Yasmin and Tommy

I adore today’s wedding- it’s simple and sweet but has this added element of ‘wow’ through the colours and accessories. Oh, Australian brides you fill my heart with joy! Yasmin and Tommy married on a family property near Perth a very old garden and 1960’s Ivan Iwanoff house not far from the CBD.

Yasmin tells the story of how they met. “Tom and I both flew into Sydney to spend a weekend attending the Royal Randwick Races ‘Sydney Cup’. Tom’s family had a horse running in the main race named Pantani who was tipped to win but ended running fifth on the day. We met straight after the races in Paddington at a pub located next to little restaurant called Buzo Restaurant (a gorgeous Italian restaurant) . Tom convinced me to share a meal with him at this fabulous Italian restaurant that same night.”

Photos today are by  Natalija Brunovs from I Heart Weddings (recently relocated to Queensland) captures such life and vivid colour in her work- it’s quite exciting to see her photographs pop up!

Yasmin wore a gown by Ray Costarella for Aurelio Costarella paired with a stunning one off Maria Calderara from Italy, hand made necklace which she purchased from ‘Christine’ Flinders Lane, Melbourne. Yasmin wore shoes from Tina Lanzi and had her hair styled byMatthew from Head Office, Hay Street Perth and her makeup by Hendra.

Yasmin hung hanging vases in the trees herself.

Yasmin loved “Having our closest family and friends’ fly in from the Eastern states and Europe to be part of our special day. It meant so much to us that our closest friends and family could witness the moment. We are so grateful for their enthusiasm of being part of our ‘big day’.”

‘I picked up some Japanese cording from a Japanese shop in the Nicholas Building in the heart of Melbourne. The florist (Natural Art By Rebecca Gracee entwined flowers with this fabric cording. It added a special touch and tied in with the beautiful pink/red hues of the flowers. This Japanese cording was also featured on the groomsmen lapel flowers.” Yasmin’s bridesmaids wore maxi dresses from Zimmerman in watermelon.

The boys wore suits from Tzar in Little Collins Street, Melbourne with watermelon ties from Hugo Boss and shirts from Rhodes and Beckett.

Having the wedding at a family home was one of Yasmin’s special moments. “Having it  at a family home and garden that I spent my childhood growing up in.  Although it is the biggest logistical feat bringing in industrial fridges, ovens and all other equipment one might need to host a wedding of 160 people it was still very special to have it at the family home. People seem to relax more when they are outside in a relaxed garden environment and not structured time wise by a function centre.”

Yasmin says “I loved the colours which designer Akira Isogawa uses and used his sophisticated choices of Japanese fabrics as an overall guide and colour inspiration choice.”

Rochelle Adonis created hand held desserts for the guests to keep them dancing while Babycakes made a three tiered wedding cake.

Tony from OMGEvents created a lantern filled ‘roof’ above the reception. Yasmin says “Tony was fabulous and was great in hanging about 300 lanterns from the roof of house and also from very old trees to create an incredible effect over head. The Lanterns really brought the outdoor wedding together and created a beautiful soft lighting canopy above the tables. The lanterns were on a dimming system so they were softer and could shed more yellow light. ” Tony also helped with the music, furniture (including glow boxes, bar, lighting in trees) .

Yasmin had a big hand in decorating the reception. “I made the stationery myself (using antique vintage kimono fabric) and also decorated an old magnolia tree in the garden with lanterns. I also purchased all the table runners from a fabric shop by the metre in Perth and taped them down with double sided tape. I created a small bird cage and put in Japanese fabric birds to hang from the tree. The table runners (themes in a watermelon colour like the bridesmaid dresses) really pulled the linear element of the long tables together. I dressed all the tables myself, tied the Japanese birds to candle holders and helped in the set-up.”

Graham Arthur Catering served a delicious feast for guests to enjoy.

It was quite a significant day and memorable one particularly for Tom’s uncle – Steve. He had spent a few years in 1972 travelling Australia (he originated from Melbourne) and drove a car along the top end of Australia eventually arriving in Perth and consequently ended up lengthening his trip and lived in Perth for two years. He ended staying for two years because this lovely Italian man who owned timber mills in W.A. employed him, paid him well for his carpentry and building work (as he was renovating a house next door to his bosse’s house). The Italian man named Cecil was Yasmin’s grandfather (now deceased) and used to take Tom’s uncle Steve on trips down to the timber mills throughout the southern region of Western Australia and show him the business. Tom’s uncle was brought to tears in the speeches on the wedding night as the garden and house which he helped renovate was still standing as this was where the wedding was held. Nothing much had changed over all those years and all of the great memories Steve had with the friendship he had formed with Yasmin’s grandfather Cecil came streaming back. He shared a great bond to Cecil the Italian timber merchant and still remembers his kindness and generosity in the 1970’s. The couple discovered this information a few years into their relationship.

DJ Luke Somerville-Brown (DJ Luke SB) played Marvin Gaye “Mother, Mother” for the couple’s first dance. Yasmin says “The entire wedding hit the dance floor after this song.”

Congratulations Yasmin and Tommy! Thank you for allowing us to share the wedding day on Polka Dot Bride! Thank you also to Natalija of I Heart Weddings for sharing today’s images!

Photos by I Heart Weddings