Wedding | Zia & Michael

Tell us a little about yourselves!

I am an Interior Designer, and Michael is a Construction Project Manager. Coming from the same high-intensity industry, we instantly connected over the pace, pressure, and passion that comes with the work.

We met at a spontaneous house party at Michael’s parents, some girlfriends and I gate-crashed an all-boys BBQ that turned into such a fun night.

It was right at the beginning of COVID, so it was a strange time to start something. It began as just friendly catchups, a way to break free from the isolation of our homes. In the middle of all that chaos, we became one another’s sanctuary.

Why did you decide to get married where you did?

We felt strongly about the whole experience being at a single venue. Somewhere we could relax and enjoy an intimate rehearsal and dinner the night before with our loved ones, and at the end of the big day, somewhere we could simply wander back up to with ease.

We were instantly smitten with Krinklewood Estate, its laid-back European charm, beautiful green grounds, and the quintessential sounds of old-school French jazz music playing upon arrival. From the first moment, we were hooked. We had made the trip on a beautiful winter's Sunday nearly 18 months before our wedding, we both could instantly see the vision and had no doubt Krinklewood Estate was for us. On the day we let the pure beauty of Krinklewood Estate, do all the talking with very little styling to keep the venue is its most raw form.

How many guests did you have?

We had a total of 111 guests (excluding Michael and me), with friends and family flying into Sydney from all over Australia. We also had guests travel from London and Canada.

I am from Perth originally, so I have a lot of family and friends interstate. It felt so special to have all our loved ones gathered in one spot. There is something magical about knowing how much effort everyone went to, to celebrate us. We were immersed in love the entire week.

What was your budget?

We worked hard with our planner to keep within our budget; however, we did go over, absolutely no regret here! The day was worth every cent.

Tell us about your outfits.

This was my favourite part!!! When it came to the dress, I knew I wanted to go custom, but I didn’t have a particular vision in mind, and when I met with designer Lillian Khallouf, I knew she was the one. I trusted her completely, and our creative chemistry was instant. Coming from a design background myself, I loved handing her full creative control. Midway through the design process, we changed the colour of the fabric from ivory to what I describe as a ‘beautiful warm buttery yellow’. Lillian Khallouf loved how the dress was coming together in calico, and we both agreed that a white dress wasn’t the right fit for me, it needed to be something different. From the hand-dyed tulle to the final touch of my vintage silk veil, Lillian Khallouf crafted something timeless yet raw, elegant yet edgy, and the result exceeded my every expectation.

During the dress design process, I became enamoured with the raw, frayed-edge detailing on the calico prototype. That single detail went on to inspire our entire reception aesthetic. My incredible mother-in-law handmade the calico tablecloths and covers, each beautifully frayed by hand. We kept the styling minimal, focusing on texture and layers of fabric rather than florals. Even my bridesmaids (who consisted of my three sisters and best friend from high school) carried silk bags from Tendresse Studio in place of bouquets, a subtle, modern twist. Each of the girls wore white, choosing dresses that reflected their own personalities and comfort.

Michael and his groomsmen wore custom suits from InStitchu, with Michael in a classic tuxedo accented by satin detailing. He wanted to keep his look quite traditional and sophisticated, he wore dress shoes from Aquila, which were detailed with a dual monk strap, bringing a contemporary element to round out his look.

Our wedding bands were crafted by the talented team at Union Studios, incorporating elements gifted to us from Michael’s aunt, a sentimental touch that made them even more special.

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

We really focused on our guests, making sure they felt comfortable and that we could give them the best experience possible. Michael is the logical, practical thinker between us, which perfectly balances my wilder, more creative ideas.

Our goal was for the day to feel uniquely us, a true reflection of the balance that makes us work so well together. We didn’t want to follow the usual script word for word, we wanted to bring a bit of edge and create something with a clear point of difference.

We were incredibly fortunate to have such talented vendors to lean on throughout the process. They’re the experts, and their guidance was invaluable during the entire planning journey.

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

Our vision for the day was high-energy yet refined, a celebration centred around good food, wine, and exceptional company. The talented team at Fennel & Co. delivered exactly that, with an Italian-inspired banquet that paired perfectly with Krinklewood’s delicious wines.

To make the day more personal, we collaborated with friend and artist Kristian Hawker, to design four custom scarves as gifts for our guests. With a black and white dress code in place, we wanted the scarves to bring a vibrant contrast, and they did just that, bursting with colour and personality beyond what we could have imagined.

