Unlike many brides and grooms who pull out all the stops for their big day, Kat and Michael took a different approach to wedding planning (first featured in our now sold out issue 13). Keeping things ultra relaxed, these two were walking down the aisle just over three months after their Byron Bay engagement. £Michael wanted everyone to have a drink in hand during the ceremony and we both just wanted to spend as much time with our friends and family as possible.
Just a short time before moving to the mainland, Kat and Michael decided on a Tassie wedding. £We saw it as an opportunity to bring our nearest and dearest together before we left our home of two years, Kat tells us, adding that the wedding was almost entirely DIY.
From baking cakes to brewing six different kinds of beer, fashioning an arbour, drying roses for confetti, designing stationery and sourcing decor from op shops, these two had their work cut out for them. £Our favourite details were all of the things we made ourselves. But mainly it was the cakes and home brew that we were proudest of. I spent the days leading up to the wedding making all of our cakes (except for the boozy trifle, my dad did that!) and Michael spent the months before brewing 210L of beer. We were pretty proud and everybody seemed to enjoy it too, says the bride, who had no trouble finding rad vendors to help organise the celebration.
£We’re lucky to have such a small community down here in Tassie, that finding amazing vendors was a breeze. My makeup artist, seamstress, hairdresser, band and celebrant etc. were all friends or friends of friends. Every aspect of the wedding had a personal connection and that made the day even more special and meaningful, the couple explains, though it was photographer Mitch Pohl who really stole the show.
£Oh my gosh, Mitch Pohl!! He shot my sister-in-law’s wedding two years ago and we knew from then that we wanted him as our photographer. He was like my comfort blanket and a bridesmaid/groomsman all in one. Mitch is a serious legend and not only takes beautiful pictures but is super fun to work with and is a calm presence on a chaotic day.
Though Kat didn’t go for a wedding dress’ in the traditional sense, and Michael may have dropped the ring during the ceremony, the newlyweds say that they couldn’t be happier with how their day turned out. £I’m glad we made it ours.
We put a lot of ourselves into it, spent within our means and prioritised what was most important – family, friends and having fun.
Check out more DIY’d weddings here, here and here. Or grab a copy of our latest issue via online store. You can pick up our second annual Real Wedding Special there whilst you’re at it!
CREDITS Photos Mitch Pohl // Reception venue Longley International Hotel // Catering Mr Burger // Cake topper Provenance Growers // Prop or furniture hire That Old Chestnut // Celebrant Sally Port // Rings Sargisons // Transport Barry’s Bus Hire // Bridal gown Alice McCall // Robes Piyama // Hair Jakadjari // Suspenders Project TransAction via Etsy // Leather Thongs and Flower Girl Dress Country Road // Watch Gant