Asheda & Travers' Melbourne wedding

Asheda and Travers didn’t have to look far in hunting for a spot to get hitched – The Altar Electric was just down the road from their Melbourne abode! This duo of eight years fully embraced the venue’s bold aesthetics and Vegas chapel-esque vibe, while weaving in their own quirky, “out of the box” details (a butter sculpture, custom playing cards for guests to sign, and ice cream cake, to name a few).

The bride wore L’idée, channelling “ethereal ’70s goddess” energy, and the pair described Travers’ custom suiting experience with InStitchu as “seamless.” Redbook Studios was there to capture the intimate Melbourne shindig – scroll on to see it for yourself. Oh, and Asheda (who helps folks write vows for a living) was kind enough to share some tips with us too. What a legend!

LITTLE LOL “Probably the decision to write personal notes to each guest, which took FOREVER. It was a funny night, a few nights before the wedding, because we left it so late and had 46 to do.”

THE VENUE “We loved The Altar Electric for its overall energy and wanted a fun, casual wedding. [A] huge factor was the all-in-one package to cut out researching/liaising with a bunch of vendors, as well as the price point, which was a priority for us. We wanted a two-month honeymoon, so a micro-wedding helped with that.”

FAVE DETAILS “It was important to have some out-of-the-box details that were meaningful to us. Our butter sculpture/mound with Baker Bleu country rounds was a nod to my (Asheda’s) parents’ wedding, where they had an elaborate butter sculpture. I wanted something savoury, fun and classic. It was a huge hit with guests. It was also important to create pieces (wishing well and guest book) that we’ll use frequently in future. Our honey(moon) pot/wishing well was custom-made and now sits in our house looking gorgeous, and we got a deck of cards custom-made as a guest book. And of course, the ice cream cakes! We’re not a fan of cakes but love ice cream. They were demolished in minutes.”

THE DRESS “I (Asheda) found it on The Iconic about a year and a half before the wedding. It didn’t take long at all as I was magnetised by the dress’s style, look and feel. I wanted something that was comfortable most of all, and that reflected my style, and also complemented the overall vibe of the wedding. I describe it as an ethereal ’70s goddess in Vegas vibe. As soon as I popped it on, I knew it was perfect. It was also important to have a piece that could work with the bold details I wanted in my accessories: a baby blue bag paired with baby blue eyeshadow, and cherry red incandescent heels.”

THE SUIT “We wanted something custom that [would suit the cooler season we were getting ready in, and was a colour Travers didn’t have and could wear again for future events. So a green suit with rich red inside lining, including our wedding date embroidered on the inside pocket, is a story in itself. InSitchu is around the corner from our current apartment, and after some research, we loved its simplicity and process of designing the suit. It was a seamless process to design a custom suit.

A WORD OF ADVICE “Maybe I am a bit biased as a vow writer, but start thinking/writing about them early! None of this ‘the night before panicking’ writing of them. Vows are perceived as something you just do at a wedding, when they should be the anchor of your marriage. It’s vulnerable, sometimes funny, highlights why you love one another and [your] overall commitment as a team.”

Digging a cool city soiree a la Asheda and Travers’ day? These ones sound right up your alley. Or maybe you need some help in the wardrobe department. Grooms will surely find plenty of inspo in this round-up, or click here to suss out InStitchu’s custom or ready-to-wear options. Brides, don’t think we’ve forgotten about you! Here are a bunch of bridal designers and boutiques you need to have on your radar.