Chelsy and Daan’s romance is about as international as it gets. She’s from Bermuda, he’s from the Netherlands, and they met when they were both studying in France… before they jetted off together to Brazil for their first date! “Daan was leaving for Brazil shortly after graduation to continue his studies,” says Chelsy. “I’d never been to Brazil and always wanted to go, so I booked a ticket. Essentially our first date was a two-week trip!”
Several caipirinhas and a few years later, these fine folk tied the knot Down Under. While they didn’t have a specific theme in mind, these guys were really keen to create a vibe that was reflective of them – “down-to-earth, romantic, intimate and with a strong emphasis on the outdoors” – and we think they really nailed it folks, if these snaps by our pals Smith + Archer are anything to go by!
THE VENUE “We did long distance for a while and Australia was the first place that we lived together. In saying that, being in Australia has played a big role in our relationship, so we wanted a setting that represented Australia and all that we love about Australia. Once we saw the cottage, nestled amongst the giant gumtrees, we knew we had found the perfect spot.
FAVE DETAILS “We were blown away by the locally grown flowers from Belle Ame Flower Farm. We purchased the beautiful locally grown flowers and did our own decorative flower arrangements at the cottage. Leoine from Belle Ame Flower Farm provided us with a beautiful mix of flowers that added a vivacious pop of colour to our day.”
THE DRESS “Finding the dress wasn’t a massive ordeal. I could have married Daan in a potato sack and been just every bit as happy. I wanted to find a dress that was simple yet elegant/timeless, budget friendly yet sustainable. Noire ticked all those boxes.”
MEMORABLE MOMENT “We had a typical day of Victoria weather – sun, rain and a wee thunderstorm. Some cringe at the thought of having rain on their wedding day but it made our ceremony that much more romantic. The sky trickled and the thunder roared, a reflection of our emotions as we said our vows. They do say a wet knot is tied tighter.”
LITTLE LOL “Our burnt basque cheesecake from Les Nôtres was simply delicious – and we weren’t the only ones to think so. When coming back to the cottage after taking our portrait photos we noticed that a quarter of the cake was missing. The culprit, our seven-month-old heeler pup, was napping on the rug when we returned, seemingly very content.”
A WORD OF ADVICE “Firstly and most importantly, don’t get too bogged down in the details, remember that at the end of the day, it is your wedding day, celebrating your love and that’s all that should really matter. Secondly, try to soak in every moment of the day and be present. The day really goes by in a flash and it’s surreal.”
STANDOUT VENDORS “Our photographer, Ali from Smith + Archer, who was able to capture our day in the most authentic way. We aren’t models by far (although Daan may disagree) but Ali made the entire process fun, and it really shows! Megan Thompson, our celebrant, put together a ceremony that made it seem she had known us forever. Megan illustrated who we were to a tee, with the perfect combination of romance and cheekiness.”
CONTRIBUTING VENDORS Photographer Smith + Archer Flowers Belle Ame Flower Farm Bridal Bouquet & Boutonniere F.Ever Bloom Co Ceremony & Reception Ellerslie Cottage Cake Les Nôtres Celebrant Megan Thompson Rings Glamira Ringbox AL Giftware Dog Collars & Leads BOBOPUP THE BRIDE Gown Noire Veil Madame Tulle Shoes Bared Footwear Earrings & Necklace Glamira THE GROOM Jacket Dress Culture Shirt Van Heusen Pants RB Sellars Tie OTAA Shoes Harold Boot Company Watch Seiko