Take an inside look at 10 of this season’s most unique SA weddings
For Aussie couple Niav and Andy, keeping their wedding budget-friendly and sustainable was key. Here’s how they managed to cut costs.
Lifestyle
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From destination elopements to nuptials with a dark fairytale twist, the 2023-24 wedding season has been unlike we’ve seen ever before.
Brides and grooms across South Australia have chosen to celebrate their wedding day in a way that resonated with them without the burden of the old school ways.
Meet the 10 couples who have ditched tradition in favour of pursuing their unique vision.
Cale and Kaila Porter
Wedding date: August 17, 2023
Wedding venue: Miramalfi Hotel on the Amalfi Coast, Italy and Jackson Square, Hindmarsh
They wanted the best of both worlds; an elopement on Italy’s Amalfi Coast and reception with their family and friends at home in Adelaide, so that’s what Cale and Kaila Porter did.
The Glengowrie couple were married in a cliff side afternoon ceremony at Miramalfi Hotel before taking a ride in a little red Fiat and a private sunset boat cruise.
“It was nice to have the moment – just the two of us – and completely soak in the day for ourselves,” Mrs Porter said.
The special day included Italian flair and flavours – eating tiramisu and gelati, plus champagne on the water.
Although the Porters wanted the moment to themselves, the local Italians made sure to congratulate the newlyweds.
“It was actually quite surreal actually, each little town we stopped off at (during their drive), they were cheering, clapping and congratulating us,” Mr Porter from Fresh 92.7’s Drive Home radio show said.
“It was amazing how many cars were pulling over and the drivers were casually getting out of the car saying ‘sorry, can I take a quick photo of you, you look adorable?’”
And their Italian adventure continued after saying ‘I do’ with the couple honeymooning in Rome, Puglia, Pisa, Florence and Venice.
Two weeks later – and just four days after returning from their travels – the Porters celebrated their marriage with family and friends at Jackson Square in Hindmarsh.
And they brought a slice of Italy with them by wearing the same clothes, serving limoncello, pizzas and gelati.
Zac Meyers and Caity Richardson
Wedding date: December 8, 2023
Wedding venue: Maison de Moon, Clarendon
At first glance anyone would think Caity Richardson chose her dress from a high-end, couture boutique.
But the talented bride made her dress from scratch.
The florist by trade said she didn’t really plan on making her own wedding dress – it just happened – and she never went dress shopping in boutiques.
“I was scrolling on Instagram and this bridal designer popped up. I looked at her designs and she had a few dresses I really liked,” Ms Richardson said.
“I didn’t really look at other dresses and I didn’t really go and try other designers anywhere else.
“I just had to source the material and make it – that was pretty much it.”
The Underdale bride opted for a dusty pink tulle for her Maison de Moon wedding to Zac Meyers.
But the process wasn’t all easy – Ms Richardson revealed she finished her dress the night before the big day.
“It was stressful, especially that last week,” she said.
“I took a week off from work before the wedding so I could actually sit down and work on the dress 10 hours a day.
“I finished it off only the night before.”
The creative bride also created their bouquets and flower arrangement at random by simply choosing the flowers available a her The Local Bunch store.
Bryce and Ruth Applebee
Wedding date: November 25, 2023
Wedding venue: Wirreanda Farm, Mount Crawford
For the Applebees their dream wedding felt more like a music festival campsite, with everyone invited to stay the night.
With bride Ruth rocking a golden tassel dress and groom Bryce donning a brown tux the Parafield Garden couple wanted their day to epitomise their interests.
So they tied the knot in an outdoor celebration at Wirreanda Farm at Mount Crawford with space for a giant tent and crackling bonfire.
“We just wanted something that was more reflective of our values, what we enjoy and what we know our friends and family enjoy,” Mrs Applebee said.
“And by doing our wedding like a camp, it really gave us the opportunity to spend more time together with the people who are close to us because the night just went by so fast.
“Camping together and then getting up together in the morning and having left over wedding cake for breakfast; it was like a luxury to have the extra time with everyone.”
The newly married Mrs Applebee also chopped her hair after the ceremony to signify the beginning of a new era.
Peter D’Alfonso and Petros Zulalyan
Wedding date: January 13, 2024
Wedding venue: South Australian Museum, Adelaide
It was a fairytale wedding with a dark twist with Peter D’Alfonso and Petros Zulalyan dreaming of a wedding fit for Disney villains.
The Kidman Park couple – now living in Los Angeles – started out with a more traditional vision including a colour scheme of white, tan and green.
But it just “didn’t feel right”.
“It didn’t pop and didn’t feel authentic to who we were,” Mr D’Alfonso said.
