You might remember a little while back we featured Mel and Alex’s engagement session and here we are again, bringing you their wedding which Mel tells us, given they have been together a whopping 15 years, was a long time coming!
Mel says “we felt it was important that our wedding day be relaxed, fun & held in one location only. After several months of searching for a venue that felt right for us, we found Samsonvale Hall, a charming school hall, just outside of Samford (North Brisbane). It was perfect as we could really make our wedding personal and unique to us.”
Mel and Alex, along with their band of merry helpers, got stuck into some serious DIY for the wedding. Mel explains “doing most of it ourselves, we spent ages talking & thinking about every little detail – it was all consuming! We spent about a year collecting jars for the flowers & tea lights which meant there was a lot of jam eaten! Alex made the wooden signs for the ceremony & games and we collected around 80 linen napkins from op shops. We also hired mismatched timber chairs from Hodgepodge Hire and they looked incredible in the hall. Setting up, with friends and family dropping in to lend us a hand, was exhausting but so worth it…. everything looked amazing – better than we ever imagined!”
On the day, Mel and Alex made sure they both had a relaxing time. Mel says “I spent the morning at the hairdressers with Mum, while Alex went bike riding with friends. We decided to keep things simple & not have a bridal party, only Alex’s niece as flower girl. Having photos before the ceremony was such a good decision that allowed us to spend some quiet time together soaking it all in, but also meant we could enjoy the party with our guests afterwards! ”
Mel and Alex met their celebrant, Bree-Anna Nicholls, years ago when they lived overseas, through a mutual friend. Mel says it was great having someone they knew & felt comfortable with overseeing the ceremony. She goes on to explain “It was a special moment having my Dad walk me down the aisle as my brother played acoustic guitar. After a beautiful ceremony underneath the fig trees, the party really started! We had drinks in wheelbarrows & a cheese station plus plenty of games such as quoits, croquet, bocce, mini golf and a Strava bike segment. There were many loud, team tournaments going on and people whizzing past on bikes!”
Afterwards, guests made their way into the hall for dinner and we hear many of the guests are still raving about the beef cheeks, cooked up by the fine folk of Dalton Hospitality ! Mels says “we had an incredible dessert table filled with treats made by family, friends & our caterers, including cannoli, macarons, almond bread, lemon & caramel meringue tarts, creme brulee, mini toffee apples, chocolate slice & orange & almond friands. We hired a 6 piece band, Radio Club Band, who got everyone up on the dance floor with their funky beats!’
Mel and Alex created such an amazing wedding day for themselves but Mel is quick to point out that she couldnt of done it without the help of their wonderful family and friends and of course their incredible vendors. In fact, Mel has some special shout outs. Take it away Mel…
“Our florist friend Scott, did an outstanding job with the flowers & we are so grateful for all his help. And Ashley Oostdyck, our amazingly talented photographer deserves a special mention. We are absolutely thrilled with our photos! Not only did Ash perfectly capture the emotion & elements from our day but she gave us so many ideas and so much of her time leading up to the wedding.”
Big thanks to Ash, for sharing her beautifully simple and simply beautiful photos with us. To keep up with Ashley’s work, and trust us, this is one lady you want to keep tabs on, follow her Facebook Page and her blog.
CREDITS Photos Ashley Oostdyck // Bridal gown Custom made by Michelle Wiki // Hair piece Snow White Studio via Etsy // Shoes Mollini // Grooms suit Harry Henry Menswear // Rings Blue Nile // Cake Poppys Cakes // Flowers Scott at Fresh Pickings // Chairs Hodgepodge Hire // Entertainment Radio Club Band // Celebrant Bree-Anna Nicholls // Ceremony and reception Samsonvale Hall // Catering Dalton Hospitality // Hair & makeup Avenue33.