DIY Wedding: Kristy and Jesse’s Dream Wedding Day

Kristy and Jesse shared their beautiful DIY Wedding with their family and friends, creating a day they would all remember forever.

Kristy and Jesse couldn’t wait to be married. After being in a long distance relationship, their wedding day signified the time when they could stay together. After the long search for the perfect ring, the couple set out to plan the perfect DIY wedding. Wanting to create and a memorable and fun day for their family and friends, Kristy and Jesse worked relentlessly on every aspect of the day. We got to speak to the newlywed couple about the day and all the work they put into it. From the hunt for the perfect dress, to marrying in a church very close to Kristy’s heart, they managed to create a day they will remember forever.

DIY Wedding Ideas

DIY Wedding Decorations

  1. Tell us a little about the proposal and the lead up to the wedding?

The decision to get married was really a mutual one for us. We knew we couldn’t fathom a life without one another and getting married was the next step. As we had been living 10,000 miles apart with Kristy in Sydney, Australia and Jesse in Louisiana, USA, we had made the decision that next time Jesse was in Sydney (at Christmas 2011), we would go looking for an engagement ring. Jesse wanted Kristy to choose whatever ring she fell in love with. We spent an entire month searching for rings, looking at jewelry store after jewelry store with no luck. It was December, stocks were completed and we couldn’t find a thing to suit Kristy’s tiny fingers.

DIY Wedding Photo Fun

Everyone joked that we were “unofficially” engaged and we decided to wait until I came over to Louisiana to start the search for “the ring” once again. After a week of searching with no luck, we stumbled upon the perfect ring just five days before Kristy was due to leave Louisiana for Sydney. The jeweler promised she would do her absolute best to get the ring in and resized in time for Kristy to head back home and she managed to pull through with her promise - but Kristy continued to wait.

DIY Wedding Kiss

Just one day before Kristy was due to fly out, Jesse told Kristy he wanted to take her “somewhere pretty to take photos”. Kristy is a photographer and loves nothing better than to photograph nature and Jesse knew this was the perfect time to propose. He packed a backpack with “water and snacks”, tucking the ring inside.

DIY Wedding I Dos

As Kristy busily snapped away at the gorgeous pine trees and forest scenary, Jesse got down on one knee, waiting for Kristy to put the camera down and turn around. We were finally officially engaged and our next chapter begun!

DIY Wedding Couple Photo

Full story can be found here, at Kristy’s Blog.

Rings for DIY Wedding

DIY wedding make-up inspiration

  1. What was the inspiration behind your wedding theme or vibe? 

We wanted our wedding to be a relaxed and fun event for everyone involved. Not wanting a boring sit down dinner, we decided to turn the traditional wedding idea on its head and do everything ourselves.

Black and white DIY wedding photos

We decided to rent out an empty studio space and hired a wedding stylist to transform the literal blank canvas into a vintage oasis. Mixing modern pieces with gorgeous vintage furniture and rustic elements, we created the ultimate “Southern In-Law” style. Mixing old and new, traditional and unique.

DIY wedding venue decorations

We did almost everything ourselves - from redoing furniture pieces that would feature in our reception to designing the invitations, RSVP cards and “wedding logo”. This even appeared on our cake to providing our caterers with recipes to suit Kristy’s allergies and creating our own lolly buffet.

Fun Reception Ideas for DIY Wedding

You can find a full recap of the wedding here, and Kristy’s Blog.

DIY wedding ceremony

DIY Wedding preparations

Favourite detail or moment of the day (besides becoming husband and wife of course! or Wife and Wife, or Husband and Husband!) 

It would have to be the ceremony. Our wedding day was one we had dreamed of for five years. After spending five years, 10,000 miles apart, dreaming of the day we would finally be together, that day had finally come and it finally felt real. When you spend so many years dreaming about a day it feels incredibly surreal when it actually becomes a reality.

Outdoor DIY wedding

A traditional church wedding was incredibly important to us as Christians. We were married in the exact same church, standing on the exact same steps, that Kristy’s Mum and Dad were married in almost 30 years earlier. 

Perfect DIY Wedding

Did you undertake any DIY projects, if so what?

Just about every part of our wedding was a DIY project!

DIY Wedding Reception Decorations

Invitation - designed by Kristy and sent to Invitation Tea Towels for Printing

RSVP Cards and Wedding Mad-Libs - designed and printed by Kristy

We re-did vintage furniture pieces that we had found at Vinnies and on Gumtree which featured in our wedding.

Wedding Canvas - Kristy designed and created our wedding canvas which featured in our reception.

Bride And Groom Images DIY Wedding

Wedding “logo” - Kristy designed a wedding logo (a heart made up of dozens of smaller hearts) to represent all of our friends and family who came together to make our dream a reality. This logo appeared on our invitations, RSVP cards, printables and even our cake. (see the cake here).

