We wanted a celebration that reflected our style: understated, elegant, and timeless.
JULIA —— I’m a clinical psychologist and Jake is a property developer. We share a love of good food, great wine, and our golden retriever, Cleo. The Mornington Peninsula in Victoria is our happy place, where we spend time with family and friends, indulging in long lunches. We met at a bar in Melbourne called Lucky Coq through mutual friends, but we got on each other’s nerves so much that we didn’t speak for six months. Fate, and our best friends who had started dating, kept pulling us back together. Jake kept asking me out, and eventually, I agreed and we ended up hitting it off pretty quickly. Jake says he realised he was in love while sipping an aperol spritz after one of our walks through the Botanical Gardens in Melbourne. For me, there wasn’t a single defining moment. I just always knew there was something special about our connection.
When it came to our wedding, we wanted a celebration that reflected our style: understated, elegant, and timeless. Our venue had breathtaking views, so we kept the styling minimal. A neutral colour palette with accents of green complemented the bridesmaids’ forest green dresses and the natural surroundings. Our wedding planner, Michelle, suggested hanging gypsophila installations above the tables, a stunning addition that left our guests in awe.
We both loved the idea of a black-tie wedding. Finding my dress, however, was a journey. After struggling to find something in Melbourne, I came across Bloom, a Brisband boutique, on Instagram. They carried designers like Vivienne Westwood and Danielle Frankel, which I hadn’t been able to find locally. Mum and I turned it into a girls’ weekend, flying up to Brisbane to try on dresses. The moment I slipped into a Danielle Frankel set, I knew it was the one. More than anything, I wanted to feel like an elevated version of myself — comfortable yet effortlessly elegant.
The most important elements of the wedding? The venue and the experience we created for our guests. We always knew we wanted to marry at a private residence, so we invested in a beautiful location. We also splurged on incredible accommodation in Waiheke for our bridal party, turning the lead-up into a week-long celebration. Having everyone together under one roof made for unforgettable memories. And, of course, the food and wine had to be exceptional.
Our best planning tip is creating a new joint email for wedding planning. It made managing wedding details much easier. As for the wedding day itself? Let’s just say my dress had its own moment. Walking down the aisle with my dad, it got caught on the timber deck — not once, but twice! It had everyone laughing and was the perfect icebreaker, setting the tone for a relaxed, joyful day.
LOCATION Waikopou Estate, @waihekeislandweddings PHOTOGRAPHER Tom Hollow, @hollowandco BRIDE Julia, @juliajsteinhart BRIDE’S DRESS Danielle Frankel, @daniellefrankelstudio, @daniellefrankelbride BRIDE’S SHOES Jimmy Choo, @jimmychoo GROOM’S OUTFIT P. Johnson, @pjohnsontailors GROOM’S SHOES Morjas, @morjasshoes WEDDING & ENGAGEMENT RINGS Unique Diamonds, @uniquediamondsaus MAKEUP & HAIR The Peach Club, @thepeach_club ALTERATIONS Creation Collective Co, @creation.collective.co BRIDE’S FRAGRANCE Le Labo, @lelabofragrances GROOM’S FRAGRANCE Chanel, @chanelofficial BRIDESMAIDS’ OUTFITS Effie Kats, @effiekatsofficial GROOMSMEN’S OUTFITS P. Johnson, @pjohnsontailors FLORIST Madame La Florist, @madameflorist.waiheke PLANNER Michelle Gras, @waihekeislandweddings HIRE Lucy’s Event Hire, @lucyseventhire CELEBRANT Saskia Steinhart, @saskiasteinhart ENTERTAINMENT Lewis McCallum, @epicsaxguynz CATERING Waiheke Chef, @waiheke_chef CAKE Lilith Waiheke, @lilithwaiheke STATIONERY & SIGNAGE Paper Darling, @paperdarlingnz BOUTIQUE Bloom Australia, @bloom_australia_ GIFT REGISTRY Easy Registry, @easyregistry
