Friends, today we’d like you to meet Liz and Emma, who wanted a “relaxed, understated and quintessentially Sydney” wedding. “The most important thing for us was to be able to spend time with each of our guests, fill them with delicious food and wine, and create some beautiful memories,” the newlyweds shared. And that’s exactly what they did, becoming Mrs and Mrs in Paddington art gallery Saint Cloche before holding their reception at a beloved old Sydney pub. Luckily for us, the legend that is Damien Milan took some killer photos, which we’re happily sharing with you all today.
THE VENUE “We tossed up a lot of different restaurants for the reception but finding a spot that wasn’t too small, too stuffy or too trendy was difficult. The bistro upstairs at The Old Fitz was not an obvious space for a wedding reception, but it felt so moody and romantic that we knew it was the right spot for us. It didn’t hurt that it’s a 100-year-old Sydney staple, and Emma is a built heritage nerd. Love live the rickety old Sydney pub.”
FAVE DEETS “Elise Polito absolutely nailed the fresh, cottage-core ‘Miss Honey from Matilda gets married’ brief for the flowers. The Paramount Hotel was the perfect moody vibe for getting ready, and brilliant for jumping straight into the Japanese timber bath when we arrived back after the biggest day ever.”
MEMORABLE MOMENT “Walking into the ceremony together was pretty special. There was a huge cheer from our guests as we entered the gallery, which helped to lighten the mood and shake off the nerves. It centered us for the ceremony and was a great reminder of all the love that surrounds us. Turns out that even a small wedding can make a big racket and a real vibe.”
WE’RE SO GLAD WE… “hired a DJ [from Ministry of DJs]. We went back and forth about it for ages, because the reception space was so small it seemed like more trouble than it was worth ti try to make a dancefloor work. It was a total highlight and looking back on the photos of (Liz’s) Dad tearing it up on the dancefloor, it’s clearly one of the best choices we made.”
STANDOUT VENDORS “Damien Milan took more nice photos of us in one day than either of us have had in our whole lives. It’s not really a surprise since he made us feel so at ease in front of the camera, which was not an easy job with a camera-shy Liz. He perfectly captured the light and breezy gallery with all the joy and excitement of the ceremony, then effortlessly showcased the moody, romantic vibe of the reception at Bistro Fitz. He’s also just a lovely person who quickly felt like he was a member of the wedding party.”
Liz and Emma were clearly chuffed with Damien Milan’s photography prowess and we happen to think he’s pretty darn great, too. Catch up with him on our directory and book him for your big day. While you’re there, we also definitely recommend you get in touch with the legends at Ministry of DJs – the ultimate dancefloor starters.
CONTRIBUTING VENDORS Photographer Damien Milan Ceremony Coordinator Days Like These Events Florist Elise Polito Flowers Ceremony venue Saint Cloche Reception venue Bistro Fitz Cake Flour and Stone Entertainment Ministry of DJs Celebrant Victoria Pearson Rings Natalie Marie Jewellery, Laura Miers THE BRIDE (Emma) Bridal gown designer Rixo Hair piece Les Couronnes de Victoire Shoes AEYDE Accessories Kristin Ash Hair & Makeup Sophia Vandoros Fragrance Odesse Amber Haze THE BRIDE (Liz) Suit P Johnson