Ellie + Matt by Brooke Arte Studio

We kept the styling natural and elegant, letting the gardens speak for themselves.

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

We’re Matt and Ellie. Matt is a paediatric nurse and Ellie is a lawyer. We met when we were 13 and have grown up together, learning to balance each other’s strengths and quirks while building a life full of love and laughter. We love being outdoors – travelling, hiking when we can, and simply spending time together with our dog and cat. Some of our happiest memories are quiet ones: mornings shared over coffee, evenings cooking together, or just sitting side by side watching the world go by.

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

We met in Year 7 – same homeroom, very different worlds. Matt was the nerdy one, spending lunches in the library, part of the school chess group, and even performing as a literal bookworm in the Year 7 talent competition. Ellie was more sporty and outgoing, and didn’t take much notice at first. We didn’t have a grand romantic moment to mark the start of it all; we were just friends who eventually became paired for a debutante ball. What began with quiet connection – hand touches during My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 and shoes tossed into trees during our teen years – slowly grew into something deeply grounding.

Tell us about the vision you had for the mood and style of your wedding. (theme, key styling elements, florals, colour palettes etc.).

Our wedding took place on 5 April 2025 beneath a towering, vine-covered tree at Gardens House in the Royal Botanic Gardens of Victoria. While we weren’t sure exactly what we were looking for at first, Gardens House immediately felt like home. The tree in particular reminded Ellie of those she used to climb on her grandparents’ property in Queensland, and the venue’s natural beauty – from the festoon lights and garden furniture to the charming house itself – made it feel effortless and timeless.

The aesthetic was deeply personal too, shaped by a flower girl dress Ellie’s late mum had hand-sewn for a wedding she never got to attend. That dress became the palette for the day, influencing the colours of the dresses, ribbons, florals, and stationery. We kept the styling natural and elegant, letting the gardens speak for themselves, while meaningful touches – nods to our shared history, our love of the outdoors, and our families – were woven throughout. Every detail was chosen with care, so that although Ellie’s mum couldn’t be with us, her love was stitched into the day in the most beautiful and quiet way.

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).

Gardens House provided a beautiful foundation, and our small additions had a big impact on the personal, whimsical garden aesthetic we envisioned in shades of blue, purple, and green, inspired by Ellie’s flower girl dress. Our florist brought the palette to life, and ribbon was incorporated throughout – on bouquets, ceremony chairs, the welcome sign, and our flower girl’s wand – creating a modern fairy garden that complemented the natural beauty of the venue. Thoughtful touches, like raw-edged napkins, pearled pears, hurricane glasses with silver candle holders, and consistent stationery in a curly garden-style font, added polish and personality. Even little details, like serving Aperol and Hugo spritz at cocktail hour, helped make the day feel truly magical.

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

Ellie loved the creative freedom of wedding planning – what started with a dress grew into designing the stationery, choosing ribbons, and curating the key styling elements. It was a wonderful creative outlet (something law doesn’t exactly provide!) and allowed us to put our story and history at the centre of the design process.

Our top tips for couples planning their wedding: save money where you can and invest in areas that truly represent you, whether it’s linen, food, flowers, or cardstock. It helps to have a separate Instagram account for wedding inspiration so it doesn’t take over your life, and having one key basis for your aesthetic to return to keeps things focused when it all feels overwhelming. We also created a “Wedding Gospel” (very Type A, according to our celebrant) to ensure all our vendors were on the same page before the big day. And above all, choose vendors who feel like your people – the ones you trust and could genuinely have a pint with.

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

We loved all our vendors – they are all incredibly talented, kind, and beautiful people, and we really chose well! Brooke, our photographer, brought so much feeling and impact to every shot, and her calm presence on the day was invaluable. Mel, our florist, absolutely took our breath away – we could have stayed in our fairy garden all day. Michelle, our stylist, was a last-minute hire just two weeks before the wedding, and from the moment we met her, she felt like another Type A queen we could completely trust. Every single one of them was impeccable, and they helped make our day truly magical.

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

Ellie had one outfit – her wedding dress, a Hera Couture gown from Bluebell Bridal. From the very beginning, she knew the look she wanted: think Miley Cyrus meets Carrie Bradshaw, but more structured than a classic Vivienne Westwood. It was the first dress she tried on in the second bridal shop, and everyone cried — we knew instantly it was the one. Remarkably, we chose the dress before even choosing the wedding venue. The gown was fitted yet comfortable, unique yet modern, perfectly reflecting Ellie’s style and the tone of our wedding day. The two-tier veil added extra volume and a touch of ’90s flair, and the look was completed simply with pearl drop Oroton earrings.

Matt also had one outfit – a custom suit from Institchu, paired with a thick bow tie and cummerbund from PJ Johnson. The pants sat higher with side tassels for a flattering shape, and the cummerbund covered his signature white triangle under the blazer buttons. He had two tailored shirts in case he needed a fresh one, and a custom “E + M” monogram on the pocket mirrored our stationery logo, adding a personal touch. The outfit was classic yet thoughtfully detailed, reflecting Matt’s style and tying beautifully into the tone of our wedding day.

Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.

Ellie’s engagement ring is a Kate and Kole oval bezel-set diamond, paired with a 5.5mm custom wedding band featuring an oval cutout for a perfectly fitted set, crafted by Scarlett Jewellery in Melbourne. Modern, unique, and perfectly Ellie. Matt chose a simple 4mm gold band, designed to look beautifully worn over time.

We engraved each other’s rings and exchanged notes during our first look: his reads, “do it all again,” hers says, “in this life and the next” — sentiments that mirror each other and echo a quote from The Song of Achilles that Matt referenced in his vows:

“I would recognize you in total darkness, were you mute and I deaf. I would recognize you in another lifetime entirely, in different bodies, in different times. And I would love you in all of this, until the very last star in the sky burnt out into oblivion.”

It felt like the perfect reflection of our bond — timeless, unwavering, and infinite.

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?).

The two elements we were most happy to invest in were photography and florals. Ellie has always loved keeping physical photos and albums – one for every year – so it felt natural to prioritise a photographer. At the end of the day, the photos are what remain. Being able to capture the emotion and feeling of the day, and preserve them as both memories and pieces of art, was incredibly important to us.

The florals became the heart of our aesthetic, bringing our whimsical garden vision to life. Inspired by Ellie’s flower girl dress, the palette of blue, purple, and green was transformed into breathtaking statement pieces. The flowers elevated the atmosphere, making key spaces look intentional, bright and beautiful.

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

Matt: My moment was watching Ellie walk down the aisle. Not only did she look stunning, but it finally cemented in my mind that I have the privilege of spending the rest of my life loving and being loved by this incredible, strong woman.

Ellie: One of my favourite moments was having all the people we love in the same space. With family and friends from all over Australia (and New Zealand), it felt so special. I’ve been raised and shaped by many extraordinary people at different stages of my life, and I don’t think we’ll ever again have all of our people together in one room like that—truly witnessing and celebrating our love, and what family means to us. If I can sneak in a second moment, it would be Matt completely balling his eyes out as I walked down the aisle—there’s a very sweet photo of that!