Wedding | Mia & George

Tell us a little about yourselves!

We met in 2020, both based in Adelaide, Australia. While I wish I could say it was a beautiful love story, it began with a reply to an Instagram story. Nine months later—some might call it a slow burn—we officially became a couple. We got engaged at the end of 2024 and the rest is history. We’ve been inseparable ever since.

Why did you decide to get married where you did?

Whites Valley Estate is a special family property—my brother was married there a few years ago, and while hosting a wedding there involves a lot of work behind the scenes (something I’m incredibly grateful to my parents for), it meant everything to us to celebrate there as well. It’s not every day you get the chance to marry on your own family’s property. Whites Valley holds a very special place in our hearts—a charming, wholesome vineyard with a vast open lawn that offers the perfect blank canvas to create a truly personal and dream-like setting.

How many guests did you have?

250.

What was your budget?

Honestly, no budget. Closed our eyes and tried not to go too overboard haha.

Tell us about your outfits.

I was never a bride who had a “dream dress” in mind, so I spent time trying on a variety of styles to understand what suited my body and what I truly loved. I eventually travelled interstate for a consultation at Mariana Hardwick, where I found my dress. The entire experience was incredible—especially working with my seamstress, Emma. Having a gown made specifically for me meant numerous trips between Adelaide and Melbourne, but every moment was worth it. My mum came along for each visit, and those little trips together became some of my most cherished memories in the lead-up to the wedding. I chose a gown that wasn’t overly traditional, which felt very true to my style.

I wasn’t drawn to wearing a veil—especially for an outdoor setting—so instead I wore a statement neckpiece that draped down my back, creating a modern, veil-like effect with a slightly edgier feel. For shoes, I started in silver Giuseppe Zanotti heels before changing into burgundy Versace platforms for the reception—they were such a vibe and incredibly comfortable. I also chose a mini green Jacquemus bag rather than something traditionally bridal. When selecting my accessories, I was mindful to choose pieces I knew I would wear again.

George wore a custom suit from Oscar Hunt Tailors. He went with a classic black design, featuring a higher waistband, no belt and cuffed trousers, paired with black Prada loafers and his Rolex to complete the look.

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

We placed a strong focus on the overall atmosphere we wanted to create for our guests, but more importantly, it was essential that it felt true to us as a couple—relaxed and effortless, while still feeling stylish and a little different from a traditional wedding. That vision really came to life through the vendors we chose, with the help of my stylist, Emily.

We were very intentional about working with people we trusted and who genuinely understood and aligned with the aesthetic of the day. It’s something that isn’t emphasised enough—choosing vendors who match your vision and energy makes the entire planning process not only smoother, but far more enjoyable.

We also wanted the day to feel like one big party. We were quite considered with our timeline, making sure the formalities were completed earlier in the evening so there was plenty of time for dancing. There’s nothing worse than speeches running late, dinner being served too late, and only having a short window to enjoy the dance floor. We made sure everything wrapped up by 8:30pm, which helped the night feel longer and allowed everyone to really settle in and enjoy the party.

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

George is Greek Orthodox, so we included the Stefana (crowning ceremony) as part of our wedding. This was incredibly special, as we used his parents’ crowns from their own wedding. We both also have an Italian background, so later in the night we dedicated a section to celebrating that side of our culture with Italian and Greek music, including smashing plates and shots off the floor. While traditional, it brought such a fun energy to the night and really united everyone on the dance floor.

We had a close family friend, Dom, as our MC, which added an extra layer of comfort and made the evening feel so much more personal. It really makes a difference having someone who knows you well and speaks from that place, rather than simply reading from a clipboard. We also included father-daughter and mother-son dances, as we felt it was important to honour our favourite people!

Any tips for couples getting married?

The best advice we can give is to simply try and enjoy it. There’s so much build-up and inevitably a fair amount of stress that comes with planning a wedding. They say weddings bring out the best and worst in people, and in many ways, that’s true. We never fully believed it when people said it would be the best day of your life, but we can honestly say we had the most incredible day. You’ll never have all the people you love and adore in the same room again, and that alone is so special. In the week leading up, you’ll have people constantly checking in on you, and it’s such a beautiful feeling to be surrounded by that much love. It’s important not to let anything take away from that or stand in the way of fully experiencing it.

Also, if you’re having a bridal party, choose people who will genuinely support you in the lead-up and won’t add unnecessary stress. The morning of your wedding should be one of the most fun and relaxed parts of the entire day, so surround yourself with people who bring a great energy and help you feel calm, happy, and present. It really makes such a difference in setting the tone for the day—we can’t stress this enough.

