I’m so excited to finally share our wedding photos and some insight into what it was like planning our wedding. I hope that sharing our story will be helpful as you plan your own special day.
Please set aside 25 minutes to dive into this article.
THE VENUE: A family home in Caulfield, Melbourne
When we were thinking about venues, a family home wasn’t our first choice. We wanted somewhere meaningful yet accessible for everyone. Most places we liked were in regional Victoria, and the local ones didn’t quite fit the bill.
When our family offered their beautiful home, we couldn’t say no. Little did we know the sea of decisions that awaited us.
Planning our wedding was a rollercoaster of emotions. There were highs like the excitement of getting engaged, envisioning all the beautiful details we wanted to fill our day with, and imagining our loved ones celebrating with us. But there were lows too, like trying to stick to our budget and feeling overwhelmed by the endless choices.
Looking back now, sitting in our cozy living room and reminiscing about our big day, I wouldn’t change a thing — well, maybe just add a few more flowers for the ceremony.
PLANNING
From the beginning, we’ve always been involved in the planning process as opposed to hiring a professional planner and stylist. We dedicated a few hours each weekend to research and plan, however we knew we needed help in last few months before our wedding. And so we had enlisted the help of Event Den, a superstar wedding planner & stylist, to bring together all our styling elements and manage our day.
Leveraging Mark’s strong organisational skills, we started our planning journey with a straightforward Excel spreadsheet to track our budget and maintain our progress. Initially, it only had a few tabs for expenses such as vendors, catering, and, of course, flowers. However, as our list of tasks grew and our decisions became more complex, this spreadsheet became indispensable and eventually had more than 15 tabs! The spreadsheet enabled us to accurately monitor costs, compare quotes, and effectively prioritise where to allocate our funds.
On the other hand, myself having a creative background presents both advantages and challenges, as my mind is always buzzing with creative ideas. To harness and structure these ideas, I created a mood board filled with inspirations and elements that resonate with me deeply. From the outset, I considered aspects such as the season of our wedding, our laid-back personalities, and the characteristics of the venue space, aiming to create a sophisticated yet understated minimalist feel.
EXPECTATION VS. REALITY
Although we dreamt of having a bagpiper or violinist, personalised cocktails, letterpress stationery and a lavish ceremony backdrop, we had to make budget-conscious decisions. Therefore, we set clear boundaries and prioritised what mattered most to us. Our vision was simple: we wanted our day to feel authentically ‘us’ and for our guests to experience a garden party rather than a conventional wedding. We aimed for great food, abundant drinks, and lively music — a hallmark recipe for a memorable event.
WEAVING OUR STORIES
It’s easy to get caught up in trends, especially when they’re so prevalent in wedding inspiration. However, trends are fleeting and may not genuinely reflect who we are. I find inspiration in many aspects of life, always captivated by beautiful details. The evolving garden, our travels, and the different cultures we’ve encountered are frequent sources of inspiration.
Weddings provide a wonderful opportunity to express our identities. Being away from our home country, we wanted to incorporate elements of our heritage into our wedding day. Mark honoured his heritage by wearing a kilt, and for my second look, I wore a modern interpretation of the Filipiniana, paired with a high-waisted skirt. As a nod to Scottish tradition, we concluded our ceremony with a Quaich toast, symbolising our marriage bond and the union of our families. For our favours, we gave our guests handheld fans made in the Philippines.
OUTFITS
Mark opted to wear his Scottish kilt from McGregor Duff, a cherished outfit he has owned for years. For my attire, I sought a bespoke gown instead of navigating through numerous dresses in bridal shops. I turned to Mia from Mia Ateliers to create something truly special and unique, including a bespoke reception look. Inspired by the timeless silhouettes of Vivienne Westwood, Mia created a gown that perfectly captured the elegance and individuality I envisioned.
I paired my off-shoulder look with a gold floral necklace my mom gifted me complemented by a hand-made veil by Eleanor Fleur Bridal.
For the reception, Mia designed a second look that was equally stunning but allowed for more freedom and comfort as the evening progressed. This ensemble was a perfect balance between sophistication and practicality, allowing me to enjoy the festivities while still feeling every bit as elegant as in my ceremony gown. Continuing on the classic look, I decided to pair my outfit with pearl earrings and necklace from Ani Jewellers, a family run business who are a delight to work with and we couldn’t recommend them highly enough.
Our entourage made an impression by wearing attire that beautifully blended the cultural richness of their traditions with contemporary interpretations.
STYLING & FLOWERS
With my love for gardening and deep appreciation for nature, it felt only natural to style our wedding with seasonal flowers. I’ve always been drawn to whimsical, cottage-style blooms, so choosing David Austin roses in abundance was a perfect fit — they’re timeless and elegant. Rather than meticulously planning every floral detail months in advance, I decided to let the season’s offerings guide our choices. Queen Anne’s Lace added a whimsical touch to the aisle, while Larkspur and Delphinium brought beautiful height to our arrangements. For the table centrepieces, Stef and Kara’s specialty flowers — including garden roses, phlox, verbascum, and foxgloves — created a charming garden feel.
For my bridesmaids, I wanted their dresses to be the highlight, so I opted for simple, minimal bouquets that provided just a hint of floral accent. As for the buttonholes, I chose thistles to honour Scotland’s national flower, adding a meaningful and personal touch to the day.
When it came to our tableware and glasses, we wanted pieces that were both timeless and practical. Social Event Hire had exactly what we needed. Their beautiful and functional selection of high-quality items perfectly complemented our understated style.
