WHEN AND HOW WE MET

We were set up on a blind date thanks to the sneaky matchmaking skills of Kyha Simpson, Founder of KYHA. Just over 5 years ago Kyha told me about this lovely guy who she thought would be my perfect match. Little did I know, she had already passed on my number and before I knew it I was on my way to have a drink with a guy I knew little about.

For a number of reasons, the first date didnt quite go to plan. However there was no denying the strong spark between us. We spent a lot of time together, from dinner dates to dance floors until 4 months later, just as I had planned, I relocated to New York City indefinitely.

We promised to stay in touch and we most certainly did, exchanging thousands of text messages and phone calls, and Justin even managed to fly over to visit me at Christmas time.

After 10 months of living overseas the long distance got all too much and I decided to return home. I moved straight into Justins apartment where we still live today, and as they say the rest is history.

OUR WEDDING LOCATION

Between Justin and I, we have been to our fair share of weddings, so when it came to ours we wanted to choose somewhere our friends hadnt been to before. It was on a wedding blog that I stumbled across Panama Dining Room, and knew instantly this was our venue. It had so much character with those stunning windows, and the team there were very cooperative when it came to bringing our ideas to life.

With the reception locked in at Panama Dining Room we opted for a change of scenery to the Fitzroy Gardens for the ceremony. Fortunately, the day was a stunning 28 degrees, which proved to be the perfect setting for us to tie the knot in front of our family and best friends.

THE DRESS

Long before even getting engaged I always knew I wanted Kyha to make my gown, not just because she was one of my besties, but I genuinely love KYHAs style and gowns.

I was guided by Kyha during the entire process, from designing the silhouette to selecting the lace, and I found the whole experience fun and seamless. I wanted a dress that was classic with a modern twist, and I didnt want it to be the same as every other bride. In the end I was so happy with my dress, Kyha and the girls absolutely exceeded my expectations, and I felt like a princess for the day.

YOUR WEDDING PARTY

Matching blush coloured dresses from Dion Lee. My girls looked so stunning!

Justin and his two groomsmen looked handsome wearing navy tailor made suits from Joe Black.

WHAT WAS YOUR NON NEGOTIABLE FOR THE DAY?

There were a couple of non-negotiables for the day; such as splurging on a great photographer, good food & wine, and a 1am finishing time. However, the main one being was good music! It can make or break the vibe of your day, so it was really important that we nailed this part of the celebrations.

We had an acoustic guitarist and singer in the Gardens, and again as guests arrived at Panama Dining Room. Post dinner we kicked off the dance floor with a live sax player, followed by a couple of DJs including our friend John Course who played some old school house tunes.

HENS DAY

I absolutely loved my Hens Day! The day started off with all my girlfriends arriving at my place for a champagne breakfast. From there a bus picked us up and took us to Trofeo Estate Winery on the Mornington Peninsula for a boozy long lunch. The festivities continued at The Penthouse suite at the Cullen Hotel in Prahran where my bridesmaids had arranged to be set up with canaps, and lots of champagne and cocktails. In the evening we moved across the road to the rooftop at the Emerson where we danced the night away. My bridesmaids did such a good job, I was one very happy Bridezilla!

YOUR ADVICE FOR FUTURE BRIDES:

Whilst planning your special day, dont forget to remind yourself why you are getting married in the first place. You can quite easily get caught up in the finer details of the wedding, or sweat over the small stuff.

I would also try and have a last date with your fianc two days out from your wedding, to stop and pat yourselves on the back and celebrate that all the months of planning were finally coming to fruition.

Lastly, like most other brides would agree, make sure you grab your hubby on the night of the wedding and duck outside for 5 minutes to just soak it all up. It really is the best day of your lives!

THE DETAILS

CEREMONY The Bandstand in Fitzroy GardensRECEPTION The Panama Dining RoomCELEBRANTKoren HarveyPHOTOGRAPHERErin& TaraVIDEORyan AdamsMAKE UP Danielle GardinerHAIRDiane RobertsonFlowers Marina ElliottCeremony Furniture HirePlace SettingsCakeNiko CakesInstagram Printer Social PlaygroundWedding Day Set Up & Co-ordination Wedding Day PA