Matt proposed to his bride to be whilst the two of them were watering their garden, pyjama-clad, which Elizabeth describes as “unromantically romantic, in other words – perfect!”. Hear, hear! Staying true to their cruisey natures, these two lovebirds opted for a ‘boho-esque’ vibe complete with enviable coastal surrounds. Decked out in ethereal Grace Loves Lace, the bride walked down the aisle to meet her love in a natural rock cathedral. Uh, perfection! Hello May fave James Simmons was there to capture all the glorious details…
THE VENUE “Matt & I always knew what we wanted… something simple, understated and nestled among nature. We didn’t want a venue that needed a lot – rather a venue that spoke for itself where we’d simply have to accentuate the beauty of it. Cue Wavehouse Studios! We’d been searching for a little while but nothing grabbed us quite like Wavehouse. From the bumpy drive up the windy gravel road, we knew this was it. It’s somewhere you can’t explain it in its entirety without seeing it – the beauty is unwavering. It’s so natural and raw, untouched and peaceful. Uninterrupted views of the Indian ocean, two beautifully unique and different houses built from natural materials and the most amazing amphitheatre.”
THE DRESS “I’d followed Grace Loves Lace for a while and always adored their gowns. The elegance and simplicity sans the boning and hidden tulle were what my dress dreams were made of! It was just another day at home – Memphy was down for his nap when I had a scroll through Instagram and spotted the Florence gown. I’d had my eye on it for some time, but this particular time I couldn’t scroll past and before I knew it I’d called them up and ordered the dress! Just as I finished my order and hung up the phone, Memphy woke and it was back to business as usual. Easy, effortless and exactly what I wanted.”
REFERENCES “I did most of the planning from the comfort of my couch between Memphis napping and many late nights. Magazines (Hello May was always front and centre on the coffee table!) were chopped up and stuck onto mood boards, blogs were printed out and drawn over – I’m a very visual person and need to be able to use my hands to imagine something, so looking online didn’t always suffice. When I found something I liked, I simply searched high and low until I could find a vendor that had what I wanted which resulted in so many little bits from all over! I had my brother collecting our dining plates and napkins from a vendor, A La Table Rentals, in Perth before they headed down for the week and a courier delivering goods from Pretty Willow – I did whatever it took to have the best from the best!”
FAVOURITE MOMENT “Is it corny to say ALL OF IT?! But honestly, our babe Memphis. I don’t know if it’s the ginger hair but our boy has sass! He holds his own like no other and when he wants something he gets it and what he wanted was his Mama! Mid-ceremony he ran up for a cuddle and the photos James captured of this moment are by far my favourite. He also proceeded to lay in the middle of the aisle starting up at the sky as we were exchanging vows which was so precious. Something Matt and I made, laying on the ground on the biggest day of our life, in his own little world with no idea how much love he is surrounded by. At that moment we felt complete gratitude for the life we’ve created together in Memphy and our hearts exploded with love… and laughter shortly after as his giggle filled the amphitheatre!”
A WORD OF ADVICE “If there’s one thing you’re going to invest your money in, let it be your photographer. James was by far the most important part of our day. Waking up the following day to some sneak peeks that took our breath away just reinforced how important it is to choose carefully because once all the dust settles, your photos are all you have to share with the world and you want to be proud of them!”
This gorge day was first published in Issue 23 of Hello May. If you would like to flick through the pages IRL then pop on over to our online store where limited copies are available. Thinking of reaching out to superstar James Simmons to capture your day? Click here for a handy contact form and a whole heap of real weddings to peruse. If it’s the gown that has stolen you heart then pop on over here from where you can browse more real brides donning Grace Loves Lace on their big day. But first, get scrolling…
CONTRIBUTING VENDORS Photographer James Simmons Photography Stylist Ferguson Valley Events Florist Hope Ryan Florist Stationery Kelsie Wolfley Designs via Etsy Printer The Print Shop Bunbury Venue Wavehouse Studios via Airbnb Catering Tapalicious Hire Items Ferguson Valley Events, Yallingup Event Hire, Pretty Willow Prop Hire, A La Table Rentals Celebrant Katie Sinclair Wedding Celebrant BRIDE Dress Grace Loves Lace Loungewear Sleeping with the Enemy Shoes Billini Earrings Samantha Wills Rings Fusion Jewellers Hair Wish Hair Studio Makeup Faces by Lisa Thomas GROOM Suit Trent Nathan from Myer Shirt & Pants Sportscraft Shoes Hush Puppies Watch Kapten & Son Hat Will & Bear Barber Wish Hair Studio