Tell us a little about yourselves!
We met five years ago on a dating app and hit it off quickly after a few dates, bonding over our love for good food and travel. Before long, we moved in together in Brisbane, Australia. Mat works in logistics in mining, while I’m a mental health dietitian. I’ve always been a dreamer full of ideas, and Mat is the practical one who helps bring them to life. I believe that dynamic played a big role in making our wedding come to fruition.
Why did you decide to get married where you did?
My heritage is Italian, and after visiting Italy in my early 20s, I fell in love with it instantly. I used to joke with Mat about how wonderful it would be to get married there. Fast forward to Christmas of last year when Mat proposed, and we joked that we’d either get married in six months or six years—we don’t do things by halves. When my close family announced a trip to Italy earlier this year, Mat and I had just bought a house and weren’t sure we could justify the expense. Mat suggested turning it into an elopement and honeymoon all in one. On a whim, we decided to go for it and had just 12 weeks to make it happen.
How many guests did you have?
We had 10 guests.
What was your budget?
Our budget was fairly flexible as the wedding, holiday, and honeymoon began to blend into one.
Tell us about your outfits.
I wanted my look to be simple and timeless. With less than 12 weeks to find something, I realized that a custom dress might be a stretch. I found a beautiful champagne slip dress at Shona Joy, paired it with strappy gold heels, and one of my dear friends kindly loaned me her veil.
Mat went suit shopping and found a stunning Joe Black suit. He also considered hiring a suit but ended up purchasing the Joe Black one instead, as the hired suit was a poor fit. We made a last-minute dash to the store the day we were flying out to get it. Miraculously, the veil and suit came together in the final 24 hours!
What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?
Having attended many weddings, we knew that while the festivities and details are wonderful, we wanted our day to be fun, easy, and simple. We focused on how each choice would make us feel and how it would contribute to the atmosphere of the day.
We wanted the whole day to feel relaxed and not like we were following a strict time sheet. For this reason, I did my own hair and make-up which meant we could spend the morning together going out for coffee and breakfast, it was a beautiful way to connect and start the day feeling calm.
Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?
I wanted to capture the beauty and charm of Italy, so we made sure there was excellent local food and wine, outdoor dining, live Italian music, and a romantic ambiance. To fully savor the moment, we trusted a fantastic photographer with a timeless style to capture the essence of the day, ensuring we’d have beautiful memories to look back on.
Any tips for couples getting married?
Be true to yourselves, even if it sounds cliché. With so much inspiration on social media, it’s easy to get caught up in trends, and things can escalate quickly. Remember your core values as a couple, think about how you want to remember your day, and do regular check-ins throughout the planning process to stay grounded.
Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?
My number one non-negotiable was having a wonderful photographer so we could feel completely present and, in the moment, knowing it was going to be captured perfectly. Elisa Rinaldi did just that, she made everything feel relaxed and natural, and she included film which added a level of creativity and uniqueness.
Photographer: Elisa Rinaldi Photography @elisarinaldiphoto | Catering + Beverages: Leonardo Perisse Private Chef @leonardo_perisse | Entertainment: Music & Co @musicandcoitaly | Dress:
Shona Joy @shonajoy | Veil: Loaned from Leah's friend | Suit: Joe Black @joeblackofficial | Wedding Rings: Mejuri @mejuri