There’s nothing like music to bring two humans in love together. Just ask Geno, whose plan to propose to Alex at a Bon Iver concert was almost foiled when their tickets didn’t arrive in time. Thankfully, Gumtree was there to save the day and the two set out for a romantic evening at the Sydney Opera House, champagne in hand.
“We walked through the Botanic Gardens looking for a nice spot to sit. Just after we sat down, Geno said he’d bought the champagne because (although a little presumptuous) tonight was going to be a celebration. Then he took out a ring and asked me to be his wife. It was the most amazing moment and a very teary one. I never realised how incredible it would feel to become engaged to him. We then saw Bon Iver, which was such a beautiful performance. It was the perfect ending to a perfect night.”
With the goal in mind to create a day that reflected who they are as people, Gene and Alex (who planned and styled her wedding through her business Samla) opted for a day filled with natural textures, minimalist design elements and native flowers at the bride’s parent’s place. “It is such a special place. It’s so beautiful and relaxing. We always knew it would be perfect and I’m pretty sure it was my dad’s dream come true – after we watched the Steve Martin movie ‘Father of the Bride‘ when I was a little girl, Dad always joked that, one day, his daughters would get married in his backyard with plastic chairs and red tablecloths. It wasn’t exactly like that but it was still in his backyard,” Alex tells us, adding that her Houghton dress was everything she could have hoped for.
“I have a very simple, minimalist approach when it comes to what I wear, but I value good design and quality fabric. My dress was all of those things and so much more. When I came across Houghton, I knew instantly that they were the designer for me. They were stocked at The Bridal Atelier so that’s the only place I visited,” says the bride, recalling that their ring warming ceremony was super special.
“Our rings were passed to all the guests for them to bless. Looking through the photos [by those legends from Willow and Co] for the first time, we felt such an overwhelming sense of love seeing our family and friends taking the time to kiss our rings and hold them close. Now every time I see my ring, I think of Geno and how much he loves me, but I also feel so much strength knowing that our loved ones have channeled their positivity, wisdom and love into our marriage as well,” says Alex, who believes that marriage simply comes down to one word.
“Family. Nothing in our lives changed – but everything felt different. We felt an incredible sense of responsibility to one each other. We were now a family and everything we did from that point on would be done together and always with that other person in mind.”
Scroll down to check out the awesome cake by Forty Two Cakes, the delicious food by those catering legends at Gallivant and the tear jerker of a wedding film by the one and only Joel Tronoff. Dude can pick a song!
CONTRIBUTING VENDORS Photographer Willow and Co, Cinematographer Joel Tronoff, Event planner& Stylist Samla, Florist Rachel Bethany, Stationery Melissa Soraya, Ceremony & Reception Private Property, Catering Gallivant, Cake Forty Two Cakes, Wedding favours Wedding Honey with fabric wrapping from Silk and Willow, Hire Items Vintage Patina, Lighting Festoon Lighting Sydney, Signage Fox and Fallow, Entertainment The Lowlands, Celebrant Steven Murray, Rings Blue Nile, Transport Bus Charter Canberra and Vintage and Classic Car Hire THE BRIDE Bridal Gown Houghton, Bridal Boutique Bridal Atelier, Veil & Hair Piece Melinda Rose, Bridal party gown designer Miss Crabb, Robes Zara Home, Lingerie Lonely, Accessories Reliquia, Hair Lexi Bannister, Makeup Jacqui Scott, Bridesmaid Dresses Fame and Partners, Bridesmaid Shoes Wittner THE GROOM Suit Braddon Tailors Bow Tie & Cufflinks Vintage from Timmy Pickles, Shoes Aquila, Watch Nixon, Barber The Barbershop.