We wanted a wedding that allowed people to relax and have a good time in an environment of understated elegance and elevated simplicity.
TESSA —— I’m from Australia and Mark is from America but we independently found our way to Amsterdam where we worked in separate technology companies. Since our wedding, we’ve moved to Vancouver where we’re enjoying the great Canadian wilderness.
We met during the pandemic through Bumble. Our first date was a walk through Amsterdam on a freezing day, drinking coffee and sharing banana bread. We often take walks through the canals in the mornings. With Amsterdam being a city of late risers, there are often few other people out before 7.30am.
Mark convinced me to walk through Jordaan, the area of our first date, and made it all of one bridge before getting down on one knee and proposing. After that, we spent the next hour drinking champagne on the canals with our two best friends.
We wanted a wedding that allowed people to relax and have a good time in an environment of understated elegance and elevated simplicity. Because we were forcing our closest family and friends to take one of their few holidays for us, we wanted our wedding to be in a place that no one had been before, somewhere we would be excited to share with them.
I’d visited Menorca and fallen in love with the island’s understated sophistication and style. We booked our location having never visited, but knowing that we were in great hands. Having reviewed many different venues, I knew the stunning Santa Ponsa Fontenille Hotel nestled in the Menorca countryside would be perfect. It had a variety of options guests could move through, and it allowed close family and friends to stay onsite.
Mark’s focus was on cocktail hour, ensuring that everyone was able to easily get food and drinks without having to wait. We added an extra bar station and several extra food tables to ensure no one was ever in line for longer than a minute.
With Australia having so many unique and creative wedding designers, I knew I wanted to wear a piece from home. I landed on an Alex Perry gown, pairing it with a Jane Hill cathedral-length veil with pearls embedded throughout and ruched tulle gloves. Mark wore a classic Calvin Klein black tuxedo accessorised with personalised cufflinks that I gave him the morning of our wedding.
PHOTOGRAPHER & VIDEOGRAPHER Haute Weddings, @haute.weddings CEREMONY LOCATION Santa Ponsa Fontenille Menorca, @santaponsamenorca BRIDE’S CEREMONY DRESS Alex Perry, @alexperryofficial VEIL Jane Hill, @janehillbridal BRIDE’S GLOVES Bloom Australia, @bloom_australia_ GROOM’S TUXEDO Calvin Klein, @calvinklein GROOM’S CUFFLINKS Vedder & Vedder, @vedder.vedder GROOM’S WEDDING & ENGAGEMENT RINGS Custom-made by Royal Asscher, @royalasscher RING Lucy Folk, @lucy_folk EARRINGS Mejuri, @mejuri BRIDE’S MAKEUP & HAIR Rebecca Spendlove, @weddingsbyrebeccaspendlove FRAGRANCE Le Labo, @lelabofragrances BRIDE’S RECEPTION OUTFIT Blanc Wear, @blanc_wear PLANNER Frances Wynne, @allegoryevents FLORIST 2ManyFlowers, @2many_flowers ENTERTAINMENT Apple Jacks, @applejacksmusic TABLE LINENS Mia Sylvia Herrod, @miasylviaa PRODUCTION Ritmo Menorca, @ritmomenorca TABLEWARE Options Espana, @options_es FURNITURE S’algar Catering Menorca, @salgarcatering VIDEO BOOTH Nurafis CATERING Nura Restaurant, Santa Ponsa Fontenille Menorca, @santaponsamenorca STATIONERY & SIGNAGE Bureau Design, @bureaudesign OYSTERS SHELLS Etsy, @etsy BRIDESMAIDS’ DRESSES Bec + Bridge, @becandbridge; Hansen & Gretel, @hansenandgretel; Shona Joy, @shonajoy; Entire Studios, @entire_studios; Amsale, @amsale