DIY Wedding Decoration Ideas

Groomsmen Suit Ideas DIY Wedding

Gluten Free Candy Bar - we hired the majority of our candy buffet pieces and then sourced all of the lollies and pieced it all together ourselves

Candy Bar DIY Wedding

Wedding Menu - as Kristy is a coeliac with many allergies, it was incredibly important to Jesse that Kristy feel “normal” on their wedding day and be able to enjoy all of the food without worry. For this reason we created our entire wedding menu and ensured all food at the wedding was gluten free. Kristy developed all of the recipes for our wedding which were then handed over to our caterers who created our incredible buffet spread.

Delicious DIY Wedding Food

Healthy DIY Wedding Ideas

Any family or religious traditions incorporated into your day?

We were married in the church Kristy’s parents were married in - and in the same church Kristy and her sister Katrina were christened in. As Christians, it was incredibly important that we had a traditional church wedding with traditional vows.

DIY Wedding Bride and Groom Photos

Family DIY Wedding Photos

Talk to us about your dress, where is it from? How long did it take to find?

I had randomly stumbled upon my dress on Pinterest when we were “unofficially engaged” and fell in love. I was desperate to see it in real life, however, after spending many hours searching, I found that it was nowhere to be found in Australia. As Mum and I were planning on heading to Louisiana to see Jesse and his family, we contacted a dozen bridal boutiques in Louisiana. We stumbled across one three hours away that had my dream dress.

DIY Weddings and wedding cars

I booked an appointment for whilst we were in Louisiana, hoping Jesse wouldn’t mind driving us all the way to Lafayette because I needed to try on this dress.

Cute Couple Photos for DIY Weddings

Luckily, he agreed to drive the three hours to take me. We arrived at the store and I fell in love. It was the gorgeous mix of vintage, rustic, country, shabby chic that I love and there were hundreds of gorgeous dresses laid about.

DIY Wedding Guest Ideas

So my Mum, Jesse and I walked into A-Net’s Bridal where they quickly put Jesse out on the porch so I could try on my dress (which Jesse was seriously peeved about as he didn’t know the Groom wasn’t supposed to see the Bride’s dress before the big day!). We headed to the back dressing room which had a gorgeous old lounge, a hugeeeeeeeee ornate mirror and a gold Persian rug on the floor. The room itself made the process so much more special - it was grand and grown up and oh so exciting. I knew this was the same room that hundreds of other brides to be had found their dresses and the feeling was quite overwhelming.

forest fairytale DIY wedding

I held the dress in my hands and fell even more in love. The fabric was lush - it looked even better in person and had so much detail. As I stepped my feet into the dress, my heart started pounding.

I didn’t look until my mum had zipped me into the dress and when I looked up into that big ornate mirror, it felt like someone was pushing right against my chest. My chest was tight, I had a lump in my throat and I knew I was right.

Father and Bride at DIY Wedding

Wow Kristy… you were right,” my Mum said. But whilst I had somewhat of a moment, it wasn’t the moment. There was one thing that wasn’t right - just a simple addition that would make it perfect. I decided I needed a back on the dress and the team at A-Net’s Bridal Boutique assured me there was a modest version that would be absolutely perfect.

Classic DIY Wedding Dress

When the time came to order my dress, I took a huge risk and ordered the dress online. I ordered my dress from House of Brides and whilst it was quite a bit stressful waiting so long and not knowing if I’d made the right choice - my dress arrived on time, 6 months later. My dress took quite a bit longer than it usually takes as it had to be made in my size (they don’t stock the smaller sizes as standard stock so it had to be hand made) and it arrived in a teeny tiny little box.

Bride and Groom at DIY Wedding

I have to admit, I had a panic attack when it arrived. The box was shoe box sized and the outside of the package read Polyester Bridesmaid Dress. My dress certainly wasn’t polyester and I couldn’t imagine how it could fit such a tiny box so I thought there was a mistake. I opened the box with my heart racing and then I saw the lace. I pulled the dress out of the box and sure enough, it was my dress - and it was perfect.

forest DIY wedding

I can’t recommend House of Brides enough - I also bought the crystal sash on my dress from House of Brides and it arrived really quickly. I saved a fortune buying my dress online and if I had have gone with the store in Sydney who could have shipped it in for me I would have paid $2000 more. Even with shipping, I paid less than $1000 for my dress - and just slightly more than that once the sash was added.

Fun Bride and Groom Photos for dIY Wedding

More of the story can be found here and here.

DIY wedding decor

Any funny stories in the lead up to or on the day?

There were quite a few - from receiving my “Polyester Bridesmaid Dress” that was the size of a shoebox and freaking out thinking that I’d ordered the Barbie size to spending time getting to know the incredible (and hilarious!) Henry Roth himself as he personally altered my sister’s bridesmaid dress to ensure it was perfect.

