In a celebration that beautifully blended modern love with old-world charm, Alex and David's wedding at Campbell Point House, Victoria was nothing short of magical, as the stunning venue holds deep significance for the couple, serving as the perfect backdrop for their unforgettable day. Beneath the sprawling garden canopy, they exchanged heartfelt vows in a touching ceremony, surrounded by the people they hold dearest. As day turned to night, an elegant candlelit reception followed, where the tables were adorned with white blooms, creating an intimate ambiance. Both grooms dazzled in sleek black-and-white tuxedos, adding a timeless touch to this modern fairytale. Captured beautifully by Australian wedding photographer Matt Godkin.
Our Love Story
The Day We Met
Our love story began as I moved to Melbourne from my hometown of Sydney for a lifestyle change, looking for new opportunities. Little did I know I would meet the love of my life, and Melbourne would become home. Like the most romantic of tales, it began when I slid into David’s Instagram DMs. David baited me by posting a story of a Cadbury chocolate that was a client of mine at the time. Our first date was on the 24th of August (24 being a significant number to both, so it was only fate in the making and the exact same date 6 years later that we were to get married). As cheesy as it sounds, it was love at first sight.
The Proposal
We moved into our first home together, and on the 24th of February, for our first dinner together, David planned an intimate and romantic dinner that reflected our story. We do most things in an extravagant and large way, but I wanted the proposal to be personal and romantic. He ordered McDonald's and topped it with my favorite caviar. We had a bottle of Dom Pérignon engraved with the date, and beneath it were the dried rose petals of the first ever bouquet. He handed me a handwritten letter, which I read out loud, and as I finished reading, he got down on one knee and popped the question.
The Engagement Ring
Ever since one of our first trips to Cartier, I had pointed out the pink gold diamond-paved love ring that he wanted as an engagement ring. I always knew this was the one. Later down the track, we had David’s wedding ring made from Cerrone Jewellers – an emerald-cut diamond eternity band.
Our Wedding
The Vision
The vision for our wedding was to blend our modern love story with old-world heritage.
The Location
The location was very significant to us, as Campbell Point House was where we had our very first overnight stay together 6 years ago. From that day on, we knew this was where we wanted to get married.
The Ceremony
Our ceremony was officiated by our close friend and celebrant, Brittany Burke. It was so beautiful to have a close friend who knew us so well marry us. We walked down the aisle with both our parents by our sides to a cover of ‘love is in the air’. Reflecting on this moment, both of us can only describe it as an out-of-body experience filled with emotion.
To break the ice and create a fun moment, our celebrant played a game of ‘champagne roulette’. One glass is filled with champagne, and the other is filled with apple cider vinegar. Whoever got the champagne, or ‘liquid courage’ had to say their vows first. Our personalized vows left not one dry eye in the garden, while also having moments of humor to keep this true to our nature.
The Reception
Our reception was a roving party that reflected our personal style. It began in the conservatory with canapés, drinks, and music by vocalist Angela Librandi and this was also the moment for our guests to have their portraits taken by Gemma Thomas – which was our gift to thank our family and friends for being there.
Guests were then introduced to a candlelit dining room with a mantle piece full of moody florals and our favorite jazz music to set the tone. After dinner and speeches, Alex and I went upstairs for an outfit change. We were then introduced back into the conservatory, where we poured our Moet Champagne tower before our first dance to Coldplay’s ‘Magic’ followed by a dance with our mothers before the dance floor was opened.
The Special Touches
The prenuptial festivities began earlier this year with a never-before-seen ‘Groom Storm’ (replacing the traditional bridal shower). We did not have a bridal party or MC, instead we wanted to have our closest friends share the day with us in a more creative, personal way. These friends introduced key moments of our wedding and also gave a small speech. The night before the big day, inside the Conservatory at Campbell Point House, we hosted our immediate families for an intimate soirée, alongside a curated montage of both our parent’s wedding tapes which we all watched together.
Our Favorite Moment
Together, we loved that we wrote our own personal vows. This truly made our ceremony a moment we will never forget. David’s favorite moment was my best friend’s speech in the dining room. She had planned to end the speech by referencing'my best friend’s wedding’ (one of our favorite movies), and as she finished, ‘I say a little prayer’ by Aretha Franklin played, and the whole room got up and danced to the song. It was the most special moment that I will remember forever.
My favorite moment was entering the dining hall (after being introduced by his best friend) to Kylie Minogue’s ‘Padam Padam’. Not only is this one of our favorite songs, but I’ll never forget seeing our dining room filled with candles and our family and friends waving their napkins in the air while we made our way to our seats and could finally relax and enjoy the evening. We also both loved having 30 of our closest friends and family stay in the evening to keep the party going into the early hours of the morning. We got to have breakfast at Campbell Point House the following morning, where we were able to reminisce about our wedding night!
Our Style
The Grooms Looks
We both wanted to include 3 looks that represented our personal style.
Alex: I started the day with a Gucci silk set to get ready in. For the ceremony and dinner, I wore a custom P.Johnson ivory blazer with gold button detail, complimented by Christian Louboutin loafers with gold-fluted detailing. Ahead of the champagne tower, I changed into a custom double-breasted black tuxedo jacket by P.Johnson with a patent and silk shoe by Saint Laurent.
David: I started the day in a Dolce & Gabbana silk set to get ready in. For the ceremony, I wore a custom black P.Johnson tuxedo with pleated shirt and Tom Ford bow tie. I love to add a bit of edge to my outfits, so I complimented this with a pair of pointed Christian Louboutin loafers with chrome detailing. I then changed into a pearl white custom Alin Le Kal creation which we designed together, where my suit was draped in silk that fell over my arm and across the floor.
Our Advice
For The Planning Process
Be on top of your suppliers, no one is as invested in your wedding as you are. Plan ahead as much as you can to avoid any last minute stress and trust and have fun with the process.
For On The Day
On the day, sometimes the pressure of it all can make you feel like you want it over and done with, but our biggest advice would be to take as many moments as you can to take it all in and have at least one private moment to yourselves. You won’t forget that moment.
For Post-Wedding
Don’t dwell on anything that went wrong. Many things might not go as planned, but your guests will never notice. Whether you’re going off on a honeymoon right away or not, give yourself a few days after the wedding to enjoy your love bubble!
Vendors
Photography: Matt Godkin
Videography: C2 Films
Venue: Campbell Point House
Content Creation: Modern Day Romance
Florals: Grown Florists
Stationery: Calligraphy En Vogue
Music: Angela Librandi
Candles: Melbourne Candle Hire
Style
Suits: P Johnson
Shoes: Christian Louboutin , Saint Laurent
