When lovebirds Bella and Callum, who first met as teenagers, starting planning their gorgeous wedding, they quickly decided to not to get caught up in all the “must-haves”, and instead focus on what was important to them. We love to see it – one of the many reasons we printed this cool celebration in the Real Wedding Special Vol 9.! “Almost everything is optional, so don’t let Instagram convince you that your wedding will be disappointing if your budget doesn’t stretch to bridesmaids’ robes or a doughnut station or a signature cocktail… We didn’t have any of these things and it did not matter one bit,” the pair tell us.
Loving on that ethos hard. We’re also loving the truly excellent dream team Bella and Callum assembled to make the magic happen – Radish Events nailed the catering, Ministry of DJs in charge of tunes and the uber-talented Brendan Back behind the lens. You’re going want to spend some time perusing these stunning pics…
THE VENUE
“Redleaf was the first and only venue we looked at and we have no regrets. We just fell in love with it immediately and were like, yep, we want to get married here! Every single detail of it – from the spectacular gardens to the soap in the bathrooms – is perfection. Although it’s possible we’re just lazy and didn’t want to spend weekends visiting other venues.”
THE INSPO
“Aesthetically, we were inspired by Call Me By Your Name and Slim Aarons and summers in the Med. Vibewise, we wanted it to feel like a long family lunch, nothing too stiff or formal, just a gorgeous setting where people were free to relax and enjoy themselves. Redleaf did most of the heavy lifting – we knew we didn’t need to add much to make it feel magical.”
FAVE DETAILS
“The colour scheme was a huge part of the day, and was a risky move that I think paid off. I absolutely loved it, and it was so different. We had six colours – red, terracotta, forest green, butter, pale blue and cobalt – which were inspired by the venue. It took a long time for me to be happy with the shades. The scheme was reflected in every styling element, from the flowers to the bridesmaid’s dresses, the stationary, the cake and the candles. It felt so joyful!”
LITTLE LOL
“The cake fell over in the car on the way to the venue… the back side of it was all smooshed! It was devastating for a hot second and then was very funny – not everything can be perfect!”
A WORD OF ADVICE
“An on-the-day coordinator is worth their weight in gold – more important than cake, favours, styling, signage and even flowers! They make sure the day runs smoothly and allow you – and your guests – to enjoy themselves.”
STANDOUT VENDOR
“Our photographer Brendan Back was incredible! We trusted him completely and he blew us away with the photos – plus, he’s an absolute legend and made us feel so comfortable and relaxed on the day.”
Digging these photos by the super-talented Brendan Back (ofc you are!)? Hit him up on our directory here.
CONTRIBUTING VENDORS Photographer Brendan Back Event Planner Wedding Grounds Florist Biophilia Blooms Ceremony & Reception Venue Redleaf Wollombi Catering Radish Events Cake Artisan Cakes Hire Items The Event Artists, Simply Seated, Beavis Lighting Hire The Event Artists Sound Hire Ministry of DJs Entertainment Ministry of DJs, Dead Mellow Celebrant Marry Us Gary Rings Natalie Marie Jewellery Transport Grape Experience Tours THE BRIDE Skirt Valentino (pre-loved) Bridal Boutique The Collectibles Top, Cape, Veil & Gloves Soraya Tailoring Second Dress Rachel Gilbert Shoes Dior via Sammy and Sid Accessories Family heirloom Hair Khatijah Jamaludden (friend) Bridesmaid Dresses Reformation, Oseree, Sonya Moda, Shona Joy, ASOS, Hello Molly THE GROOM Suit, Shirt, Tie, Cufflinks & Shoes Suit Supply Watch Seiko Grooming Bar x Bar Groomsmen Suits Peppers Formal Wear
