Tess + Elliot by Curated St

The venue itself was truly incredible—we fell in love with it instantly.

How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?

We met in 2014, after being introduced by a mutual friend who thought we would both hit it off. Our first date was super golf; I think our competitive nature was what really sparked the relationship. It’s hard to remember first impressions from 11 years ago, but I do remember we couldn’t keep away from each other, and it’s been that way ever since.

Elliot proposed Christmas Day 2023. I always wanted it to be on Christmas Day so we could share the news with family in person. We then had a long engagement as we welcomed our first baby, Indiana, before tying the knot in December 2025.

What styling and visual elements worked best for you? (could be things, the florals, particular hire products or your marquee, etc., something the stylist created or simply just the scenic beauty of your location or the existing design of your venue).

The venue itself was truly incredible—we fell in love with it instantly. The South West Region holds a lot of meaning for us, as we’ve enjoyed travelling there together since the very beginning of our relationship. The decision to lock in such a special place we both loved was made without hesitation.

When discussing our vision with our wedding planner, Lauren from Veils and Vibes, we wanted to move away from a traditional sit-down wedding and instead create an elevated cocktail-style experience.

Creating an ambience for everyone to feel relaxed, to always have a drink in hand and something delicious to eat, and being well looked after was integral. It was important to us to showcase the beautiful gardens and that anything we brought in would enhance its natural beauty.

There were several subtle styling elements that were particularly meaningful to us. One being a lighthearted tribute to Elliot’s late father, featuring his portrait alongside a phrase he used to say when things became a little awkward: “How about them Wildcats?” This felt like a personal and uplifting way to honour him.

Another favourite styling feature was the gorgeous sheer lace-trimmed sign, designed by Lauren and brought to life by Lottie & Lawson Studio. This bespoke sign cascaded from our beautiful Sperry tent, creating the perfect backdrop for our cake alongside our bridal lounge featuring the sentimental phrase, Always Been You. All the carefully considered styling elements created something deeply memorable, which both us and our guests still rave about.

What did you enjoy most about the planning process, and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?

Without a doubt—investing in our Wedding Planner & Stylist was the best decision we made.

Planning a wedding isn’t our area of expertise, and without our stylist Lauren (Veils and Vibes), the overall look and feel of the day would have been far less detailed. Her creativity, guidance, and attention to detail truly brought everything to life and made the day as beautiful as it was. More importantly, she took away so much of the stress that naturally comes with wedding planning. Being able to trust Lauren and her team with our vision and the meticulous execution on the day meant we could actually enjoy the process, rather than feel overwhelmed by it.

Our biggest tip for couples starting their planning journey would be to work out what elements you love most about weddings and what details are important to your relationship, and build out from there to create a day reflective of you.

Tell us about your vendors. Were there any standout suppliers you would like to make special mention of?

So many!

Wedding Planner & Stylist – Lauren, Veils and Vibes really went above and beyond to make our entire wedding experience so special.

Photographer: Ria from Curated St. Ria captured so many beautiful and clear pictures, working seamlessly in the background to ensure every detail of the day was captured.

Venue: Margaret River’s Secret Garden. Beautifully kept grounds and an amazing host who made us feel so welcome.

Content Creator: Leah from OYD Creative. Leah captured so many candid moments for us, especially of our baby girl, and we will cherish these images forever.

Catering: Tiller Dining – Providing a paddock-to-plate experience. Tiller has some of the best catering going around, run by the nicest and most passionate head chef, George. Tillers team provided a personalised experience to ensure all our favourite foods and beverages were dished up or poured out.

Florist – Nikki, Stem Studio Co. delivered the most amazing flowers; everything Nikki touches is so aesthetically pleasing.

DJ – Daniel Antic / DJ Diesel from Diesel Production. Absolutely hanging out to go to another event where DJ Diesel is playing! Hands down the best DJ ever – No one left the dance floor or wanted to go home.

Celebrant: Paul Morrison. Our celebrant was very special to our relationship and family; he has known us since the start and was there to provide my partner’s late father’s final prayers.

Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, and is there a story?

My main outfit experience was something I didn’t expect to feel so emotional about. I was three months postpartum when I decided to visit a KYHA Studios pop-up, and I went in quite casually—almost like I was shopping for a new pair of jeans. I really didn’t anticipate how significant the moment would be.

As soon as I tried on the first dress, I was overwhelmed with emotion, which is very unlike me. It completely caught me off guard and made me realise just how special this part of the process really is. The team there was incredible—they created such a supportive and memorable experience. In the end, I chose the very first dress I tried on.

My after-party dress was equally special, but for very different reasons. It was custom-made by my friend, Danielle Musitano. I knew I wanted something comfortable that I could dance in freely without worrying about it being stepped on, but I couldn’t find anything that felt quite right or unique. I shared my vision with Danielle, and she brought it to life perfectly, creating a dress that felt completely personal and truly one of a kind.

My earrings were also special to me; they were not only my ‘something blue’ and my ‘something new’, but they also had the sapphire birthstone- my daughter’s birthstone in them.

Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.

Our engagement ring and both of our wedding bands were custom-designed by Perth local jeweller Michael Quy. We came to him with a collection of images and design elements we loved, and he brought them together beautifully, creating pieces that felt completely our own.

My wedding band, in particular, is something I’ve never seen replicated—nine marquise-cut diamonds set at a delicate angle, striking the perfect balance between timeless elegance and individuality.

What were one or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on? (food, photography, florals, the venue, your outfits?).

For both of us, exceptional food and wine were non-negotiable. We’re true food lovers (and a little particular about our wine), so it was important that the experience reflected that. We worked closely with YEH Events, who even sourced specific glassware for us to hire because, for me, a beautiful, crisp wine glass was essential. We also chose to supply our own alcohol so we could serve exactly what we love, including my favourite sparkling, Idée Fixe, and my partner’s go-to Chardonnay, the Leeuwin Estate Art Series. Later in the evening, we introduced cocktails to keep the celebration going – espresso martinis and my personal favourite, a French martini inspired by the version from Rockpool Bar & Grill, who kindly shared their recipe with us.

Florals were another area I was happy to invest in – I truly believe flowers make a wedding and set the entire tone. Our florist, Nikki (Stem Studio Co.), and her team did an incredible job, creating a spectacular hanging installation above our feature round bar and gorgeous pieces that complemented the garden surrounds.

We also decided to rethink traditional wedding favours, as they often go to waste. Instead, we created something for our guests’ dogs, on behalf of our own – who attended the post-ceremony with Taz from Gypsea Tails! We gave out black tennis balls printed with “With love, Winny and Pip,” which felt fun, personal, and true to us.

Was there a favourite moment (or two) that you will treasure always?

There are too many favourite moments; the entire day was so much better than we could have ever anticipated.

We will never experience having everyone we love in one room like that again, and that is something in particular we will always treasure.