Something old, something new, something borrowed… and sometimes something totally out of the blue. If there’s one thing we’ve learned from covering countless “I do” days, it’s that the most unforgettable weddings are filled with unexpected moments.
It could be a wardrobe malfunction partway down the aisle, or Dad breaking into song mid-speech. It could even rain. Stay with us, we don’t say this to spook you, quite the opposite!
The following real wedding stories prove that the unplanned wedding moments are often the ones that make the celebration perfect.
(And don’t worry, we’ll also help with the parts you can plan. Explore our curated directory, including the list of top wedding stylists and planners, or browse talented photographers who know how to capture those candid, unscripted memories.)
But first, some standout unscripted wedding day moments…
A sweet surprise down the aisle
We still reckon Bel and Wade’s intimate Mount Stromlo elopement (featured in our Real Wedding Special Volume 10 could trigger tears in even the most stoic folks. The duo, who’ve been together since 2016, got married at Mount Stromlo Observatory with four witnesses, including the couple’s two kiddos. “One of my favourite moments is when my three-year-old son met me outside the dome as I arrived and then spontaneously held my hand as I walked down the aisle to Wade,” Bel told us. “It wasn’t planned at all, but it was just the most perfect moment that I will treasure forever.”
Photography Corinna & Dylan
When rain made the day perfect
This is a story with a happy ending for any of you feverishly checking your weather apps.
Thanks to an unexpected downpour, Liam and Julie-Anne (Jay to her mates) made a last-minute call to move their ceremony from Melbourne’s Fitzroy Gardens to the bride’s parents’ house.
An email blast was sent to guests, the bridal party got to work decorating the space, and in the end, it was the “perfect wedding venue”. “Given that Liam and I met during COVID times and our love really blossomed while at home, it made a lot of sense that we got married at home,” the bride reflects. “In retrospect, we wish we had thought of getting married at home from the very beginning.”
Photography It’s Beautiful Here
A surprise song from dad
Charlotte and Patrick coordinated their “bright, fun, relaxed but refined” New Zealand nups from across the ditch in Australia.
What they didn’t anticipate, however, was this banger of a speech (or should we say performance) by the bride’s dad and a cohort of close friends. “They sang an altered version of Business Time by Flight of the Conchords, where the lyrics had changed to reflect a period of time after we first met. Patrick had recently finished school, and I was starting my last year, and we would review his business studies notes from the year before together. It was pretty hilarious and in the end everyone was singing along.”
Photography Eilish Burt
A wardrobe mishap with a silver lining
Lisa and Daniel were cool-as-cannolis in the lead-up to their Italian-infused vineyard-style wedding in Margaret River, WA. Lisa, wearing a sentimental veil passed down three generations, even saw the beautiful side of this little wardrobe snag. “My veil got stuck on the limestone steps as my dad and I walked down, it actually really broke the ice for me and was special seeing my mum sprint up the aisle to pin it back in haha.”
Photography Emma MacAulay
Ceremony nerves turned to joy
In the lead-up to their nuptials, hosted in the quaint community of Tallarook, Victoria, Courtney and Angus were “kind of dreading” their ceremony and the thought of being the centre of attention in such an intimate moment.
But they ended up being pleasantly surprised! “Our celebrant (Justin Canny) filled it with warmth and humour. Walking through the sunlit garden with my parents, seeing Angus tearing up, all our loved ones in one spot, and hearing Tranquility Base Duo belting out Maple Glider’s cover of You’re Still The One was so special. The ceremony ended up feeling so natural and full of love – it turned out to be one of our favourite parts!”
Photography Nikki McCrone
A playful guest surprise
In addition to gorgeous New Zealand views, Lily and Jason’s wedding featured a whole lot of fun (tennis, arcade portraits, and Mr Whippy… need we say more?) Their guests came ready to match the pair’s playful energy.
“We had mini tong party favours as our last name is ‘Tong’, and during Jason’s parents’ speech, our guests started clapping using the tongs. We hadn’t even thought of this, and everyone cracked up [laughing]. It became the guests’ way of clapping at anything for the rest of the night.”
Photography Ash Muir
