CASSIE & MARK
12.1.2019
120 - Guests
HOW DID YOU MET
We knew eachother through mutual friends, however it wasn’t until I stalked him on instagram and liked all his photos until I got his real attention. He quickly asked me on a date and we have been inseparable ever since.
YOUR ENGAGEMENT STORY
Mark suprised me with a stay at Jonahs, Whale Beach -we were leaving for Bali the next day, however, he said he wanted to take me somewhere nice for lunch. We parked in Rose Bay, near Catalina - I assumed we were walking across there, but then he grabbed my hand and pointed to the seaplane, as soon as I saw that I knew something was up! We boarded the seaplane and headed to Jonah’s where we stayed the night. Whilst arriving into the room we were enjoying some champagne when there was a knock at the door to say they were ready for our massages. We went for our couples massage and I had fallen asleep - Whilst asleep, Mark had taken over without me knowing and started massaging me- he pulled down my eye mask and asked me to marry him! To say I was shocked and caught off guard was an understatement. He has a beautiful ring which he designed with the jeweller. We then went back to the room and got ready for dinner and he surprised me again and had the waiter bring out a beautiful tennis bracelet at dessert. The next day we flew back on the seaplane and headed to the airport straight to Bali for 2 weeks, it was amazing!
PREPARATION – COUNTDOWN BEGINS
Getting ready on the day was very low key, I got ready with all my bridesmaids we had breaky at the house and Lenny played around us getting our hair and makeup done. I gave them all some jewellery to wear on the day- each some beautiful earrings to suit each of them and a pajama set. My twin brother dropped over while we were getting ready and handed me a hand written letter, about how proud he was and how he couldn’t wait to see me walk down the isle. He is not usually overly sentimental so this was something that I’ll always remember.
GROOM + GROOMSMEN ATTIRE
Mark and the groomsmen wore MJ Bale suits. Mark wore black pants and a white shirt with a linen jacket and beautiful patent black shoes. The groomsman wore black suit pants, a slightly darker coloured jacket to mark and a white shirt - also by MJ BALE
PREPARATION – COUNTDOWN BEGINS
Getting ready on the day was very low key, I got ready with all my bridesmaids we had breaky at the house and Lenny played around us getting our hair and makeup done. I gave them all some jewellery to wear on the day- each some beautiful earrings to suit each of them and a pajama set. My twin brother dropped over while we were getting ready and handed me a hand written letter, about how proud he was and how he couldn’t wait to see me walk down the isle. He is not usually overly sentimental so this was something that I’ll always remember.
BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES
The bridesmaids all wore the same dress - it was a satin slip dress with a slight cowl neck, spaghetti straps in black. I wanted something that was flattering to all of their different body shapes and for it to just be a classic style that I would look back on and think was awful.
BRIDESMAID’S SHOES
I didn’t want the bridesmaids to be too matchy so I let them wear whatever they wanted as they are all a little different. The all chose their own black strappy heels.
THE DRESS
I had a two piece wedding dress - I have a sleeve obsession, and fell in love with a beautiful blush bodice with dramatic off the shoulder sleeves, with ivory detailing throughout. The top was The Marlow Bodice by Acler and the beautiful Sierra from @babushkaballerina hand sewed double breasted buttons to the back to make it more bridal. The Skirt was from @babushkaballerina - The Margot skirt which I made a few changes with Sierra to make it my own! It couldnt have turned out any more beautiful and it really flattered my body! I then had a custom party/cocktail dress that Sierra designed - it was something else!A beauiful white mini with dramatic balloon sleeves on the shoulders, it was V shaped on the back and just so beautiful I have never seen anyone wear anything like it. Sierra was amazing we sat down together after sharing so many inspo pics over instagram and she sketched the perfect design! It fit like a glove and I feel so special that she created something so different just for me! Sierra was unbelievable and made the process of finding/creating your dream dress special! i love her!!!
BRIDE’S SHOES
RAYE - The Julian Heel, beautiful cream tie up linen heels, not your tradition wedding style shoe but matched by dress perfectly.
HAIR & MAKEUP
My hair was plain and simple - I don’t like wearing my hair down so my hair dresser said to me don’t do something that isnt you for your wedding day, because you’ll hate it. I had it in sleek pony with a few extensions through it. My makeup was very fresh and fairly natural. All I asked was for it to be dewy, glowy and not too heavy.
JEWELLERY & ACCESSORIES
I don’t wear too much jewellery day to day, so I wore my tennis bracelet on the day and had beautiful earrings custom made long pearl drops made by Maison Roe - I loved them so much they were a statement but not too heavy. I also wore a little ring my Grandmother gave me to wear on the day as she could not be there, so that was really special
WEDDING LOCATION/ VENUE
Moby Dicks, Whale Beach - we wanted something coastal and relaxed. We loved Moby Dicks because we could get married in the courtyard so our guests could just go to the one location.
TRANSPORT
The house I was staying in was right next door to the venue so we literally just walked up the driveway. Mark had someone from Jonah’s take him down to the venue and a family member took us back up to Jonahs after the wedding.
WEDDING SONGS
Walking down the aisle - BEYONCE XO - sung by our accoustic band
First Dance - we didn’t have one
CEREMONY
I wanted everything fresh, white, coastal and summery. We were blessed with a very pretty courtyard with beautiful greenery that didn’t actually need alot of work to make it beautiful.We had wooden white chairs, and some bunting overhead!
WEDDING PLANNER/ WEDDING STYLIST
Anna and the team at Moby Dicks literally organised everything, along with my florist who arranged everything with them too - it made it so simple, stress free and easy! Mark is also not your average male - he was super involved and helped arrange alot of it direct with Anna!
