Sarah —— We were set up by mutual friends. We’d both heard about each other, but life gets in the way, so our friends sneakily organized for us to ‘bump into each other’ on a boozy Sunday out. He told my best friend that night that I was his ‘dream girl’.
I’m a florist who has specialized in weddings for years, so naturally, I love all things romantic and beautiful! Matt runs a fabrication/powder coating company and is a keen fisherman. You’ll always find him by the ocean and me in nature.
My first impression of Matt was that he was kind. I had lost my 21-year-old brother a month before we met. In the early days of dating, I was all over the place, but Matt loved me as I was and became my absolute shining light. I believe my brother picked my perfect soulmate and sent him to me.
Matt proposed to me on a random Monday in May 2021, after a huge weekend of weddings. I was completely wrecked and he suggested we go over to our favorite spot at the beach for a picnic because it was such a nice afternoon. I was so tired I didn’t realise what was going on, but as we sat there, he asked me to grab him a beer out of the esky and I turned around to see him down on one knee. Then our besties, my cousin, and his parents came running down the beach to celebrate. It was the most special afternoon ever.
Having worked on hundreds of weddings, I felt like I’d seen it all, so I was really torn about the look and feel of my own wedding. Part of me wanted to do something really modern that I hadn’t seen before, but I kept reverting back to the classic, soft, garden-romantic look which has always been my favourite. Flowers and styling were a given so we went all out with that, but also on the entertainment.
We had a beautiful acoustic singer for the ceremony and cocktail hour. For the reception, I wanted everyone on the dancefloor for as long as possible, so we went with a DJ/sax/guitar duo who were incredible. I chose my ceremony dress quite quickly and then had constant doubts about it for the next nine months, which I feel happens to a lot of brides. But looking back, I loved it. It was classic and simple. To dress it up, I paired it with a very detailed flower veil also by Mariana Hardwick. Being a florist for 19 years, it felt very special to incorporate flowers in some way.
PHOTOGRAPHER: Ivy Road, @ivyroadphotography / CEREMONY DRESS: Mariana Hardwick, @marianahardwick / RECEPTION DRESS: Made with Love, @madewithlovebridal / GROOM’S ATTIRE: Joe Black , @joeblackofficial / SHOES: Loeffler Randall, @loefflerrandall / HAIR: Jess Longhurst Hair @jesslonghursthair_ ; Michael Young Hair Stylist @michael_young_hairstylist / MAKEUP: Mia Connor, @miaconnorbridal / VIDEOGRAPHER: Jarod Lucas, @jarod.lucas / VENUE & CATERING: Bellingdale Farm , @bellingdalefarm / FLORAL: Florals & Co, @floralsandco / CAKE: The Cake That Ate Paris , @thecakethatateparis / RINGS: Grew &Co, @grewandco / EARRINGS: Mejuri, @mejuri / FRAGRANCE: Baccarat Rouge 540, @baccarat / BRIDESMAIDS’ DRESSES: Bec & Bridge, @becandbridge / GROOMSMEN OUTFITS: Joe Black, @joeblackofficial / STATIONERY: Signed by Shaun, @signedbyshaun / ECO CONFETTI: The Whole Bride, @thewholebride / ENTERTAINMENT: Danielle Guest, @danielle_guest_music; Divas of House @divas.of.house / STYLING: The Events Lounge , @theeventslounge; Ivy & Bleu, @ivyandbleuevents; Table for Louis, @tableforlouis / HIRE: Hampton Event Hire, @hamptoneventhire / REGISTRY: Wishing well / CELEBRANT: Konnubials by Kiki @konnubialsxkiki
