Five years together and one baby later, Maddy and Joel hosted an intimate registry wedding in Melbourne. Although hailing from Wollongong, NSW, the pair couldn’t find a Sydney space that suited their cosy, romantic ‘do, so headed south of the border with just close friends and family to make it offish and holiday at the same time. Win-win! “The overall vibe was old-school romantic, a bit of a modern ’60s love affair,” the bride tells us. “I wanted to stay away from anything too trendy so in 10,20, 30 years time I’d still look back and be in love with our choices.”
Quite clearly from this wedding album, shot by the legendary Lachy of Dust & Salt Photography, they nailed it! The bride dressed in Prea James Bridal and sporting a stunning custom Black Finch Jewellery ring, and groom head-to-toe in Institchu, were “effortlessly cool, charming, sweet with a bit of suave” just as they’d hoped. Scroll for all the special deets…
THE PROPOSAL “I knew from early on that Maddy was the one I wanted to marry, but I knew I had to make it as special as she is. I knew her favourite gems and how she didnt want a diamond ring, so I designed her a ring and started looking for jewellers who could do it for me. Black Finch Jewellery made it come to life and I couldn’t have been happier, after around 6 months of planning and waiting for the perfect gems. We planned a babymoon in October of 2022 and I decided that it would be the perfect time to propose.
FAVE DETAILS “I loved our outfits, they were exactly what I had imagined, and Maddy looked perfect. I also loved the venue for the reception, the mood, the music, the drinks, and the staff were all incredible. Maddy worked really hard on all the invites and signage for the night and it was so special. One of my favourite details from the day was our wedding cake! It was funky and romantic and perfectly summed up our wedding day. I also loved the wine and drinks list neighbourhood wine put together for us. Everyone was raving about it for days! Especially the rounds of mini negronis at the end of the night, that was a crowd pleaser.”
THE DRESS “My dress was the Winona Mini and Joni Skirt from Prea James Bridal. I had seen it about a year ago on someone else and always thought – ‘that’s the dress if I ever get married!’ I’m not hugely into tradition and the big song and dance of weddings and found this dress and style was a nice balance between being a fresh take on wedding dresses with that old-school vibe.”
THE SUIT “My suit was from Institchu. I have been going there since they launched and I knew when I was getting married, I would go back for the suit I always wanted. I have always wanted a white jacket, black pants suit for my wedding and when Maddy started sharing her inspiration, it was exactly what I had imagined.”
MEMORABLE MOMENTS “Seeing Maddy at our tiny Airbnb, she lit up the room with her incredible smile – it was the first thing I saw and it took my breath away. Seeing the pride in her dad’s eyes as he walked her down the aisle. Reading our vows filled me with joy and passion for our day and the speeches all had me crying. Then the dirty nightclub dancing til 5 in the morning was the perfect way to finish the night.”
STANDOUT VENDORS “Lachy and his assistant from Dust & Salt Photography were amazing – they both were so easy to work with, made us feel like superstars and made the whole process so natural. They got amongst the people and had a good time while they worked.”
Loving these snaps by Dust & Salt Photography? Same! You can find Lachy over on the Hello May directory here. If it’s suits you’re after, you can’t go past our mates at Institchu. Hit em up here.
CONTRIBUTING VENDORS Photographer Dust & Salt Photography Florist The Beautiful Bunch Stationery DIY Printer Illawarra Print & Signage Ceremony venue Old Treasury Building Reception venue Neighbourhood Wine Entertainment The Knave Rings Black Finch Jewellery THE BRIDE Bridal gown designer Prea James Bridal Shoes Zara, Tony Bianco Accessories Globe Lane Jewellery Hair Noor The Salon Makeup Tahlia Liapis Fragrance Tom Ford Lost Cherry THE GROOM Suit & Shirt Institchu Tie My Tuxedo Cufflinks Grandfather’s Shoes Zara Watch Seiko
