Sharmaine & David’s Luminare Wedding
What does marriage mean to you?
When I asked David and Sharmaine what marriage meant to them, they recited a quote that struck a real chord with them. It read, “love is a friendship set on fire – a combination of everyday life and magic bundled into one. Love has the unique ability to transform the webs and pillars of everyday life into silk and gold. It is more than a feeling or emotion, concept or theory; it is a being.”
After all the traditional Chinese customs in the morning, I was waiting with David on the rooftop deck at Luminare, when admitted that he was very much looking forward to seeing Sharmaine make her way down the aisle. I’m pretty certain that she most definitely exceeded his expectations as she stepped into the sunshine, absolutely exquisite in Anna Campbell.
First Meeting
David and Sharmaine first met at University about 8 years ago. David recalled his first impressions of Sharmaine as being that she was very small, but very pretty! Sharmaine admitted that she loves the fact that David is tall enough to reach all the things that she can’t!
True love
All jokes aside, David & Sharmaine also share an incredible connection and found themselves wanting to share all the important moments in their lives quite early in their relationship, eventually leading to David’s amazing mid-air proposal.
Sharmaine said that she loves how well she & David understand one another and that he is so open minded, with the endearing quality of being both patient and impatient all at the same time.
David said that Sharmaine is caring and compassionate and absolutely beautiful, inside and out. He also loves that she supports him 100% in any decision he makes, always offering encouragement in any endeavour he decides to embark on.
Wedding Symbolism
Incorporating a hand fasting ritual to provide a visual representation of their commitment, Sharmaine & David’s hands were bound with silver & white ribbons to represent purity, peace, creativity & inspiration, before they shared their first kiss as husband & wife to the absolute joy of all their family & friends.
Photo credit
These exquisite images by Jonathan Ong captured every ounce of this couples’ outer AND inner beauty and the absolute pure love they both radiated & elicited. What an absolute pleasure it was to declare them husband & wife! xx
Sharmaine & David | 27.12.2014
Celebrant: Meriki Comito
Ceremony & Reception Location: Luminare
Styling & Florals: Tori Allen Events
Bridal Gown: Anna Campbell
Photography: Jonathan Ong
Videography: The White Tree
Ceremony Music: The White Tree
Sarah & Tysons’s Private Estate Rustic Wedding
Amy Deluca & her team at Blakes Feast catering, together with the styling brilliance of Georgie Campbell & The Marquee People created the most amazing space on Tyson’s family property for the celebration of their amazing private estate rustic wedding.
The Meeting
Sarah & Tyson met whilst they were working as extras on a Bollywood movie set and clicked immediately, but spent their first few dates as self-appointed wing men when Sarah’s sister & Tyson’s brother developed an interest in one another. A fabulous friendship soon developed into something more serious, with Tyson & Sarah deciding to take the next step into becoming an official couple after a highly entertaining Super Mario Cart challenge!
The Vows
After his impressive Canadian Rocky Mountains proposal, Tyson stood before Sarah on their wedding day and declared “As soon as we met I knew it was something I had never felt before, as if I had known you my entire life”, after Sarah, composed and absolutely exquisite in a Jane Hill gown, named Tyson as “the most generous, loving and captivating person I know”.
Wonderful readings from Tyson & Sarah’s sister’s provided a warmth and joy that only comes from loving members of the family, before the newlyweds shared their first kiss as husband & wife to whoops & cheers from their thrilled family & friends.
The Photographer
I hope these amazing images by dynamic duo superstars Melissa & Jerry Ghionis give you a little bit of an insight as to how incredibly beautiful this celebration was!
Sarah & Tyson | 17.01.2015
Celebrant: Meriki Comito
Ceremony & Reception Location: Tyson’s Family Property
Photography: Melissa & Jerry Ghionis
Bridal Gown: Jane Hill
Men’s Suits: Yd
Bridesmaid Dresses: Review
Catering: Blakes Feast
Florals: Georgie Campbell
Marquee: The Marquee People
Tran and Damon’s Grand Hyatt Melbourne Wedding
The Event
Tran + Damon decided that a Grand Hyatt Melbourne wedding would be the perfect way to celebrate their love.
They initially connected online, quite randomly one lazy Sunday afternoon, and within two days, they were having their first meeting over dinner.
