Location: Eltham, Victoria, Australia
Setting: Ceremony – old artists’ colony; reception – old Italian farmhouse
Season: Spring
How long did the couple plan the event: 1,5 years
Number of guests: 100
Wedding theme/style: Vintage, authentic, European.
Nicole and Daniel met on the way out of a nightclub in Melbourne. “I told him I was cold and wanted chicken nuggets, and he put his arm around me and ordered 30 nuggets,” recalls the bride.
When he asked Nicole out via text message a couple of days later, she said no, but he answered that he wasn’t asking Nicole to marry him; it was just dinner. “So we went to dinner, and 7 years later, after dinner, our last night in Moltrasio, Lake Como, he did ask me to marry him,” Nicole shares.
For an authentic wedding, the couple chose to have the ceremony at Montsalvat in Eltham, an old artists’ colony, and the reception at Farm Vigano, an Italian restaurant housed in an old farmhouse. Both venues convey a European atmosphere, as Nicole and Daniel desired. “We toyed around with eloping in Italy, but at the end of the day, it was essential to have our family there, including our older grandparents. We wanted our wedding to reflect who we are, and, importantly, we wanted it to be memorable and fun for all our guests,” says the couple.
Petite Visuals captured the moments of these days in the sun’s warm, sparkling spring rays. Nicole and Daniel look majestic in the photographs, which create an atmosphere of refined taste and tenderness. The colors in the photos are incredible, perfectly showcasing the whole vibe of the couple and their big day.
On her wedding day, Nicole was getting ready, surrounded by her friends and mother. She savored every second of this day, trying to remember all the feelings she experienced. For her first dress, she opted for a classic high neck and low back in crushed silk. Pearl buttons lined the zipper at the back all the way down the train. “When I started looking at wedding dresses, I was searching for something different, not white, but I ended up choosing such a classic wedding dress. When I tried on my dress for the first time, I got emotional and knew that was the one!” shares the bride. Nicole wore a simple waterfall cathedral-length veil with pearl drop earrings. “My wedding band is the thick Cartier Love ring; I got Anastasio engraved on the inside,” adds Nicole.
Nicole’s bouquet consisted of blue hydrangeas and white roses, with blue being her hero color. She wanted blue hydrangeas everywhere, but they were late in season. Her florist ended up scouring the Dandenong Ranges and finally sourced them from her mother’s garden.
Daniel wore a classic three-piece black tuxedo with a low-cut waistcoat and a black bowtie, while his groomsmen matched him in similar outfits without the waistcoats. He accessorized with Harley Davidson cufflinks and a custom gold signet wedding band. “Daniel also had some sentimental pieces,” recalls the bride, “including a gold chain bracelet, a gold opal ring, and a Daniel Wellington watch gifted by his groomsmen.”
As guests arrived, they were greeted by a linen welcome sign hanging from a tree that read, “I can’t help falling in love with you,” a line from the couple’s first dance song by Elvis. A string quartet played gentle music, setting the tone for the moment ahead. When the time came, the bride, escorted to the top of the aisle by her parents, walked down the aisle to Lana Del Rey’s “Video Games” performed by the quartet. After exchanging their vows, the couple walked under thousands of petals by Elvis’s song “Burning Love.”
After the ceremony, the newlyweds enjoyed a photo session with their talented photographer. Their beloved Groodle, Penelope, joined them, adding to the feelings of unity and strengthening their new role as a family.
Daniel and Nicole arrived at the reception in a 1965 Mercedes-Benz 220SE and spent some time eating and drinking with their bridal party before being introduced to a dance mashup of “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” by ABBA. Guests were greeted with an Aperol spritz and canapés on the terrace.
The day was unusually hot, and by the time Nicole arrived at her reception, her hydrangeas had withered. Fortunately, her florist swiftly crafted a new bouquet composed of white and pink roses, a creation that Nicole adored.
“I honestly had the most incredible floral team. I gave them the freedom to choose what to include in the bridesmaids’ bouquets; I simply provided pictures of their dresses, and they crafted unique bouquets for each of them,” says the bride.
The dinner tables were adorned with white tablecloths, providing a clean and classic foundation for the decor. Vases filled with roses and other delicate blooms created a charming atmosphere.
“Dan’s family is Italian, so it was really important to us that we fed them well and made sure they didn’t leave hungry or unsatisfied,” the bride shares. “It’s no easy feat, but every single person left full and raved about the food.” The dinner menu featured Italian cuisine, including pizza and antipasti. “There were a lot of laughs and tears during the speeches given by the best man, maid of honor, and both of our fathers,” recalls Nicole.
The dinner continued with the timeless tradition of cake-cutting. “The pavlova was actually a surprise for everyone. I informed my friends and family that we weren’t planning to have a cake, but then I considered the possibility of having a pavlova, which I thought would be perfect. So, I decided to keep it as a surprise,” shares the bride. This moment sweetened the atmosphere even more and left pleasant memories of the wedding. “We had two pieces put aside, which Dan and I ate in bed the morning after the wedding while reliving the night before. This was one of my favorite memories,” Nicole reminisces.
After the couple had their first dance, it was time for Nicole to change her dress. The second gown was a fun party dress but still very bridal. Crafted in beautiful silk duchess satin, it sat off the shoulder and featured a corseted bodice that met a mini pleated skirt.
“I had the hem lifted to make it a really fun party look. I wore a shorter veil edged in lace and a pearl necklace I received from my parents for my 16th birthday,” recalls the bride.
Immerse yourself in the magic of that day by watching the video created by Petite Visuals, and experience the captivating atmosphere of love, joy, and celebration that Nicole and Daniel crafted so beautifully.
Advice from the couple:
• It’s your day, and it’s about you and your partner, so make it a reflection of everything you love and what makes you both special. Alternatively, you can choose an elopement in Italy.
PHOTOGRAPHER & VIDEOGRAPHER Petite Visuals | CEREMONY VENUE Montsalvat Arts Centre | RECEPTION VENUE Farm Vigano | FLORALS Lowevly Flowers & Events | MAKEUP Lirije Gashi| HAIRSTYLIST Amber Ferguson | DRESS Hera Couture | BRIDAL SALON Bluebell Bridal | SUIT Menz Mode | RING Michael Wilson Jewellers | ACCESSORIES Cartier | CAKE Pav Queen | INVITATIONS Create with | ENTERTAINMENT HEY JACK | CELEBRANT Taylor Made Moments | BRIDE Nicole Cashman Anastasio
