1. Real Weddings

A Rustic DIY Wedding at the Mt. Rael Retreat in Healesville, Victoria

When Alex proposed to Jena (25 and a policy officer), the 24-year-old teacher made sure to catch her completely off guard. "He completely surprised me

When Alex proposed to Jena (25 and a policy officer), the 24-year-old teacher made sure to catch her completely off guard. "He completely surprised me me by clearing out the apartment and covering it in flowers, candles, homemade cupcakes and quotes," Jena explains. "He prepared a picnic in the living room and when I opened the front door, I found him kneeling with a ring in his hand." The eccentric couple kept their outdoor ceremony  intimate by inviting only 45 friends and family to witness them exchange vows in a Baha'i ceremony that took place underneath a 150-year-old acorn tree. "We decided to make our wedding day about the coming together of our friends and families, so we asked a few of our guests to read during the ceremony and others to play music," Jena says. "For gifts, we spent a day touring the Yarra Valley stopping at dairies and specialty stores collecting items which we used to create gift bags to thank everyone." For the DIY reception, the newlyweds and their guests moved from the Harvest Farm to a restaurant close by with views overlooking the Yarra Valley. "The sliding doors were opened to allow us to enjoy the breeze and spectacular views," Jena says. "We sat with all of our guests along one large table that spanned the length of the restaurant. It was special because we were able to connect with everyone who was there." As the reception came to a close, the couple noted how grateful they were for the simplicity of their special day. "We didn't want it to be too formal, we just wanted to keep things really natural and down to earth, since it was the best reflection of our own personalities," Jena says.

"We're both casual and easy going and wanted our wedding day to represent that," the couple says.
Many of the flowers used were picked and arranged by the couple themselves. "We found wild berry trees around the farm, so elements like those and acorns were used decoratively," Jena says.
The bride wore a custom-made, white strapless dress hand-sewn by a close friend.
Alex and Jena said "I do" under a 150-year-old oak tree. "It was perfect for providing much-needed shade," Jena says.
Simple bunches of Queen Anne's Lace was used to spruce up white folding chairs at the reception.
Live Music Outdoor Wedding Ceremony
Vases and dinnerware were sourced from antique stores around Melbourne and furniture was hired from local vendors to create the simple reception space.
All of the wedding guests sat at a single table during the reception. "We always intended to have all of our guests sit at one table and it worked really well to create an atmosphere for comfort and closeness," the couple says.
Hayley from the Sticky Fingers Bakery created a simple two-tier, iced wedding cake with bird toppers.
After the ceremony, the couple went to a nearby railroad to take some photos. "We're both slightly camera-shy, but it was lots of fun and a great chance for us to spend some time together as newlyweds," the couple explains.
Jena and Alex Wedding Party