Real Weddings

Article by

Tess McIntosh

Posted on

16/05/2024

Posted in

Real Weddings

Alex and James’ wedding “was all about having an easy-going and good time”, they tell us (and we totally dig it). “That’s what we think marriage should be about too,” adds the bride.

After deciding on a cocktail-style wedding – “because we just wanted the day to be a big party and skip a few traditions we find a bit awkward too (like assigned seating, long-winded MCs and cutting the cake)” – Alex and James turned to the always stunning Calile Hotel to play host, Karen Willis Holmes and M.J. Bale for their gorg wedding day fits, and Hello May faves Stories by Ash to work the camera and Cut a Rug to supply the tunes. Trust us, you’re going to wanna see this cool-AF day, with inspo by the bucketload…

THE VENUE “The Calile was the only venue we looked at, the aesthetic is unmatched and the event spaces are very private. We wanted something central so our guests wouldn’t have any trouble finding a bar before or after the wedding. It was also really important for us to have everything in the one place on the day, it would be a shame to let travel time get in the way of the celebration.”

THE VIBE “There wasn’t a specific theme but I’d say the colour pallette was sunset pastels and the vibe was light-hearted and fun.”

FAVE DETAILS “Flowers [from Kate Dawes Flower Design] were a huge one for me, they were modern, bold and fun but still really sweet – I couldn’t fault them. Invites and signage [from Laura Elizabeth Design] were also a hit, it’s an aspect we got to have fun with and such a good opportunity to play with colour and add personal touches while still being subtle.”

THE DRESS “It was from Karen Willis Holmes – their Paddington boutique was the only store I really went to try anything on. I loved my dress.”

STANDOUT VENDORS “Ash our photographer – she went so far above and beyond. The photos were really beautiful and not a single one looks staged or forced. She also helped guide us through the day and saved me from more than one wedding dress disaster. Kate our planner at The Calile Hotel – she knew what we wanted before we asked for it. Was always a step ahead and was the catalyst for a flawless event. Aaron from Cut A Rug – he was definitely more than a wedding DJ, he’s a super slick guy and an all round good time.”

WE’RE GLAD WE… “We decided to have a little cocktail party on our private terrace instead of traditional bridal party portraits. This was a great move because we all got to decompress after the ceremony and just hang out.”

A WORD OF ADVICE “Find vendors you really like and trust, and aim for a vibe or a feel or a look instead of getting too caught up on minute details – that way when something goes wrong you’ve got a team capable of handling it in a way where you don’t even notice.”

This Brisbane wedding first appeared in our Real Wedding Special Vol. 8, which you can shop here – because we love you guys so, use DOUBLETROUBLE at checkout to receive issue 39 for FREE! Stories by Ash is one of our all-time fave photographers and if you have fallen in love with her snaps from this wedding, be sure to check out more over on her Directory listing with us here. If you’re loving Alex’s dress and James’s suit, get in touch with Karen Willis Holmes and M.J. Bale here and here. Finally, take this couple’s red-hot advice and get chatting to Cut A Rug if you want big-energy vibes on the dancefloor.