By the shade of a 500-year-old oak, Madeleine and Matt became Mr and Mrs. A close-knit assembly of nine joined them in celebration, including their two cherished daughters, who embraced their flower girl duties in the sweetest blue Little Harper Lee frocks. “It was really important to us that our kids were included in the day as much as possible,” share the newlyweds. “We didn’t want to be separated from them for hours while getting ready and doing formal things etc that don’t mean much to us… They ended up playing happily on the rug at our feet during the ceremony. It was so sweet.”
The bride wore a simple, elegant Arcina Ori slip-style gown, the groom opted for a wool flannel M.J. Bale number, leaning into the cosy countryside vibes. Rather than gathering somewhere conventional, the couple of 10-plus years chose a leafy holiday abode, Fig Tree Villa, a hidden tropical paradise in Byron Bay. And to capture their micro-nuptials, Madeleine and Matt called on photographer Olivia Holt, who stood out for her love of nature and candid style. “A perfect fit,” to quote our loved-up couple.
Fig Tree Villa | A Hidden Tropical Paradise for Byron Bay Weddings
“We had actually stayed at Fig Tree Villa almost exactly one year prior for a short family getaway in Byron. Since I was a little girl I had always dreamed of getting married under a magnificent old fig tree. As soon as we arrived and I saw the 500 year old fig tree I felt so moved by its ancient presence and I knew. We didn’t know if they would allow weddings or elopements at the time but the seed was planted.”
The Vibe
“Romantic, nostalgic, cottage-core, immersed in nature vibes. Celebrating us and our girls as a family.”
A BRIDAL Gown for COMFORT & ELEGANCE
“My dress was by Australian designer Arcina Ori. I really wanted a hand-made and Australian made dress that felt more special. It was only the second dress I tried and it was made to order so there was no turning back. The dress has a lot of movement, so flowy and elegant I just loved that and it was so comfortable to wear. Others I had tried on I could barely breathe and they were so hot.”
Groom’s M.J. Bale Suit for Countryside Wedding
“I wore a simple light navy wool flannel suit by M.J. Bale, a taupe Prince of Wales check waistcoat by Charles Tyrwhitt, and a pale green silk tie from James Harper with cowboys on horseback on it (!) I knew I wanted wool flannel for a cosy countryside vibe. I played around with incorporating various greens and mustard yellows in my accessories but fell in love with my rodeo tie which ended my experimenting.”
Little LOL
“Our daughters were stealing raspberries off the cake during the cake cutting which was so cute.”
Tips for Planning Intimate, Stress-Free Micro-Weddings in Byron Bay
“One of the best things we did the day before was have a morning at The Banya with a massage and bathhouse session. It was so lovely to catch our breath and reconnect before the wedding. We are so glad we had an intimate wedding with just our closest family. It meant we were able to spend quality time together and we felt so comfortable to be ourselves. It also goes so fast I’m glad we didn’t go over budget.”
Heartfelt Byron Bay Wedding Photography & Personal Celebrant
“Our photographer Olivia was a perfect fit. She weaved seamlessly through our day and perfectly captured a romantic, nostalgic and fun vibe we were after. And of course we can’t thank our celebrant Julie enough (Matt’s mum) for delivering such a beautiful and personal ceremony. There were so many celebrants out there that felt like entertainers and it just wasn’t for us so being able to turn to family was a huge plus.”
Discover Local Wedding Vendors for Your Byron Bay Day
If Olivia’s nostalgic, candid happy snaps speak to you, see more of her work via our handy dandy directory. While you’re there, browse menswear options from one of our faves, M.J. Bale and discover local vendors for your Byron Bay day. Then, visit the blog to get inspired by more elopements/micro-weds our team can’t stop thinking about.
CONTRIBUTING VENDORS Photographer Olivia Holt Bouquet Poppy & Fern Venue Fig Tree Villa via Airbnb Cake Maker Eclair At The Bay Celebrant Julie Rossouw (Family) Rings AO Jewellery THE BRIDE Bridal Gown Designer Arcina Ori Veil Wedding Veil of Dreams via Etsy Accessories Maison De Femmes Hair & Makeup Madeleine (Bride) Flower Girl Dresses Little Harper Lee THE GROOM Suit M.J. Bale Waistcoat & Shirt Charles Tyrwhitt Suspenders Politix Bow Tie James Harper Pocket Square Ted Baker Shoes Herring Shoes Watch Seiko BGrooming Gaia Hair
