Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love, what is unique about you and your relationship…
Georgia-Rose: Ryan and I were city loving Melbournians until we opted for a tree change a few years back. I am a teacher at a local primary school and my husband works in the television industry, commuting to the city each weekday. We love living in the Macedon ranges and saw our wedding as the perfect opportunity to expose our friends and family to its beauty, and show them first hand why we made the decision to live there.
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…
Ryan: For our wedding we really wanted to stay true to ourselves. The event was an equal reflection of us. We realised very early in the process that you can’t please everyone, so who better to please than yourselves. We had spent the year leading up to the day collecting vintage and antique chairs for the ceremony. Some came from vintage markets, a lot came from op shops, and some were generously donated by family. Georgia walked down an aisle of vintage rugs, again many sourced from Georgia’s family. We were really lucky that a number of kids from Georgia’s prep class came along, making the day even more special.
Our signature stamp could be found in the music (from Otis Redding, to the Smiths, to Jay Z and Kanye West), the tower of Krispy Kreme donuts that our guests devoured (Uncle John has the record at 7), and the candle-lit dinner inside the Cosmopolitan’s stables.
Finding our celebrant, JVG, was also crucial as he helped set the tone of a relaxed and intimate event with humour thrown in at every opportunity possible. Our photographer Aleksandar and his assistant and wife Chantelle were our spirit guides on the day; their wedding-day experience helped keep us calm when things were hectic and assured us that everything was going just as it should be. They were a couple of cool heads when we needed them, and the photos look amazing!
Tell us about your main outfits:
Georgia-Rose: When I started looking for the dress, all I knew was that I didn’t want any white tulle! It was a blush-coloured Rachel Gilbert gown, sequined from head to toe. It made me feel like a mermaid! I found the dress pre-loved on the Facebook group High End it was previously owed by a newspresenter. My gorgeous velvet heels were my “something blue”; they featured embroided pink flowers which matched my dress, and they were an absolute steal on ASOS!
My favourite part of the outfit was the silk headband that my Grandma had made for my mum when she got married. It’s beautiful and elegant, it really is of another era. And it something which will forever bond my Mum, my Grandma, and me.
Ryan: I had planned to go with all-black suits for me and the groomsmen. I figured it’s the most important day of my life, it called to get as fancy as possible. Then one day just before the wedding, Georgia-Rose surprised me with the most beautiful rust-red velvet blazer, and I reckon I looked just like a ‘50s rock and roll singer. I didn’t want to take it off! We were watching ‘Carols by Candlelight’ a week later and everyone was wearing velvet blazers! I reckon we started a trend.
What were some of the most memorable/unique moments from the day?
Ryan: One of my favourite parts of the day was seeing Georgia’s uniqueness and style on show with every decision we made. Coming down the aisle to Otis Redding, and then entering the reception to ‘Otis’ by Jay-Z and Kanye West, which samples ‘Try a Little Tenderness’, was a great bridge from the profoundness of the ceremony to the party atmosphere of the reception. It was an inspired choice; surprising and heartfelt, at the same time effortlessly cool. Just like my wife!
Any advice for other couples planning to spend the rest of their lives together?
When you think about it, a wedding should really be about 2 people. You are planning a big old party with your best friend. Have some fun with it! Don’t sweat the small stuff, and when things go wrong… which they will, having the ability to laugh and carry on with the day will be your saviour.
Photographer: Aleksandar Jason | Ceremony and reception location, catering: The Cosmopolitan Hotel, Trentham, Victoria | Celebrant: Jon Von Goes | Entertainment: DJ Wildman | Desserts: Krispy Kreme | Hair and makeup: Switch Hair and Beauty | Wedding dress: Rachel Gilbert | Bride’s shoes and groom’s jacket: ASOS | Headband: Family heirloom | Groom and groomsmen’s attire: Ferrari Formalwear | Groom’s shoes: RM Williams | Rings: Michael Hill
