer at a jazz festival and contacted her directly. We found our DJ when we were out for dinner in Adelaide and loved the playlist. We asked who put it together, and the next thing, he became our wedding DJ.
Back to venues… we had our rehearsal dinner at Fugazzi, which had a fire 4 weeks prior to the wedding; luckily, they were back up and running in no time.
Our wedding recovery venue closed 2 months before the wedding, so we pivoted again. We are so happy we did, as we got to celebrate at one of our favourite bars in Adelaide, Bar Torino. Angelica has a very strong Italian background. So it made sense for some of her family’s favourite Italian music at Bar Torino the next day, by two accordion players. It was wonderful to continue the festivities with friends and family into the next day, and authentically celebrate her culture.
Tell us about your vendors. Were there any standout suppliers you would like to make special mention of?
Angelica, having worked in the industry, picked local suppliers with whom she always enjoyed working and who were excellent at what they did. If they were part of the day, they were exceptional at what they did. From Meaghan, to Nadia at Studio Botanic, Millie from Millie Herd eyebrows or Adriana from Boris the Cuttery. They were all perfect!
Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, and is there a story?
Angelica wore a custom Paolo Sebastian gown. Working in marketing and events, she had previously collaborated with the brand through Vogue Festival and Adelaide Fashion Week, and had long admired their work.
The design drew inspiration from a piece in the Luminary Collection, the 2023–24 Autumn-Winter Couture collection. Crafted in black silk faille, the gown featured a pencil skirt silhouette with a sculptural bubble skirt, offering a distinctly different aesthetic to traditional bridal. Angelica was drawn to something bold and dramatic, steering away from lace or sequins. With a love of tailoring and structure, she was captivated by the contrast between the clean, architectural lines of the column and the softness and fluidity of the bubble detail. The result felt exactly as she had imagined: timeless, modern and striking.
One of Angelica and Craig’s favourite moments of the day was walking into the church. The scale of the cathedral, combined with stained glass windows casting warm light, created a silhouette that framed the gown beautifully. It was, as they describe, a moment they will never forget.
Angelica worked closely with Paolo Sebastian’s team on the accessories, selecting floating tri-pearl earrings. Structural yet classic, their linear form complemented the column skirt while balancing the delicacy of the sheer tulle and neckline. She paired the look with soft white Aquazzura heels, a pointed style with an ankle strap and a refined line that followed the shape of the foot.
Paolo Sebastian Couture Experience
Angelica’s outfit carried a deeply personal significance, incorporating a quiet tribute to her late grandmother, who was unable to be there on the day. For her “something old” and “something blue,” she wore her grandmother’s religious charms, a meaningful nod to her faith.
The charms were provided by her mother and carefully sewn into the gown by Paolo Sebastian. Their inclusion remained a surprise until the wedding day itself, making the moment of discovery both emotional and incredibly special for Angelica.
The bridesmaid dresses proved a thoughtful challenge, with Angelica seeking long sleeves and silhouettes that echoed the clean lines of her own column gown. She chose Solace London for her bridesmaids, selecting a bold red palette with refined, structured lines and soft contrast detailing that mirrored her own look.
Each dress carried a subtle point of difference. Jessica’s featured an accent sleeve, while Sera’s was defined by an accentuated waist. Together, they followed the same design language as Angelica’s gown — timeless, dramatic and modern.
Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.
Craig did it all! Angelica gave a few hints about what shape diamonds, something rectangular or square, and Craig did all the rest! He sourced the diamond with a diamond specialist, spent many months finding the right one… he then designed the engagement ring too. Every detail was considered… as a solitaire with a plain setting (so not too much detail), yet he re-sold it 3 times to make sure the thickness, edges, and claws were absolutely perfect… and it is!! Even better than Angelica ever expected.
Craig and Angelica have matching gold wedding bands.
Was there a favourite moment (or two) that you will treasure always?
Angelica and Craig were married in the same Cathedral as Angelica’s parents, which was very special.
CEREMONY LOCATION Saint Francis Xavier’s Cathedral, Wakefield Street, Adelaide 5000, Australia RECEPTION LOCATION Garcon Bleu, Currie Street, Adelaide 5000, Australia, @garconbleuadl PHOTOGRAPHER Meaghan Coles Photography, @meaghan_coles_photography VIDEOGRAPHER Arne Studio Weddings, @arnestudioweddings STYLIST & PLANNER By the bride FLORIST Studio Botanic, @studiobotanic CELEBRANT Priest – Father Matthew Newman ENTERTAINMENT Kara Manansala, @karamanansala HIRE Honoured, @honoured_hire CAKE Small Delights, @smalldelights STATIONERY & SIGNAGE By the bride; Printed via a local printer BRIDE’S DRESSES Paolo Sebastian, @paolo_sebastian BRIDE’S SHOES Aquazzura, @aquazzura BRIDE’S ACCESSORIES Gift from bride’s Craig’s mother – Jennifer Behr, @jenniferbehr MAKEUP Alisha Makeup, @_alisha_makeup HAIR Adriana Marmino, @adrianamarmino GROOM’S SUIT Hugo Boss, @boss GROOM’S SHOES Calibre, @calibreaustralia GROOM’S ACCESSORIES Vintage Golf Cufflinks – YSL, @ysl; Gold Tank Watch – Gift from bride’s mother for the day – Cartier, @cartier GROOM’S HAIR Cut by Damian; Boris The Cuttery, @borisboriswho GROOM’S FRAGRANCE Gift from groom’s wife for the day – Tuscan Leather – Tom Ford, @tomfordbeauty BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES Solace London, @solacelondon