Family at DIY Wedding

Advice for other couples planning a wedding?

People always say that your wedding day is “the best day of your life”, however, we truly believe it’s just a glimpse of what’s to come. Your wedding day is the start of your story together. Sure, there might be hiccups and mishaps on the big day, but just remember that you have the rest of your lives to spend together making memories!

Cute DIY Wedding Ideas

It’s an incredible day, full of joy, laughter, tears and plenty of planning - but it is just one day! Relax and enjoy every second because it goes by in an instant.

unique DIY wedding ideas

VENDOR CREDITS

Photos: Lucie Zeka Wedding Photography  (see full details - here)

Bridal gown:  Allure Modest Gown, House of Brides  (see full details here)

Shoes: Diana Ferrari

Flowers: Brides in Bloom

Bouquets: reception flowers purchased and arranged by bride from Sydney Flower Markets

Rings: Zales USA

Bridesmaids dresses: Henry Roth (Henry Roth 88888 Gown in Flamingo)

Grooms & Groomsmen suit: Spurling Formalwear (Beige Self Stripe Two Button Single Breasted Lounge Suit).

Ceremony - St Paul’s Anglican Church, Burwood

Reception  - Private Photo Studio in Sydney (we don’t want to share the details as we had a terrible experience with the owners)

Catering: Flavour’s Catering

Cake: Sweetcheeks Cookies and Cakes 

Reception stylist, any decorations or details: Nicolle at RaRa Kitty

Stationery designer - Kristy (who designs wedding stationery and accessories for clients at Kiss Freelance)

Hair and Make up: Nieves Calvo, Get Threaded Met Centre

Transport: Broadway Wedding Car Hire

Cinematographer: Adrian Tan and Amath Magnan

Photo Booth: PhotoSocial

Gluten Free Candy: Big Lolly

Candy Buffet Hire:  Unique Vintage Weddings

Vintage Fashion Inspired Weddings: Rockabilly Theme

This Rockabilly Themed wedding will take you back in time, and give you a glimpse of some vintage fashion ideas

Vintage fashion inspired wedding decorations

Melanie McNiven Portraits specialise in taking beautiful photos for special occasions. From newborn babies and children to weddings, these photos are unique and timeless. They recently received the opportunity to take photos for a vintage fashion inspired wedding. The theme behind the shoot was “Rockabilly”. We got to share some of the wonderful photos they took, as well as find out about all the different people involved in the shoot. From the makeup artist to the beautifully designed dresses, the detail and time taken made for a truly memorable shoot.

Vintage fashion inspired Bridesmaid ideas

Vintage fashion inspired bridal car

Vintage fashion inspired creative ideas

We got to chat to them about the different people involved in the shoot. The photos show the outcome of the fun and unique photos.

Vintage fashion inspired "I do!"

Rockabilly wedding Vintage fashion inspired

Parasols and design: Parasols with Love

Bride and groom shots Vintage fashion inspired

Vintage fashion inspired Bride and bridesmaids

Just marriedVintage fashion inspired

Flowers: Blooms of Noosa

Beautiful Bride Vintage fashion inspired

Black and white wedding ideas Vintage fashion inspired

bridal flowers Vintage fashion inspired

Makeup: Photo Finish Makeup

Vintage fashion inspired Bridal Party

Bridal Photos Vintage fashion inspired

Vintage fashion inspired Fun bridal party photos

Wedding Dress: Silver Sixpence

Vintage fashion inspired Bride and Groom

Bridesmaids dresses: That Shop

Beautiful wedding Vintage fashion inspired

Models:
Miss Frankie Mae Felon

Colourful Bridesmaids Vintage fashion inspired
Scarlet Tinkerbelle

Flower girl and Page Boy Vintage fashion inspired

Kiki Vanity

Groom Photo Vintage fashion inspired

Jordan Copper - Male Model

Bridesmaids Vintage fashion inspired

Head pieces: Marla Carmeta Designs

Vintage fashion inspired black and white wedding

The stationery used on the day was intricate and unique, adding another element to the shoot.

Vintage fashion inspired Detailed Envelopes
Vintage fashion inspired wedding invite

Vintage fashion inspired Invitation Ideas

Vintage fashion inspired Laser Cut Wedding Invites
They also prepared a beautiful, bright red setting which contrasted beautifully with the dresses and suits.

Vintage fashion inspired reception ideas

Vintage fashion inspired Creative Wedding Invites

Vintage fashion inspired Cute Wedding Name Tags

If you’re interested in having photos taken you can check out the Melanie McNiven Portraits website, or email them here.