It was important for us to include Michael’s Greek heritage. We spent time ensuring this was woven throughout the day's celebration. Our ceremony, officiated by the wonderful Pip Best, included a traditional Stefana Crowning, a meaningful nod to his culture. Later, we made our reception entrance to a Greek song, a spontaneous late addition that turned into one of the night’s highlights. The energy was electric, scarves swung through the air, everyone was on their feet, and it set the tone for the night. Later in the evening, once the dancefloor was well and truly pumping, there was Greek dancing, and many a limoncello shots were shared.

Any tips for couples getting married?

We had some beautiful messages from people close to us in the lead-up that really helped us slow down and remember why we were doing this in the first place. We’d love to pass on that similar advice:

In the weeks leading up to the day, and speaking as detail-focused people, try not to get lost in the small things or the endless “what ifs.” What will be, will be. You’ve already done the hard work, everything is in motion, and you have an amazing team who will make the day truly special for you.

On the day, stay close to each other, pause, look around, and soak in all the magic and love surrounding you. It’s such a rare and special moment in your lives, having all your favourite people gathered in one place. It truly is the most surreal, utterly alive feeling.

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

Truly, every single one of our vendors was nothing short of amazing! We were so fortunate to be surrounded by such an incredible team of people who helped bring our dream day to reality. We had nothing but positive feedback from all our guests about every little detail of the day.

A huge shout-out to Blaise Bell, our photographer. From the very beginning, he made every element of the process smooth and comfortable. We both can feel a little awkward in front of a camera, and he immediately made us both feel so at ease. His expert eye and kind nature made him a dream to work with on the day. He even made the time to tie all five of the boys bow ties and helped my Dad with his too. His recommendation to have Content Creator Amber from Modern Day Romance was also a highlight, they worked together so seamlessly, capturing beautifully candid moments throughout the day. We are obsessed with the results and have been reliving the day through their creative eyes ever since.

India and her partner Ed, who were our on-the-day co-ordinators, were absolute legends. Our planner, Montana Birt, who helped us bring everything together from Adelaide, brought Sydney-based India on board to ensure the bump in and out and flow of the entire day was unbelievably easy. They were a dream to work with, nothing was too difficult, and if anything went wrong, we had zero idea. We were so grateful to have them involved on the day and in the lead-up, they calmed our nerves, and nothing felt too overwhelming with them by our side.

Britt Fordham, Amy Hanneman and her assistant Dean (Hair and MUA’s) made the morning extra special. Getting ready together in the residence with my sisters, best friend, and Mum created the exact energy I needed. The day couldn’t have started better, they brought the most perfect vibe, and I felt calm and relaxed from the beginning. Everyone connected so naturally, and I was incredibly grateful to have them be part of the experience. They helped make the morning what it was.

Photographer: Blaise Bell @blaisebell | Planning: Montana Birt @bymontanabirt | Day of Coordinator:

 India Deree @india.deree | Styling: By the couple with Montana Birt @bymontanabirt ,India Deree @india.deree & Michael's mother | Content Creator: Modern Day Romance @modernday.romance | Ceremony & Reception Location: Krinklewood Estate @krinklewood | Celebrant: Pip Best In Light Ceremonies @pipbest_inlightceremonies | Hire: Simply Seated @simply.seated | Makeup: Amy Hanne-

man Makeup @amyhanneman_makeupartist & (Assisted by) The Boys Studio @theboysstudio | Hair:Britt

Fordham Hair @brittfordhamhair | Catering & Beverages: Fennel &Co. @fennelandco.catering | Cake: Gorgeous Cakes By Helen @gorgeouscakesbyhelen | Stationery: by the couple | Entertainment: The White Tree @thewhitetree | Marquee: Katalane @katalanetents | Transport: Grape Experiences Tours @grape experiencetours | Drapery: Drapeologist @drap ologist | Dress & Veil: Lillian Khallouf  @lilliankhallouf | Suits: Institchu @institchu | Custom Scarves Favors: Kristian Hawker @kristianhawker | Engagement Ring: Diamond Emporium @diamondemporium | Wedding Rings: Union Studios @madeby

unionstudios | Shoes: Chloe @chloe & Aquila @aquila_est1958 | Earrings: from Zia's mother and MIL | Girls Getting Ready Outfits: Kat the Label @kat_thelabel, Maem Disko @maemdisko__ & Free People @freepeople | Handbags: Tendresse Bags @tendressestudio | Bridesmaids: Effie Kats @effiekatsofficial, Helsa @helsastudio & Montsand @montsand_official