There is a certain poetry to understated elegance, rooted in conscious, considered choices and enduring details that transcend time. A magic that only a discerning eye can truly capture, encapsulate, and release into the world—or in this case, into the South Coast of Australia, the breathtaking backdrop to lovers Rose & Kayla's wedding. A day spilling with chic refinement, revealing the exquisite taste and tenderness injected by the couple, permeating every detail of this special occasion. From bursts of wild garden blooms to floating signage and two effortlessly minimal bridal looks, each element cutting through the luminous greenery, breathing life into the surroundings. It was here, amongst these infinite rolling fields, that guests were invited to immerse themselves into an atmosphere of eternal love.
Tell us a little about yourselves. How did you meet? What do you do for a living? What are your hobbies?
Kayla and I met in the US at North Carolina State University in 2015. We were both doing a study year abroad. We both finished our university degrees and I moved from the UK to Australia. I work within the fashion and bridal industry and Kayla works as a neuro physiotherapist. We currently live in the lovely south coast of NSW in Wollongong, which is 1.5 hours south of Sydney. I am bias, but the south coast of NSW is a very special part of the world.
Did you have any pre-wedding events, like a rehearsal dinner or bridal shower?
We got a chef to make pizzas at the wood fire oven at Greyleigh the night before the wedding. We wanted to keep this pretty intimate so just invited our immediate family and bridal party. It was a really special pre-wedding night to remember.
Where was your wedding? Why did you choose this venue?
We got married at Greyleigh in Kiama. We wanted to get married close to the coast and knew we wanted a garden style wedding. We also wanted a venue where all our bridal party could stay for the whole weekend. Greyleigh ticked all these boxes and didn't compare to anywhere else we looked at on the south coast.
What was the concept behind your wedding and how did you find your inspiration?
We chose to go with a simple green, white and yellow colour palette for our florals. This helped to dictate the rest of our styling for the wedding. Most of my inspo came from Instagram or Pinterest. Also working in the bridal industry I was constantly seeing new ideas and inspiration.
How long did it take to plan your wedding? Did you encounter any challenges during the planning process?
We booked the venue about 1.5 years out. As I have lots of family and friends in the UK, we wanted to give them plenty of time to plan their trips to come over to Aus. Booking the venue so far out meant we were able to get nearly all the vendors we wanted so we didn't really have any challenges in the planning process. I think the hardest part was trying to budget for the wedding and not having a clear insight into how much each thing cost before hand. I was blown away by hidden costs such as delivery or cleaning fees that we didn't account for in our budget.
How many guests did you have? And what was the seating arrangement at the wedding like?
We had just over 100 guests. We had originally planned to have a cocktail wedding, however we felt our venue was best suited to a sit down due to the size of the reception hall. We chose to keep it simple and have 3 long tables with no bridal table. I also think this made it easier when planning our seating chart!
Tell us about your outfits. How many different styles have you tried?
I was lucky enough to work at Prea James Bridal for 3 years. There was no doubt that Kayla and I would both wear Prea James to our wedding. We both tried on our outfits at the Paddington flagship store in Sydney where they have all the Prea James styles for you to try on from all her collections. I was spoilt for choice working with Prea and she was always showing me new designs. When I saw the Yolanda gown from Prea's Demi-couture collection I knew she was the one for me! The construction of the gown is just perfection and the silk tulle is so soft and light, it was such a dream to wear. I loved the addition of the silk neck scarf and think it added a chic little element to the look.
I also had my heart set on the Sidonie gown, so we decided to make the Sidonie into a little mini dress and add the sleeves from the Audra gown for my second look. This was so much fun to wear and perfect for the dance floor. Kayla chose the Brooke gown with the Cecile blouse over the top from Prea's classic collection. She has a little more of a relaxed style to me so this look suited her perfectly and so comfortable to wear. The satin silk used for the gown and blouse is so soft and luxe. Kayla got changed into the Florence feather top and Zoe pants for her second look. The feathers looked amazing in pictures and added such a fun element.
What was your first dance song? Did you choreograph or improvise?
We chose to do our first dance by getting all our guests on the dance floor for a little boogie to Abba. It was a great dance floor starter!
Did you have any special performances or entertainment?
We had a 7 piece band which was lots of fun. We felt a band was perfect to get all ages on the dance floor.
What was the most memorable moment from your wedding day?
I loved all our wedding! But one special moment before was our reception entrance. Kayla and I went and got changed into our second looks in the house with our bridesmaids. We all were all screaming Beyonce "Texas Hold Em" and Jennifer Lopez "Let's Get Loud". This was such a memorable moment for me and one I will always remember with our favourite people.
Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?
All our vendors were amazing and made our day so great. I would recommend all of our vendors without hesitation.
What advice would you give to couples who are currently planning their wedding?
Get a wedding co-ordinator for the day. You can plan your wedding to a tee before hand, but you can't control everything that happens on the day. Your co-ordinator will help to ensure the day runs as smoothly as possible and take out as much stress as possible.
Did you have any special or unique elements (such as a signature cocktail or a fragrance) at your wedding?
We had our 3 favourite cocktails at the wedding: Aperol's, Margaritas and ending the night with Espresso Martinis!
What helped you cope with the anxiety before the wedding?
I think you are naturally always going to be nervous as it's such a big event in your life that you plan for a long period of time. Having calm, problem solving and supportive family and friends is really helpful. Also try to be as organised as possible about 2-3 weeks out. This will make the week before a little less stressful.
Venue: Greyleigh Kiama
Photographer: Matt Godkin
Dresses: Prea James Bridal
Caterer: Rabbit and Co.
Bar: Henry Clive Caravan Bar
Florist: A Pocketful of Roses
Videographer: Tad Souden
Event Equipment: SCPH
Lighting: The Dave
Gelato Bike: The Gelato Bike
Musicians: Sophie Monterio , The White Tree
MUA: Samantha Lee
