The restaurant we had our lunch at fits our style and story perfectly.
Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…
Jo was born on a farm to German parents in Bavaria. He spent time studying in Indiana, USA, Berlin, Germany and did his internship in the automotive industry in California. In his 20s, Jo dedicated his spare time to growing the techno scene in the south of Germany by hosting techno parties and DJing. Jo still works in the automotive industry but has designs for starting his own business which follows his passion for food which would be the couple’s next project they pursue together in Berlin.
Jo has lived in Berlin for six years and enjoys spending his time boxing, going to the gym, spending time with friends and eating out at the many restaurants the city has to offer.
Ashley was born near London with Irish/Welsh/German heritage. She is a creative person who studied fashion marketing and worked in fashion buying and content creation careers. True to her nomadic routes, at 23, she travelled Southeast Asia and found herself settling in Sydney for two years, working in fashion. She then moved to the desert to work for the NT News, all the while writing a travel blog as a personal side project. After four years in Australia and a collective year in Asia, she moved to Berlin, where she has lived for the past ten years. She runs an Instagram account as a creative outlet and diary of her life and relationship with Jo, and loves spending time cultivating deep friendships.
Both Jo and Ashley moved to Berlin in search of the creativity, freedom and hedonistic lifestyle the city has to offer, and that was something they deeply connected over. They enjoy going to techno clubs together and soaking up Berlin culture.
How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?
We met through online dating during lockdown but parted ways over the summer of 2021. We got back together at the end of 2021, officially becoming a couple at Panorama Bar in Berlin while celebrating Ashley’s birthday. It was a great night with some amazing DJs playing, and we also introduced our friends to each other for the first time. The song playing was ‘Don’t You Want Me’ by Human League, which has since become our song.
What Ashley loved about Jo was how grounded he was with solid values, he worked hard and played hard, was very reliable and always open to doing things. What Jo loved about Ashley was that she was open and outgoing, had a lot of life experience, funny stories and was easy to talk to. Both shared a passion for travel, partying and wanting more out of life.
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).
The restaurant we had our lunch at fits our style and story perfectly. The red walls create passion, excitement, and boldness; the furniture is retro, which reflects our style; the walls are covered in designer posters; and the food represents the annual trips that we make to Italy. There is even a leopard statue which matches Ashley’s tattoo!
Since the wedding, we have even painted our hallway bright red and hung a collage of pictures like in the restaurant. We see it as a homage to our love and the red sets as a reminder to ignite our passion for each other and for life itself.
What did you enjoy most about the planning process, and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?
Both of us enjoyed looking forward to the big day the most. We were quite set on what we wanted, and Jo spent a lot of time finding the perfect town hall to get married in, which was built in 1903 and has a Gothic/Art Nouveau style. We also very much enjoyed putting the outfits together as we both have such a love for fashion and style and spent a lot of time on the details.
As for tips, if getting married in Germany and one person is not a citizen, make sure you leave about a year before for the paperwork! It was quite a long and difficult process.
Tell us about your vendors. Were there any standout suppliers you would like to make special mention of? 

We like to support local where we can, which is also why we went with a local goldsmith and florist. Our florist, who produced Ashley’s bouquet, is a one-woman show in the couple’s local neighbourhood in Friedrichshain, in the heart of Berlin. At the goldsmith, we worked with Anne, who is a goldsmith and designer from Belgium, whose designs are popular in Melbourne, where she produces for some boutiques.
Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, and is there a story?
Ashley studied fashion, and the Vivienne Westwood x Melissa shoes were her first ever luxury item she bought in 2009, serving as her ‘something old’. The blue lapis ring was also a vintage item she bought when only 17 years old at a jewellery crafts fair that she used to attend with one of her neighbours (40 years her senior), who introduced her to statement jewellery. Ashley felt that a long dress did not fit with her personality, and also looked for a dress that represented Jo’s Bavarian culture, which she has come to love. The couple both love vintage shopping, especially when on vacation, so many of the items were bought from vintage shops. The couple both decided to wear leather jackets with their wedding outfits to add even more of their Berlin personality to the look.
Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.
The engagement ring was from Christ. The wedding rings were made by us, which was Jo’s idea. We took a course where we discussed how our dream rings would look. The rings are sustainable in order to conserve valuable resources and reduce our environmental impact. You can even melt down family heirlooms to be included in the rings. We did everything from melting the platinum down to shaping the metal. It took 5 hours, and we also worked on each other’s rings. We created a hammered style that we felt matched the vibe of Berlin. We went for an unfinished edge of the rings, so that they are not perfect to represent how marriage is also not always perfect or smooth.
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?).
Our outfits, as Ashley studied fashion, she spent a lot of time on the details. We were happy to buy more expensive items, mixed with older items, but what was very important was that most of the items could also be worn and used again. Jo has already worn his wedding suit several times, and Ashley plans to convert her dress into a dirndl, which Jo’s family often wear to events in Bavaria, such as christenings and local events.
Was there a favourite moment (or two) that you will treasure always?
The ceremony was a very emotional moment for us. It was the first time our families met as Ashley’s parents live in Connemara, Ireland and her siblings are scattered across Europe. Having everyone together to celebrate our love meant the world to us, and to do so in such a beautiful setting made it even more magical. Another special moment was walking into the restaurant and seeing the wow factor on everyone’s faces. Coccodrillo really is an unusual restaurant, and the decor is one of a kind. It was so lovely watching the two families mix and find their places to sit and admire the venue. We had a beautiful corner of the restaurant, which was quiet and felt very personal.
What does being married mean to you, and are there any special rituals you have that you would like to share?
Being married for us is about building our empire and enabling each other to follow our dreams and goals in life while working together as a team. We have so many projects and plans that we want to work on together, and we look forward to supporting each other to reach our goals.
LOCATION Standesamt Pankow, Coccodrillo, Berlin, Germany BRIDE Ashley, @somekindofjones GROOM Johannes PHOTOGRAPHER JO & US, @joandus_weddings STYLIST & PLANNER By the bride FLORIST Florapunkt CATERING Coccodrillo – Big Squadra, @bigsquadra ENGAGEMENT RING Christ, @christ_juweliere WEDDING RINGS Made by the couple from scratch – Ring Schmiede, @ringschmiede OTHER SIGNIFICANT JEWELLERY Vintage Lapis Lazuli Ring – Bought in London
BRIDE’S DRESS House of CB, @houseofcb BRIDE’S LEATHER COAT STAND STUDIO, @standstudio.official BRIDE’S SHOES Shoes with Hearts – Vivienne Westwood, @viviennewestwood; Ivory Shoes – Next, @nextofficial BRIDE’S ACCESSORIES Earrings & Bag – Zalando; Sunglasses – Prada, @prada; Veil – Vintage MAKEUP Charlotte Tilbury, @charlottetilburyskincare HAIR Fiona Hutcheon Hair, @fionahutcheonhair BRIDE’S FRAGRANCE Coco Mademoiselle – Chanel, @chanelofficial GROOM’S SUIT Hugo Boss, @boss GROOM’S SHIRT Boggi Milano, @boggimilanoofficial GROOM’S LEATHER JACKET Vintage GROOM’S SHOES Vintage Armarni from New York GROOM’S ACCESSORIES Tie – Chanel, @chanelofficial; Santos Dumont Watch – Cartier, @cartier; Sunglasses – Prada, @prada GROOM’S FRAGRANCE Simone Andreoli – Silenzio MOTHER OF THE BRIDE’S OUTFIT Red Dress – Concepts, @conceptsladiesfashion; Jacket – Tommy Hilfiger, @tommyhilfiger BRIDE’S TATTOO ARTIST Philipp Eid, @theserottendays
