Gaelia and Aaron (Az to those who know him) met five years before their wedding day, the modern way: on Tinder. Az was her second match to message and the first she wrote back to, and from the very beginning she found him confident and charming. That first reply turned into a family of four, with their two children, Ivy and Oak, and a dog completing the picture.
The proposal came during a family holiday to Lovedale in the Hunter Valley for Gaelia's 28th birthday, with Ivy and baby Oak along for the trip. Az had planned to propose during their sunrise hot air balloon ride, but with no spare room in the basket and the roaring gas going off every time he tried to drop to one knee, the moment simply wouldn't come. Later, as the couple wandered through the vineyards together, just enjoying each other's company, he pulled out the box, kneeled, and asked. It was worth the wait.
To Gaelia, marriage is a lifelong commitment to the person you love, trust, honour and respect. It means merging your lives while still keeping the things you each enjoy to bring back to the table, and it means compromise and knowing, completely, that your person will always be there for you no matter what.
They had a few venues in mind, but they had always dreamed of a beach wedding, and staying local just felt right: no fuss, no travel, and all the focus on enjoying each other and their close family. To keep things simple (and to avoid the "waterfall" of who to invite), the guest list was just both sets of parents, their children and their dog. Two days later, Gaelia took the kids back to their local beach and found their biodegradable confetti still lightly patched into the sand, a sweet little reminder of their special day.
Gaelia knew she wanted something non-traditional: a two-piece outfit with a touch of white and some peach or pink. She found her skirt first, a Lehenga-style piece from Etsy in soft pink with incredible beading (Az even helped with the very detailed measurements!). The next challenge was finding the right white lace top. A local search turned up nothing, but online she spotted a bodice top from When Freddie met Lilly. It was a little out of her budget, but she knew she had to have it, and she's so glad she did, because it paired with the skirt like a dream.
Gaelia knew exactly what she was after, the whole process was quick, and her advice is simple: if you know what you want, it's so much easier. Az's outfit was guided by hers, a light sand and tan mixed with white, and she trusted his style from there.
Ivy and Gaelia matched, wearing white lace up top and pink below, while Az and little Oak matched in their suits. The whole family went barefoot for the ceremony.
With the wedding falling in late autumn, Gaelia wanted to honour the season with pinks, browns, oranges and reds. The men wore various shades of the same colour, while the women wore similar tones. Her florals, created by Meg from Camden Haven Florist, were a blend of classic and boho, bringing in all of her chosen colours along with touches of greenery.
On the beach, Karita from Port Macquarie Picnics created a beautiful table, a wedding sign, grazing food and a small cake. The signing table also held a meaningful touch: their Aunty A, who couldn't be there, had asked them to buy a wedding gift on her behalf. Remembering her outdoor seating from a stay at her house, they chose a two-seater outdoor table and chairs to become part of the signing table on the sand.
The small touches were everywhere: biodegradable confetti, gold pens for the signing table, and a single red rose on the table. Az also surprised Gaelia with his vows, while Gaelia's advice for future brides is to start writing yours now, because they're harder than you think. Try reducing the love you have for your number one into a two-minute speech!
The most helpful advice they received came from their celebrant, Jaimee, who suggested dressing the kids in their wedding outfits a few times beforehand so they'd feel comfortable on the day. It worked a treat. Jaimee and their photographer, Lucy and Jaimee also suggested the classic "dip" photo which became another highlight.
The most important thing to Gaelia was everyone being together, and seeing her man looking at her with those loving eyes, ready for a lifelong commitment. As she walked down the aisle, Az told her, "You look incredible baby, wow. I mean you always look incredible, but just WOW." And yes, he shed a tear, as did Gaelia.
The absolute highlight, though? Waking up on the morning of the wedding to clear skies and sunshine after two weeks of solid rain, and then watching the whole day unfold exactly as she'd imagined.
Gaelia described her experience as amazing, particularly the communication. Vanessa stayed in touch throughout the process, and when one of the lace sleeves wouldn't stay clipped, Vanessa was on the job, re-sewing and re-clipping everything all via post.
Vendor Tags:
Bodice top - @whenfreddiemetlilly
Celebrant - @thecountryroadcelebrant
Photography - @lucyhumphriesphotography
Hair & makeup - @gorgeoushairandmakeupstudio_
Flowers - @camdenhavenflorist
Styling - @port_macquarie.picnics
Aaron - @aaron_azz_
