Jess + Tom by She Takes Pictures He Makes Films - Together Journal

We wanted our wedding to feel connected to nature, unique and not cookie-cutter, vibrant and magical.

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

We both grew up regionally and now call Melbourne home. Thomas works in Science Communications and Jess works as an Arts Manager. We love arts, music, good food and drink, the outdoors, our friends and family, and each other!

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

We were friends first, and very easily that blossomed into love. For Jess, there was no singular defining moment when she knew Thomas was “the one,” but rather everything building up over time. Thomas is a loyal, creative, and caring man who listens without judging and is always there without needing to be asked. For Thomas, at the time they met, he was instantly captivated by Jess and curious to know more. Over time, as they navigated many twists and turns in life, they always came out stronger together. Jess has an amazing sense of humour, is kind-hearted, and is always ready to stand up for what she believes in. That unwavering determination is something Thomas admires deeply. Her ability to light up any room with her infectious laughter and warm smile makes even the hardest days feel a little easier. Together, they’ve built a partnership on trust, respect, and a shared sense of adventure, facing life’s challenges side by side and embracing every new chapter with open hearts.

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

We wanted our wedding to feel connected to nature, unique and not cookie-cutter, vibrant and magical. We love Melbourne and knew we wanted to get married in an inner-city location, while still maintaining a connection to nature. Glasshaus was perfect, as it is an urban jungle surrounded by plants in the heart of Richmond. We extended this theme to our portraits, taking photos at the Fitzroy Gardens Conservatory and Poodle Restaurant in Fitzroy. Our dress code for the wedding was fabulous formal. We asked our guests to dress in colour and wear whatever made them feel fabulous: sparkles, glitter, pattern. It was lovely to look around and see these beautiful colours contrasted against the rich greens of the venues. We enjoy playfulness and wanted that to come through on the day. One way we incorporated our personalities and avoided anything cookie-cutter was by spending the night before the wedding together and taking our time the next morning, grabbing a coffee just the two of us and soaking in the day to come. During our ceremony, we held a witness raffle with our guests’ names in a box and drew two at random. They ended up being siblings, Thomas’s aunt and uncle. Immediately after the ceremony, we served cake and champagne. At the reception, before the food was served, we played a game of heads and tails trivia written by us and hosted by our lovely MC and celebrant Megan. The winner received one of Jess’s favourite novels, along with a recipe and spice mix to honour Thomas’s love of cooking. A side note: our vision and mood for the wedding were thrown a curveball when it was forecast to be 38 degrees, one of the hottest November days on record.

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).   

Our beautiful venues, Glasshaus Outside for the ceremony and Glasshaus Inside for the reception, were incredible. The moment we walked through the doors on our first visit, we fell in love and knew this was where we wanted to get married. We both love plants and being outside in nature, and this felt as close as it could get while still being in the heart of Richmond. When it came to styling, we leaned into the greenery and earthiness of the venues, choosing bright, fun flowers to add vibrancy and life. The varying heights of the arrangements on the long timber reception tables added to the whimsical, magical feel, and the feature flowers made a beautiful backdrop for guest photos. Glasshaus, our florist, was also amazing. We were very easy-going with our brief, simply providing colours and overall vibes, and left the rest to Mymy at Glasshaus. She took our simple direction and absolutely nailed it. We were so thrilled when we saw the florals on the day of our wedding.

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

  We got engaged in May 2023 and began planning our wedding in February 2024, with the big day set for November 2024. Our biggest advice for other couples is to enjoy the engagement and not rush into making all the major decisions the moment you put a ring on it. It’s such a special time, and it’s worth savouring. When it came to planning, we started by booking our venue. This gave us a set date to work towards when engaging with all of our vendors. Our other tip is to lean into each other’s strengths. Thomas is a Type A planner who thrives on detail and organisation, so he became the key contact for all our vendors. Jess is more focused on feeling and vision, so she leaned into the overall concept and tying everything together cohesively. Another big tip: if there’s a particular photographer you want to capture your day, book them as early as possible — they fill up quickly. A little back story: Thomas came across some of Luce’s work years before we got engaged and instantly knew he wanted her to photograph his wedding. Her images are truly incredible, and these are photos you’ll treasure for the rest of your life. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the decisions involved in wedding planning. One of the most helpful things we did was to sit down and list out our priorities, especially in relation to our budget. Unless you have an unlimited budget, you’ll need to decide which vendors are essential and where you can scale back. There are so many add-ons and nice-to-haves, but at some point, you need to draw the line. And here’s a fun fact: there are no rules when it comes to weddings. You can do whatever you want — it’s your day. We chose not to have a traditional wedding party, did a first look and portraits before the ceremony, and Jess walked down the aisle solo to a round of applause and an ambient instrumental piece. We held a witness raffle, played trivia, served afternoon cake and champagne, and did an over-the-top first dance. Do what makes you and your partner happy, and create a day that feels true to who you are. It’s something you’ll look back on with pride and joy.

