Kimberly + Phillip
Tradition met modernity in Kimberly and Phillip’s dream-come-true wedding day
The Location
We fell in love with Mandalay House and Garden because we saw so much potential there. We envisioned a day where our guests would feel like they were in a garden, surrounded by nature and natural sunlight. We liked the idea of the drapes flowing in the wind on a balmy summer night, with bits of the sunset peeping through. We hosted our intimate tea ceremony in the Camelia Lawn directly outside the house, then welcomed all our guests alongside the Ivy Barn. The official ceremony was held on the amphitheatre lawn, where I (the bride) had dreamt of walking down an aisle of free-standing roses. To end the night, our reception was on the tennis court. It was very important to us to give our guests a memorable night. We had four signature cocktails made by Derek from Pour Me Another and served gelati by Canela Cartels as a second dessert. The vibe of the night was immaculate. The weather was perfect, everyone was in a great mood, DJ Sami did an amazing job keeping everyone on the dance floor.
The Planning
We really gravitated to the idea of a French Riviera wedding. Our mood board mainly consisted of crisp white linen, green and white florals and romantic candles. I took a lot of inspiration from Ashleigh Huynh’s wedding, especially the dress code she gave her guests. On our RSVP, we gave our guests a colour palette as a guide of what to wear. The idea of using every space of Mandalay was important to us. We worked closely with Charlotte from Events By Charlotte to bring our ideas and vision to life. She made everything go so seamlessly, and the day was a breeze for us.
The Dress
My dress was designed alongside the incredible Caterina Varacalli. I tried on so many dresses prior to our initial design process and had no idea what I wanted. I knew I wanted something simple, especially considering the day would be very hot. We originally started the design with a silk strapless dress paired with a removable off the shoulder chiffon overlay. On our final fitting, we were playing around with the design and played with the idea of the overlay sitting over my shoulders. We instantly fell in love. I felt more elevated for the ceremony.
Standout Moment
For us both, it was so special to sit back during our reception and see everyone we love in the same room. We also got very emotional during our ceremony when we saw so many people crying. It meant the world to us.
The Details
Hair: Isabella | HNRY The Salon
Make-up: Lili K Makeup
Flowers: Flower Bar by One Rundle
Groom’s Suit: Institchu
Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Forever New
Wedding Night Accommodation: Mandalay House and Garden
Catering: Chopping Board Catering
Cake: Lyons Den Cakes
Entertainment: DJ Sami
Event Planner/Stylist: Events By Charlotte
First dance song: Perfect by Ed Sheeran and Beyonce
