Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love, what is unique about you and your relationship…
Bruno is currently working as an Audio-Visual Analyst / Designer with Sydney University. He is also studying a masters in Audio and Acoustics as well as Illumination Design. I am currently a Senior Recruitment Consultant with Sugarman International, specialising in the employment of Nurses for rural and remote Australia.
We met in January 2015 when I had moved to Sydney as a backpacker, I had just completed 6 months of rural farm work and was looking forward to some city life. We were introduced by mutual friends and quickly became inseparable. We both knew that the relationship was like nothing else we had experienced before, and within a few months I had already decided I was going to ask Bruno to marry me. I remember discussing this with friends and work colleagues who thought I was a little mad due to the relationship being so new, but having never wanted to consider marriage as ‘a thing’ I wanted to do, and now being so sure that this was something I did want, I did not hesitate in putting this plan to action.
Bruno and I spent Christmas and New Year together in Indonesia, and this is where on New Years eve, as the clock struck midnight, fireworks were lit on the beaches of Gili Air, I dropped to one knee and produced a ring made of wood and coconut. I remember Bruno being absolutely shocked! But he said yes!
We did wait a few years to get married, we couldn’t decide on the wedding we wanted for a while. Both of us wanted to elope but Bruno is an only child and I think his parents would have been very sad if they weren’t there to enjoy our day. So, we decided on our tiny little wedding.
Throughout the time we have been together, Bruno and I have never stopped laughing or learning from one another. We both believe in maintaining a level of independence, using honesty and trust as our mantras.
Tell us about your special day, was there a specific theme or style? Tell us a little about the setting, the styling and some of your favourite details…
Our wedding day was such a beautiful experience, we wanted to keep it intimate so only invited 10 guests. Every invitee has a special connection to Bruno and I, it was so amazing to share this day with them all.
We wanted to embrace and respect the country that we have chosen to live in, which is why we picked the Daintree rainforest (as well as it being one of our favourite parts of Australia). We’ve both visited Mossman, Cape Tribulation and the surrounding areas and were breath taken by the beauty and history of the region. Having looked online, I found the ecolodge, which was just incredible. I knew as soon as I found them that it was the right place, they are a Climate Action Eco Tourism certified resort and in such a beautiful spot, with all the amenities we needed. The Ecolodge were amazing to communicate with, answered all of my rambling questions and on the day were very supportive of our care-free regard for wedding planning. As part of the package, we had accommodation for ourselves and guests in amazing bayans (tree houses), the suite Bruno and I shared included an outdoor spa bath, private waterfall and a day after spa package. When I think back to the whole thing, my jaw still drops!
The Daintree Eco Lodge also assisted in organising the members of Kuku Yalanji mob of the Daintree to perform a welcome to country and smoke ceremony. Bruno and I were honoured to pay respect to the local people of the area and be welcomed onto their land and to hold our wedding ceremony in such a sacred indigenous place. To have the local elders be a part of our special day, as well as have our unity blessed and recognised by the original owners of this land, it was absolutely magical.
The ceremony was around a 5-minute walk into the rainforest from the lodge, on a platform that was set next to a waterfall, which happened to be a woman’s sacred site (which only the women are allowed to bathe in). The atmosphere was just incredible. My aisle was the rainforest floor, I walked towards Bruno whilst Juan, who is of the Kuku Yalanji people, played didgeridoo. I will never forget Bruno and our guests’ expressions as the sound of Juan’s digeridoo reverberated in the natural echo chamber created by the waterfall and surrounding valley. It was truly a magical experience that will stay with me forever!
We had also arranged to write our own vows, throughout the ceremony there was not a dry eye!
Once completed, the whole wedding party then walked back to the lodge where lunch, drinks and champagne awaited us. The whole restaurant was ours to enjoy our 3-course meal comprising of ingredients from the local market, handpicked by the head chef the previous day. I had also organised thank you cards for guests made from plant-able paper with wildflower seeds, in the card was an anklet made from recycled silver and stamped with the coordinates of the wedding. I’m still wearing my anklet now.
After lunch, we were picked up by a taxi service and taken into Port Douglas to Barbados bar to watch the sunset and drink cocktails. What a dream!
Because Bruno and I had such a small wedding, we decided to hold a party in Sydney for family and friends. We kept it very simple, with a ‘chilled Sunday vibe’ as our theme. We arranged an area in Wayward Brewery – which has an awesome interior and also already has bands on every Sunday. I bought second-hand vintage silver wear, and second-hand crochet doilies, I also made decorative dreamcatchers. I arrived a few hours before guests and set up a few tables with all my decorations, flowers bought from the local market and cheese boards. We had friends bake huge vegan cakes, and hired a Mauritian band to play traditional Mauritian Sega music for an hour before Wayward’s pre-planned bands started. Bruno’s parents had also bought lots of traditional Mauritian sweets which were delicious! Bruno and I both wore our wedding outfits, it’s SO good being able to wear your wedding dress twice! I even reused my original flower crown that I had dried!
Tell us about your main outfits:
Both Bruno and I have a love for India (We have both travelled there separately and part of our honeymoon was 5 weeks in India), and Bruno’s Mauritian heritage has Indian and multi-cultural influences so we both wanted to incorporate this into our big day.
I decided on a bohemian style dress and wanted something locally made so chose a Spell Wedding dress. The dress fit beautifully, and I felt incredible. I was barefoot for the ceremony and then for the reception and Wedding Party I wanted to wear something outrageous so bought full diamanté chain mail slouch boots from dolls kill. They were an absolute highlight!
Bruno chose a traditional Indian outfit called a Sherwani. We sourced this from Liverpool, in Sydney. It was made for him, and included some fittings. I think he was actually more dressed up than I was!
What were some of the most memorable/unique moments from the day?
We had a poem that was read by one of our dearest friends, To Love is Not to Possess, by James Kavanaugh. It’s such a beautiful piece and really speaks to Bruno and I, and what we hold important to our marriage. The whole day, and the party was just insanely amazing. Everyone that helped us at the lodge was incredible, and the setting of our ceremony brings tears to my eyes. Bruno and I are now currently on our 6-month honeymoon that is taking us across India, Europe and Africa. So, the memories have yet to stop!
Any advice for other couples planning to spend the rest of their lives together?
My advice for weddings is think about what you want, not anybody else. You only get that one day, and that one day is about celebrating who you are as people together. Do what is right for what that represents, not what others expect you to do.
And for the rest of your lives together, remember yourselves as individuals as well as partners. Practice honesty and truth, don’t forget to learn and grow from each other.
Photography: Wedding day; Laura Marii – Full Hearts Wedding Co – Wedding Party (not shown); Phoenix Naman Ceremony location: Daintree Rainforest Reception location: Wedding day; Daintree Ecolodge & Barbados – Wedding Party; Wayward Brewery Celebrant: Sarah Woods Entertainment: La Faya (traditional Mauritian band) Styling & Flora: Wedding day; Bride and Daintree Ecolodge Bridal flower crown and hair pieces for each female guest: Floral Edge; Food/beverages/catering: Simone Watts at Daintree Ecolodge Bride’s dress: Spell Groom’s attire: Traditional Indian Sherwani & Kuta designed and fitted by Payal & Pasand – Liverpool Shoes: (Dani) Dolls Kill (Bruno) Windsor Smith Custom made lace kimono: Bibiluxe Faux fur coat: Topshop Hair & Makeup: Chelsey Harris
