Hannah & Madhawa by Jackson Grant

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

Hannah’s life was irrevocably corrupted on the 13th of November 2013 when she was thrust into the bowels of her own worst nightmare by falling for a workplace romance in a hospital wing, just as she’d never dreamed.

Brown’s Anatomy didn’t have a cardiologist that made her heart skip a beat, or a respiratory physician that would take her breath away. Instead, Silva was working on a gastro ward at the time. The only way it could have been less romantic, is if they met over a colonoscopy. Hannah has meanwhile continued her involution since meeting Silva; from bright young popular clinical dietetic star and athletic socialite, to a spinsteresque cat harassing stay at home PhD student.

As is common amongst many relationships, theirs is unique because of its personnel. The cornerstone character being the highly important and honourable Chief Mouser of the residence, Suki, the useless house cat who regrettably but responsibly could not attend the wedding due to illness, although she claimed on the day to be “feline fine”. Sneaky cat.

Tell us about your special day, was there a specific theme or style? Tell us a little about the setting, the styling and some of your favourite details…

Well, you’d think a global pandemic could yank a guy out of ‘marriage’s way’ but after six years together, Hannah’s determination to get married, which could only be paralleled by a pack of graceful rhinoceri, left no room for doubt that any plans for spending Queens Birthday weekend on the couch would be bulldozed by the greatest wedding the world had ever seen. Ours was also going to happen that weekend so we were both pretty happy about that.

Three weeks then gave us enough time to order our clothes online. His from Elle Zeitoune, and hers from Jack London. When we realised the bride looks nicer in the dress, things started really clicking into place. We were then good to book a venue and reconvene with our amazing celebrant, photographer and make up artist. All of whom made adjustments to their usual schedule and more importantly pricing, to accommodate the reignition of the wedding.

Shout out to my barber as well, although he said he had no idea it was my wedding day but just felt my face needed a lot of extra work or it wouldn’t have been a good look for his business when I left the premises; whatever that means. Harry – the demon barber on Plenty Road, I call him. Great cuts for necks to nothing.

They say “when love hurts you, dare to love again”, and this probably explains why over the course of our relationship, we’ve lost countless plants to the compost. Plant, after plant would leave in leaves. Not sure if plants make ghosts but hoping for the best, we held our wedding in a plant nursery. Glasshaus Inside were lovely to work with and provided us with a lush backdrop of foliage that would make any other backdrop, simply green with jealousy, as the old saying goes. I believe.

Some couples find it hard to reduce a guest list by three or four people. So limiting a wedding to ten people under the quarantine restrictions could have destroyed or dare I say decimated any other couple. But we culled ours by 190 guests with one fell governmental swoop. Thank you democracy.

Tell us about your main outfits: Having not bought any new clothes for the duration of the relationship, Hannah was concerned dressing myself for the occasion may be step too far. Enraged by this, in an act of defiance, I chose to dress as my favourite Batman character, The Penguin, by wearing an outfit closely resembling arguably the greatest villain of all time. It wasn’t until I saw Jackson Grant’s amazing photos that I realised how similar a penguin costume is to a traditional tuxedo. Hannah, adapting to the IQ and attention span of the man-child she was about to marry, chose to wear something as shiny as possible in an attempt to hold focus. Her outfit reflects maturity, which plays a lone hand in the relationship.

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

I’m sure it’s been said before, probably in 1918, but it’s not often you get to have a wedding during a global pandemic, let alone look forward to adding to a generation which will no doubt be memed into oblivion as ‘Covid Babies’ in the decades to come. Once emancipated from our families, we snuck off for 6 courses at the Eureka 89 restaurant, after which our bride was provided some ‘Uber’ amazing transport back home.

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

Arguments are a lot like shopping malls, if you wanna get to where you want, you gotta ESCALATE!

Ceremony Venue & Styling: Glasshaus | Photographer: Jackson Grant Weddings | Celebrant: Love Leah Brady | Hire: One Big Day Event Hire |  Flora: Lulu Bird | Dessert platter: Fat’s Story | Bride’s Dress: Suzanne Harward | Veil: Lisa Barron | Bride’s Second Dress: Elle Zeitoune Designs | Groom’s Suit: Jack London Menswear | Ring/s: MG Jewellery Designs |  Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka & Tony Bianco | Groom’s Shoes: Aquila | Makeup & Hair Styling: Studio 2 Makeup & Hair | Bride’s Hair Colour: Tanisha at Telleish Hair Studio | Groom’s Hair: Harry at Saros Barber Shop