Sonia & Jimmy by Niki Schuch - Together Journal

Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love, what is unique about you and your relationship…

Sonia and Jimmy have the quintessential best friends-turned-lovers story, which began at the tender age of 17!

Sonia gatecrashed a birthday with a girlfriend, not knowing that the group of people she would meet that night would eventually end up becoming some of her best friends. In fact, Henry – the guy whose party it was – was part of Sonia & Jimmy’s bridal party, as was Bec, the friend Sonia crashed it with. Sonia and Jimmy went on to share many years of witty, often-flirtatious banter, but friends could see that this banter masked deeper feelings. When Jimmy accompanied Sonia to a black tie work function when they were 21, Sonia’s mum Donna remarked that, if they were both still single at 30, they should marry. After years of being inseparable as friends – and many ‘will they or won’t they?’ discussions – they finally decided that they ‘would’, much to the happiness of everyone around them. Donna was almost right, as Sonia and Jimmy were engaged at 30 and married at 31 – 14 years after they first met. The witty banter continues to this day.

Tell us about your special day, was there a specific theme or style? Tell us a little about the seeing, the styling and some of your favourite details…

Sonia and Jimmy’s wedding was styled by Sam Amore. Having known the bride for many years through work, Sam understood that simplicity would be key for the styling of this wedding. An abundance of naive greenery was peppered by smatterings of gorgeous white roses, peonies and ranunculus, perfectly complementing the gorgeous backdrop of Greenfields Albert Park. The main brief for styling was to not distract from the natural beauty of the venue and its views of the Albert Park Golf Course and Lake. Sam perfectly articulated this, and her keen eye for gorgeous detail certainly did not miss.

Tell us about your main outfits:

Timeless elegance was the theme of the day. The boys wore classic black tuxedos from Suit Supply, with the bridesmaids looking fabulous in flattering grey Shona Joy dresses. Sonia’s halter-neck style wedding dress from Karen Willis Holmes – whilst understated and elegant in style – had an additional train that transformed the garment from simple to elaborate. Likewise, Sonia’s tiara from Jeanette Maree took the look from plain to princess. Sonia also wore her mother’s veil during the ceremony, which had been preserved in near-perfect condition since 1984. Something old, indeed!

What were some of the most memorable/unique moments from the day?

With both Jimmy and Sonia’s families having experienced devastating losses close to the wedding, there were somber times during the evening whereby loved ones were acknowledged and remembered fondly. Each of the speeches gave touching tributes to those who couldn’t be there, but also recalled joyful memories that moved guests to tears. The music by Sammy at Melbourne DJ Services was eclectic and shifted somewhat seamlessly from traditional Italian wedding music to 80s pop to hard trance. One particularly fun moment was when guests elevated Sonia and Jimmy onto their shoulders as everyone danced and sang to Vanessa Carlton’s ‘A Thousand Miles’, espresso martinis firm in hand.

Any advice for other couples planning to spend the rest of their lives together?

Don’t sweat the small stuff – both on your wedding day, and for the rest of your lives! When it comes to your wedding day, just remember that everyone is there to have a good time and that nobody is paying as much attention to the fine details as you are. Even if little things go wrong – don’t stress! The most important thing is that all of your loved ones are there to share in your special day together. And make sure you sneak away for a quiet moment, just the two of you.

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