Tran loved Damon’s patient & calm manner, and Damon loved Tran’s energy & confidence, so not long after, Tran very considerately helped Damon pick out her engagement ring, and on the 29th March they married in spectacular style at The Grand Hyatt Hotel in a Vietnamese/Australian fusion ceremony.
The Ceremony Details
Tran & Damon provided their guests with an Order of Service titled “So You’re Going To Sit Through A Wedding – A practical guide to not falling asleep and figuring out just what exactly is going on”.
It included interesting facts & past world events pertaining to their wedding date, a Sudoku challenge, the story behind the Tea Ceremony, all the details involving the wedding planning (ie. Dresses tried on = 2 & messages to bridesmaid = 900+) and of course, the names & titles of everyone involved in the wedding day!
In keeping with an ancient Vietnamese custom, Tran and Damon chose to incorporate a traditional Tea Ceremony into their celebration, to serve as a formal introduction into each other’s families. This ceremony is usually performed at home before the wedding takes place – sometimes with a cast of thousands! – but as Tran & Damon planned to include only their parents, it was truly special to witness it as part of official proceedings, as it allowed all their guests (and me!) to experience it too. So beautiful.
The Vows
Tran promised “to live by and protect what we build together”, before Damon vowed “to love you in good times and in bad, with all I have to give and all that I am, in the only way I know how – completely and forever.”
The Photography
These gorgeous photos by the super talented Alli Oughtred have captured all the love & joy of their day perfectly x
These gorgeous shots were taken in ACDC lane in Melbourne’s CBD
Tran & Damon | 29.03.2015
Celebrant: Meriki Comito
Ceremony & Reception Location: The Grand Hyatt Melbourne
Photography: Alli Oughtred Weddings
Florals: Balwyn Events
DJ/MC: Bruce Harrison
Jacqui & Corey’s Sorrento Beach Wedding
The Event
Jacqui + Corey decided on a beautiful Sorrento Beach Wedding to declare there eternal love to one another.
Initailly introduced during a night out with mutual friends, Jacqui + Corey shared some fun banter, before Corey thought he’d impress Jacqui with his awesome dance moves.
Jacqui was immediately drawn to Corey’s sense of fun & amazing blue eyes, and the pair ended the evening enjoying their first unofficial date together, when they went across the road for fish & chips 😉
Deciding that he needed to see her again the very next day, to ensure that she was as gorgeous as he remembered, Corey stalked Jacqui at work and was very pleased to find that she was indeed just as beautiful in the light of day! So double dates with a couple of friends ensued and two months later, they were officially a couple.
Jacqui loved how easy going Corey was, that he was so much fun to be around and that his protective nature made her feel so incredibly special, and Corey was completely enchanted by Jacqui’s bubbly personality and killer smile.
The Ceremony Details
Jacqui was escorted down the aisle by her father, to Norah Jones’s “Come away with me” nine years later.
On the sun drenched Sorrento beach overlooking the vivid blue Port Phillip Bay, Corey was completely lost for words as Jacqui’s father lifted his daughter’s veil revealing the spectacular smile that Corey had come to know and love so well, before Jacqui held his hand and joyfully prepared to marry her best friend.
A sand ceremony that included sand from the very spot where Corey & Jacqui stood on the day,
served as a reminder of the beautiful location within which they became husband & wife, and
was completed with the blending of Blue & Yellow sand, added by Corey & Jacqui’s mums, to
symbolise the glorious sun and ocean.
The Vows
Jacqui promised that she would always hold Corey’s hand and told him “I love you, even more than
chocolate”, before Corey declared “You make my heart smile, and are my closest friend”.
The Photography
These gorgeous images by Robyn Swallow Photography say it all xx
Jacqui & Corey | 02.04.2015
Celebrant: Meriki Comito
Ceremony & Reception Location: The Baths
Photography: Robyn Swallow Photography
Bridal Gown: Raffaele Ciuca Armadale
Men’s Suits: Yd
Bridesmaid Dresses: Review
Flowergirl dress made by the talented Maid of Honour!