Lastly, if you can, hire a stylist or venue coordinator. You don’t want to be setting up your own wedding on the day, and having someone manage the details makes such a difference. They help ensure the entire process—from planning through to the day itself—runs seamlessly, allowing you to fully relax and enjoy every moment. You won’t regret it.

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

We truly mean it when we say we had the best vendors. We feel so lucky to have worked with such an incredible team—they made the entire process enjoyable from start to finish and gave us complete peace of mind on the day, so we could be fully present and soak in every moment. Evelina, our photographer and videographer from Evelina Katarzynski, was everything we hoped for and more. I had admired her work long before the wedding, and she absolutely delivered. She captured the energy and emotion of the day so effortlessly, while always grounding George and me in the moment. Her presence is so calming, and her talent speaks for itself—we can’t thank her enough.

Emily, our stylist and planner from The Modern Approach, brought my vision to life in the most seamless way. I felt completely supported throughout the process. She connected us with vendors who truly understood our style and ensured every detail came together perfectly. The day simply would not have been possible without her.

A huge thank you to Tracy Pope from Hiline Events, our Whites Valley venue coordinator. Tracy worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make everything happen—nothing was ever too much trouble, and her dedication didn’t go unnoticed.

Nadia Travaglini and the team at Studio Botanic created the most incredible florals. I was drawn to Nadia’s unique style, and she executed everything flawlessly. There’s a reason why she is known as the best in the business. The black and plum calla lilies as our bouquets were such a standout—an edgy, statement twist that received so many compliments.

Chef Todd Steele made sure every guest was so well taken care of. The food was incredible, and we received nothing but compliments all night—which meant so much to us. Monique Moukachar from

Inked Eclipse set the tone from the very beginning. From the plum envelopes to the beautifully designed stationery, she completely understood our vision. The menus were a personal favourite and tied in perfectly with the overall table styling.

Matt from Venue Productions transformed the space with his lighting and draping. The moody, luxe atmosphere he created elevated everything and gave the venue that perfect bar-like ambiance. He’s incredibly talented and so easy to trust. Jake and Amy from

Behind the Veil Music (BHTVM). Although it was a relatively big wedding, having Jake and Amy perform an acoustic set through the ceremony and cocktail hour created a sense of intimacy and emotion especially when I walked down the aisle. They played a big role in how the ceremony felt, both for us and for our guests.

Michael Mastropaolo from Scizzor Lounge made our morning so special by closing his salon just for us. It created such a relaxed, fun environment to get ready in. He also convinced me to keep my bob for the day—which ended up being the perfect finishing touch. His team did an amazing job styling the girls.

And finally, Daniella and Anita from DA Captured—content creators are an absolute must. They captured so many beautiful, candid moments on iPhone that we can relive instantly, even providing us with a home-video style edit. Daniella also did my makeup and stayed with me throughout the day—I felt incredibly lucky to have her.

Photography & Videography: Evelina Katarzynski @evelinakatarzynski @lovebylina_ | Planning & Styling: The Modern Approach @themodernapprach_ | Coordination: Hiline Events @hiline_events | Flora: Studio Botanic @studobotanic | Ceremony & Reception Location: Whites Valley Estate @Whites

valleyestate | Celebrant: Andrew Baldino @andrewbaldino_celebrant | Hire: Honoured Hire @honoured_hire; Olympic Party Hire @olympicpartyhire | Lighting/Draping: Venue Productions @venue.productions | Makeup: Daniella Makeup Artist @lellamakeupartist; Makeup on Board @Konstanz_artistry | Hair: Scizzor Lounge @scizzorlounge | Catering & Beverages: Chef Todd Steele @cheftoddsteele | Cake: Lyons Den Cakes @lyonsdencakes | Stationery: Inked Eclipse @inked.eclipse | Entertainment: Entertainment Adelaide @entertainmentadelaide | Live Music: Behind the Veil Music @behindtheveilmusic | Content Creator: DA Captured @dacaptured | Dress & Neck Scarf: Mariana Hardwick @marianahardwick | Suit: Oscar Hunt Tailors @oscarhunttailors | Boys Suits: InStitchu @InStitchu | Bridesmaid Dress: Shona Joy @ShonaJoy | Bridesmaid Shoes: Tony Bianco @TonyBianco | Bridesmaid Bags: Zara @Zara | Bride Shoes: Giuseppe Zanotti @giuseppezanotti; Versace @Versace | Groom Shoes: Prada @Prada | Bag: Jacquemus @Jacquemus