Real Wedding: Natalie & Michael’s Vibrant South Melbourne Soiree and Expert Planning Tips
An infusion of colour to match the effervescent emotions of the day underpins the aesthetics and feeling of Natalie and Michael’s stunning South Melbourne soiree. Leaning into the fact that Michael is the decisive one in the relationship and giving him the lead role in the planning made for a day that lived up to their wedding ethos – bright, fun, minimum formality, maximum party.
From their heartwarming first look to their romp through the Melbourne parks to capture their portrait sessions with the ever-fabulous Nikki McCrone, this day is equal parts genuine joy and vivid visuals. We love the combination of soft buttery yellow against deep fushia and musky lilac, juxtaposed beautifully by floral stylist With Love Sophie.
The Planning Process and Style Inspiration
Michael actually took the lead! As the decisive one in the relationship, he kept the planning on track and actually made many of the big decisions. For their style inspiration, the couple noted: "We love colour, and wanted the environment to be bright and fun!" They talked a lot of stylist, photographer, and florist Instagram pages for lots of inspiration.
During the planning process, you have lots of opportunities to put your own “spin” on things! Be it the music, the vows, the speeches, your jewellery, or your table settings – so many different ways to put your own touch on things and make them special to you.
Natalie and Michael’s Wedding Details
The following table provides an overview of the creative team behind this celebration:
| Role | Vendor |
|---|---|
| Ceremony & reception venue | Half Acre |
| Photography | Nikki McCrone |
| Celebrant | Gary Chapman |
| Florist | Sophie Bowe |
| The dress | Luv Bridal |
| Catering | Food and Desire |
Expert Tips for 2024 and 2025 Planning
Wedding Planning can be all things: exciting, stressful, daunting, hectic, relaxed, annoying, and fun. It’s perfectly normal to experience a wide gamut of emotions during your Wedding Planning and it’s ok. To ensure a smooth experience, consider these top tips:
- Get in early! Book the Vendors you love. Typically wedding planning starts 1 year out from the date, sometimes 2 years.
- Remember, there are no rules. The beauty of the modern day wedding is that you can pretty much do whatever you want. Make your day by doing it your way!
- Choose an awesome Celebrant. A really engaged and personable celebrant can set the tone for the day. Their ability to craft your story and vows into a ceremony is an amazing thing to witness.
- Consider an Unplugged Ceremony. In 2024, it’s pretty much second nature to want to whip out the mobile phone to snap a quick pic, but you may want your guests to be fully present.
Photography and Resilience
Being a wedding photographer means rolling with the punches and always being flexible for couples. As the pandemic has shown us the last few years, we can only plan so much. For instance, in some cases, couples have had to reschedule multiple times due to unexpected illnesses or circumstances.
Whether it is a high-profile event that makes it onto The Today Show or People Magazine, or a small gathering at home, the best part is knowing that you made the most of a difficult situation and helped create a great wedding filled with fun, fond, and funny memories.
Words of Wisdom for Couples
There’s no harm in asking! Some things may not be possible, but if you don’t ask, you may not know. Most importantly, take time to be with each other at different points throughout the day, and remember to eat!
Wedding Soundtrack Favorites
- Aisle: Simply the Best & Here Comes the Sun
- Reception entry: These Words
- First dance: You’re Still the One
- Last song of night: That’s Amore