Laura + Jake by Modern Romantics

Timeless, sculptural, and romantic, while still feeling fresh and fun.

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

I am a stay-at-home mother of three — Sophia (6), Mateo (4) and Tahlia (2) — and I truly love being a mum. Jake works as a tug master in Port Hedland on a FIFO roster, and we live in the small beach town of Kalbarri, six hours north of Perth. We absolutely love going to the beach every day. Jake surfs and dives whenever he is home, while I love Pilates and working out.   Planning a wedding from a small town and in another country definitely had its challenges, but luckily our stylist, Angga from Styledbyangga, was beyond helpful and made the entire experience feel so wonderful and easy.

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

We met in Bali in 2014 at a little bar called Alley Cats — which still makes us laugh because it was one of those completely unexpected moments that ended up changing everything. Jake may have rounded his age up slightly when we first met, but luckily, by the time I realised I was actually a few years older, I had already fallen completely for him.   From the very beginning, there was an instant connection — I mean, he’s cute! We’re very different people in a lot of ways, but somehow everything just clicked naturally. What started as holiday conversations quickly turned into long emails, late-night phone calls, and eventually a year of long-distance between Melbourne and Kalbarri, filled with red-eye flights and constant countdowns until we could see each other again.   Our first impressions of each other haven’t really changed much either. I thought Jake was fun, easygoing, and impossible not to be around, while Jake was immediately drawn to my warmth, confidence, and energy. Looking back now, it still feels kind of wild that one random night in Bali led to the life and family we’ve built together.

Wedding Day

What styling and visual elements worked best for you?

From the very beginning, we knew florals would play a huge role in creating the atmosphere of our wedding. Having our florist, Sandat Floral, involved throughout the entire process gave us so much confidence because we knew they would deliver something truly special. Together with our stylist, Angga from Styledbyangga, we wanted the overall aesthetic to feel like a modern take on a Greco-Roman-inspired celebration — timeless, sculptural, and romantic, while still feeling fresh and fun.   

The florals became the hero element of the day. We loved the sculptural arrangements featuring grasses and calla lilies, which felt modern yet soft at the same time. The ceremony installation was absolutely next level, and unlike anything we’d seen before, while the statement floral moments during cocktail hour felt like pure magic.  

One of the most memorable styling details for us was actually the reception bar. We spent so much time going back and forth over the smallest details — the perfect font, colours, shapes, and menu design — incorporating little Greek-inspired touches like “OPA” on the bar menu. One detail we especially loved was the Apollo-inspired bust candles, which we sourced from Australia and had flown over to Bali especially for the wedding. It was those layered details that made everything feel incredibly personal and uniquely “us.”

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

I loved planning the entire wedding! It was so much fun being creative and having so many possibilities for what we could do. I especially loved thinking about the small details that all add up — even the ones that might go unnoticed, like cold hand towels for guests to cool down with after the ceremony. I wanted everyone to feel comfortable and have everything they could need.

My advice for couples starting their wedding planning journey would be: you can never start too early. Give yourself time to plan and think through all the small details. When you do, the day runs so much more smoothly, and you’re able to enjoy every moment.

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

Our wedding planner, Soiree Society, was made up of some of the kindest people I have met in a long time — they truly care about you and everyone involved in your day. From the very beginning, they made the entire planning process feel calm, exciting, and so much less overwhelming. Their attention to detail, organisation, and genuine care meant every part of the day ran so seamlessly, allowing us to be completely present and enjoy every moment. Nothing ever felt like too much trouble, and knowing they were behind the scenes gave us such peace of mind. They brought so much warmth and professionalism to our wedding and made us feel supported every step of the way.  

Our incredible photographer, Raquelle from Modern Romantics, was another standout. From the moment I spoke with Raquelle, I knew I was in the best hands. She completely understood my vision and made me feel like anything was possible for our photos. She walked through the venue to find the best locations and lighting, which made our moments together as husband and wife feel even more intimate, while never wasting a second capturing as many beautiful memories as possible. Raquelle brought such a calming, warm energy to our wedding day and made us feel so comfortable in front of the camera. Every moment felt natural, effortless, and so genuinely us. Looking through our photos brings every emotion rushing back, and I’m beyond grateful to have these memories captured so perfectly.  

Our florist, Sandat Floral, made me cry when I saw all my flowers. I had this vision of a large floral vase sculpture — something romantic, sculptural, and very European — and they brought it to life more beautifully than I could have imagined. Every arrangement felt so intentional and artful, and the flowers became such a stunning feature of the day. They not only understood my vision but also elevated it beyond my expectations, creating something incredibly special and unforgettable. Walking into the space and seeing everything come together was such an emotional moment, and I’ll never forget how magical it felt.

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

My second dress carried so much meaning for me. It was originally my mother’s wedding dress, which had also been passed down to my older sister, although she didn’t end up wearing it for her own wedding day. The French lace was a one-off fabric Mum had found in Melbourne years ago, which made it feel even more special.   

I knew I wanted to create something new with the dress while still honouring its history, so I worked closely with Ilka from Studio Ilka to reimagine and redesign it into something that felt true to me. I felt so beautiful wearing it, and it made both Mum and me cry. There is something incredibly special about wearing a dress that was once part of another love story and giving it new life in your own.

What were one or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on?

After waiting so long for our Bali wedding moment — and with our three beautiful children already by our side — we really wanted the day to feel like more than just a wedding. We wanted it to feel like an incredible celebration for all the people we love.

For us, investing in the overall experience and atmosphere was really important. We wanted cohesive styling throughout the entire day so every space felt intentional and immersive, not only for our guests but for ourselves to genuinely enjoy and appreciate as well.  

We also placed huge importance on photography and content creation. Having Raquelle from Modern Romantics capture our photography and MTL Socials document the day through content creation felt incredibly important to us. The day goes by so quickly, and knowing those moments, emotions, and little in-between memories would be captured forever ended up being one of the best decisions we made.

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

One of the most surreal moments was actually during the morning preparations. We were all getting our hair and makeup done in the villa living area, which overlooked both the ceremony and reception lawn, so we could watch everything slowly come to life throughout the day.

Seeing all of our vendors arrive — our florist Sandat Floral installing the flowers, our stylist Angga from Styledbyangga bringing the spaces together, and every little detail taking shape — after almost a year and a half of planning felt incredibly emotional.  

There was a moment just before the ceremony began when everything suddenly felt real. Looking out and seeing the vision we had carried for so long finally brought to life — surrounded by our family, friends, and children — is something we’ll treasure forever.

Recovery Party

What does being married mean to you, and are there any special rituals you have that you would like to share? 

Choosing each other every day (even when you fight), making that commitment to care for and love one another always. We also do date nights once a month and take turns planning them. Sometimes they’re lavish dates, and other times they’re as simple as cheese and wine in the back of the car watching the sunset. As long as we make time for us, everything else melts away.