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

Our vendors were amazing. Our photographer, Lucy, was so relaxed and focused. Jess wasn’t super confident in front of the camera, but Lucy made the day feel like a breeze — we honestly forgot she was even there. Paired with Al, our content creator, they were exceptional. Mymy from Glasshaus did an incredible job with the flowers. Jess almost cried when she saw her bouquet, it was absolutely perfect. Megan, our MC and celebrant, was the backbone of the day. She didn’t miss a beat and kept everything running smoothly with such grace and energy. The food by Essential Catering was super yummy, and our guests kept telling us the same. We also loved going to the taste testing in the lead-up to the wedding; such a fun and joyful moment during the planning process. Even the converted warehouse Airbnb where we got ready was excellent, totally stress-free and it photographed beautifully. All our vendors were genuinely lovely, down-to-earth people who brought nothing but good vibes.

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

Thomas didn’t want to wear a traditional black suit, and since we were getting married in a greenhouse at Glasshaus, he thought, why not wear a green velvet tuxedo? He visited Oscar Hunt in Prahran and from the moment he walked in, he knew he was in safe hands with Wei. After exploring a range of options and colours, he landed on a custom green velvet jacket paired with black pants; classic, but fabulous. Jess struggled with finding a wedding dress. She had never really pictured herself getting married and didn’t relate to the idea of a big white gown. After visiting many stores and trying on everything from feathered dresses and multicoloured sequins to Princess Diana-style poofy gowns, she felt more confused than ever. Eventually, she sketched out what she had in mind and reached out to a few dressmakers to explore the process. Before seeing any of them, Jess visited Kayla at Ivory Bride. Kayla was calm, thoughtful, and strategic in guiding her through what worked and what didn’t. The dress Jess was convinced would be the one looked okay, but it didn’t have that wow factor. Then Kayla suggested another option, and when Jess tried it on, she loved it. It felt bridal but still true to herself. Fun fact: while Jess was at the register paying for the dress, the song Thomas had used for his proposal video came on and it’s not a very popular song either.

Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.

  Engagement: Tom designed Jess’s engagement ring knowing only one thing: Jess loves sapphires. With that in mind, he met with various jewellers across Melbourne, all without Jess knowing, and eventually found a perfect match with Larsen Jewellery. The engagement ring features a beautiful Australian blue sapphire, wrapped in 16 diamonds.

Wedding: Leading up to the wedding, we returned to Larsen Jewellery after Tom had such a great experience with them. Jess wanted a simple silver band and decided to have it half-wrapped in diamonds to add a bit of sparkle. Tom wanted something unique. As someone who never wears rings, it was difficult to know what would feel right. After trying on most of the options in the store, he finally chose the one that felt like him — a simple band with a rose gold line.

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?).   

Photographer:
Tom has a background in photography and has always loved taking photos. We wanted someone with a documentary-style approach; someone who could capture the natural, unposed moments of the day that we’ll cherish forever.

Ceremony Venue:
Glasshaus offers the option to hold both the ceremony and reception in one location. But after visiting Glasshaus Outside, we knew we wanted to be married in their greenhouse. While it came at an additional cost, it was worth every cent. It helped break up the day, gave guests time to travel between venues, and brought a fresh shift in energy that made the celebration feel even more special.

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

Vows:
We didn’t expect to be so deeply moved by our vows. Beforehand, we told each other to keep them to 400 words and not to share anything in advance. On the day, we were both incredibly emotional. Looking back, it was so special to share and express our love for each other in front of everyone we care about. We felt deeply connected in that moment, and were surprised by just how in sync our vows turned out to be.

First Dance:
Jess has always loved dancing, while Thomas is more of a head-bopper. There weren’t many traditional elements in our wedding, but one thing Jess really wanted was a first dance. Dirty Dancing was one of her favourite movies growing up, and she dreamed of dancing to Time of My Life — yes, lift and all — at the wedding. Jess found a local dance school online and convinced Thomas to give it a try. After the first class, he wasn’t entirely convinced, but seeing how happy it made Jess, he agreed to go back. By the fifth class, he genuinely loved the dance and was excited to perform it on the day. It was such a fun and joyful moment to share together and the perfect way to kick off the dancefloor. Our wedding truly was the time of our lives.