I said yes under the Northern Lights, which was truly so special and one of the most exciting nights of our lives.
Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…
Scott is an engineer by trade and now works in sales, which has led us to live in Europe and Asia and allowed us to tick off some of our dream holiday destinations. Brittany works in e-commerce and has a small sustainable fashion brand called Binks, she loves to create and is soon going to fashion design school in Melbourne. We both love to travel and have spent the last two years living in the Philippines and travelling throughout Asia. Scott loves to play golf at the weekends, and consequently, Britt has picked up golf lessons. Scott has a passion for surfing, and Britt enjoys laying on the beach watching him surf – it’s a perfect match.
How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?
We were in our early 20’s, fresh out of exams, and, in true youthful exuberance, a bit too inebriated. Amid the post-exam revelry, Scott catches wind of music drifting down a nearby street, and there I am cutting shapes on the dance floor. Fuelled by a dose of liquid courage, Scott takes the plunge and decides to strike up a conversation. The rest, as they say, is history—a serendipitous encounter that set the stage for the extraordinary journey. Britt’s first impression of Scott was: wow, this guy is hot! Not only is he handsome, but he is incredibly kind, clever and, of course, a lot of fun. Scott’s first impression of Britt: She can’t really dance, but hey, at least she tries! Britt is willing to give anything and everything a go! She’s passionate, free-spirited and hilarious.
When did you first realise that this was someone you’d like to spend the rest of your life with?
This is a tough question, as we both feel there was no single defining moment. Over time it just started to make more and more sense as our lives intertwined. After years of long-distance, we went travelling, moved into a shared flat and then purchased our first home together. When we were living in Greece, Scott began to hear wedding bells and quickly secured a ring.
Was there a proposal? Tell us a little about it…
The setting was nothing short of magical. We were living in Greece at the time and decided we should take the opportunity to visit Iceland, Brittany’s long-held dream was to witness the Northern Lights. Our chance finally arrived during our stay in Reykjavík. The first attempt was unfortunately unsuccessful. We ventured out again three days later, and about 30 minutes out of town, we saw the most spectacular display of Northern Lights.
In an unexpectedly casual turn of events, I heard a nonchalant “Hey, Britt?” to which I casually responded, “Yeah?” It was then that Scott popped the question, “Will you marry me?” My response was a mix of confusion and surprise, as it was very difficult to see him kneeling in the snow with a ring. I said yes under the Northern Lights, which was truly so special and one of the most exciting nights of our lives.
Tell us about the vision you had for the mood or style of your wedding.
Reflecting on the style of our wedding, there was no grand vision, no elaborate plan. Instead, we opted for a venue so stunning that it effortlessly spoke for itself. Sudbury, with its innate beauty and a plethora of indoor and outdoor spaces, became the canvas for our celebration. The rustic charm of the venue echoed our roots, making it the perfect backdrop for the day.
We were also very conscious of how wasteful the wedding industry can be and decided we didn’t want to use a lot of paper. We didn’t print an order of the day for each guest, and we only printed one menu per table. We handmade sugar cookies with each guest’s name on them as their place cards. Although it doesn’t seem like much those little things made us feel like we weren’t unnecessarily wasting paper that would usually go straight in the bin.
What was one element you were happy to splurge on?
We were mindful of staying within our budget, opting for a celebration that resonated with our priorities. Rather than extravagant splurges, we focused on extending the joyous affair across multiple days, savouring the time with our guests. The eve before our wedding unfolded, we gathered with our bridal party and families for a pizza party at Brittany’s home. Post-wedding, we continued the festivities, hosting an event that saw an attendance of 90, surpassing the 50 RSVPs. Our closest friends lingered with us until midnight, making the celebration even more magical. This deliberate extension of the wedding allowed us to take our time to see and talk to all of our guests. Contrary to the notion that wedding days swiftly pass by, ours unfolded at a pace that felt just right.
Did anything happen on your wedding day that you laugh about in hindsight (even if it was stressful at the time)?
A whimsical oversight became a source of laughter for the day when we found ourselves in an unexpected situation – we forgot to print the papers needed to formalise our marriage. Guests witnessed our signing ceremony, where we, quite literally, signed a blank piece of paper. It was quite the laugh, are we even married?!
Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, is there a story?
Britt: In 2021, shortly after our engagement, I spotted THE dress online. I, true to my style, resisted the common notion that you often end up with something entirely different. Trying it on, amidst various styles, affirmed my choice, the style was perfect but it was incredibly heavy. Fast forward to our move to the Philippines in 2022, where I discovered White Label Bridal who recreated my dream dress in a lighter silk fabric and made two more stunning dresses for me for my hens and reception. I had the privilege of wearing a kākahu huruhuru, a masterpiece lovingly crafted by my aunty, who dedicated 13 days to creating it. Wearing this during the ceremony was an absolute honour.
Scott: In my own stroke of luck, I secured our suits from my contact in Vietnam. I wanted a clean, polished look for myself and my groomies while exuding an effortlessly laid-back vibe. We wore beige lightweight linen suits with white shirts and floral button holes to add a pop of colour. Some of the groomies only tried on their suits the day before, and luckily, they all fit really well! I definitely recommend a lightweight linen during summer, as it was an incredibly hot day.
CEREMONY + RECEPTION Sudbury, Te Horo FLORIST Lulu Kelly from Cellar Daisy, @cellardaisy_ PHOTOGRAPHER Jess Manthey at Auburn Photography, @auburn.photography VIDEOGRAPHER Ruben Mars at RubTech Productions OFFICIANT Reverend Peter Brown MAKEUP Katrina Lee, @katrinayorkmakeup HAIR Angela Enoka BRIDAL DRESS Custom made by White Label Bridal in the Philippines, @whitelabelbridal BRIDESMAID DRESS Custom made by Binks, @binksnz; Hansen & Gretel, @hansenandgretel SUIT Made by Anh Village Silk in Vietnam VEIL Hera Couture, @heracouture KĀKAHU Made by a family member ENGAGEMENTRING Brenmuhls Jewellers BRIDE’S RING Mejuri, @mejuri GROOM’S RING Michael Hill, @michaelhillj BRIDE’S SHOES Staccato, @staccatoph; Prada, @prada CAKE Made by the Bride’s sister, Alanah, @alanahmcleod