Vintage fashion and Fun wedding ideas

 

Country Wedding: Kylie and Matt’s Big Day

Ideas to Get You Thinking About a Beautiful Country Wedding

Victorian couple Kylie and Matt wanted a big celebration that wasn’t going to be too formal. We were lucky enough to get to talk to Kylie about everything leading up to the wedding, including the romantic European proposal and how their wedding day was everything they both had hoped for. From finding the dress to the final details, Kylie and Matt were kind enough to share some of their beautiful photos and stories from the day.

Bride and Groom at their Country Wedding

1. Tell us a little about the proposal and the lead up to the wedding.

The proposal happened on the first night of our 2011 Europe trip. We arrived in Paris that afternoon and explored the beautiful city. That evening we headed out for dinner and to the Eiffel tower to see it with all the lights. We climbed the stairs to see the views and then came down to admire the light show from the park beneath. It was then that Matt decided to get down on one knee and propose. Cue tears and lots of OMG’s and a big fat YES!!! It was a very romantic magical night and one we will never forget. We also kept the big engagement reveal a surprise to all our family and friends until we got home a month later. It was so nice to be in our own little bubble and be happily engaged for a while.

Country Wedding and First Dance

2. What was the inspiration behind your wedding theme and vibe?

From the start we knew we wanted our wedding to be one big celebration and nothing too formal. We went searching for venues and looking up styles and came across Zonzo’s in the Yarra Valley. It fit our brief perfectly and it was from there that our theme grew and grew. We wanted a fun filled, laid-back style that was rustic and could incorporate all of our DIY ideas. Everyone at Zonzo’s could see our vision and were more than happy to help us incorporate our ideas. We were able to really make it our day.

Country Wedding Reception Ideas

Country Wedding Food

3. Favourite detail or moment of the day (besides becoming husband and wife of course! or Wife and Wife, or Husband and Husband!)

For us there was a lot about the day that was amazing it’s hard to pick just one moment. If I had to, it would be when we were standing under the arbor and the cold wind was blowing through the barn doors, my hair kept sweeping across my face and Matt gently tucked my fringe behind my ear for me while I was standing there shaking and shivering away. Cue lots of “oohhs” and “aahs” from everyone. It really felt like it was just the two of us alone up there. Remembering that exact moment makes me all warm and fuzzy.

First Kiss at Country Wedding

4. Did you undertake any DIY projects, if so what?

Yes! We did lots of DIY for the wedding. It meant hiring a truck and Matt driving it to the venue the day before the wedding to unload all of our masterpieces. We made the arbor we were married under and the double doorway entry that I walked under to reach Matt. We also made a lemonade stand for our guests to enjoy lemonade and iced tea. We hand painted lots of wooden signs that were incorporated into the styling. The lemonade stand and the arbor were purchased from us by the venue and can both now be seen and hired out for weddings at Zonzo’s.

Rustic Country Wedding Sign

We also had a cookie bar instead of a lolly bar or dessert bar. This meant lots and lots of baking of yummy treats in the lead up to the wedding. We had lots of help from family and friends. I don’t think we’ll ever stop hearing about how delicious the white chocolate and raspberry cookies were!

Country Wedding with Lemonade Stand

Jars at country Wedding

We also designed the invitations ourselves. The invites were printed on wood by Melbourne Laser Cutter and completely exceeded our expectations. The team was more than happy to work with our custom template and helped develop our design to get the best results. We then designed and printed the envelopes and RSVP cards ourselves incorporating recycled papers and twine to match the texture and colours of the invitation.

Guest book Ideas for Country Wedding

Finally, we sourced lots of styling items for the day that we knew the venue didn’t have. I ordered mason jars for the lemonade stand, amber bottles and wooden crates so we could move our flowers from the ceremony to the reception. This is why we had to hire a truck to transport it all ourselves! By doing lots of things ourselves it meant that both of us had huge input into the day.

Country Wedding Lemonade Stand

5. What does marriage mean to you?

To us marriage is a one time thing. We had enough time to think about it all and decide where it was we both wanted to be in the future and it was with each other. Marriage to us was the next big leap in our relationship. We had been together for nine years before our wedding and everyone said marriage won’t change a thing it’s just a piece of paper, but you know what? It does change. The changes weren’t huge but things change and it’s nice. It didn’t change the way we feel about each other but I think knowing you are together forever and you always have that one person by your side leaves you feeling content with this overwhelming feeling of happiness. Everytime I think about the wedding day it makes me well up and just feel incredibly happy that I got to do it all with my best friend. I’d do it all again in a heartbeat. It truly was a day we will never forget.

