NAME

Melanie Kas

WEDDING DATE

20.09.20

NUMBER OF GUESTS

100

LOCATION

Private Property in Brunswick Heads, just north of Byron Bay.

YOUR LOVE STORY

Over a decade ago, Ollie and I moved into the same residential college while studying at the University of New South Wales. What started as a (short but sweet) friendship quickly turned into many drunken smooches, before our first date at a cheap Thai restaurant. This date ended with a bottle of Jagermeister in questionable park in Sydney, before Ollie took me by surprise and told me he loved me. From that day on, weve never looked back!

FINDING YOUR DRESS

After many bridal boutiques, glasses of champagne and happy tears with my mum, sister and best friend, I eventually found the one.

I didnt have anything in particular in mind, so had tried a variety of different shapes and styles, slowly but surely realising that I felt best in a simple, minimal style dress. With this in mind, I started researching and came across the Lennox Gown by Chosen by KYHA. I knew that this dress was the one - before even trying it on.

The closest stockist to me were the lovely ladies at Sphere Bridal in the Sunshine Coast, who made the whole experience so enjoyable. I said yes on the spot and had to trust my gut instinct as no one could join me at the fitting in QLD.

THE LOCATION

We knew we wanted to get married in Ollies hometown Byron Bay, and ended up holding the wedding at Ollies family property in Brunswick Heads.

While there are so many amazing wedding venues in Byron, the family property had such sentimental value, and with some work, we knew it would transform into the most beautiful location for both the ceremony and reception.

The whole family worked tirelessly to ensure that the space was perfect for the wedding. When clearing some of the built up shrubbery we found what turned out to be the most glorious fig tree covered in vines. After months of hard work, the property was looking as good as some of the top wedding venues in Byron!

THE INSPIRATION AND AESTHETIC FOR THE DAY

We let nature be the main highlight of the day and kept styling minimal, opting for neutral tones and white furniture.

The fig tree covered in vines served as the perfect backdrop for our ceremony, just hiring a few large white vases that we placed around the base of the tree. We also hired a clear marquee from Mullum Hire, which we placed in the middle of the property - even leaving a tree, full of fairy lights and festoons as a feature inside the marquee.

Our furniture and styling items were hired from the Wedding Shed. Luckily, the weather was perfect, so we had fire pits, games and seating outside under the stars, and indoor dining tables and chairs inside the marquee.

THE FLOWERS AND STYLING NOTES

We opted to create our own bouquets, using babys breath and olive leaf branch from Beautiflora. The floral arrangements were reflective of our minimal and simple styling.

We also had lots of little glass vases on the tables which were filled with babys breath and flowers picked from the garden on the day of the wedding. Olive leaf branches were laid across the tables, along with pillar candles and table numbers from The Wedding Shed.

THE HIGHLIGHT

It was all amazing, and such a wonderful blur. My biggest highlight would have to be walking down the aisle, with dad by my side, our closest family and friends, and the love of my life waiting there for me.

It was the moment where all the build up and anticipation came to a realisation. Ill never forget it!

HONEYMOONING

We were hoping to do an overseas trip of some kind, however COVID had other plans! We have decided to hold-off on a proper honeymoon, and do a little trip up the coast in the meantime.

A WORD OF ADVICE

We planned the entire wedding on our own, which was so rewarding and beautiful. With COVID aside, it certainly still came with its challenges!

I would recommend having an on-the-day co-ordinator so that you can just switch off on the day, be told what to do and enjoy yourself, instead of working up a sweat trying to organise everything until the moment you walk down the aisle - like I did!

Dress: The Lennox Gown, Chosen by KYHA.

Shoes: Tony Bianco

Jewellery: Kirstin Ash

Hair + Makeup: Byron Hair, did own makeup

Bridesmaids Dresses: Bec & Bridge, Shona Joy and Sheike.

Wedding Planner: Me

Location: Brunswick Heads

Venue: Private Property

Florist: Beautiflora, Byron Bay

Photographer: Matt, The Loved Ones

Videographer: Mos & Co

Celebrant: Close friends

Caterer: Peppe Pizza Byron Bay

Cake: Close family friends

Stationary: Me

Other special mentions: Our beautiful friends and family who all so generously contributed to our special day in so many ways, having a DIY wedding in the midst of COVID certainly had its challenges and none of it would have come together the way it did without their help and contribution!