Location: Margaret River wine region, Western Australia
Setting: Lake side retreat
Season: Summer
How long did the couple plan the event: 1 year
The number of guests: 92
Wedding theme/style: Modern, minimalistic, monochromatic.
Bobby and Rachel, a pair of entrepreneurs in their early 30s, found love in a very modern way — through Instagram DMs. Their fast-tracked romance saw them moving in together within four months, adopting a fur baby, building a home, and traveling the world. Their journey led to a beautiful engagement and, finally, a unforgettable and wonderful wedding.
Their event took place at Eight Willows Retreat, a scenic lakeside venue in the Margaret River wine region of Western Australia. The summer setting was chosen for its natural beauty and the retreat’s ability to host all their guests, providing an intimate and continuous celebration.
On the morning of the wedding, Rachel, with the help of her friends, slipped into her custom wedding gown by a local Western Australian couture designer. The dress was a modern mermaid style, strapless and draped in tulle, paired with a long soft veil. Her makeup was soft and neutral and her high pony tail went through three changes throughout the day to match the evolving festivities.
Bobby was handsomely dressed in a custom tuxedo, featuring an ivory jacket with black silk detailing and a completely black ensemble underneath. He accessorized with a gold Hugo Boss watch, a wedding gift from his bride that added a touch of elegance to his look.
Their first look was charged with emotion, a testament to their deep connection and anticipation for the ceremony. The joy and love between them were evident as they looked at each other in their wedding attire for the first time. The couple exchanged their vows in this joyful private moment.
The ceremony was a beautiful scene, set by the lake under a big willow tree – one of the most romantic settings that we ever saw. White flowers surrounded them, adding to the beauty of the moment. The couple and their guests shared laughter and smiles in this relaxed and picturesque setting, celebrating the couple’s commitment to each other.
After the ceremony, the couple enjoyed some private moments during the golden hour. The photographers Mitch & Tijana took advantage of the soft lighting to capture stunning, intimate photos that radiated with the couple’s love.
Their photos are full of life, from the laughter of the guests to the graceful movements of the bride. Looking through the photos, we could almost hear Rachel’s laughter and sense the lively atmosphere of the day. The images are a dynamic collection of the day’s joy and the couple’s love, making their wedding album not just a set of pictures but a story told frame by frame.
The reception maintained the clean, modern, and minimalist theme, with a monochromatic palette that was reflected in the elegant table settings. The white floral arrangements brought a cohesive and stylish look to the entire event space.
As the evening progressed, the reception was illuminated by warm lights that created a cozy and inviting atmosphere. Speeches from guests brought about laughter and tears, while the energy of the day was preserved through the many emotions displayed.
For the evening Bobby removed the jacket and wore a black satin waistcoat over all black suit shirt along with a gold Hugo boss watch that was his wedding gift.
The day concluded with dances outside by the lake, where the DJ, acknowledging Bobby’s Croatian roots, played a mix of Western and Croatian music.
Rachel changed her look with a high effortless bun to dance the night away in along with a silk off the shoulder mini dress with a structured bow on the back and around the arms.
Advice from couple:
• Less is more! Especially if you’re on a budget. Rather do a few things right, than do many things half. Quality beats quantity any day.
• Don’t go bonanza in all trends you see on pinterest and Instagram but choose what you feel matches who you are, the style you’re aiming for and make it personal.
• Invest in videographers and photographers whose esthetics you like! The day goes by so fast, and you can’t be everywhere at once, so the photo and video-material are what helps you re-experience the day from another POV than your own. It’s such an emotional day with so many impressions and it’s hard to remember all that went down afterwards, so to have the speeches and a video capturing the best moments from the day is without a doubt the best money spent. We had a shortlist with +10 videographers and photographers, a handful of interviews and ended up with PIXEL (video) and Gustavo Simoes (photo), which we’re extremely happy and satisfied with.
PHOTOGRAPHER & VIDEOGRAPHER Mitch & Tijana | VENUE Eight Willows Retreat | FLORAL After Hours Co | CELEBRANT Nicole McCarthy | CATERING Tiller Events | MUA Rubia Shafique | HAIR Hatem Kassem | DRESS Zanzis Bridal Couture | SHOES HARLO Bridal Shoes | SUIT Mj Bale | DJ Diesel Productions | CONTENT Details by Meg
