Together Journal #37 Print

Welcome to Issue 37! As we step into this fresh new year, we’re energised by a spark of excitement. Reaching the quarter-century mark feels momentous, and we’re ready to embrace all it has to offer.

One movement we’ve noticed, especially for destination weddings, is the rise of curated side events surrounding the big day. Welcome dinners, rehearsal dinners, next-day brunches, and other pre- or post-wedding gatherings are now becoming feature-worthy celebrations in their own right. What’s evolving is the level of intention and style these gatherings now exhibit. Couples are planning every detail with care, thoughtfully crafting low-key atmospheres where guests can connect without the formalities of a wedding day.

Perhaps it’s the shift towards smaller guest lists freeing up budget. Or maybe couples realise that the wedding day flies by and want more time to savour each moment with loved ones. A next-day gathering, or “bash” as we call it here, has long been a staple in Australasia. It’s a more relaxed opportunity to regroup, reminisce, and enjoy one last hurrah before everyone heads home. Seeing these events grow in popularity and with a little more finesse has been wonderful.

In this issue, we talk style and business with three cornerstone fashion brands thrivingintheweddingsector:WorkingStyle,VinkaDesign,andemergingbrand Fritz & Sarah.

Our collection of real weddings takes you on a tour across Europe, where destination weddings are as popular as ever, so much so that European styling elements are inspiring couples celebrating in their own corners of the world.

We elevated our fashion editorial by collaborating with visionary stylist and artist Sarah Jayne Kavali, who has recently revamped and relaunched an incredible waterfront venue, Okahu — ideal for weddings and stand-out events. It was the perfect backdrop for our shoot, captured by the talented Jonny Scott, whose lens has brought fashion and weddings to life in some of the most stylish corners of the globe.

And of course, we have our usual mix of style inspiration across our gifting, jewellery, and Lovely Things editorial pages, where we’ve spent months scouring the globe for the very best finds for weddings, special occasions, and the good life in general.