Real Weddings

Article by

Sophie

Posted on

02/12/2021

Posted in

Real Weddings

Three years as a couple but friends for much longer, loved-up doctor duo Tania and Nicholas nailed their big day – with a little help from a whole lot of fab vendors, of course. Elegant with a side of cute and classic to boot, these intimate nuptials – featuring a traditional ceremony in the lush gardens of the groom’s family home, followed by a Tuscan style long-table dinner under the stars – really were a thing to behold. And thanks to the clever camera wrangling of Taylor Kezia Photography, we get to bear witness to each and every beautiful moment!

But let’s step back a minute here – just shy of 12 months to be exact – to this couple’s engagement. “It was a warm Saturday afternoon in December and we were at home with our retriever, Archie,” spills the bride. “After a few champagnes, many negronis, and a day of dancing to ’90s classics, Nicholas proposed with Elton John’s Your Song playing in the background.” Sounds pretty delightful, right?

The choice of venue was down to COVID and a last-minute cancellation by their original venue, but holding the event at Nicholas’ parents’ property couldn’t have worked out better. “In hindsight, option B was always the best option,” confirms Tania.

With an arbour created from the remnants of an old arbour that was once in the family home’s rose garden – “welded, painted and dressed in hydrangeas”, shares the bride – ceremony rose petals from Tania’s family’s rose garden prepared and dried by her dad in the lead up to the wedding, and favours created by the couple’s crafty parents (homemade honey by the father of the bride and homemade limoncello by the groom’s mum), this special day certainly hit its “intimate” brief.

THE INSPIRATION “An intimate day, with a traditional ceremony followed by a Tuscan style long-table dinner under the stars with old friends and close family. And, clearly, the colour cream!”

THE DRESS “My dress was made by Greta Kate, an amazing bridal gown designer in Adelaide. A year earlier she had created my best friend’s gown and I had such wonderful memories of our fittings with her. When the time came, I immediately spoke to Greta. Despite the uncertainties that COVID-19 created for me in just about all areas of planning my wedding, I was so thankful that getting my wedding dress was not one of them. My designer’s creativity and dressmaking skills were matched only by her calm and considered approach throughout the process. I am so grateful to her for making me feel so special from the moment I put the dress on.”

FAVOURITE DETAILS “The romantic flower arrangements by Studio Botanic were certainly a highlight, with their strong hydrangea presence and creamy tones. The champagne tower, French bar carts and white arches gave us a touch of our favourite city, Paris. A green pea summer gnocchi was definitely a food favourite and appeased Nicholas’ demands for a pasta starter, in keeping with his Italian customs. And as a sweet tooth, ending the night with a classic vanilla cake was a necessity for me!”

MEMORABLE MOMENT “Without question, the ceremony was our favourite moment. Seeing each other for the first time as I walked down the aisle to Elvis’ Can’t Help Falling in Love will stay with us forever. Our own vows and Nicholas’ sister conducting the ceremony made it all so much more personal.”

LITTLE LOL “Nicholas’ mum misplaced the wedding rings five minutes before the ceremony start. Thankfully, our wedding coordinator, Mia Gambranis, came to the rescue. Our hired toilets became blocked as guests began to arrive. Again, Mia to the rescue. Aaand the bridal table flower arrangement caught fire!

A WORD OF ADVICE… “Put champagne and wine on the table. Let the people drink!”

WE’RE GLAD WE… “asked Nicholas’ sister to officiate the wedding. Best decision of all.”

STANDOUT VENDORS “Our beautiful photographer, Taylor Kezia Photography, who flew in from Brisbane on the day of the state border opening to capture our wonderful memories. Mia Gambranis, our wedding coordinator, was indispensable, Stuart and his catering team from Are You Being Served were wonderful, and our florist, Studio Botanic, truly created our vision.

You might’ve spied this stunning ceremony and ravishing reception before in the pages of Hello May, when it first appeared in Issue 32. That’s one’s sold out, unfortch, but you can catch a whole lot more incredible real weddings in our 2021 Real Weddings Special, or pick up any of our previous issues right here. Want to see more from the amazing Taylor Kezia Photography? Take a squiz at her directory listing over here!

CONTRIBUTING VENDORS Photographer Taylor Kezia Photography via Street Smith Agency Event Planner Mia Gambranis Florist Studio Botanic Stationery State of Elliot (invitations, menus), CC Creative (seating chart, bar drinks menu, favour tags) Ceremony & Reception Family home Catering Indulgence Food Design, Are You Being Served Cake Heidelberg Cakes Desserts Muratti Cakes & Gateaux Hire Items White Marquee Event Hire (tables, chairs, table cloths, dance floor), The Outhouse (portable bathrooms), Are You Being Served (cutlery and crockery), Kiera Blanden Events + Styling (napkins), JAKS Hire and Events (glassware), Maison Balzac, btncl and Studio Botanic (candles), Sash Events (garden furniture, outdoor bars), Gold Champagne Towers Lighting Hire Venue Productions Celebrant KT Weddings Rings Pike Jewellers THE BRIDE Gown & Veil Greta Kate Shoes Dior Accessories Cartier (necklace) Hair Belissimo Hair Makeup Ali Buss Makeup Bridesmaid dresses Rebecca Vallance Bridesmaid shoes Vita Grace Bridesmaid gifts Oroton THE GROOM Suit, Shirt & Tie P. Johnson Shoes Mannina Watch Cartier Barber Seb & Tom Groomsmen suits P. Johnson