Real Wedding | Elle & Matthew

Tell us a little about yourselves!

Matt and I have been together for 13 years now. On our 12th year anniversary we (finally) got engaged. 

A little about me. I am a social person, although I can be shy at the first initial meeting. I am patient, affectionate, loyal and trustworthy. I am particular in the way I deliver myself and do things. I can be dramatic, but for good reason. I have found I have gotten funnier with age -maybe from hanging around Matt for too long!

A little about Matt. Although he hates being the centre of attention, he sure knows how to put himself into that position. If I were to best describe Matt to someone, I would say he is bloody annoying, yet I find myself always wanting to be in his company. He is forever the comedian with those quick witty replies. You have barely finished your sentence and he has a funny or sarcastic remark to reply with. Although Matt portrays his humorous side a lot, he has also got a sweet, gentle, loving and nurturing side too. 

Matt and I are very similar. We both share the same values when it comes to family and friends. We both have a strong work ethic. We both love to spend money on our fashion and getting dressed up for occasions. We love to socialise with our friends and enjoy holidaying at new destinations. We are both very neat and tidy and love to be organised with ticking off lists. 

We also love the best of both worlds. We love getting dressed up and enjoying a night out trying new restaurants and bars and on the other hand we love a night in at home cooking dinner, listening to music on our record player and enjoying a night in with our fur babies Henne (cat) and Ronnie (dog).

Why did you decide to get married where you did?

Poet’s Lodge holds a very special place in our hearts. It was where we spent a relaxing weekend celebrating our 12th year anniversary followed by a very special proposal. 

The morning we were leaving we decided it was the perfect place for us. It provided a homely, intimate and aesthetically pleasing environment, which we could envision our family and friends celebrating our love with us.

How many guests did you have?

58 guests, including Matt and myself.

What was your budget?

As we decided on a smaller wedding, initially we discussed a budget of 35-40k, however we definitely went over budget. All worth it of course!

Tell us about your outfits.

Dress by Kyha Studios. Such a fabulous and fun experience in store with the girls. I chose the Hazel dress, as it showcased elegance, romance and a touch of sophisticated style. 

Bridesmaids wore the Poppy dress by Johansen. Two of my bridesmaids were pregnant and this style of dress made them feel beautiful and comfortable. 

Matt and his groomsmen wore custom made suits from YSG Tailors. it was such a cool and seamless process. The boys had multiple fittings and loved each one. Matt loves his fashion and style so always wanted to go custom made.

What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?

To have fun and enjoy every moment. At the beginning of planning it was easy and light as we had always discussed what was most important to us for our special day. We had vendors already in mind and had a very clear idea of what our vision was. Our vision was for our day to be intimate, heartfelt and surrounded with the people we love the most.

Unfortunately, towards the end it began to feel stressful. For two people who are very particular about the finer details, I found myself stressing. As we didn’t have a wedding planner and were doing everything ourselves, I found it overwhelming. But looking back now and receiving compliments on how beautiful the day was and what we achieved, it was all worth it.

Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?

Our family and friends mean everything to us. So, we wanted to include as many of them into our ceremony as possible.

Any tips for couples getting married?

Enjoy the engagement period and enjoy the process of planning, it goes by too quickly. Enjoy date nights with your partner where you sit down with a bottle of wine and go over bit by bit. Don’t make it feel like a chore to sit down and get lists ticked off. Try not to stress over the little things as when the day arrives none of those matters. Take it all in, be present, at the end of the day you’re going to marry the love of your life.

Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?

We loved each and every one of our vendors. 

Natalie Drum, our wedding celebrant. I have known Nat since primary school days, so I always had my heart set on her. Not only is she beautiful on the outside, but she also has such a warm, calming manner which made us so at ease during the ceremony and one to remember. 

Mandy Wood, our photographer. We had such a pleasant experience with Mandy. Not only was she easy going and extremely accommodating to us, but she also made Matt feel very comfortable in front of a camera. We had lots of laughs on the day with Mandy and Scott and have highly recommended them to others. 

Seani Marchetti, our musician. Seani knew how to read the room. He was fun and got all of our family and friends kicking up their heels. 

Amelia from Designs To Adore. Amelia was so lovely to work with. Every email I sent to change or confirm our stationery order, Amelia would respond within minutes and have it sorted. 

Angeline O’Bryan, the host of Poet’s Lodge. Angeline was amazing! Always a phone call away and made such a conscious effort to bring our vision to life.

Photographer: Mandy Wood @Mandywood.studio | Ceremony & Reception Location: Poet’s Lodge, Daylesford @poetslodge | Celebrant: Natalie Drum @nataliedrumcelebrant | Entertainment: Seani Marchetti @helloseani | Flora: Wombats Hill Florist, Daylesford | Makeup Artist: Make up by Alessandra @makeupbyalessandra_ | Hair Stylist: James Gates - Blake And Co Hairdressing @james.blakeandco | Cake: Mignone Cakes @mignonecakes | Stationery: Designs To Adore @designstoadore | Dress: Kyha Studios @khyastudios | Engagement & Wedding Rings: Parker Diamonds  @parkerdiamonds | Shoes: Jimmy Choo & Aquila | Earrings: Jolie and Deen | Bridesmaids Dresses: Poppy by Johansen | Groom & Groomsmen Suits: YSG Tailors @ysgtailors