It was love at first sight for Vanessa and Terry – maybe with each other (could’ve been!) – but definitely with Shonel, the brains behind Nomad Styling (first featured in The Real Wedding Special). Equipped with an indisputable knack for making beautiful things, Shonel helped the couple create the wild and free-spirited day they’d long been imagining. £Nomad Styling blew our minds. Shonel took what I had envisioned and magnified it into an absolute dream. Not only did she take the stress of the styling off me but we formed such a beautiful relationship that anything I needed advice on or just wanted to vent about, she was there. Let’s just say we both wish we married her too!
Clearly a super creative human with a passion for what she does, Shonel guided Vanessa and Terry in pulling together a celebration overflowing with boho vibes. Their favourite detail, irrefutably, was Shonel’s show-stopping canopy installation. £I said I’d like a tipi of some sort, please’ and she didn’t disappoint! It was like stepping into another world underneath all the vintage scarves we both collected, rugs and pouffes. I didn’t want to get out of there and the guests loved it.
Adding to the day’s magic were blooms by Cecilia Fox as well as Vanessa’s ravishing One Day Bridal gown. £I was always set on One Day Bridal but I was worried I wouldn’t be able to stick to my budget but I fell in love with the lace. Obsessed! For me, it was all about the lace and I wanted the silhouette to be simple and timeless. The girls at One Day Bridal made me feel so special and excited about the entire process too. The whole experience just felt comfortable like I was going to visit my girlfriends, she tells us, recalling her wedding gift to Terry as something she was pretty proud of (rightly so).
£I surprised Terry and flew down (from Byron Bay) one of our absolute favourite singers, Kyle Lionhart. This is by far the hardest thing I have ever done, but totally worth the stress! We got to the venue early after having had our photos taken and sat down in the green room with our closest family and friends and listened to him play for us before getting married. It was so beautiful to be able to regroup, not talk and just be.
And – whilst these lovers joke that the real meaning behind getting hitched is £sharing food even when you don’t want to – or offering one another food hoping the other will say no – Vanessa and Terry (who hired Raquel Benito and A & Y Videography to capture their day) recommend savouring every moment and expect there to be unforeseen costs when setting your budget…I’d say add another 10k and that’s your real budget, haha!
Love the Moroccan-meets-boho feel of Vanessa + Terry’s day? Check out these Bohemian inspired weddings here, here and here.
Vanessa and Terry’s North Melbourne wedding was originally featured in our third annual Real Wedding Special, on sale now and stocked in newsagents nationally. Search for your nearest stockist via suburb or postcode here or shop online with Mag Nation or via the HM online store here.
CREDITS Photographer Raquel Benito // Cinematographer A & Y Videography // Stylist Nomad Styling // Florist and Flower girl Crown Cecilia Fox // Ceremony and Reception Venue Laurens Hall, VIC // Food Trucks Boho Blends and Happy Camper Pizza // Bartenders Liquid Infusion // Cake Topper The Owl // Props and Furniture Hire Nomad Styling and Dann Event Hire // Sound Hire Technical Events // On the Day Signage Colour & Skulls // Entertainment Kyle Lionhart // Celebrant Megan Thompson // Rings All Diamonds // Transport Krystal Limousines // Bridal Gown Designer and Bridal Boutique One Day Bridal // Hair Piece Free People // Robes One Day Bridal // Lingerie Bras n Things // Shoes Valentino // Makeup Lorie Bekiri // Bridesmaids and Flower Girl Dresses Zimmermann // Choker by Child of Wild // Ring by Arrow Divine // Tie clip Jack London // Shoes Aquila.