Tell us a little about yourselves!
We are Max and Emily, living in Sydney and have been together for six and a half years. We both work in the tech industry. Emily is creative and Max is technical - we’re opposites in lots of ways (including our heights!) but complement each other well. We also have Max’s two beautiful daughters and two adopted kittens living with us.
Our wedding planning focused on creating the perfect vibe - and for us that meant an intimate, chic, fun and memorable experience for us and our guests.
In terms of aesthetics, we channeled an 'Old Hollywood Garden Party.'
Why did you decide to get married where you did?
The dream was to do a beautiful country estate wedding but many of our guests had newborns and young children so it wasn't ideal to make them travel. We decided to keep it local and narrowed our options to Sydney.
We chose Chiswick Woollahra for the reception because we loved the physicality of the venue - floor to ceiling bi-folding glass doors looking onto Chiswick Garden. It nailed the chic but intimate vibe. Initially we planned on doing the ceremony in the public garden however, felt it lacked the intimacy we wanted for our ceremony.
After looking for nearby ceremony locations we found the little courtyard at the Intercontinental Double Bay. Its French provincial style perfectly matched our aesthetic vision and provided just the right ambiance for our intimate gathering of guests.
How many guests did you have?
We ended up having just under 50 people and that allowed us to have meaningful moments with each guest, without feeling rushed.
What was your budget?
Our initial budget was $50k. However, we ended up spending $70k.
Tell us about your outfits.
We have always loved black tie events and for our special day we wanted our nearest and dearest dressed up, looking and feeling their best. It also complemented the old Hollywood charm we were aiming for.
Emily: I always imagined a non-traditional wedding dress for the ceremony however, being 5 feet tall I struggled to find anything ‘off the rack’ that I felt special in. I ended up opting for a structured off the shoulder gown from Hera Couture and felt incredible in it.
During the week of our wedding, Sydney experienced record-breaking rainfall. The idea of manoeuvring my soaked dress at the reception made me consider a second outfit. I panic shopped the day before the wedding and as luck would have it I found a simple white slip dress across the road from the hotel. I managed to get it tailored in a matter of hours and wore a gorgeous pearl Sandro jacket over the top which became my favourite piece from the whole wedding.
Max’s outfit experience was nowhere near as chaotic as mine! He wore a dinner suit from Peter Jackson that needed minimal tailoring and he looked a million bucks.
What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?
We wanted the wedding to feel uniquely ‘us’ so that we could be relaxed and enjoy every single aspect.
At first, we had made up our minds not to have a first dance. The reception (taking place at a restaurant) didn't have a designated dance floor, and the traditional first dance styles we had seen just didn't resonate with us.
Six weeks before the wedding, we had a change of heart and decided it would be exciting to surprise our guests with a non-traditional first dance. We put together a medley of 3 songs from different genres and choreographed a fun 90-second routine. We rehearsed in the evenings after work, and it turned out to be a huge hit, and was one of our most cherished memories from the day.
Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?
It was important that the ceremony reflected our unique journey and we wanted the girls to feel included without putting the pressure of a speech on them. Our celebrant suggested they be the ring bearers so they could stand beside us as we exchanged rings and this was perfect.
I took the time to carefully craft the ceremony script, expressing my deep admiration for how amazing Max is as a Dad to both the girls. I also shared how honored I felt to officially become his wife and their stepmum.
Any tips for couples getting married?
When it comes to choosing vendors make sure you choose people who you trust and leave you feeling positive after that initial interaction. You will spend a lot of time together planning, emailing, and of course they’ll be playing a major role in your big day.
Our vendors were not only experts in their respective crafts but also some of the kindest individuals we've had the pleasure of meeting. Having complete trust and confidence in your vendors allows you to fully immerse yourself in the joy of your wedding day.
Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?
Matt and Laura from Good Day Dwyer were the MVPs of our wedding. We spent the entire day (and night) with them and they were just the best. Having seen Matt’s film photography and videography we knew he would nail the brief but we also trusted his expertise to guide us on the day. He and Laura are the best team and made our day extra special.
Renee and Jamie, the talented duo from Tobi Tobi, were a dream come true. As soon as Max and I were engaged I knew I wanted their music incorporated into our special day. I actually booked them before I had organised anything else - I knew they would bring magic.
Emily Fausset is a hair and makeup goddess. I was lucky enough to meet her through a friend who was also getting married and we all became very close. Em is a total professional who trained with Bobbi Brown in London and will nail any brief.
Finally, our florist Anna May Henry, a genuine artist who champions local growers with a sustainable floristry approach, was an obvious choice. Her expertise lies in crafting breathtaking installations and meadowscapes, effortlessly bringing our vision to life.
Photography & Videography : Good Day Dwyer @gooddaydwyer | Planning & Styling: by Emily | Flora: Anna May Henry @annamayhenry | Ceremony Location: Courtyard at the Intercontinental Double Bay @intercontinentaldoublebay | Reception Location: Chiswick Woollahra @chiswickwoollahra | Celebrant: Jessie Cachillo @jessiecacchillocele | HMUA: Emily Fausset
@emilyfaussetmakeup | Cake: Chiswick Woollahra @chiswickwoollahra | Stationery: Paper Paper Co.
@paperpaper.co | Entertainment: Tobi Tobi @tobitobi.co | Hire: Moments Event Hire @moments.to.love. Prestige Mini Bus @prestigeminibus & (Candles) Girl Friday Weddings
@girlfridayweddings | Ceremony Dress: Hera Couture @heracouture | Reception Dress: Rumer The Label @rumerthelabel | Reception Jacket: Sandro @sandroparis | Suit: Peter Jackson @peterjackson | Handbag: Vanina @vanina_world | Engagement Ring: Diamond Elite @diamondeliteofficial | Wedding Rings: Cerrone / Diamond Elite @cerronejewellers | Shoes: Novo @novoshoes | Earrings: designed by Emily's Mother / Prischl @prischljewellers