Tell us a little about yourselves!
Dominic and I met working a night shift in the hospital, him a doctor and me, a nurse. We started talking about my new-found interest in running. We both lived in the city and decided to go for some runs together – little did I know Dom was a marathon runner and our first run was my quickest to date (had to impress). Soon we ended up running around the Botanical Gardens in Sydney.
I previously told Dom that I would love to capture my life on film to show my children one day. On our first date he bought a film camera, and we took lots of photos. I would joke on our runs that one day I would run so perfectly, it would be like Homer Simpson when he bowls a perfect game. At the end of our first date, he gave me a single white balloon with 300 written on it – like in the show. He felt like a dream.
We fell in love, and on our first overseas trip together (my first overseas trip ever), to Europe, overlooking Positano one evening he proposed.
Why did you decide to get married where you did?
Dominic and I started running in Centennial Park, but when the pandemic restrictions came in, our 10km radius overlapped in the Royal Botanical Gardens. We would go for runs there two or three times a week, and sit on the lawn at the end and just talk for hours afterwards. The exact spot of our ceremony was where I phoned my mother for the first time to tell her I thought I had met ‘The One.’
How many guests did you have?
120.
What was your budget?
$15,000 – 20,000.
Tell us about your outfits.
We wanted our day to be intimate and special, we hoped not to spend too much money and really focus on our love.
I chose a simple and timeless gown from Natalie Rolt with a beautiful veil from Kyha Studios. Dom wanted a tuxedo he would keep forever, so he had one custom made from Woolcott Street. It had our initials embroidered on the inside lining.
What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?
We really wanted our special day to be all about our love and celebrating with the people we adored. We wanted to have a light-hearted and fun wedding.
Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?
A personalised, intimate, and special ceremony that was short and sweet. And lots and lots of fun!
Any tips for couples getting married?
Ask one of your bridesmaids or loved ones to remind you to stop and take it all in, the day is so big and quick. You will want to live it again, and again and again.
Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?
Samantha Riles was our photographer, she was so beautiful, and I adored having her on our special day. She made us feel comfortable in front of the camera, and really captured the love on our day.
Alex Loaney, our celebrant, made us feel like a friend was marrying us. She took so much time to get to know us as a couple and help us to achieve the personalised, special ceremony we hoped for.
Photographer: Samantha Riles @samanthariles.weddings | Ceremony Location: The Harbour Lawn, Sydney Botanical Gardens @botanicsydney | Reception Location: The Palm House, Sydney Botanical Gardens @botanicsydney | Celebrant: Alex Loaney @thevow_ceremonies | Hire: Timbermill @timbermill Simply Seated @simply.seated Love Stoned @lovestoned.hire | Flora: Anna Henry Florist @annamayhenry | Makeup: Hannah James @hannahjamesmakeup | Hair: Hannah James @hannahjamesmakeup | Catering + Beverages: Via Napoli Surry Hills @vianapolipizzeria | Gown: Natalie Rolt @natalierolt | Dom's Suit: Woolcott Street @woolcottstofficial | Bridesmaids: Shona Joy @shonajoy | Wedding Rings: Mejuri @mejuri | Shoes: Gucci @gucci | Other Jewellery: by Charlotte @bycharlotte_ Sarah and Sebastian @sarahandsebastian + for Love and Lemons @forloveandlemons | Veil: Kyha Studios @kyhastudios