Bride and Groom at Country Wedding

Family at Country Wedding

6. Talk to us about your dress, where is it from? how long did it take to find?

My dress is a beautiful Jane Hill Bridal dress called ‘Lottie’ and it truly is a piece of art! It’s so amazing. The dress was a really important part of the day for me and I wasn’t willing to sacrifice anything for it. Leading up to the wedding I had looked at lots of dresses and even went on a girls weekend away to Sydney to see the bridal stores there. But I didn’t find ‘the one’ (not even in Vera Wang which I was convinced I would!!). So I came back to Melbourne and started doing research in dresses and styles. I knew what I didn’t want and it was then I started looking at the custom made dresses rather than existing ones. Once I visited Jane Hill I knew I had to have one of her dresses. She was amazing and made me feel at ease and could see my vision for my wedding. She understood the style and theme for the day and how I needed a dress to fit that feel theme. She knew how to make me feel like the most amazing bride ever! So I left that day knowing my dress would be made at Jane Hill but not what dress it would be. A few months later I visited the store but Jane wasn’t there. I met with Sophie who made me try on ‘Lottie’. I wasn’t convinced but once it was on I had that ‘this is the one’ moment and it was meant to be. I love my dress and want to find a million other times to wear it again but sadly I haven’t just yet. It’s hanging up where I can look at it whenever I feel like it. It truly is an amazing dress.

Beautiful Country Wedding

7. Any funny stories in the lead up to or on the day?

A friend split his pants on the dancefloor while in a break dancing competition with my little brother. Just picture this; a 40 year old busting some moves and trying to do a backflip versus a 18 year old who could do back flips.

Couple photo at country wedding

It surprised everyone that the two of us jumped on the bus home with them at the end of the night. And me tossing my bouquet to the girls as we arrived at our hotel.

Country Wedding Reception Ideas

Finally, Matt ran into my girlfriends on the morning of the wedding in the main town. He was in a bit of a panic trying to find a wedding card for me. My girlfriends thought Matt had totally forgotten some special wedding tradition.

Country Wedding Instagram

8. Advice for other couples planning a wedding?

Stick to your guns and do what it is that you want to do. The day is about you two as a couple and making sure it highlights the important things to you. Incorporate family and friends and make it fun for everyone but I think at the end of the day you need to be able to look back and be happy about everything you did for your special day. There isn’t a thing we did that we would change and I like that we were happy with the outcome. From the venue to the flowers to the dress to the style; it all just came together. There were some things we wanted to do and didn’t get a chance to but at the end of the day that didn’t matter. We made sure we got what we wanted out of the day and like I said we’d do it again in a heartbeat!

Just Married At Country Wedding

Beautiful country Wedding

VENDOR CREDITS

Photos: Robert Hock

Bridal gown: Jane Hill Bridal

Veil or hair piece: Jane Hill

Shoes: Wittner

Flowers: Blooming Brides

Rings: Hardy Brothers Jewellers and Lord Coconut

Jewellery/Accessories: Earrings - Samantha Wills Bracelet - Isabel Marant

Bridesmaids dresses: Myer and Cue

Grooms and Groomsmen suits: Dom Bagnato from Myer

Grooms Shoes: Urge Footwear

Bow ties / ties: Dom Bagnato from Myer

Flower girl and Page Boys:  Bardot Junior

Ceremony and Reception: Zonzo’s Yarra Valley

Cake: The Cake Company

Cake topper: Flowers from Blooming Brides

Stationery designer: DIY design by bride and groom and printed by Melbourne Laser Cutter (MLC)

Hair and Make up: Hair by Hannah 0402 008 802 and Make-Up by Belinda  0419 518 459

Music: Baker Boys Band

Celebrant: Guy Gurney

Photo Booth: Photobooth.

 

 

 

Fairytale Bridal: Antonia and Emanuel’s Wedding Day

Antonia and Emanuel’s Fairytale Bridal Inspired Wedding

Antonia and Emanuel are both teachers from Queensland. We got to speak to Antonia about their special day. Inspired by Disney, the coupled enjoyed nothing less than a fairytale day. When we chatted to Antonia about the fairytale bridal ideas that inspired the wedding. We discussed the proposal, what they enjoyed most and Antonia’s Disney inspired dress.

Fairytale bridal makeup

  1. Tell us a little about the proposal and the lead up to the wedding?

We were on an overseas trip in Tokyo, Japan and had just gone on a tour to Mt Fuji. It was a miserable day, raining with fog so thick you couldn’t see the mountain. He originally planned to propose there but instead took me to Tokyo Tower that night. We were on the top of the building and you could see the whole city lit up. He pulled me aside and said he had planned a special tour for us and gave me a piece of paper. I opened it up and it was a magic eye puzzle. I stared at it trying to read what it said until it came clear and read “will you marry me?” Of course I said yes!

Fairytale bridal rings

Fairytale bridal invites

  1. What was the inspiration behind your wedding theme / vibe? 

Disney! One of the alternating centerpieces was a glass dome with flowers on the inside inspired by Beauty and the Beast, as was the draping on the cake table and main table. My dress was also snow white inspired from the Alfred Angelo Disney range and we had a Cinderella horse and carriage.

