Tell us a little about yourselves!
About two years after Taylor moved to Los Angeles from Sydney, we met through a mutual friend and have been together ever since. We now live and work in LA with our two cats, Penny and Georgie. Some of our favorite times together are spent traveling, exploring new restaurants, and cooking.
Why did you decide to get married where you did?
Having lived in Remi’s hometown of Santa Monica for 5 years, it was so special for Taylor to get married (and show her friends) her hometown, Sydney.
For our ceremony, we wanted to do something where we could all stand up and mingle before our sit-down dinner. A 2-hour cruise on the harbor seemed like the perfect idea. The bonus was that it gave all of our guests who traveled from afar a chance to see some of the most beautiful and iconic areas of Sydney - we boarded just a stone's throw from the Opera House and had beautiful views of the Botanical Gardens and Harbour Bridge.
As for our reception, good food and wine were our #1 priority, and Chiswick has just that. Plus, we knew that with the gardens and farm-style interior, our styling could be minimal (this took the pressure off, especially when organizing a wedding from across the world).
How many guests did you have?
We had 50 guests. It was so nice to look around the room and see everyone who was special to us. It also meant we had the opportunity to spend time with every single guest on our day.
What was your budget?
About $50,000.
Tell us about your outfits.
Taylor: I found my dress while in Portland, Oregon with my mum at Brides For A Cause. It's a second-hand nonprofit that resells wedding dresses to raise funds for charity. It was such a fun experience - we got to browse through hundreds of dresses from all iconic designers and try them on ourselves in a fitting room. I chose a form-fitting dress with a long train and veil. The dress required zero alterations - the perfect fit!
For my reception dress, I wanted something fun and memorable. The tulle detailing on the shoulders felt very me and something I would only ever wear for my own wedding.
Remi: Despite having a relaxed ceremony on the water, I wanted to wear a black tux for a timeless and formal look. I opted for a black suit and white shirt from The Black Tux and a bow tie.
What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?
Since we weren’t having the typical dance floor and wedding after-party, we wanted to include lots of moments where people could stand up and get to know each other, especially with having so many guests from different places. We chose a 2-hour cruise after our ceremony and had cocktails and lawn games in the gardens in front of Chiswick before dinner.
Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?
A casual and intimate ceremony that reflected us as a couple, as well as handwritten vows. Neither of us ever envisioned a formal ceremony, so we had a casual ceremony that was full of laughs (and tears). Guests saw us before we boarded, so it took off some of the nerves.
Any tips for couples getting married?
Don’t sweat the small stuff - we didn’t have a wedding planner and knew that on the day, there were chances that things may not go to plan, but that was ok! At the end of the day, you’re going to be surrounded by your family and friends, and you’re marrying your best friend. We only wish we could relive it again!
Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?
Our photographer Damien Milan perfectly captured our day and all the little moments throughout. The photos were a mix of film and digital, which was such a nice touch. We loved his suggestions on when and where to capture locations (since we truly wouldn’t have known otherwise!)
We had Duan and Only sing and play guitar throughout our 2-hour cruise. His set list included all of Remi's and our favorite songs, and he truly set the tone for such a special day.
Lastly, our celebrant Bec Page made us feel so comfortable and as if we knew her (even though we only met in person at the ceremony). She took the chance to get to know us as a couple, made our ceremony so personal, and made everyone laugh. We loved that she stayed on for our cruise and we got to spend more time together!
Photographer: Damien Milan @damienmilan_photographer | Ceremony Location: Onboard the Royal, Rosman Cruises @rosmancruises | Reception Location: Chiswick Woollahra @chiswickwoollahra | Celebrant: Bec Page @thelovepagecelebrant | Entertainment: Duan and Only @duanandonly__ |
Flora: The Sisters @the_sisters | Makeup Artist: Katie Moore @katiemooremakeup | Hair Stylist: Carly Van der Meer @carlyvandermeerhair | Catering + Beverages: Grazing onboard from Shylee Binder + Chiswick Woollahra @chiswickwoollahra | Cake: Chiswick Woollahra @chiswickwoollahra | Stationery: by the couple | Taylor’s Wedding Dress: Brides For A Cause @brides_for_a_cause | Reception Dress: Sonya @sonyamoda_ | Remi’s Suit + Shoes: The Black Tux @theblacktux |
Engagement Ring: The Diamond Center @diamondcenterinc | Wedding Rings: JK & Co (Taylor) @jkdiamondco + Cartier @cartier | Shoes: Gucci @gucci (Ceremony) + Malone Souliers (Reception) @malonesouliers | Earrings: Nadri @nadrijewelry | Wedding Party Attire: All wore their own dresses/suits with no requirements for color/design