A Blooming Vintage-Inspired Wedding on Palm Beach’s Waterfront

A violin-serenaded ceremony, dusty pink florals, and romantic elegance on the shores of Sydney

When romance meets elevation and vintage charm collides with modern flair, the result is not just a destination wedding, but an experience, as was the case with Georgia and Shane’s Palm Beach, Sydney celebration. Their day unfolded in a beautiful garden at a stunning waterfront estate, where every detail exuded heartfelt luxury. From the moment guests arrived, they stepped into a scene straight out of a modern fairy tale: bespoke dinnerware, a solo violinist serenading the bespoke aisle, and florals that looked as though they had just been handpicked from a garden. With every thoughtful detail and heartfelt moment, Georgia and Shane created a day that felt like poetry brought to life.

Our Love Story

^{The Day We Met}

Shane and I first met in July of 2012—13 years ago now. Although we shared many mutual friends, it was at a friend’s party where our paths finally crossed. Fast forward six years, Shane asked me on a date, and from that moment on, we’ve been together ever since.

^{The Proposal}

One of our favorite holiday spots in Australia has always been Byron Bay—it’s like a home away from home. Shane booked a long weekend at one of our favorite hotels, Rae’s on Wategos. When we arrived, I could tell Shane was nervous. We checked into our suite, and there were red rose petals scattered from the doorstep through to the bed. A heart made of petals spelled out, “Will You Marry Me”, and there Shane was—down on one knee. I said yes.

^{The Engagement Ring}

I always wanted something different. Shane worked with Diamond Emporium to design my engagement ring—a tilted pear-shaped diamond with a hidden halo on a gold band. It’s just perfect.

Our Wedding

^{The Vision}

My vision for the day was romantic, elevated, and vintage—but done in a way that felt classic rather than themed. Belinda, our wedding planner, helped me design an experience that engaged all the senses: a beautiful setting for the eyes, emotive music for the ears and soul, delicious food and drinks, fresh local florals that scented the reception, and high-quality serviceware for touch. These key elements helped shape and focus my vision.

^{Our Team of Vendors}

Our wedding day wouldn’t have been the same without Belinda Brett from The Curated Life. Belinda helped bring together some of the best vendors in the industry: Reigan Derry, Yena Choi, and Rich Penny for music; Pete Karlstrom and Dear Vincent for photo and video; and our celebrant Aniella Batten, who is also incredible at content creation. My makeup was done by my talented friend Jasmine Abdallaoui, and hair by Henry Burke. I had previously worked with Lauranne Cheong at The Pleasantry, so I knew I wanted her to design my stationery. Our flowers were also by The Curated Life, and all catering was by Bert's Bar & Brasserie.

^{The Location}

This took quite a bit of time. I initially considered a city location, but it just didn’t feel right. After discussing it with my planner, I realized I wanted a destination wedding—but somewhere that wasn’t too far for our guests to travel. We chose Palm Beach, which ended up being the perfect choice.

^{The Ceremony}

Our planner sourced a beautiful waterfront house in Palm Beach with stunning views and a huge garden for the ceremony. I wanted everyone to be seated, and since we had plenty of space, Belinda designed a circular layout so we felt surrounded by our loved ones. We had a custom aisle and staging made by our friends at Chopt Studio, and a beautiful solo violinist, Yena Choi, who set the scene as guests arrived.

^{The Cocktail Hour}

We served our favorite cocktails and Champagne in the same garden as the ceremony. It was the start of daylight savings, so we all enjoyed watching the sun go down over the water before heading to Bert’s Bar & Brasserie for the reception.

^{The Reception}

Bert’s Bar & Brasserie in Newport already has such a unique and beautiful style that we simply enhanced it with flowers and candles for a romantic touch.

A Blooming Vintage-Inspired Wedding on Palm Beach’s Waterfront

Working with our planner and stylist, we created a unique look for each table and included some “wow” moments—like a floral installation at the entrance for guest photos, and another behind the bridal table. I’m so glad we did this—it really shows in our photos.

^{The Special Touches}

Throughout the day, we added many personal touches: personalized paper fans at the ceremony; the lyrics of the song I walked down the aisle to printed on the aisle and again on the dance floor. Also the beautiful stationery at the reception; personalized dinnerware; a one-meter-wide cake that Shane and I decorated live in front of guests; and takeaway pizzas for guests at the end of the night.

A Blooming Vintage-Inspired Wedding on Palm Beach’s Waterfront

^{Our Favorite Moment}

The entire weekend felt like a fairytale—from the ceremony to the reception and then into the party. It was exactly how we imagined it, surrounded by 130 of our nearest and dearest. It was truly a pinch-me moment.

Our Style

^{The Bridal Looks}

I always knew I wanted a wedding gown by Los Angeles-based designer Monique Lhuillier. Two months after Shane proposed, the bridal boutique Helen Rodrigues in Sydney hosted the Monique Lhuillier Fall/Winter 2024 trunk show for two days. After receiving the lookbook and exchanging emails, I highlighted my dream dress.

I brought my four bridesmaids—my sister, best friend, and two sisters-in-law—and as soon as I saw the dress, I knew it was the one. It was the first dress I tried on, and the only brand I ever considered. I never questioned it. I love it, and I always will.

For accessories, I kept it minimal yet timeless—pieces I could wear again. My earrings were from Saint Laurent, and my heels from Jimmy Choo. For my second dress, I wore Magda Butrym.

A Blooming Vintage-Inspired Wedding on Palm Beach’s Waterfront

^{The Groom's Look}

Shane wore a custom tuxedo by P. Johnson.

^{The Bridesmaids’ & Groomsmen's Looks}

The bridesmaids wore Australian designer Esse Studios. The groomsmen wore MJ Bale, with custom cufflinks engraved with our calligraphy logo.

Our Advice

^{For the Planning Process}

Planning a wedding brings a lot of emotions—try to enjoy the process. If your budget allows, definitely engage a wedding planner you trust creatively, and who can bring your vision to life.