After doing life side-by-side for seven years, Jess and Alex wedding was held under the shade of an oak tree at Collingwood Children’s Farm, Melbourne. The venue appealed for its “city convenience and idyllic natural surroundings,” and getting married in Melbourne just made sense. After all, it was the city where they met and fell in love, and keeping things central made planning as simple as possible – “no buses to organise, no AirBnBs to book.”
Shared with 60 loved ones, Jess and Alex’s celebration was magically minimalist, effortlessly chic and a reflection of what matters most to the couple. Straightforward yet stylish, it was infused with retro undertones and a nostalgic soundtrack.
Aren’t these two undeniably cool? And they make getting hitched look like a breeze. If you ask us, the secret to such a smooth-sailing day is a killer support team, and these newlyweds sure know how to pick ‘em, with M.J. Bale and Black Finch Jewellery in the mix, as well as Celebrant Zee Scott and The Vintage Stylus. Oh, and of course, It’s Beautiful Here, responsible for the dreamy wedding album you see below…
THE VIBE
“The biggest inspiration for our day was probably music as something that we strongly connect over. We’re both lovers of ‘60s-’90s music and everything retro, so incorporated this into the music and our styling. But really, we just wanted something that felt like ‘us’.”
THE DRESS
“My first dress was from Jillian Boustred. I knew I didn’t want a traditional bridal dress from the start. I’d tried on some amazing dresses, but just couldn’t justify the expense – and to be honest, none of them felt like ‘me’. I love Jillian Boustred as a designer, and felt the simplicity and elegance of the ‘Regina’ dress was perfect. I also knew that I wanted to wear something more ‘fun’ for the reception, so it really didn’t make sense to invest in a big ball gown for a few hours… For the reception dress, it was a much longer process. I ended up getting the Prea James ‘Winona’ mini. It was the perfect combination of retro influence and modern simplicity, which sums up my personal style pretty well. I have kept the Winona mini in my closet as something I know I can wear again and again.”
THE SUIT
“I knew I wanted to wear a tuxedo from the start – it’s such a classic style and it’s the only chance I’ll probably have to wear one, so it seemed like a no-brainer. I tried a few other options, but always came back to the tuxedo. I’d had a few other suits made from M.J. Bale and always had a good experience, so it made sense to get my tuxedo from there. Really, it came down to the staff being super helpful with the styling on the day I tried it on.”
MEMORABLE MOMENT
“For me, it was seeing Alex at the oak tree, standing with his mum. Alex rarely cries and was bawling his eyes out, and I was totally taken aback. It was extremely surreal, and that was the moment it really hit me that we were getting married.” (Alex) “Seeing Jess walk down the aisle was the highlight for me. It was the culmination of all the organisation and planning toward a singular moment that was very beautiful and precious.”
STANDOUT VENDORS
“Absolutely, our amazing photographers, Kat and Scout from It’s Beautiful Here!”
Want to get in touch with It’s Beautiful Here to chat about your big day? Smart move. Find them here on our directory. While you’re there, get to know celebrant Zee Scott (such a gem, makes incredible cakes too), and, for a bangin’ dance floor, The Vintage Stylus is a fave among HM couples. Or maybe you’re in the “What the hell do I wear??!” phase of planning. No stress, we got you. Chat to M.J. Bale about ready-to-wear or bespoke suiting, and for the all-important wedding rings, Black Finch Jewellery are, in our humble opinion, Melbourne’s best.
CONTRIBUTING VENDORS Photographer It’s Beautiful Here Florist & Signage Thrive Flowers Venue & Catering Collingwood Children’s Farm Celebrant & Cake Maker Zee Scott Sound Hire & Entertainment The Vintage Stylus Rings Black Finch Transport Airtasker THE BRIDE Bridal Gown Designer Jillian Boustred, Prea James Veil Vintage Shoes Mi Piaci Accessories Par Moi, Charlotte Penman Hair & Makeup Makeup by Ingrid Fragrance Chanel THE GROOM Suit, Jacket, Shirt, Pants & Bow Tie M.J. Bale Shoes Bared Footwear