INVITATIONS, STATIONERY AND ON THE DAY SIGNAGE
We opted out of traditional paper invitations and chose to create a modern wedding website through Minted instead. Our choice proved practical, especially with guests coming from overseas; the website allowed us to easily share updates and send out emails in one go. We used a local printing company to print all our on the day signage while Azure Paper made our seating chart.
FOOD & DRINKS
Originally, we had hired a single company to handle all our catering, but they pulled out six months before the wedding, which threw a bit of a wrench in our plans. Since we envisioned a casual buffet-style dining experience, we decided to turn to several local small businesses instead. This decision was actually quite easy, as we already loved their food and thought they’d be perfect for our day. Danish Nosh provided delightful canapés for the cocktail hour and delectable desserts, Tofulicious took care of the seasonal vegetable dishes, and Souva Man served up the charcoal spit roast meats.
For the drinks, we relied on good old Dan Murphy’s. After a quick search on how much alcohol is typically consumed per person, we worked out what we’d need. We spread the cost over the year, buying in bulk during sale periods. With 80 guests (including 10-20 regular drinkers), we spent nearly $1,200 on alcohol and soft drinks, and it was plentiful.
PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEOGRAPHY
We discovered Georgie Zoe on Instagram and were immediately drawn to her documentary style. We prefer capturing candid moments over posed photos, letting the day unfold naturally. Georgie’s approach perfectly aligned with our vision. Micky from Bellatrix Films brought a similar ethos to our videography. His ability to capture genuine emotions and spontaneous interactions meant our wedding film felt authentic and personal. We wanted our photos and videos to reflect the real atmosphere of the day, not just the highlights but the quiet, intimate moments too. Both Georgie and Micky went above and beyond preserving these memories in a beautifully organic way.
MARQUEE & FURNITURE HIRE
Our experience with Celebrate Event Hire, another family-owned business in Moorabbin, was nothing short of fantastic. Our wedding was on a Saturday, and they efficiently set up the marquee on Thursday, including all the tables, chairs, linen, dance floor, and festoon lights. Once the marquee was up, we began the hands-on task of transforming the space into our dream soiree. Our family members were amazing, pitching in wherever needed. They spent hours ironing the linen until it was free from creases, setting out the tableware and preparing the food and bar area ready for the staff to come in on the day.
ONE UNIQUE MOMENT OF OUR DAY
Preferring to keep a low profile, we opted out of a traditional formal introduction as we entered the reception. Instead, after the cocktail hour, our MC organised a spirited game for the kids called “Bring Me.” The laughter of our guests filled the air as we waited outside the marquee, creating an exhilarating atmosphere. The highlight was when the MC asked the children to “bring me the bride and groom,” making our entrance a joyful and delightful moment.
Reflecting on our wedding, it’s clear that while we had to make some budget-conscious decisions, each choice we made brought us closer to a day that felt truly ours. We learned that prioritising what mattered most to us — authentic experiences and meaningful details — created a celebration that genuinely reflected our personalities and love story.
Throughout the process, we found that embracing flexibility and focusing on what felt authentic allowed us to navigate challenges and still create a day that was joyous and memorable. Our wedding wasn’t just an event; it was a heartfelt celebration of our journey together, surrounded by the people we love.
In the end, it’s the love, laughter, and shared moments with our guests that stand out most. Every detail came together to create a day that was uniquely ‘us,’ and that’s something we’ll cherish forever.
Our wedding day was absolutely incredible. With our loved ones all around us, it couldn’t have been any better! Thank you to everyone who made our day as good as it could be.
And to make these images tangible, I made a beautifully curated photo album printed by Vision Art using Lei’s Editorial Album Template. Each page carefully designed to preserve not just moments, but emotions — a collection where every turn reveals another chapter of our journey together. Simply stunning!
OUR FANTASTIC WEDDING VENDORS
Coordinator: Event Den
Photographer: Georgie Zoe
Videographer: Micky Caparelli of Bellatrix Weddings
Celebrant: Alana Salisbury of Alana with Love
Hair and Makeup: Vee of By Lover Makeup
Florals and Styling: Estúdyo with the help of my amazing florist friends Ari and Winnie
Entertainment: Josh and Rowie of Sperring Entertainment
Staff: Party Help Group Melbourne
Getting ready dress: Hazel and Folk
Bespoke Gown: Made by Mia of Mia Ateliers
Veil: Made by Francine of Eleanor Fleur Bridal
Reception Outfit: Top made by Mia of Mia Ateliers and skirt from Aje
Kilt outfit including sporan: Macgregor and Macduff
Engagement ring and wedding bands: Gary of Ani Jewellers
Pearl set: Ani Jewellers
Gold stud earrings: Meijuri
Family Heirloom: Gold necklace from Bride’s Mom and Pocketwatch from Groom’s Great Great Grandfather
Shoes: Wittner Shoes
Marquee, table, chairs, chafing dishes, flooring: Celebrate Party Hire
Plates, cutlery, champagne coupes, glassware: Social Event Hire
Plinths and Easel: The Small Things Co
Napkins: Event Den
Catering: Danish Nosh, Tofulicious and Souva Man
Alcohol: Dan Murphys
Personalised Bottle openers: Etsy
Handfan, rattan bags and embroidered fans: Made to order from Philippines (A&E Bicol Products)
Stationery: Azure Paper
Fin x
If you find this article useful, I’d love to hear from you! Feel free to share it with friends who might also benefit from our wedding planning journey.
