“A folk-leaning wedding with some old-timey touches followed by an intimate yet roaring party to celebrate,” that’s Isabelle and Nicholas’s nups in a nutshell.
This bride (wearing vintage-inspired Silk Laundry) and groom (suited by InStitchu) chose to share their celebration with a small circle of immediate family and close friends, explaining that the intimate nature of the occasion was “a central pillar of the day, and it made celebrating especially fun.”
Photographer Finder Seeker was in attendance to capture all the loved-up moments. The newlyweds told us that, coming from a fine-arts background, her style was the perfect fit. Scroll on for all the moody romantic inspo you could ever ask for, plus our chat with Bella and Nic, exploring their wedding locations, looks, and more.
THE VENUE
“We loved how spooky and gothic Montsalvat is; it truly feels like something out of a fairytale or murder mystery novel. We had a private ceremony with only our immediate family and a few of our oldest friends in the small Bluestone Chapel at the back of the property. We can’t take any credit for it, but we were so happy it rained on our wedding day! As for the reception, it was always our plan to have it at a restaurant because we wanted it to be more relaxed and low-key. We chose the upstairs area of Poodle Bar and Bistro in Fitzroy because the restaurant has a beautiful 1920s heritage feel, the food is absolutely delicious and also their event coordinator, Melinda, is fantastic. We didn’t bring any decorations at all aside from our welcome sign, as the space is covered in artworks and cosy design features/furniture. We also liked how, being in central Melbourne, it would be easy for people to get to after work on a Friday night. We had 50 of our closest friends and immediate family for a cocktail-style dinner, with drinks and dancing into the night.”
THE DRESS
“Originally, I found an English liquid stain dress from the 1930s on Etsy, which I absolutely fell in love with, but it fell through because the seller wasn’t comfortable shipping it to Australia. [Prior,] while Nic was getting his suit fitted, I was wandering around looking in the shops on the street. One store, Silk Laundry, had a small range of [100% double silk] bridal outfits, and I made a mental note of one of the dresses—a replica 20s/30s silk dress. When I got the news about my original dress not being possible, I was a little upset, but Nic and I hopped in the car and drove back to the shop. I walked in, tried on the dress and instantly knew it was perfect. I love lace and the history of lacemaking, being very interested in the Alençon Museum of Fine Arts and Lace, where there is a historic example of a full lace veil. It would have been impossible for me to make one; [however, it] inspired my choice of veil, which was my favourite thing about my wedding outfit
THE SUIT
“I wore a dark green woollen suit from InStitchu in Armadale, it didn’t take too long to find as I had only visited one other store prior to InStitchu. The staff there were incredibly helpful, and I was stoked how my outfit turned out.”
TALK ABOUT TRADITION
“We are so happy that we incorporated a handfasting into our ceremony. Even though we did have a ‘traditional’ ceremony, we don’t believe that people have to be formally married to be married in their hearts, and this was one way we could show that. It was a nice nod to my (Bella’s) ancestors’ folk culture from Eastern Europe and also added an air of magic to our ceremony.”
Finder Seeker is a must-suss if you’re looking for documentary-style, relaxed pics with a little editorial flair. Browse more Melbourne nuptials captured by Finder Seeker here. Outfits next on the agenda? Suit up with InStitchu here or click this way to browse real bridal looks we love.
CONTRIBUTING VENDORS Photographer Finder Seeker Florist Moss & Maple Stationery & Signage Bella (Bride) Ceremony Venue Montsalvat Reception Venue & Catering Poodle Bar & Bistro Cake Maker Baked by CC Celebrant Celebrations by Rosalie Rings Emma Krafft THE BRIDE Bridal Gown Designer Silk Laundry Veil ZoeymadeCN via Etsy Shoes Bared Footwear Accessories Nandeetas via Etsy Hair & Makeup Dana Leviston THE GROOM Suit, Shirt & Pants InStitchu Tie Peter Jackson Shoes Aquila