Fairytale bridal celebration

  1. Favourite detail or moment of the day? (Besides becoming husband and wife of course! or Wife and Wife, or Husband and Husband!)

Walking down the aisle to see each other at the front of the church. Also opening the notes from each other in the morning.

Fairytale bridal ceremony

Fairytale bridal photography

  1. Did you undertake any DIY projects, if so what?

Our invitations were the pop up card with the church on the inside form Classic Wedding Invitations. As fun as they were on the inside, the outside needed to reflect our style more. So we took the time to glue lace on the outside and tied a ribbon around them. We also put the wedding favours together using a cork top jar. We tied twine around the top into a bow and tied a brown card onto it that we stamped with “thank you”, our names and the wedding date. Then they were filled with personalised rock candy.

Fairytale bridal invitation

Fairytale bridal favours

  1. Any family or religious traditions incorporated into your day?

In the morning at the grooms house one of the uncle’s played the piano accordion while the family did some Greek dancing prior to getting ready. This was followed by a traditional Greek Orthodox wedding ceremony at St. George Church West End.

Fairytale bridal church ceremony

Fairytale bridal reception

  1. Talk to us about your dress, where is it from? How long did it take to find?

My dress was a Disney inspired Snow White Alfred Angelo gown. I added a large bow to the back of the dress. I picked it on the first day of trying on dresses, it was the first dress I tried on and I knew it was the one.

Fairytale bridal wear

  1. Any funny stories in the lead up to or on the day?

When the boys were getting ready in the morning and put their suits on for the photos one of the groomsmen had the wrong suit on because the arms were too short. No one knew where it was and it was finally found back at the groom’s house. Another moment was when the Priest gives us wine to drink and made my groom skull it three times to the point that he gagged. The Priest had to wipe the sweat from his forehead!

Fairytale bridal princes

Fairytale bridal couple

  1. Advice for other couples planning a wedding?

Don’t worry if you don’t get to see all your guests, if you try to see everyone the night will be over! Also, don’t worry if everything isn’t perfect no one else will notice accept for you.

fairytale bridal decorations

VENDOR CREDITS

Photos: Studio 60 and Buko Productions

Bridal gown: Alfred Angelo

Shoes: Forever New

Flowers: Brisbane Market Flowers

Rings: Kosta Gold and Diamond’s

Bridesmaids dresses: Dream Dresses

Grooms and Groomsmen suits: Dom Bagnato

Grooms Shoes: Myer

Bow ties or ties: Myer

Ceremony: St. George Greek Orthodox Church

Reception: Brisbane City Hall

Cake: Emily Sweet Treats

Reception stylist: Elegant Settings & Styled Events

Stationery designer: Classic Wedding Invitations

Hair and Make up: George Salon & NC Makeup Artistry

Music: DJ Nicky Zee

Transport: Cinderella Carriage Hire

Cinematographer: Sipka

Beach Wedding: The Bahamas

Julia shares her beach wedding advice!

Julia and Mr. K enjoyed their perfect beach wedding in the Bahamas. A lot of the decisions they made leading up to the day meant that it was an intimate and personalised ceremony. Julia chatted to us about her best tips for your wedding day and things she would have done differently if she had the chance.

Beach Wedding 14

1. What you do for work?

Mr. K is a software developer and I am his marketing/creative director/professional wife/travel planner/travel blogger, and a designer at heart.

Beach Wedding 19

2. Tell us a little about the proposal and the lead up to the wedding?

The proposal itself was a complete surprise to me because it was St. Valentine’s weekend and we both thought it would be corny if we got engaged on that date. When I found out he was taking me to Paris, THAT was a surprise in itself. I was so thankful, jetlagged, and shocked that I forgot to suspect anything. He ended up proposing on February 12th, in a French café during a rainy evening.

Beach Wedding 15

3. What was the inspiration behind your wedding theme? 

Mr. K was the one who wanted a beach ceremony somewhere hot. Since Hawaii was too far for almost everyone, we picked Bahamas since it sounded so nice. I wanted to keep it simple and budget friendly. The only “splurge” I was ready for was a photographer. Even that was a subject of vigorous search.

Beach Wedding 12

4. Favorite detail and moment of the day (besides becoming husband and wife of course!)

There were three moments that I still remember and smile:

First was when I cried when I was saying my vows. I thought people are overly dramatic when they cried. It just poured out of me to my own surprise. Turns out there is something sacredly special in accepting the person standing in front of you for the rest of your (my) life.

Beach Wedding 5

Second was the almost toothless local personality who was marrying us. He was cracking up jokes and had a very warm charm about him. He made our parents join their hands together in unity, which was very sweet.

Beach Wedding 6

The third was the moment when Mr. K lost his ring in the ocean when I was trashing the dress. I found it in the sand sparkling moments later, right after he said: “Oh shit, the ring just came off”. Turns out it was a bit big for him and water mixed with weight made it slip.

