These two globe trotters were engaged mid-way through a hike in the snowy mountains of Tehran. As you do. A year later, Dena and Scott tied the knot on the shores of Sydney Harbour, with 150 of their nearest and dearest looking on. Oozing urban coastal vibes, we very much like what we see. So please, do scroll down for more captures by the lovely Ona of whspr. studio. …
THE VENUE “Initially we wanted a venue where we could have both the ceremony and the reception, but the more we looked the more we realised that we had to have the ceremony out the back of my parents’ place because it was more intimate and has one of the best harbour views. The Deckhouse in Woolwich is about a 10 min drive away from their place and also by the water with stunning city views. It was also a nice way for us to tie in Scott’s father’s shipwright background as it’s right next to a shipping yard.”
FAVOURITE DETAILS “The details that stand out have to do with the beautiful contributions that our family and friends made. Our wedding cake was made by one of my best friends and was completely bespoke to reflect Scott’s favourite flavour caramel and my family heritage with Persian flavours like cardamom, pomegranate and rosewater. We also travelled from the ceremony to the reception on Scott’s family boat, The Leilani. Scott’s family made customised lifesaving rings that said “Dena married Scott” that hung off the back. My mum made a tonne of almond sweets (her speciality) that every table could enjoy in between meals, they were a real hit!”
FAVOURITE MOMENT “The whole day was so much better than either of us expected, but nothing beats the high of the 15-minute ceremony. It was simply perfect (except for when I almost fell down the stairs as I was walking down the aisle)! We chose to have the ceremony in my parents’ backyard on the waterfront in Henley because it was my dad’s favourite spot and he built the stairs that go down to the water there, where we ended up standing for the ceremony. The symbolism made it really emotional for everyone and combined with the view, the time of day, our personal vows, the music and the stillness of the water and all of our friends and family looking back at us just made it unforgettable. To top it all off as we went from the ceremony to the reception we had a double rainbow!! I think a lot of us were sure it was my dad smiling down us.”
LITTLE LOL “Our dog Ivy rolled in poop a few hours before the ceremony. That was not in the run sheet for the day and it was a bit of a task washing her and sprucing her up to be one of our lead witnesses for the ceremony!”
STANDOUT VENDORS “Our florist Gabby from Secateour Sisters was incredibly patient and was able to transform the venue into an absolute fairytale. She is so talented! Our photographer Ona [whspr. studio.] was an instrumental part of the day and every single person who sees our photos is blown away by how beautifully she captured the day. She was so stealth on the day and managed to photograph every important detail and was also just a total dream to work with because she’s incredibly professional and very likeable as a person. I can’t really ever thank her enough.”
Want to peruse some more stunning cakes like Deena and Scott’s bespoke pomegranate and rosewater number? Head on over this way for 25 of our fave delish floral and fruit cakes, good times and tummy grumbles assured. If it’s the lush pics that have you smitten, then don’t delay in dropping the lovely Ona of Whspr. Studio a line here. Happy planning!
CONTRIBUTING VENDORS Photographer whspr. studio. Cinematographer Saik Productions Florist Secateur Sisters Ceremony Venue Private Property Reception Venue The Deckhouse Ceremony Music Stephanie Grace Lighting and Sound Hire DJ Warehouse Celebrant Susan Gavrin of A Life in Celebration Rings Cosmopolitan Jewellers BRIDE Dress Costarellos Shoes Stuart Weitzman Accessories J. Yoshiko Jewellery (Friend) Hair and Makeup Sarah Jane Phillips GROOM Suit, Cufflinks & Bow Tie P Johnson Shoes Jospeh’s Sydney Barber Hair Tamers Groomsmen Suits Joe Bananas