CELEBRANT
Coral Kortepel - I had been reccomended her by a few different people. she was so elegant and well spoken, we wanted a no fuss ceremony - as short as possible.
READINGS
We both made our own special vows to each other, I remember feeling butterflies reading them to him - It really made the moment so much more special for me.
WEDDING RINGS
My engagement ring is a pear shape ring by Midas Jewellers- I had two wedding bands made with a rose gold setting one was a V shape to sit at the top of the pear. Mark can’t really wear a ring day to day with his job so he had a silver signet ring made by Cort Jewellery with a palm tree and my initials.
FLOWER GIRLS/PAGEBOY OUTFITS
Lenny our little boy wore - Bardot jnr, funnily enough I stumbled across a blazer that was almost identical to Marks suit jacket. We paired it with some chinos also from Bardot and a white linen shirt from Country Road and some little black van sneakers. Capri our flower girl - wore a handmade tulle puffy dress made by my friends mum - she matched me perfectly and looked like a little dolly.
PHOTOGRAPHY
We chose Rachel Karra - she was really relaxed , we didn’t want to spend too much time having photos rather just enjoy the day. We asked her to capture us candidly and not too staged.
WHAT MARRIAGE MEANS TO YOU
A spirit that binds you closer than any spoken or written words can ever do. A promise of two hearts and a promise that takes a lifetime to fulfil.
THE FLOWERS & BOUQUETS
I was on Pinterest alot and instagram for florals. I knew what colours I loved and what I didn’t like but had no idea about what florals were in season and overall what we could and couldn’t source. Rach our florist was so easy to deal with she literally knew exactly what I wanted and I think even the day before I sent scree shots of something I had seen and she delivered exactly what I was after. My Bridal bouquet was the same as my bridesmaids just slightly larger - I kept with the theme of how we styled the venue and used the same florals plus a few extra.
STATIONERY/INVITATIONS
We did our invites via paperlesspost - I have a habit of losing invitations and I thought this was a good way for it to be in everyones calendars easily. The stationary with menu was done by Moby dicks.
DID YOU STICK WITH THE TRADITION OF FAVORS /BONBONNIERE?
We had custom made cookies, with our initials and wedding date stamped on them in a beautiful blush pink.
FOOD & BEVERAGES
We had a sit down style wedding, with floating canapes straight after the ceremony with drinks waiting for everyone as soon as they walked down the stairs. The menu was a share style menu - which everyone raved about! There was plenty of food and no one left hungry, as the food kept being topped up until everyone was full. At the end of the night we had glazed ham mini burgers too!
RECEPTION DÉCOR & DETAILS
The decor for the reception was fresh and white interiors, we had beautiful wreaths from the ceiling that Rach from @lavandedesigns decorated perfectly with bright greenery, blush and white florals (tropical greenery, white orchids and roses) along with festoon lighting. A rustic door seating chart with everyones name hand written into the glass and beautiful centrepieces on each table with the same florals. I used to spend hours on pinterest and just showed Rach the type of florals I loved and the colours and she worked out the rest!
YOUR MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT
Seeing the tears in Mark’s eyes when he saw Lenny and I coming down the aisle.
OTHER MEMORABLE MOMENTS
Saying our vows to eachother - we had both written our own so it made it so much more special. Having Lenny play down the isle with his new train that he was given on the day as a present, made the ceremony so us!
HONEYMOON TIME BABY!!!
We went to Byron Bay for 2 weeks - we stayed at The Byron and Elements - both amazing hotels that I would love to stay at again! I didnt want to be on a long flight with a toddler as I thought it might take me a week to get over ahaha, so Byron was the perfect escape- warm beautiful and easy!
IF YOU COULD GIVE OTHER BRIDES ONE PIECE OF ADVICE…
Don’t sweat the small stuff, no one notices any of the small stuff that you worry about! Amazing food, good company, great music and flowing alcohol is all you need to stress over AND try to enjoy the process - its over so quick!
V E N D O R S
PHOTOGRAPHY: Rachel Kara - @rachelkara1
BRIDE'S DRESS: Top - Acler @aclerwomen, skirt @babushkaballerina, second dress @babushkaballerina
BRIDE’S SHOES: Raye - Julian heel @rayethelabel
BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES: seed hertitage @seedheritage
BRIDESMAIDS SHOES - @tonybianco, @billini
FLOWERGIRLS/PAGEBOYS: Flowergirl - custom made by her grandmother, pageboy - Bardot Jnr jacket @bardotjunior, Zara - chinos @zara, Shirt @countryroad, shoes @vans
GROOMS FORMAL WEAR: MJ Bale @mjbale
GROOMSMEN WEAR: MJ Bale @mjbale
WEDDING RINGS: Midas Jewellers @midasjewellerymiranda
JEWELLERY & ACCESSORIES: Tennis bracelet - @midasjewellerymiranda, Earrings @maisonroe
HAIR: Carin - @brushsouthernhighlands
MAKEUP: Dani - @danitienemakeupartist
STATIONERY/INVITATIONS/SIGNAGE - @paperlesspost, signage @mobydickswhalebeach
FLORIST: Lavande Designs @lavandedesigns
WEDDING VENUE: (CEREMONY + RECEPTION) Moby Dicks @mobydickswhalebeach
WEDDING STYLIST: Rachel - Lavande Designs @lavandedesigns
WEDDING PLANNER: Anna - Moby Dicks
CELEBRANT: Coral Kortepel
ENTERTAINMENT: DJ - @richypenny, band - @rellekbrown
CATERING: Moby Dicks @mobydickswhalebeach
CAKE: Lexie - @Lexiquisite_creations
HONEMOON DESTINATION: Byron Bay NSW