Beach Wedding 1

5. Did you undertake any DIY projects, if so what?

I had a giant flower on a clip in my hair that I made from a fake flower from Michael’s craft store. I could not find any decent flower to put into my hair so I had to make it myself. Makeup, manicure, and hair was done either by myself or with the help of my sister and mother.

Beach Wedding 4

6. Any family or religious traditions incorporated into your day?

I come from a Russian-Jewish background so for me it was a must to dance our family dance “Hava Nagila”. It was a lot of fun because we have our own spin on it.

Beach Wedding 2

7. What does marriage mean to you?

I got married to Mr. K because I was ready to commit to him and spend my life supporting him and being with him. It was my official way of saying: “I am yours forever”. Loving someone doesn’t mean you have to marry them. Marriage, for me, is a life story of family that I am trying to build. We are no longer two individuals in love, we have a common goal, we become a unit as of that moment.

Beach Wedding 7

8. Talk to us about your dress, where is it from? How long did it take to find?

I found and bought my wedding dress in under three hours. I bought it on special from BCBG. It had to have some alterations done because the skirt was see-through. Since I was doing “trash the dress” in the ocean, there was no point in spending lots of money on it. At the same time, I wanted it to look nice for pictures.

Beach Wedding 18

Beach Wedding 3

9. Any funny stories in the lead up to or on the day?

There was a rumour that I was pregnant because I had to add straps for my chest. Truth be told, I just didn’t want the dress to slip down when it is wet and heavy and for anything to pop out while active in the water. I also had to redo my manicure three times because it kept being badly done.

Beach Wedding 17

Beach Wedding 16

10. Advice for other couples planning a wedding?

Do whatever makes YOU happy. You do not have to spend a huge amount to be happy or impress anyone. Chances are everyone will forget about being impressed anyway.

If I had to do it again I would not do it in Bahamas and instead would go to Mexico or Cuba: the same ocean, better beaches, and better service, less expensive.

Research your photographer well, very well.

If you have more than 10 people at the wedding, it might be nice to invest into an entertainment program.

No “cupcake” dresses for beach weddings, keep it very light and simple, you may actually drown from the dress getting wet and heavy!

Ask your family to put down their cameras or not take them to the ceremony at all. The photographer is there for a reason. 

Beach Wedding 13

Beach Wedding 8

VENDOR CREDITS 

Photography: Mario Nixon Photography 

Bridal gown: BCBG MAXAZRIA Montreal store

Veil / hair piece: I made it myself from but bought supplies from Michael’s craft store. 

Shoes: Michael Kors Toronto store

Flowers: local florist provided by the hotel

Rings: Engagement and ceremony rings were bought from White Flash. 

Jewellery/Accessories: My mother in law earrings and my grandmother’s pearl pendant.

Bridesmaids dresses: dressy casual attire

Grooms suit: a gift from his dad, no name brand

Grooms Shoes: Kenneth Cole

Groomsmen suits: casual attire, no ties or bow ties.

Ceremony, reception, catering and cake all provided by the hotel Riu Palace Paradise Island Hotel 

Cake topper: Michael’s Craft Store

Reception stylist / any decorations / details: all provided by the hotel

Hair and make up: my mom and myself

Music: every single song was provided by me to the DJ.

Celebrant: none

Transport: none

Cinematographer: none








Personalised Wedding Signs for the Mr and Mrs!

Personalised Wedding Signs for the Mr and Mrs!

Looking for customised wedding signs but not sure where to find them? You’ve come to the right place!

At CWI, we work with our other business Melbourne Laser Cutter to create a personalised wedding signs for couples who want to add a unique to their wedding! A Mr and Mrs sign with a surname will make a great addition to your wedding décor and a fantastic feature on the bridal table. Not only that, the wedding signs make a great keep sake for years to come! You can even paint the sign to suit whatever theme or colour you were after!

 

wedding signs

 

Here is a little project we did for a client’s sister who was celebrating her wedding day! We laser cut this personalised Mr and Mrs sign and the client then spray painted the ply to suit the wedding theme. What an awesome DIY idea!

wedding signs

Wedding Invitation Ideas - Laser Cut Eiffel Tower & Snow White

Wedding Invitation Ideas - Laser Cut Eiffel Tower & Snow White

Here is some wedding invitation ideas for the day that will hopefully inspire and give you ideas! If you are having a themed wedding or a destination wedding in the city of love, then why not create the perfect invitations to entice your guests in the lead up to your special day!

If you have a creative side to you that loves distinctive and unique items, then check out one of out favourite invitations.Here at Classic Wedding Invitations we create endless invitations that are customised to suit you and whatever theme or concept you were after.

