An Intimate Ceremony in Melbourne’s Royal Gardens

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Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Setting: Garden
Season: Winter
How long did the couple plan the event: 2 months
Number of guests: 14
Wedding theme/style: Garden, natural, intimate, relaxing.

Leda and Sam’s paths first crossed while working at Crown Melbourne. Their schedules barely overlapped, with Leda often arriving fashionably late for her night shift handovers, and Sam wrapping up his day shift. Despite this, they quickly noticed each other – Sam admired Leda’s beauty and genuineness, while Leda appreciated Sam’s punctuality and responsibility.

Their love story truly began with an unexpected twist. During a casual chat, Leda mentioned a road trip to Sorrento, which Sam mistakenly thought he was invited to. This mix-up led to an impromptu double date at a Hong Kong café and a rock-climbing adventure, marking the start of their shared journey. From there, small gestures like exchanging gum and gifts in their work pigeonholes further deepened their connection. Leda had always hoped for a partner with olive skin, a sense of humor, and someone who didn’t mind her occasional silliness – in Sam, she found all this and more.

THE PROPOSAL

Sam’s realization that he wanted to spend his life with Leda solidified during their first overseas trip to Cambodia. Despite facing challenges, their ability to find joy in every moment together was telling. Sam recalled, “Living together in a tiny single bed for six months in Malvern confirmed that as long as we were together, I would always be content and resilient.”

In early July, while Leda was in Taiwan, Sam flew to the Philippines, bought a guitar, and practiced a Filipino song for the proposal. He left clues for Leda, leading her to a park where he sang the song, creating a heartfelt moment for them both.

THE FASHION

Leda described her wedding day style as “effortless.” Her wedding dress and scarf were made in Vietnam three months before the wedding, thanks to high praise for Vietnamese tailors. “I chose a simple ivory dress without a long train, prioritizing comfort and ease of movement,” Leda explained. Not a fan of heels, she wore slingback flats from Seed for a minimal, casual style. Her veil was from Karen Willis Holmes, and she added textured statement earrings from Assuwa to her otherwise plain look. “I wanted my makeup and hair to be clean and simple, true to my usual appearance,” Leda noted. Her bouquet featured mixed pastel colors with touches of blue and butter.

Sam chose a neutral color palette to complement the garden setting, opting for an olive linen shirt and a grey linen suit, both tailor-made in Vietnam. “I decided to forgo a tie for a more casual look,” Sam shared. He wore brown leather shoes from Florsheim, and his boutonniere featured a light brown Anthurium, matching the olive and linen fabrics.

THE CEREMONY

Sam and Leda wanted a stress-free wedding, quickly and efficiently planning their special day. They both love the outdoors and garden walks, so the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria was an immediate choice, weather concerns aside. Leda, being a florist, had a clear vision for a garden vibe with pastel blue and butter colors blending seamlessly with the Taxodium Lawn backdrop. “It only took a few days to finalize the floral arrangements with my florist friends,” Leda shared, highlighting their flawless execution.

Despite a rainy morning, the sun emerged just two hours before the ceremony, making the day perfect and memorable. “We felt incredibly lucky and grateful for the timing,” Leda said.

Sam and Leda are chocolate cake enthusiasts, and they opted for a bespoke hazelnut cake by their pastry chef friend, Garon. “Our guests quickly devoured the cake,” Leda added.

Their designer friend, Nhi, captured their sentiment perfectly with a welcome sign that read, “It is a celebration of love, not a wedding,” in a quirky font and shape, adding a unique touch. For the little details, Leda chose blue accents for the fabric runner on the signing table and the background color of the welcome sign.

“We chose vendors we adored, ensuring a fantastic experience,” Leda shared. The modern, laid-back ceremony perfectly matched their relaxed, celebratory vibe. Guests, close family, and best friends shared in the joy, with many happy tears and cheers.

THE MOMENT ALONE

After the ceremony, the couple took a walk through the gardens and the city, capturing stunning moments in the beautiful surroundings. They chose Neiyo as their photographer. Leda shared, “Neiyo is fantastic to work with! Her style is natural, modern, and filled with romance.” The newlyweds adored how the photographer captured those spontaneous moments with her creative eye. The bride shared that Neiyo went the extra mile to scout perfect locations for their post-ceremony photos: “We felt totally at ease and didn’t have to force any poses – just being ourselves made for beautiful shots! We enjoyed the photoshoot so much.”

Neiyo reflected on her experience with the couple, saying, “I always seem to attract the loveliest, most kind, and generous couples, and my recent experience with Leda and Sam was no exception.” From the moment they connected, it felt like fate had brought them together–it was astonishing how much they had in common. “Leda nearly chose a lilac wedding dress, reminiscent of the color I wore for my own wedding! And Sam was wearing my favorite scent, Maison Margiela Replica By The Fireplace, on their special day,” the photographer laughed. “It felt like a beautiful alignment of stars.”

Their walk brought them to the intimate reception at one of their favorite Melbourne restaurants, Pastuso, known for its delicious Peruvian dishes. “Instead of a formal reception, we wanted a relaxed and enjoyable dinner with our closest family and friends,” Leda explained.

Advice from the couple:

• Follow your instincts when planning your wedding; choose what makes you most comfortable. We opted for a simple, intimate celebration because that’s what suited us best.

• Trust your vendors—they’re the experts! Appreciate the effort they put into making your day special.

• Remember to cherish the wedding cake, as it takes time and effort to create. We cut ours right after the ceremony and invited everyone to enjoy it with us, and it was gone in no time.