Friends, today we have a love story for the ages… Shelley and Tom were together 16 years – 16! – before they put it down on paper and made it offish. “We met on our first day of high school and innocently dated for a few months,” explains Shell. “We were on and off for a year and a half and we remained best friends, then we got back together in Year 9 and have been together ever since!”
When asked about what marriage means to them, they told us, “Happiness is only real when shared” – and if you can’t feel the epic love by now, we don’t know what more we can say!
Together, Shell and Tom pulled together the most excellent of teams, from Alex Jackson behind the camera to the always delightful Tillee Music taking care of entertainment – not to mention the guests of honour were styled by some of our faves, with the groom in an M.J. Bale suit and the bride topping off her Kate Willa look – literally – with a dreamy Grace Loves Lace veil. Say it with us, friends: vendor goals!
THE VENUE “We always knew we wanted South Coast so when we came across Terara Riverside Gardens, we were both sending each other photos from their Instagram and as soon as we visited we were in love!”
THE THEME “We wanted a laidback, coastal vibe. White and neutrals with dried blooms and timber alongside the greens of the gardens.”
FAVE DETAILS “It’s hard to pick one favourite when we loved everything, but we’d have to say the cocktails. Tia from Rambling Rose Bar made us the most delicious Gin Southside. We have converted quite a few of our friends and family to gin after this and they are always mentioned when we reminisce. The floral arrangements by Piccolo & Poppi were also a favourite of mine. They were so stunning and gave such a romantic and special feel.”
THE DRESS “My dress experience was an absolute dream! I always knew I wanted to wear long sleeves but somehow make it ‘me’. I’d seen a dress Kate Willa had previously created that I loved. I thought there would be no harm in reaching out but I knew I had a short turnaround and might just have to buy a more simple slip dress. Kate was so accommodating, I sent her my inspiration and she drew me up some designs, we picked the one and that was that! Kate is such a lovely, genuine person and we got along so well which made it an even nicer experience. It was a similar experience for Tom, he knew he wanted beige, we went into M.J. Bale, they had his size and we bought it on the spot!”
REFERENCES “Hello May was the only magazine I went through! And also Instagram.”
A WORD OF ADVICE “Be inspired when researching but don’t lose sight of who you are, your style and what is really going to make you happy. You don’t have to do something or run the day in a certain way, just because ‘most people’ do it that way.”
STANDOUT VENDORS “All our vendors were amazing! Our photographer, Alex Jackson, did such a beautiful job in making sure our photos were incredible. Emma from Tillee Music, who sang throughout our whole wedding – her voice is heavenly!”
We loved this wedding when it appeared in Issue 33 of the mag, and we love it just as much now! If you want to take a peek, you can pick up the issue (and all the issues, in fact) over in our online store. And if you haven’t checked out the directory yet, it’s a must-click zone. You’ll find plenty of Hello May faves over there, including Tillee Music, Grace Loves Lace and M.J. Bale.
CONTRIBUTING VENDORS Photographer Alex Jackson Stylist & Florist Piccolo & Poppi Stationery Sister-in-law (invites), Piccolo & Poppi (place cards) Ceremony & Reception Terara Riverside Gardens Catering Duck Duck Goose Catering Bar Caravan The Rambling Rose Bar Cake Sister-in-law Wedding favours All About U Promotions (personalised stubby holders) Hire Items Heart and Timber (ceremony chairs), Piccolo & Poppi (reception tables, styling items) Entertainment Tillee Music (Emma & Dan) Celebrant Merinda Richardson Rings Michael Williams (made by Shelley’s dad) Transport Kennedy’s Tours (guests), Bangalay (bride & groom) Bride’s accommodation Bangalay THE BRIDE Gown Kate Willa Veil Grace Loves Lace Lounge suit The Lullaby Club Robes Cotton On Body Shoes Joseph Fashion via The Iconic Earrings Brie Leon Bracelet By Charlotte Hair Whyld Hair & Beauty Makeup Sally Ann Beauty THE GROOM Suit M.J. Bale Shirt Zara Hat Brixton via The Iconic Shoes ASOS