We recently laser cut these Snow White and Eiffel Tower invitations for our client, Chao, who then went on to assemble them himself. These invites are a a clear eye catcher that would have surely enticed his guests for the bid day!
Wedding Invitation Ideas

 

Wedding Invitation Ideas

snow white invitations

Wedding Invitation IdeasTo enquire or customise your own invites, click here or call us on 03 9939 4796 and turn your ideas into reality!

Get Inspired - Wedding Proposal Insight!

Wedding Proposal Insight!

Todays wedding proposal insight comes from Dan, a soon-to-be groom who decided to take the next step in his relationship and propose to his beautiful partner of 5 years, Kahlia!

1. When did you decide Kahlia was the one? I can’t remember the exact date but probably a few years ago, I was just waiting for the right time.

2. Did you have a few different ideas for the proposal (if so what were they) or did you know straight away?
When I knew we would be in Hawaii with all of our friends I made the decision that it would be the best time to do it. Then it was just about researching different locations and I eventually found the right spot, which was Diamond Head.

wedding proposal

3. What was involved in preparing for the proposal, or was it spontaneous? Did you have any friends assist you or other members of the community? After I found the right spot I just had to make sure everyone was there at the same time. I did tell one of my friends what was going to happen so he could film it.

4. What did it feel like when you popped the question? I was pretty nervous but it definitely felt right.

wedding proposal

5.How did you hide the ring from her, did she almost find it? I had to smuggle the ring from Australia to the U.S. But I was more concerned with customs pulling it out in front of her. I had a back up plan that if that did happen, I would just drop to one knee at airport security.

6.Was Kahlia at all suspicious that it was coming? No, she said she had no idea.

7.Do you have any photos of the actual proposal? Yes, we were lucky enough to get it on video.

8.How did you choose the ring? Did she give you any clues before at all? Where did you get it from? Kahlia showed me a picture of a ring she liked a few years ago, so I just remembered what it looked like. I then sourced a vintage ring from the 1920’s that was really similar. I had it sent over from San Francisco. The store was called Lang Antiques.

The Wedding Arcade - Wedding Expo Brisbane

The Wedding Arcade - Wedding Expo Brisbane

Looking to visit a wedding expo Brisbane based?? Don’t miss The Wedding Arcade Wedding Fair on Feburary 22, 2015.

Organised by Main Event Weddings, The Arcade is a wedding event for the fun Bride and Groom! This year’s Wedding Arcade is a nod to all things bright and beautiful.  Vivid, playful colours that burst at the seams with happy florals contrasting against weathered warehouse walls.  Featuring pops of summer festival styling and an array of entertaining programmed events, this Arcade is going to be a show stopper!

Come along to meet the team of Brisbane’s leading industry suppliers, where you will be greeted by our creative, quirky & utterly unique arcadians. It’s an even bigger Arcade this year, with a little more of every genre to really capture your style. Be it stylist or cake artisan, florist or photographer, bridal designer or themist, transportation or stationer, hair & makeup stylist or venue - we have all of your wedding planning needs covered at The Wedding Arcade this Summer.

At only $20, this event is one not to be missed! Grab your tickets NOW!

Wedding Expo Brisbane

wedding arcade bride3

Wedding Expo Brisbane

wedding arcade dress

wedding arcade styling

Wedding Expo Brisbane

The Wedding Arcade

February 22, 2021

F A C T O R Y   O N E

Boundary Street Markets

Corner of Boundary and Mollison Street

West End  QLD  4101

Photo Credits: 

Photography: Jarred Eid - Fine Art Photojournalism 
Model: Charlotte Swanson
Dress: When Freddie met Lilly
Chairs & Glassware: Styled Events
Florals & Styling: The Main Event Weddings

Wooden Wedding Signs

Order your custom wedding signs made by laser cutting!

We recently had the pleasure of working with client and groom Daniel to create this custom wooden outdoor wedding sign board. The board was designed by Daniel. The elegant sign was made using natural bamboo and featured engraving of the text. The board was was placed upon entry to give guests a special welcome to the wedding of Lorena and Daniel, held on 22 November 2014.

Through laser cutting, we can create personalised, unique wedding stationery which will be a sure hit and create a lasting impression among your wedding guests. These wooden signs will make sure your wedding stands out and serve as a lasting memory and souvenir from your big day. Contact us today to begin your order for wedding signs.

Design your custom wedding signs

Order custom made wedding signsWe undertake laser cutting of wooden boards for various other occasions, including corporate functions. You can now order wooden signage for your next corporate event to give it a modern and unique look and feel. Besides signage, we have undertaken laser cutting of wood to create jewellery, chairs and intricate lamps. Additionally, we undertake laser cutting for fabric, paper, acrylic, veneers, various cardboards, plywood and other non-metals.




© 2016 Classic Wedding Invitations
ABN: 21 167 491 250
Made in Melbourne - Australia