Georgia and Isaac's Greyleigh Wedding

Wedding Date: 29th April, 2023

Captured by Ali Bailey

Georgia wears the Minerva Gown, Chloe Wrap, and Single Tier Pearl Tulle Veil

TELL US ABOUT YOUR SPECIAL DAY…

We had our wedding at Greyleigh Kiama on the South Coast of NSW. My sister’s friend had started managing the property and invited us out to have a look. I fell in love with property. It’s so breathtaking, there’s nothing the designers hadn’t thought of. Every detail was so special. So, when my now husband and I got engaged shortly after visiting Greyleigh, I booked a site visit and he was in awe like I was, we didn’t bother looking anywhere else, we booked that day!

It was hard to narrow down a specific theme/style. I was overwhelmed with inspiration on Instagram, Pinterest and wedding magazines like Hello May and Together Journal. I knew I wanted pastels and some pops of colour; I wanted the flowers to look foraged and natural like they’d been picked from the garden. In the same breath I wanted to keep it classic and timeless.

We’d originally planned to have the ceremony and cocktail hour outside on the lawn. When you stand on the lawn you have panoramic views of the coastline, with scattered palm trees in the backdrop and rolling hills. It’s as incredible as it sounds! We’d planned to have these beautiful, scalloped umbrellas, parasol white paper umbrellas for guests, an outdoor bar, high bar tables and a big grazing table. However, it bucketed down with rain ha-ha! Although our plan B was not what I had originally pictured it was nonetheless beautiful. My stylist Brooke from Paloma Events went above and beyond to make the space so intimate and romantic – everyone was blown away.

Brooke had designed and created pastel lilac signage that was written in hand calligraphy. We had a lot of candles to set the mood – all in soft pastel colours, scattered luscious fruits decorated the tables, like lemons, grapes and honeydew melon. Brooke had thought of every little detail, down to little pearls that were draped on the tables. My description probably doesn’t do it justice! You have to look at the photos!

Tell us about your Love Story…

Isaac and I have known each other since we were about 15 years old (both turning 30 this year). Although I hate the cliché – we always had strong chemistry. We lived about half an hour from one another. We would always see each other at parties or when we were out, and it wasn’t until we were 21 that I finally agreed to a date. Another cliché – but the rest was history!

It was nothing extravagant, but it was very us and very special. Isaac had spontaneously booked a trip to Byron Bay in July of 2022 with our 1-year-old Hazel. On our first night there he was adamant that we all walked into town to get takeaway and have a picnic on the beach like we had done on our first trip there years earlier. I was cold and had forgotten my jumper and kept suggesting that we just eat there at the restaurant, however, Isaac convinced me to eat at the beach.

After dinner, I started to gather my things and pack up the pram as it had started to sprinkle and our daughter Hazel had woken up, but Isaac stopped me and said, “not before I ask Hazel’s Mumma to marry me”. It was such a happy time; we walked back to our accommodation and Facetimed our families to tell them the news.

How did you discover Prea James?

I work at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney, and I’d often walk past the Prea James Boutique on Oxford Street when I would get lunch. I’d always admire the gowns in the window. So naturally, it was the first place I booked when trying on wedding dresses! For my first look appointment – I brought my mum Katherine and my three sisters: Nicole, Kayla and Ellye. It was so much fun, and I felt so comfortable with my lovely stylist Maddie.

WHAT DID YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT the Minerva?

I loved how I felt in the gown. It wasn’t something I originally pictured myself in, but it just fitted me so well. I loved how the gown had this little lip at the bust, came in at my waist and flared through the skirt. It’s a very flattering gown.

It’s a heavy matte silk and it just looked so elegant on - I remember saying “I feel like a real bride in this dress”. Much like the wedding venue, I knew it was the one and didn’t look anywhere else.

I loved how I felt in the gown. It wasn’t something I originally pictured myself in, but it just fitted me so well. I loved how the gown had this little lip at the bust, came in at my waist and flared through the skirt. It’s a very flattering gown.
It’s a heavy matte silk and it just looked so elegant on - I remember saying “I feel like a real bride in this dress”.
Much like the wedding venue, I knew it was the one and didn’t look anywhere else.

ARE THERE ANY SPECIAL DETAILS ABOUT YOUR WEDDING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?

At the start of the ceremony, our good friend Kristian did a ‘Welcome to Country’ followed by a smoking ceremony. I remember the room being silent, you could hear the crackling of the eucalyptus leaves as they burned and the smell of the herbal smoke. It was really powerful, and we are forever grateful that Kristian did this sacred ritual for us on our wedding day.

My mum Kathy and her best friend Louise also put together this incredible grazing table for cocktail hour. Besides that, I don’t think so. I’m too unorganised ha-ha!

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR BRIDES TO BE?

If you’re anything like me – relaxed, leaves everything to the last possible minute but also wants things done a certain way and is a bit of a perfectionist – book a stylist! We saved a lot of money on things like stationery and styling items for the ceremony and reception because Brooke supplied a lot of them. If we needed to outsource, she had a lot of connections and would often find us what we were after a lot cheaper than what you would find on the internet or searching yourself. It also made the morning of the wedding so stress-free.

Between our beautiful Wedding Coordinator Katie from Greyleigh, our florist Lauren and stylist Brooke, I could relax and take it all in. Those moments before walking down the aisle with my bridesmaids, Mum and Dad are some of my fondest memories – and I think that if I had been trying to set up and style the ceremony myself, I wouldn’t have been so relaxed.

