Wedding date: 03 May 2025 // Guests: 170
All good love stories start somewhere; tell us how you met …
We met at a Halloween party, thanks to a little nudge from our mutual friends (somehow we hadn’t crossed paths before that night!). I had the bottle opener, and Yann kept coming back to use it. Eventually, we started chatting and hit it off instantly. We’ve been together ever since, and this October marks 10 years!
Give us a glimpse into your lives together.
Late last year, we made the big move to Mumbai, India, for work. Since then, we’ve been sipping chai, exploring our new home, and eating our way around India. We flew back to Australia to celebrate our wedding with family and friends.
Make us laugh, make us cry: who proposed to whom, and how?
Yann popped the question in Canberra on 29 October 2023. I thought we were heading to a rodeo in NSW, but just before leaving, he made me swap out my cowgirl boots and Akubra, saying we had to pick up wine for our charity, The Bodia Group (@thebodiagroup). After a scenic drive with Frank Sinatra playing, we arrived at a winery, and he proposed in the vines with a stunning emerald ring—a total surprise, which was exactly what I wanted! That evening, he had booked an Airbnb next door and hidden confit French duck and a bottle of Veuve Clicquot under some camping gear we never used. After months of engagement bliss, we started planning our Brisbane wedding from afar!
How did you celebrate your hens/bucks?
My hens started with hair and makeup at The Mane Society, followed by a private long lunch catered by Ecco Bistro, more cocktails on James Street, and a house party. Yann’s bucks was set in the Gold Coast hinterland: swimming, hiking, a whole roast pig, sauna recovery, whisky tastings, cigars, and DJing the night away!
What was the inspiration behind your wedding style?
We wanted our wedding to feel like home while honouring our traditions. Our theme, ‘Elevated Garden Party,’ perfectly captured this. We married at my family’s property in Brookfield, under our mango tree. My dad even drew a picture of our home for the invitations.
Tell us about your dress/suit choices …
My dress was custom-made by Brisbane’s Lucia Josephine, with floral-embossed silk from Sydney for the corseted bodice, a layered silk skirt, and a flowing silk scarf. Yann’s chocolate-brown suit was custom-made in India, featuring a bold brooch from Pernia’s Pop Up Shop attached to a family heirloom pocket watch. He designed the suit and styled all the accessories himself. Our emerald wedding rings were also made in India.
Did you incorporate any traditions or perhaps do something a little different?
We blended Greek and French traditions throughout the day, featuring a Greek crowning ceremony, ouzo shots, Greek dancing, a croquembouche, and a rice-throwing ceremony. Our invitations, menus, and place cards were all made in India.
Was there a funny/most memorable moment of the day?
Just after the ceremony, it poured! Everyone ran for cover, and our paper sun umbrellas disintegrated, but it didn’t dampen the vibe. We even got beautiful rain photos and—luckily—enough luck for a lifetime! Oh, and a distant neighbour mowed the lawn during the ceremony. Having a home wedding meant we partied with our nearest and dearest until 5 am!
What was your ‘first dance’ song?
La Vie en Rose by Louis Armstrong
Best splurge/investment?
Our catering with William Wallace was divine, and my two-piece dress allows me to wear the bodice and scarf again for anniversaries.
Best savings?
Ditching the backup rain marquee and using the house’s undercover area instead.
Do you have a special mention for any stand-out vendors/suppliers?
William Wallace (catering), House of Carita (photography), and Lucia Josephine (dress).
Do you have any words of wisdom to offer other couples?
If you have the space, a home wedding is infinitely more special than a venue. Invest in a day-of coordinator—even a friend who knows events can make a huge difference. And don’t forget to move your flowers around to get the most from them!
How did you honeymoon?
We spent a week at Anantara in Sri Lanka, relaxing by the pool and beach. Highlights included an outdoor cooking class with a local Sri Lankan woman and a safari, during which we spotted elephants and a leopard.
Dream Team:
Marquee: Excel Hire // Photography: House of Carita // Wedding dress: Lucia Josephine // Videography: Wallflower Weddings // Florals: Fontana Floral // Hair: Jaala Brinsmead // Makeup: Shannon Hope // Celebrant: Stef Wren // Wedding cake (croquembouche) Rise Bakery // Jazz Band: Bowery Hot 5 // Sting Quartet: Avant Classica
For more on the incredible charity Yann founded, and where the couple both work, visit The Bodia Group