Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love, what is unique about you and your relationship:
Matt and Mel met many moons ago at a club in South Yara and truthfully didn’t think much of it at the time (or at least, Mel didn’t). Matt stayed safety in the friendzone for about a year which built a pretty great foundation for a relationship they have today.
They had and still have, so much in common between their love for music, travels and just having a good time. It’s now been 11 years of loving one another and they can happily say it just gets better and better.
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.
Our priority was having one big party that our friends wouldn’t forget, especially after a weird 2020 where obviously we weren’t able to see each other much. Our main focus was keeping things FUN and making sure everyone had a good time. We searched for a venue that would be easy to get to so that people could celebrate without any stress and also something that would be a bit untraditional, and a bit unexpected. Bells Bar was perfect for our low-key, festive vibe.
Tell us about your main outfits:
We tried to keep all aspects of our outfits budget friendly as we wanted to spend more money on the main event which was the reception!
For the wedding dress, I was lucky to have such a talented mother-in-law who made my dress! All I wanted was a simple slip. This was so I could add my own style towards the outfit and add bright coloured accessories and pink shoes. Once COVID restrictions eased in November we were lucky enough to get the last of the white pearl silk fabric from D’italia Couture and created the beautiful piece in 3 months.
For the bridesmaids’ dresses the inspiration came from Amy (one of my bridesmaids) who showed me images of some Mister Zimi weddings. This was while we were doing our inspiration boards. I loved the concept that the bridesmaids could wear these dresses again and that everyone could pick a style that suited their body shape. A big bonus was how relaxed they felt on the day.It came together so well and we couldn’t have been happier.
What were some of the most memorable/unique moments from the day:
The two key moments on our day were the ceremony and our entertainment.
Our celebrant, Jermaine Clarke did such an amazing job of our ceremony. He was vibrant, energetic and kept the laughs flowing. The ceremony would definitely be a moment we will never forget. Our entertainment was the magician, Mr Marmalade and our awesome DJ Jonno Haze. We chose a magician to go around during canapes to help bring people together as a lot of our family and friends did not know one another. We had a lot of people amazed by the tricks and it was the highlight of their day!
Any advice for other couples planning to spend the rest of their lives together:
Communication is key. Do not forget negotiation, you may not agree on everything so pick your battles. Try not to stress too much before and on the day. Take in every moment as the day just flies by and will be over before you know it. Just remember you cannot choose your family and just go with the flow. Relax!
Photography: @carlaantoniaphotos | Ceremony and Reception location: @bellshotel | Celebrant: @jcelebrant | Bride’s attire: d’Italia | Groom’s attire: @calvinklein | Bride’s ring: All Diamonds | Groom’s ring: Uniform Black | Bride’s shoes: @aliasmae | Groom’s shoes: @aquila_est1958 | Bride’s crown and earrings: @ael.este | Makeup and Hair: @blowwavesbykristina | Bridesmaid’s attire: @misterzimi | Groomsmen’s attire: @calvinklein | Entertainment: Jonno Haze | Flora: @llb_florals | Catering and Beverages: @bellshotel | Cake: @somethingspecialbysally
