Samantha & Keith

A Wedding Down Under.

An iconic city perched on the waterfront and gleaming beneath radiant blue skies, Sydney is sleek and modern. Able to be grand and personal at the same time, this city set the stage for an intimate affair.

Samantha and Keith were never ones to care about formalities. “We decided a long time ago that we were not the type of people that wanted the big day,” Samantha said, “so when we made the decision to visit Australia we thought why not get married at the same time.” Their decision to celebrate their wedding in Australia with just two guests guaranteed a personal and intimate affair that was straight out of their dreams.

Ready, Get Set, Go!

Unlike many brides on their wedding day, Samantha found herself with time to spare so she ironed her brother’s shirt and trousers and watched Oprah! The whole morning was so quiet and relaxed that Samantha couldn’t have chosen a better way to prepare for marriage.  “I felt great during the whole process – getting ready before hand, during the ceremony and afterwards.  I felt I was so ready for that day and I knew I was making the right decision as I had no nerves.  I do think that if I had chosen to get married at home I would have felt more nervous in front of all my friends and family.”

I Will Never Forget That Moment

The civil ceremony took place on a private beach in Sydney with a backdrop of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House.  Samantha approached the site of her wedding with her brother and was blown away when she turned a corner and saw her husband to be standing there waiting for her.  “We had to walk down an incline through trees and when we turned a corner we got to see the beach and there was Keith looking nervous.  I will never forget that moment and the happiness I felt.”

Samantha wore a simple black and white dress with spaghetti straps and Keith wore a suit and shirt but no tie. The pair looked a picture of elegance out on the sand in the middle of paradise.  The civil ceremony was personalised with the couples own vows, readings, poems and music and everything possessed a special meaning.  Even the simple and intimate nature of the wedding made everything feel more personal and more authentic.  Even looking back at her two guests, Samantha can’t help but smile. “There were no bridesmaids as my brother was my bride’s man!!”

Valentines Romance

With a nighttime view of the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, the reception dinner was almost as spectacular as the wedding. The lights on the bridge and the sparkle of the city added an extra touch of magic to the evening. Since it was Valentine’s night, there was already romance in the air and the other patrons couldn’t help but wish the newlyweds best of luck.

The set menu was a gourmet treat and it was another reminder for Samantha why she was glad they chose to have such a small wedding. “Since it was Valentine’s, no matter which restaurant we chose would have had a set menu and some of our guests wouldn’t have liked the food.”  The evening was casual and romantic, a perfect beginning to their new life together.

Just for Them

“One of the issues I have with weddings at home is that you seem to try and please all your guests and make sure they all enjoy their day.  I feel your wedding day should be about the bride & groom.” Samantha shared.  There was no stress about following convention or dealing with a large crowd, thanks to getting married abroad.  Their intimate celebration was more than Samantha and Keith could have ever hoped for: beautiful, meaningful and stress-free.

The Perfect Partners

Ceremony: Private Beach, Sydney // Reception: Aria Restaurant, Sydney // Wedding Planner: Just Get Married in Australia