How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?
We met in February 2014, out in St Kilda at a bar through a mutual friends. We were both the designated drivers for the night.
Isabella – I though he was a really sweet guy, so blonde and tall. I liked that he was honest and easy to talk to, just himself straight up.
Luke – My first impression of Bella was she was very interested in everything I had to say, she would listen and care. She had this huge smile that stood out from everyone else we were around, this glistening bright personality that couldn’t be missed. She was very similar to me in the way we both went about life.
Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…
Isabella – I am a Registered Nurse and Luke is an electrician. I work as an anaesthetic nurse at a large hospital in Melbourne. We love our two dog Sasha and Baxter, spending time with friends and family, outdoor adventures like camping, skiing.
When did you first realise that this was someone you’d like to spend the rest of your life with?
Isabella – When I realised that I could be my complete vulnerable, silly self around him, that he was my best friend who I could truely rely on. I think this was also confirmed when I realised what type of love Luke showed, not a complete romantic but someone who wants to make me laugh, happy and be the fixer of all my issues small or big.
Luke – There wasn’t a particular point, more of a feeling. I guess you never really know you are in love till it doesn’t feel awkward or uneasy to be completely open and share everything with someone. There was a point in time where I felt like she was the closest to me out of everyone I knew, there was something else
Was there a proposal? Tell us a little about it…
Isabella – It was a really hot day in summer. The week had been busy and we had wanted to go down to the beach after work to have dinner, ice-cream and a walk by the beach in St Kilda.
This was exiting enough for us as a cute little date in the same area we met in 2013. We had dinner and a few drinks and skipped on the ice cream as we were far too full. Luke was acting a bit strange at dinner, I asked a few times at dinner if he was ok.
When walking on the beach I was pretty relaxed, we held hands and despite it being hot and sweaty I thought it was sweet he wanted to hold my hand still… as not a huge romantic, he often gets embarrassed with public displays of affection, plus sweaty hands haha. He mentioned how he always has the memory of is meeting when in this area, I agreed it did the same for me. We walked to the end of the beach to where the pier started and it was pretty dark by this time. I sat on the bench and was putting my shoes on when he sat next to me and said he was meaning to ask me something for a while. I saw him holding something in his fingers. As it was dark I saw something sparkle in the moonlight and then clicked that he had asked me to marry him. I couldn’t believe it, not that I didn’t want that but more that I didn’t see it coming at all that day or in that time of our lives. Out of complete disbelief, the first thing I said was ‘are you serious?’ He was silent… later he told me his heart sank and that he thought I would say no. I then immediately said ‘of course I will, YES!’ I then burst into happy tears! We then got up and walked to his godmothers apartment and he was so excited to tell me the months of planning and scheming to work out my ring size and get the ring made.
Luke – The lead up to me asking Bella to marry me was interesting. Trying to get her ring size and trying to organise it without her knowing stretched me to new lengths, was rather tricky. My mum and I decided it would be a good idea for her to give Bella and old ring that mum had so she could try it on her other hand, happened to fit quite well. I decided to pinch it the next day to take it to our ring maker without Bella knowing I had, Bella thought she had lost it. The ring got made thankfully I was working in the city for a year. The lead up to me asking Bella to marry me was nerve-racking, the night I decided to ask her we went to a restaurant in st Kilda where we first met, I was trying to hide the ring the whole night and not be obvious about what was going to happen, I had attached it to the ring on my car keys to hide it from her. We decided to go for a walk which is something we did the first night we met, we sat down on a bench, and I decided to ask her. First thing she asked me was “really?” which made me feel happy as I had completely hidden this whole experience from her, so it was a huge surprise for her. I had organised to have champagne with my mum and godmother (my second mum) that night after I asked Bella, it was a night to remember.
Tell us about the vision you had for the mood or style of your wedding…
We wanted a wedding that was out in the open, relaxed but also elegant. We wanted to make sure there was plenty of fun, food and drinks and for people to have fun.
What was one element you were happy to splurge on?
Venue (with amazing food and drinks), photography and band
Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, is there a story?
My dress was made and designed by Luci di Bella Design. When I went to the studio I had no idea what style would suit me. Luci at the studio is amazing and guided me to try on a few different style and was so helpful and honest in picking the perfect one that complemented my body. I ended up loving the leaf lace on one of the samples but the A-line shape didn’t suit me. Instead I tried on a more figure hugging design and then decided I loved that style. I got the lace added to that style instead.
Did anything happen on your wedding day that you laugh about in hindsight (even if it was stressful at the time)?
I guess having our dogs come along. They hadn’t seen us for two night and were washed and taken to the venue by a company called I Do Paws . During the ceremony Sasha really wanted to come up to us and yelped. Sasha and Baxter also has a little argument with each other during the ceremony as the person looking after them had treats and they both wanted them. In the end they were very well behaved and we managed to get some amazing photos with them.
Ceremony + Reception location: Baxter Barn | Photographer: Quint Photography | Celebrant: Linda Hamill | Entertainment: The White Tree | Planner: Bride Isabella | Styling + Hire + Flora: Woops A Daisy Florist | Catering + Beverages: Baxter Barn | Cake: Fig & Duck | Stationery: Officeworks and Kmart | Wishing well: Woops A Daisy Florist | Brides Attire: Luci Di Bella Design | Grooms Attire: Ted Baker suit provided by Mens Suit Warehouse | Brides Ring/s: Ken Gray | Grooms Ring: Kavalri | Shoes : Loeffler Randall | Hair piece: Windsor Bridal Jewellery | Makeup: Skye Mazalin | Hair: Phuong Do | Bridesmaid Attire: Bec and Bridge | Groomsmen Attire:Mens Suit Warehouse
