Ali & Mat

16 October 2022.

Ali wears her 1.1A Natural Gown found with Bluebell Bridal.

"I came across Harriette Gordon on Instagram. I was drawn to the 1.1 Natural because of its elegance and although it is simple it has extraordinary detailing with the panelling which felt unique to me. I think what really sealed the deal though was HG’s ethos around sustainable design, which aligns so closely with my own beliefs and values."

Tell us a little about yourself, what do you do for work? What do you do for fun?
Work wise, I’m an Executive General Manager at a residential aged care home. It has been a tough couple of years for aged care, but it is such a rewarding sector to be involved in. For fun it’s all about spending time with family and friends; mostly this involves travelling, eating, and drinking!

A little about your partner:
Their name? Mat Small

What do they do for work and fun? 
Mat is also in aged care; he is a People and Culture Manager for a provider that supports people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. His idea of fun is anything sport – watching or playing – and a good beer.

Can you describe a memorable moment from your day? 
There were so many amazing moments! Of course, seeing Mat at the altar, walking down the aisle with my dad, and my sister’s speech were so special. But I think I’ll be forever grateful that my Pappou (grandfather) was able to attend on the day. There is a great photo which Kristy captured of him looking at a photo from the memory table of him and my grandma at their wedding. For me, that photo epitomises the meaning of love and marriage – I get emotional just thinking about. I’m so glad that memory has been captured.

How did you feel in your Harriette Gordon piece? 
I really felt like myself in the dress. Because my day-to-day style is quite casual, getting ‘dressed up’ is such a novelty so I was worried that I would feel uncomfortable and self-conscious. But on the day and even when I first tried the dress on, I just felt so confident and comfortable, which was such a bonus for dancing the night away!

What is your best advice for couples planning their wedding?
Planning the wedding initially felt insurmountable and there are so many learnings along the way. But my advice is to try to make quick decisions that align with what you want and don’t look back. It’s easier said than done, because everyone tends to have an opinion, and sometimes it’s hard not to second guess yourself, but ultimately it is you and your partner’s day so make yourselves happy.
Oh, and get the venue sorted early; it really helped everything else fall into place.

Was there a particular theme or style that you wanted to encapsulate on your wedding day? 
Our theme for the wedding was simple, elegant, and fun. It was the mantra we kept repeating to all our vendors. I think being clear on this vision helped our vendors to nail the brief and weave it into every aspect of the day.

What does marriage mean to you and your partner?
Marriage for us is an expression of our love for each other and our ongoing commitment to one another. Ultimately, being married hasn’t necessarily changed anything for us – especially after 11 years together – but the opportunity to bring our friends and families together for a night filled with love, laughter, happy tears, and fun has created a shared memory for us which we will cherish for the rest of our lives.

"All our vendors were amazing! But Kristy (photographer), Hazel (venue) and Nat (florist) were next level amazing!

The team at Hazel had every detail taken care of and our guests have not stopped raving about the food. Nat from WildFlos created the most amazing floral installation, it was above and beyond our expectations. And Kristy was a dream to work with – she made us feel so comfortable in front of the camera."

Photographer: Kinship by Kristy

Florist: WildFlos

Venue: Hazel

Stockist: Bluebell Bridal