Caught in COVID craziness, Kriselle and Igor planned their wedding in… wait for it… four weeks. Amazing. “We just made a go of it in the eye of the COVID storm. My best friend said that I was crazed,” Kriselle, a paediatric physiotherapist,tells us. “We were hoping for a destination wedding in Cape Town, South Africa. Unfortunately, we could not have predicted a global pandemic, which threw a spanner in the works to say the least. Three planned weddings later and we’re finally married!”
They may have whipped it all up in under a month but, dang, they did a great job of it! From the big details (ahem, gorg snaps by Florido Photography & Videography) to the small (we see you, Rue De Seine getting-ready robe!) and the downright unforgettable (that Prea James Bridal oh em gosh), every piece of this big day was on point.
THE THEME “Our theme was always natural, earthy beauty with contemporary vibes. We both love simple elegance. The warm tones of the day made it feel like the hug we needed after the attempts that came before. We wanted everything to be tonal but sophisticated. Everything was curated to the nth degree. Not too matchy so it’s obvious and in your face but just enough to tell the story and gently draw that eye. It’s probably why I grew three grey hairs since that day!”
FAVE DETAILS “Stealing from a therapy technique, you remember more when all your senses are activated so we wanted our wedding to envelop the senses. The florals met us through olfactory (smell) and visual input. The honey provided taste. The band was the perfect addition for audition (hearing). Touch was provided through the material of our outfits, which was very important for me.
Whatever my wedding day was to look like, the only thing that was sure was flowers and lots of them. I had asked for the flowers to look as they should – wild. I didn’t want typical floral arrangements or bridal bouquets. The idea for the reception was to have a floral, colour and texture story but to have each table with a different arrangement. It turned out so well. If you look carefully, each table is slightly different. My jaw almost dropped when I finally saw my vision brought to life. Bloodwood Botanica‘s work was and is breathtaking.”
THE DRESS “I can be an extremely picky person so I didn’t want to start the search too early with fears that I would lose interest in my dress if I had it for too long. We started in May for an October wedding. My Prea James Bridal gown was the second one I tried and I remember feeling so free, fresh, elegant and effortless. Timeless. I could not have worn anything different.”
TALK ABOUT TRADITION “Igor is Ukrainian and so his family incorporated a few wedding traditions into the reception. First, bread breaking – Igor and I had to pull apart a loaf of traditional handmade Ukrainian bread. The person who pulled the biggest piece was to then be the ‘boss of the relationship.’ It broke straight down the middle. Then we had to take our first step together onto a marital mat. The first person to make contact with the mat is then the ‘boss of the relationship.’ We stepped on at the exact same time. The last one was the smashing of the glass. Wine was poured into a glass which we had to scull, throw the rest over our left shoulder, and then smash the glass into as many pieces as possible. The more pieces there were, the healthier and longer-lasting the relationship is meant to be. I obliterated my glass and cut myself in the process. Oops.”
WE’RE GLAD WE… “I’m glad we did it in the first place. We were very close to giving up! I’m also glad we added the traditional elements and that we had our priest, he really made the ceremony and everybody gave the feedback that it was the best wedding ceremony they’d ever been to.”
WE WISH WE… “got ready at the venue to save photography time.”
STANDOUT VENDORS “Emilia from Bloodwood Botanica was absolutely incredible. She was so understanding and made everything seem like it was not a problem. I contacted her three weeks before the wedding and she made it all work. She worked very hard to capture my vision and bring it to life. She’s not your typical wedding florist, I loved her work in sculptural floristry and the way she put colours, textures and different elements together. Callie our photographer from Florido Photography & Videography was so great. She was so patient with us and made the timeframe work. She captured photos naturally and didn’t ask us to hold ridiculous poses that we would never find ourselves in. She’s the type of cool girl that makes you feel cool by just being around her. Our band, the Fonoti Brothers were so talented – they really set the vibe of the wedding and we loved the addition of the saxophone and drums. The live segments were so good. They read the room well and they kept everyone on the dance floor.”
If you’re vibing Kriselle’s gorg gown (we certainly are), jump on over to our directory and get in touch with the amazing Prea James Bridal. She’s a total bridal-style queen.
CONTRIBUTING VENDORS Photographer Florido Photography & Videography Styling Julie Vine Flowers (execution) Florist Bloodwood Botanica Stationery Sirromet Wines Ceremony, Reception & Catering Sirromet Wines Food Trucks Wheel & Spoon Gelato Bike Wedding favours Honey (family friend’s organic beehives), Care You (jars) Entertainment The Fonoti Brothers via McGee Entertainment Rings CTJ Gold Coast Transport Hampton Motors THE BRIDE Gown Prea James Bridal Bridal Boutique Sphere Bridal Gallery Veil KYHA Studios Hairpiece Lovisa Robes Rue De Seine (bride), Le Rose Shoes Loeffler Randall via Revolve Earrings Natasha Schweitzer Hair & Makeup KM Makeup Studios Fragrance Givenchy Dahlia Divin Eau De Parfum Bridesmaid dresses Shona Joy Bridesmaid shoes Nine West THE GROOM Suit, Vest, Shirt, Tie & Shoes Politix Cufflinks Hugo Boss Watch Seven Friday Barber HQ Male Grooming Groomsmen suits Politix
