Kate and David are both from Far North Queensland and met by chance at the Cairns Amateurs races, introduced through mutual friends by David’s older brother, Ray. “There was an instant attraction and everything just felt easy from the very beginning,” they say of meeting in the Birdcage that day. Not long after, Kate traveled overseas, and when she returned, David invited her over for dinner, cooking her favorite meal, seafood. It was over that dinner that they both realized the relationship was something worth paying attention to, and from there, they built a life together full of travel, family, their two dogs Frankie and Ellie, and plenty of laughter.
Location: Stones of the Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia
Style: Classic, Chic, Romantic
Number of guests: 152
Time of planning: 8 months
Setting: Winery
Season: Spring
David proposed on Christmas Eve while they were snowboarding in Austria, spending the day hunting for the perfect spot to ask, all while Kate unknowingly led him onto black runs, his first time snowboarding at all. When he finally got down on one knee with the village spread out behind him, the ring box spilled tobacco everywhere, having been hidden next to a packet of cigarettes. “It definitely wasn’t the picture-perfect proposal he’d imagined,” Kate says, “but it couldn’t have been more us, completely imperfect, hilarious and unforgettable.”
“Our biggest wish for our wedding was to simply celebrate with the people we love most,” they say. “We wanted incredible food, amazing wine, lively music, lots of dancing, and for everyone to have the best weekend together.”
Inspiration & Photography
From the beginning, Kate and David knew they didn’t just want a wedding, they wanted a really great party. With Kate’s big Greek family and David’s large group of mates, bringing everyone together for an unforgettable celebration became the biggest priority.
Although they’re from Far North Queensland, they chose Stones of the Yarra Valley because the venue speaks for itself. “It is absolutely stunning, and from the moment we saw it, it felt like we were bringing a little piece of Tuscany to us,” they say. They wanted guests to feel like they were escaping for a holiday, not just attending a wedding.
One of the most memorable parts of the day for Kate and David was working with their photographer, Ethan Gallery. “He was incredible from start to finish and somehow managed to keep our bridal party of fourteen organized while making everything feel effortless and fun,” they say. “He had us laughing all day, gave the clearest direction, and somehow worked absolute magic behind the camera.” They still tell people how amazing he was, crediting him with playing a real part in making the whole day feel as relaxed as it did.
Fashion
Kate wanted a timeless bridal look, something she’d love just as much in thirty years as she did on the wedding day itself. She wore a Steven Khalil dress and veil, modern classic with a European-inspired elegance, paired with Jimmy Choo shoes and Swarovski earrings. Her rings came from Australian Diamond Brokers, hair and makeup by Tayla Bourke Hair and Angelina Jade MUA, and florals by The Providore Styling. She finished the look with Chanel‘s Gabrielle for fragrance.
Kate and David decided against a first look together, both wanting to save that moment for the aisle itself. Instead, Kate shared her own version of it, first with her dad, then with her bridesmaids. Both moments were incredibly emotional, memories they’ll treasure forever, and seeing those genuine reactions before the ceremony made the day feel even more meaningful heading into the vows.
For his look, David wanted something sophisticated, the kind of style that would never date. He wore a Karl Lagerfeld suit, finished with a boutonnière, a TAG Heuer watch, Hugo Boss cufflinks, and a ring from Tiffany & Co. He completed the look with Louis Vuitton cologne.
Ceremony
The ceremony took place in the Chapel at Stones of the Yarra Valley, and Kate and David couldn’t have imagined a more perfect setting. It carried an intimate feel while still comfortably holding all 150 guests, exactly the balance they’d hoped for. Walking down the aisle was incredibly emotional. “After months of planning, everything suddenly became real, and seeing David waiting at the end made every nerve disappear,” Kate says.
Though not a religious ceremony, they wanted it to feel traditional, heartfelt, and full of love. Celebrant Charis White captured their story perfectly, weaving together the small moments that define their relationship. “She had everyone laughing one minute and tearing up the next,” they say, and guests later told them it was one of the most personal, entertaining ceremonies they’d ever attended.
One of their favorite moments came right after signing the marriage certificate. Before walking back down the aisle as husband and wife, Kate and David shared an ouzo shot, a Greek tradition that’s been part of Kate’s family celebrations for years, at Christmas and other special occasions alike. They signed the bottle after the ceremony, with plans to share another shot from it on every anniversary, a tradition they’ll carry through the rest of their marriage.
Walking back down the aisle together as husband and wife felt surreal. “We were so excited, relieved and overwhelmed with happiness knowing we had just married our best friend and that the celebrations with all of our favourite people were only just beginning.”