I also think letting my bridesmaids choose their own dresses was a big thing that I wanted to do, I chose the colour, and they went from there - I highly recommend it. Everyone has different body shapes, a few of my bridesmaids were breastfeeding and my sister Kayla was 20 weeks pregnant. I wanted all my bridesmaids to feel beautiful and comfortable in what they wore, and I knew this was only achievable if they chose their own dresses.

WEDDING VENDORS

Photographer: Ali Bailey

I was so fussy when I was looking for a photographer – I knew what I wanted and when I stumbled across Ali’s page – her work was exactly that. Authentic, editorial-like, and natural. She really is incredible at what she does. I couldn’t recommend Ali enough – we adore our photos.

Videographer: Sommar Films Website

We’d already gone way over our budget, so initially we thought we’d cut costs by not having a wedding videographer. A week out from the wedding, Isaac and I both agreed that we should have booked a videographer and we knew it was something we’d regret in time to come. Do you know how your phone listens to you? Well, that night a Sommar Films story popped up on my Instagram feed. It was everything that I had in mind and more! I messaged Angus straight away to see if he was free and very luckily, he was! He flew down from Byron Bay a week later to shoot our wedding. He was so lovely, kind and professional. He never got in the way, and we honestly didn’t really notice he was there – which is what we wanted. Isaac and I are so in love with our wedding video and watch it all the time. I can’t wait for Hazel to watch it when she’s older.

Hair Cherise Lando Instagram: South Coast Hairstylist Cherise Lando

Cherise created 6 individual updo’s for my bridesmaids – that were chosen by the girls. I wanted a ‘bouncy, natural blow-dry’ and that’s exactly what she gave me. Everyone was so happy with their hair and felt so beautiful – it made me so happy! Cherise has this special way of creating a hairstyle that suits you and compliments your face – she's so amazing & has been in the hair industry for so long!

Makeup: The Native Tan – Kayla Boyd

My sister Kayla did my makeup! She’s the only one I trust when it comes to my makeup. I don’t wear a lot of makeup, so I always get a little nervous when other people do my makeup, particularly for weddings. I don’t like the traditional heavy wedding makeup. I told Kay I wanted to look like myself but enhanced ha-ha - & she nailed the brief. She’s so talented!! One of my bridesmaids Yolanda assisted my sister Kay for the bridesmaids and mine and Isaac’s mums. Everyone was glowing!

Stylist: Brooke from Paloma Events

Not only is Brooke incredibly talented and able to execute your vision on your wedding day far better than you can imagine– she is also a very humble, kind and down-to-earth person. I forgot to mention, we booked Brooke 4 weeks out from our wedding! Nothing was a drama; she has a very relaxed demeanour but is also extremely organised - she made the whole process seamless. I couldn’t recommend Brooke highly enough.

Wedding Co-ordinator: Katie Roberts from Greyleigh Kiama

When we booked Greyleigh, it included a wedding coordinator. We were so lucky to have been allocated the beautiful Katie. Katie is lovely, professional, organised, flexible and adaptable – I think they are the best words to describe her & probably the top qualities that you want in a wedding coordinator.

Florist: Lauren Henry from Atinyflorist

When we got engaged, I knew that I wanted Lauren to be our florist. We’d worked with Lauren before, and her work is magic! Lauren flew from Byron Bay just for our big day. In the lead-up to the wedding, I changed my mind a few (several) times on what I wanted – Lauren was so flexible and easygoing; nothing was ever a problem! I couldn’t have been happier with the outcome of the flowers. I was and still am completely obsessed with all the flowers Lauren put together, but I have to say the mismatched bouquets for the bridesmaids were to die for.

Stationery: Sprinky Studio

I loved all our wedding stationary that Brooke organised!

Cake: Cakes by Adrienne

Adrienne was so easy to work with – not only was the cake a work of art it tasted bloody amazing!

Caterer: Rabbit and Co catering

I left the catering/food selection to my mum – she works for Rabbit and Co so knew exactly what to order! I think everyone commented on how delicious the food was!

Post-ceremony catering: The Grazing Girls

Shout out to my beautiful mum and her best friend Louise, who co-own and run the grazing girls! My mum and Louise put together this beautiful grazing table for the cocktail hour. It’s not just your average grazing table – they source high-quality local ingredients where they can, and Louise’s mum makes all the deserts. It’s a small family-run business, but it is full of love, and you can taste it in their food!

Alcohol – Henry and Clive

Henry and Clive are a MUST if you are considering getting married on the South Coast of NSW. Not only were the cocktails unique and so delectable, but their customer service was impeccable, and they created the best vibe on the night!

Hire/Prop furniture hire: South Coast Party Hire

Great service - delivered and collected hire material (although we didn’t use it with the rain).

Band/DJ: Duan & Only

I was just reading some of Duan's testimonials and this resonated with me: “If Duan is available BOOK HIM. If he’s not available, I would consider changing your wedding date”. Duan is phenomenal! He sang and played guitar for 4 hours and then DJ’d after. He was so relaxed and happy to learn songs just weeks out from our wedding.

Accessories:

Veil: Prea James - Full-length Pearl Veil

Earrings: BRIE LEON - Marie Baroque Pearl Earrings in Gold

Engagement ring and wedding band: Grew and Co

Bridesmaids Dresses:

Ally – Pasduchas

Yolanda – Sir the label

Ainslee – Shona Joy

Kayla - Dissh

Ellye - Dissh

Kirby – Hansen & Gretal

Groom & Groomsmen’s Suits:

M.J. Bale

Boots: R.M Williams

Prea James31 August 2023