Nutting Hill Villa Wedding in Byron Bay Hinterland

Guarantee you that guests are still gushing over Vanessa and Daniel’s extravaganza, captured by Shot From the Heart. The pair (known as Dan and Ness) kicked off their marriage with a Greek/Italian-infused gathering in the Byron Bay hinterland that emulated a long summer evening by the sea. Think aperitivo, wildflowers (by Demavi’s “flower fairies”), live music, laughter, dancing and most importantly, family.

Having both worked in the wedding biz themselves, this duo had a clear idea of the style and energy they wanted from their vendors, assembling an A+ team from personal connections, vendor recs, Hello May (“of course!”), wedding planner Frank & Joy and more.

The resulting revelry was heavenly, which is not to say there weren’t any hiccups. You see, an outdoor ceremony was the original plan, until the bureau said ‘Nope, how about rain?’ Don’t worry, the venue, Nutting Hill Villa, had a BEAUTIFUL plan B, which the pair loved for its warm, intimate atmosphere, and during a brief 20-minute window of sunshine, they were able to brave the mud and have an intimate second ceremony outside.

Going with the flow, and looking mighty fine doing it, Dan’s get-up was Studio Suits, styled with M.J. Bale and Joe Black. While Ness was ethereal in custom Holly Butler, complete with a hidden beaded fringe mini underneath for the couple’s surprise Salsa. Iconic!!

We could go on and on and on and on but it’s best you just see it for yourself…

THE VIBE

“We wanted it to feel like a Tuscan love story mixed with old-money charm meets soulful Mediterranean. Our wedding was a love letter to our Mediterranean roots – my family’s village of Vlicho on the Greek island of Lefkada, and Dan’s coastal hometown in Calabria, Italia. We were inspired by the beauty and soul of Southern Europe, the kind of places where life slows down, la famiglia comes first, and evenings are for sharing food, stories, and wine under the stars.”

FAVE DETAILS

“We honestly don’t know where to begin because we ADORED EVERYTHING! Tanya and her team from Demavi worked their floral fairy magic quietly slipping in more blooms than planned to make everything feel full, lush, and alive. Dan called them “flower fairies”. We barely saw them, but somehow everything bloomed into perfection. Our three-tier cake by Dorine from Nuni Cakes & Co. was a work of art and flavour. Our champagne tower moment set up by Roxy & the team from Frank & Joy, plus our florist and Terra Catering, was pure joy. The finishing touches came from Atelier Creative, who brought our vision to life with old-world elegance [with the] oversized linen welcome sign. Every detail whispered style, heart, and la dolce vita.”

THE DRESS

“My wedding dress was a dream I’d carried since I was a little girl and nearly a decade of photographing weddings, I knew piece by piece the dress design in mind and Holly Butler brought it to life in the most magical way. From the moment I first messaged her (a glowing recommendation from our photographer Ell), I knew she was the one. Holly’s aesthetic blends soft, modern femininity with French-inspired elegance think delicate textures, couture craftsmanship, and that ethereal, romantic energy that feels both timeless and fashion-forward. Her private studio felt like stepping into a dream sunlight pouring through gauzy curtains, a gilded mirror, and that calm, creative magic that instantly makes you feel seen.”

THE FIRST DANCE

“Our first dance was a complete surprise for our guests we’d secretly been taking lessons at The Salsa Foundation for months (huge love to our teacher, Arion!). Halfway through, I had my bridesmaids and Mum unclip my Paris tulle skirt to reveal a mini beaded salsa dress underneath, just as ‘Bomboleo’ by the Gipsy Kings dropped. Then came my solo samba performance – my surprise for Dan. When I stepped out in full samba feathers, sparkles, and heels, his jaw dropped.”

LITTLE LOL

“One of the most unexpected (and unforgettable) moments was when our dance floor opened to our traditional Greek dance ‘Kalamatiano’ – our best man fully committed to the moment and smashed one of the catering plates on the ground, to the absolute horror of our wedding planner who shouted, ‘No, no, no!’ mid-dance. It was chaotic, joyful, and completely unscripted, exactly the kind of energy we’d hoped for.”

For highly bespoke blooms across the Gold Coast and northern New South Wales, Demavi is a no-brainer. Get in touch or click here to see more of their handiwork in our recent Red Romance wedding styling shoot. Grooms looking for help getting dressed, we’ve got all the inspo you could need in this round-up (featuring the likes of M.J. Bale and Joe Black).