Moments Together
One of the most special moments of the day came when Kate and David snuck away during the reception for a few quiet minutes together. They sat overlooking the vineyard, watching family and friends celebrate through the windows of The Barn. “It was the first chance we had to pause, take it all in, and reflect on just how lucky we were to have everyone we love in one place,” they say. A simple moment, but one they’ll remember forever. Ethan Gallery used that same window of calm to capture a set of golden hour portraits, images that carried the same quiet warmth as the moment itself.
Reception Decor
The overall style stayed timeless and classic. The palette kept things elegant, black tuxedos for the men and pink bridesmaid dresses, Kate’s favorite color, paired with soft, romantic florals and candlelight that complemented the venue rather than competing with it. Beyond aesthetics, Kate and David wanted the day to reflect the things they genuinely love. As dedicated oyster lovers, live oyster shucking during cocktail hour was a non-negotiable and one of their favorite details of the whole day.
The reception took place in The Barn at Stones of the Yarra Valley, and from the moment guests walked in, it was everything they’d imagined. The Providore Styling built a timeless, elegant space, with tablescapes that felt right at home in the venue itself. Guests were welcomed by a striking seating chart designed by The Perfect Signage, a local Cairns business, one of the first beautiful details they came across as they stepped into the reception. One favorite styling touch: the floral pillars from the ceremony were repurposed to frame the cake by Kat’s Cakes, giving them a second life and a new focal point for the room.
Another detail that mattered deeply to Kate and David was writing a personalized, handwritten letter for every single guest. They placed them on each person’s seat in The Barn, ready to be read before the bridal party made their entrance. It was their way of thanking everyone for traveling to celebrate with them, sharing a favorite memory or what that person meant to them. A meaningful touch, and one of their favorite ways to make sure every guest felt truly appreciated.
Reception
The first dance was to “Is This Love” by Luke Burr, a song that perfectly captured Kate and David’s relationship. Kate also shared a father-daughter dance with her dad to a beautiful acoustic version of “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Music Travel Love, one that had the whole room smiling.
Zac Onfray, a close family friend of David’s, took on MC duties and made the night unforgettable, welcoming everyone aboard “Murphy Airlines,” destination set for “LOVE,” keeping the evening moving with a perfect mix of humor, warmth, and energy.
One of the biggest surprises of the night came from Kate herself, a flash mob to “Proud Mary” she’d secretly organized with her dancing friends. Nobody saw it coming, not even David, and it became one of the biggest highlights of the evening.
The entertainment delivered exactly what Kate and David had hoped for. Melbourne Entertainment Company provided a DJ band, DJ, live vocalist, saxophonist, and percussionist, and the dance floor stayed packed from start to finish. To close things out, all guests joined in for another Greek tradition, dancing Zorba the Greek together around the venue, a joyful way to bring everyone together one last time.
The perfect ending came in the form of a spectacular fireworks display by Northern Fireworks, timed to “A Sky Full of Stars” by Coldplay. Guests had been told to head outside for what they thought was a simple sparkler exit, forming a tunnel of sparklers for the couple to walk through. As Kate and David reached the end, Kate began counting everyone in, having secretly arranged for the fireworks to launch in perfect sync with the song. Right on cue, they erupted across the lawn in front of them. Watching everyone’s faces light up with surprise, standing there together taking it all in, was a magical, emotional way to close out the best day of their lives.
Advice from the couple:
• Our biggest piece of advice is to enjoy the planning process. It doesn’t have to be stressful. Give yourself plenty of time, spread out the planning, and try to make it something you do together rather than another item on your to-do list.
• Go into the day knowing that something probably won’t go exactly to plan, and that’s completely okay. If something unexpected happens, laugh about it first and then work out a solution.
• On the day itself, be as present as possible. Build extra time into your morning so you’re not rushing to get ready, and do as much preparation as you can the day before.
• Don’t put pressure on yourselves to have a long conversation with every single guest. Instead, we wrote a handwritten letter to each guest, thanking them for making the trip to celebrate with us and sharing a favorite memory we had with them.
• Finally, remember why you’re there. At the end of the day, you’re marrying your best friend. Everything else is just the icing on the cake.
PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEOGRAPHY Ethan Gallery | VENUE Stones of the Yarra Valley | FLORALS The Providore Styling | SIGNAGE The Perfect Signage | DRESS Steven Khalil | SHOES Jimmy Choo | SUIT Karl Lagerfeld & Victor Mellick Menswear | MAKEUP Angelina Jade MUA | HAIR Tayla Bourke Hair | BRIDE’S RING Australian Diamond Brokers | GROOM’S RING Tiffany & Co. | CELEBRANT Charis White | CEREMONY MUSICIAN Kristen Music & Melbourne Entertainment Co. | RECEPTION MUSICIAN DJ Tom Sax Trumpet & Melbourne Entertainment Co. | BRIDESMAID DRESSES Selfie Leslie | BRIDE/BRIDESMAIDS PJs Le Rose Online | GROOMSMEN’S SUITS Joe Black & Victor Mellick Menswear