Ceremony Styling: Circle of Love Weddings
Florals: Hello Blossums
Cake: Nikos Oakleigh Quality Cakes
Seryn & Stuart’s Emu Bottom Homestead Wedding
After a hilarious proposal with a Cheezle ring during a camping trip, Seryn and Stuart chose to become husband + wife at at the beautiful Emu Bottom Homestead.
When Seryn’s busy life saw her give internet dating a try a few years ago, she was hoping to find someone who was down to earth and who possessed good manners. When Stuart was first introduced to Seryn’s smiling face, he thought there was a chance she could be a little too high maintenance due to her love of “cocktails and horses”, but he thought her to be so very pretty, that he decided to take a chance.
Their smiles on the big day proved that chance was well worth it!
Flanked by four gorgeous flower girls as their only bridal party, Seryn & Stuart’s parents made a promise to love & support their children throughout their lives together as husband & wife before the the loved up pair vowed to “respect you, laugh with you, cry with you and love you faithfully through the good times and bad”.
A Holding Hands ritual and three sensational readings by members of Seryn & Stuart’s families ensured that the ceremony was romantic, personal and highly entertaining, before their first kiss as husband & wife almost raised the roof (with the groom’s head already practically touching it!)
Many thanks to Kim Selby Photography for these beautiful images of Seryn & Stuart’s perfect day xx
Seryn & Stuart | 21.03.2014
Celebrant: Meriki Comito
Venue: Emu Bottom Homestead
Photography: Kim Selby Photography
Amy & Jacob’s Tatra Garden Wedding
The Event
Amy + Jacob decided on a Tatra wedding in picturesque Mount Dandenong to celebrate their special day.
Jacob was first introduced to Amy during a St Patrick’s Day celebration, and he thought she was the most adorable thing he’d ever seen, though maybe way too stylish for him and his beer shirts.
But after Amy made her way down the aisle of the glass walled Tatra Chapel, Jacob stood before his beautiful bride, with not a beer shirt in sight and declared “Before you asked me, I was yours, and I am devoted to you in every way”.
Amy and Jacob chose some wonderful readings by Hilary T Smith, Victor Hugo and the Dalai Lama to celebrate their day, as well as a beautiful Celtic handfasting ritual, where they incorporated coloured ribbons to symbolise all the important qualities they are dedicated to bringing to their marriage.
A beautiful celebration combining traditional and spiritual elements – simply perfect x
The Photography
A huge thanks to the super lovely Timothy Burgess for allowing me to publish his images!
Amy & Jacob | 28.11.2014
Celebrant: Meriki Comito
Venue: Tatra Receptions
Photography: Timothy Burgess
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Stef & Todd’s NGV Wedding
Stef & Todd married within the incredibly stylish Grollo Equiset gardens at the National Gallery of Victoria on a perfect Spring day.
We were off to a terrific start when, before Stef had even arrived, her mother handed out traditional Panama hats for all the guests to wear during the ceremony – a gift from a Colombian relative who was unable to attend. Everyone was more than happy to oblige and they certainly created a festive feel! I have to say it was a sight to behold from where Todd & I were standing – looking out into a see of smiling, happy faces, all wearing white hats!
All attention soon turned to the bride’s brother as he guided the couple’s adorable fur baby (and ring bearer), Sambucca, down the winding path, along with the equally adorable 2 year old flowergirl, who didn’t even bat an eyelid when she lost one shoe along the way – a true professional!
Preceding the bride was cuteness #3, in the form of the 4 year old page boy with a sign reading “This is your last chance to run uncle Todd!”
When the stunning bride finally came into view, wearing a figure hugging Jane Hill Bridal gown, there was an immediate murmur of excitement amongst the guests. But no one was more appreciative of the bride’s appearance than the handsome groom!
After a hilarious (yet seriously touching!) “giving away” by the bride’s father, and a reading in Spanish by two of the couple’s close friends, Stef promised to hold Todd close and make him laugh for as long as she lived, while Todd declared that Stef would “always be the best part of my day”.
We concluded the ceremony with a sensational spoken rendition of Adam Sandler’s “I Wanna Grow Old With You” from ‘The Wedding Singer’, before an extremely passionate first kiss as husband & wife, followed by an adorable high five from Sambucca!
