What do you get when two employment lawyers meet at an airport and tie the knot years later in a dreamy, detail-packed celebration at Newstead venue Butterland? A wedding with cool pops of tartan (a nod to their Scottish heritage), a ‘gallery formal’ with a hint of wacky dress code, lots of LOLs, and one very romantic (if slightly misunderstood) proposal! Grant popped the question mid-boarding call — a full-circle moment that bride Ellie adorably didn’t clock until later. “It’s not Grant’s fault I was slow at connecting the dots!” she laughs. From venue mix-ups to vintage fashion wins, this day was all heart, all style, and all them. Scroll on to see every moment immortalised by the talented Tom Hvala of thomasjpg, who had these words to share about the day: “These photos mean a lot to me – the way they capture the emotion of Ellie and Grant’s wedding feels so true. It was equal parts a privilege, pleasure and wild ride to be involved.”
THE VENUE “We had originally booked to get married at The Bromley Collection Museum at the Old Castlemaine Gaol, with the reception to be held in the sculpture garden in the 19th century prison yard. We set a date and sent invites, nominating a ‘gallery formal’ theme with guests required to wear something wacky with their formalwear. However, the venue was put on the market and the Bromley team let us know several months in advance that our big day wouldn’t be able to proceed there. Fortunately, we had other great options in the area. We hadn’t done much research on Butterland and arrived there last, without expectations. From the moment we arrived we knew it was the place.”
FAVE DETAILS “To honour each of our Scottish heritage, and also to offset the femininity of my early 1990s wedding dress, we opted for tartan and plaid details on my shoes, Grant’s brooch and the bouquet. As a surprise the week of the wedding, a few close friends gave me a garter in my family tartan, custom made in Scotland. Each friend had selected and sewn on a silver charm representing our friendship. It was the perfect token from my would-be bridesmaids and was ultimately my ‘something blue’.”
THE DRESS “I was set on a vintage dress from the start. So I was beyond excited when, with the wedding fast approaching, Art Garments, a Sydney-based vintage and secondhand seller, announced an online bridal drop. When I saw ‘The Dress’, a 1990s Amsale gown, I was obsessed with its unusual proportions – the tea-length, drop waist and high neck. However, I had to be talked into the purchase by a few different people. What if it didn’t fit, or was too shiny? I ultimately bit the bullet and clicked ‘pay now’, with the seller subsequently informing me she’d had multiple heartbroken prospective brides. It’s a cliche, but it wasn’t until I tried it on that I began to feel like a bride.”
A WORD OF ADVICE “Don’t stress about being a ‘bad feminist’ just because you’re wearing a pretty dress and you have spent your time, energy and money on a wedding. If you’re doing it, it’s because it is important to you and your partner. However, there is a lot of ‘noise’ out there telling brides, in particular, to do things a certain way. Try to choose the traditions that serve you, and to invest in the things you care about. This was only a realisation I came to with time!”
STANDOUT VENDOR “Multiple guests remarked that Tom, our photographer, was the hardest working photographer they’d ever seen. It truly felt as if there wasn’t a special moment that he wasn’t there to capture. While it is fashionable to only take candid photos of guests, we loved that Tom took multiple, stunning portraits of our family and friends enjoying the reception. His dancefloor ‘action shots’, were all time. We were so happy with the photos – they really encapsulated the vibe of the day.”
High praise indeed for thomasjpg! Take a scroll below and you’ll wholeheartedly agree that the photos capture this day so beautifully. Find thomasjpg on the Hello May directory here.
CONTRIBUTING VENDORS Photographer Thomasjpg Stylist Janet Rockes (friend) Florist Lisa Arrowsmith (family), Janet Rockes (friend) Ceremony & Reception Venue Butterland Newstead Catering Emma James Catering Cake Morning Market, Only Cheesecakes Lighting & Sound Hire DJ Warehouse, Entertainment Horns of Leroy, The Knave Celebrant Tamsin Whaley Transport Bendigo Bus Co Car Mustang ‘GINSMG’ (Virginia Walsh, friend) Welcome to Country Djaara Elder Uncle Rick Nelson Cocktails Botanik Bar THE BRIDE Bridal Gown Designer Vintage Amsale Bridal Boutique Art Garments Second Dress Vintage via Etsy Shoes Jeffrey Campbell, Miista Accessories Vintage earrings via Depop Hair & Makeup Gin Castro Hair + Makeup THE GROOM Suit Jacket Calvin Klein via Myer Shirt & Cummerbund Mr Cuff Second Shirt Vintage from Art Garments Pants M.J. Bale Bow Tie Moaning Minnie via Etsy Cufflinks & Shirt Studs Collectors Utopia via Etsy Brooch M&S Schmalberg via Etsy Shoes Julius Marlow via Myer Grooming Another Man Barber, Pear
