Real Weddings

Article by

Sophie

Posted on

09/11/2022

Posted in

Real Weddings

Phoebe & Max are pros when it comes to going with the flow. They discovered their original venue had been refurbed in a way they weren’t feeling just 12 weeks out. Cue a last minny venue hunt. Stumbling across The Cailile Hotel was a blessing in disguise, however, as this incred venue ended up being one of their fave details of the day. Scroll down for some phenomenal styling, thoughtful details and sweet smiles, captured perfectly by Todd Hunter McGaw…

THE VENUE “It fit our aesthetic perfectly. We were able to hold an elegant, minimal but tasteful ceremony and reception. All of the guests thoroughly enjoyed the whole menu, and we were able to bring the wine we had planned to use at the original venue. Between the original venue hunt and the last-minute rebooking, we had looked at around four different venues to find something that would suit our needs. The Calile Hotel ended up being the perfect choice.”

FAVOURITE DETAILS “We would be doing Ani from The Stone Willow Studio a disservice if we didn’t mention the flowers multiple times. They really were the design highlight of the day. From the feeling of a windswept field she created for the ceremony to the elegant ikebana instalments on every table, she took our brief to unimaginable heights. Couple the venue flowers with the most intricate and inspiring wedding bouquet either of us had ever seen, the flowers on the day were a hard one to beat. They were too beautiful to let go to waste so the next day, so we gave the flowers to Max’s grandmother’s retirement village to install in the lobby.”

DIY “We handmade our own ceramic candle holders as wedding favours for all guests and vendors. Whilst the project was much larger than we had anticipated, it is worth it knowing our guests will have a reminder of the day in their homes. We hand-crafted 70 tea light candle holders in a Japanese carved ‘kurinuki’ style and individually glazed each one so no two vessels were the same.”

THE DRESS “I always wanted a dress that was elegant, beautiful and minimal and that could be repurposed and worn again at another event. For years, I have been buying my everyday clothes from designers that are local, who curate pieces with good-quality fabrics and longevity in mind. So it only felt right to reach out to one of my favourite designers, Stephanie Downey from Dress Up. She agreed to custom-make something that would align with my vision and also fit her design aesthetic. After a few flights to Melbourne for fittings, I was absolutely taken by the result: a minimal, delicate dress in silver silk with pearl buttons. I can’t wait to wear this dress again and again.”

WE’RE GLAD WE “Used the same venue for the ceremony and the reception! We knew from the start that we wanted a one-venue wedding but it turned out to give us even more than we expected. Having a one-venue wedding allowed us to really enjoy the time with family and friends between the ceremony and reception. We held drinks and canapés during that time and got to speak to every guest in between ducking in and out for photos. It was amazing working with Todd as he was able to scout the best light while we spent time with the guests and only called us away for the perfect photo before getting us back to the guests. He really made it flow perfectly.”

Loving hard on this venue? Check out more gorg The Calile Hotel weddings here, here and here. But first, be sure to scroll all the way down for Phoebe & Max’s striking styling…