With stunning flowers by Flowers Vasette and styling by the bride herself, along with Steph and her team at Peter Rowland Catering, everything about this wedding was stylish, elegant, fun and simply beautiful.
I hope you enjoy these sensational photos by the ridiculously talented Lauren at LJM Photography.
Stef & Todd | 16.11.2013
Celebrant: Meriki Comito
Venue: National Gallery of Victoria
Photography: LJM Photography
Bridal Gown: Jane Hill
Catering/Styling:Peter Rowland
Florals:Flowers Vasette
Belinda & Paul’s Labassa Wedding
Belinda and Paul chose to have a beautiful 19th century, heritage listed mansion Labassa Wedding on a perfect sunny Winter’s day,
In the presence of their nearest & dearest, Belinda revealed that Paul was the loveliest, most ridiculously loving person she had ever met, with Paul proclaiming that Belinda was just “amazing in every way”.
With the newlyweds finally pronounced husband & wife, to the clear delight of every person present, one of the couple’s close friends, Paul, came forward to present the final reading of the afternoon – the lyrics of Ben Fold’s “The Luckiest”.
After taking the mic however, Paul informed us that he hadn’t been able to figure out how to perform the song as a reading and had decided to sing it instead! What resulted was an amazing, heartfelt A’Capella performance that touched the hearts of every person in the room. I believe that even the lovely ladies from the Four Seasons string trio were impressed!
A most romantic wedding for the most delightful couple, and then a big red double decker bus transported them all to Friends Of Mine to party the night away!
Belinda & Paul | 30.08.2014
Celebrant: Meriki Comito
Venue: Labassa
Photography: Duuet Wedding Photography
Ceremony Styling: Weddings of Distinction
Bridal Gown: Maggie Sottero
Florals: Botanics
Ceremony Music: Four Seasons Quartet
Bridal Car: Triple R Luxury Car Hire
Wedding Guest Transport: Dee Decker Tours
Reception Venue: Friends of Mine
Erin & Steve’s Clyde Park Vineyard Wedding
After over 10 years of friendship and two beautiful children already filling their lives with love & light, Erin & Steve finally became husband & wife during a perfect Clyde Park Vineyard wedding near Geelong.
After taking everyone back a few years, we shared a laugh over the fact that Erin & Steve’s first kiss was caught on CCTV cameras at the local pub, before the gorgeous couple declared that they were each other’s “best friend and I will love and respect you always.”
With their adorable children watching on in awe of their parents, Erin & Steve shared their official first kiss to cheers and applause by the many family & friends who had been waiting a LONG time for this moment!
I hope you enjoy these incredibly beautiful images of their day, taken by the very talented and super lovely Sara Taylor Photography x
Erin & Steve | 8th March 2014
Celebrant: Meriki Comito
Venue: Clyde Park Vineyard
Photography: Sara Taylor Photography
Videography: The White Tree
Jade & Josh’s Zonzo Estate Wedding
The Meeting
When they were both only 16 years old, Josh would walk Jade to the train station after school every day, where Jade would miss the first train on purpose, just so they would have an extra 15 minutes together before the next one arrived.
Nearly 10 years later, in a beautiful Zonzo Estate wedding, the high school sweethearts finally became husband and wife.
The Event
There were tears of joy a plenty as Jade declared that “never have I experienced happiness like what I experience when I am with you”, before Josh vowed to “always try as hard as I can for the rest of our lives to make you feel as special, as happy and as loved as you make me feel every single day”.
After sharing their first kiss as husband & wife to rapturous cheers & applause, family members then placed letters they had written to Jade & Josh into a box with a bottle of wine for the couple to enjoy on their 5th wedding anniversary, before the newlyweds added their own special words to the time capsule before taking each other’s hand and joining their guests in celebration as a married couple for the first time.
The Photography team
Jade & Josh’s perfect day was captured by the lovely and extremely talented, Kim Cartmell at Hello Kimbo Photography and the superstar duo from Humdrum Films
Check out the video by the talented team at Humdrum Films
Jade & Josh | 10th May 2014
Celebrant: Meriki Comito
Venue: Zonzo | Train Trak Wines
Photography: Kim Cartmell @ Hello Kimbo Photography
Videography: Humdrum Films
Ceremony Music: Downtime
Flowers: Flowers of Yarra Glen