“Then one night, while watching Disney’s Maleficent, the thought came to us ‘I wonder what it would be like if Maleficent had a wedding?’
“And that is when our gorgeous wedding idea was born; we wanted a wedding fit for a Disney villain, we loved the lustfulness and sensuality of dark shades and colours – black, red, plum, deep purple.”
The newlyweds described the result as a cross between “dark fairytale” and “gothic elegance”, complete with custom made velvet suits, bridesmaid bouquets filled with black calla lilies, red roses and dark foliage.
The true standout was a six-tier chocolate raspberry cake, which was all black – except for the stunning red roses falling down the front.
“The entire theme of our wedding was something unique that most people wouldn’t consider,” Mr D’Alfonso said.
“It truly was something so unique and different from a regular white wedding that we always see and it was a win for the LGBT community, a gay wedding!”
Kris and Dao Pazios
Wedding date: November 4, 2023
Reception venue: The Playford MGallery, Adelaide
Three ceremonies, two days and one happily married couple.
That’s how an Australian-born Vietnamese bride and an Australian-born Greek groom brought their cultures together to honour their heritage.
Dao and Kris Pazios were both raised with a strong appreciation of their culture and they wanted their special day to reflect their identity.
It started with a traditional Vietnamese tea ceremony on the Friday at their Hampstead house with their closest family and friends including their three dogs.
Then on Saturday, a ceremony at St Lawrence’s Catholic Church in North Adelaide was quickly followed by a Greek ceremony at St Anthony’s in Prospect.
Then, they stepped into dancing the night away at The Playford MGallery.
“We always knew we wanted to do something like this because it was important for my mum and his mum; and it’s just such great cultures,” Mrs Pazios said.
“And I love how everyone embraced the two cultures as guests wore traditional Vietnamese gowns and on Saturday everyone gave Greek dancing a go – even if they didn’t know how to.”
Andy Whitehead and Niav Andrews
Wedding date: September 30, 2023
A $200 dress and realising their dream venue was just out the window was just the beginning of this budget-friendly backyard wedding.
Niav Andrews and Andy Whitehead did not believe they had to spend a fortune to have a beautiful wedding, so they didn’t.
The money-savvy Goodwood pair decided to get married in the bride’s parents’ backyard, not only to cut the costs – but to make the ceremony feel “extra special” and “intimate”.
“We wanted a garden venue but we couldn’t find anything in our budget that had the right energy,” Ms Andrews said.
“And then I was at my parents’ house one evening, just sitting on the back veranda and just went ‘hang on – this would be perfect!’ and that was it.”
Ms Andrews said they also sourced everything they could second-hand.
“So much of our wedding we got second-hand or thrifted or rented and that was partly to save money, but also we were thinking about what’s good for the environment,” she said.
“Including my dress actually, I got it on Facebook Marketplace from a girl who had previously worn it as a bridesmaid dress … I only paid $200.”
After the reception, the couple then resold a lot of the items used to decorate their wedding including tablecloths, napkins, plates, cutlery and the ring box.
Jess and Briony Rafanelli
Wedding date: May 23, 2023
Wedding venue: Hard Days Nights, Adelaide
When Jess and Bri Rafanelli got hitched, tradition took the back seat to fun – with a short dress, lashings of bright pink and red and comfort all taking centre stage.
The bride regularly had to remind herself that on their wedding day, the Seaton couple should do what they wanted and what they needed – and the result was beautiful.
Before her future husband had popped the question, the now Mrs Rafanelli had already spotted “the dress”.
“I had come across (Australian designer) Christie Nicole Bridal before we were engaged and fell in love with the short dress,” she said.
“I always knew I wanted to go untraditional in every way, and this dress was perfect.”
The newlyweds celebrated their marriage by throwing a big party at Hard Days Nights in the CBD, which is known for its quirky decor and funky bar.
It was all topped off with a bold colour palette of pink and red.
Mrs Rafanelli also wanted to prioritise her health and comfort on the big day.
“I learnt I have autism last year … (and) also being chronically ill (with) endometriosis, adenomyosis and fibromyalgia, it was a really tough day to get through” she said.
“This led us to the decision to be seated for the ceremony and I wore my Loop ear plugs most of the day which you can see in a lot of the photos and videos.
“I made sure to accommodate myself as much as I can and not let society make me think I can’t because it’s a wedding.”
Emmanuel and Florence Ngabo
Wedding date: March 16, 2024
Wedding venue: Mandalay House and Garden, Petwood
Incorporating a touch of their heritage and a dash of their dreams into their grand Mandalay House wedding was important for Emmanuel and Florence Ngabo.
The Rwandan groom and Burundian bride said their guests were ushered into the event by the thundering sounds of drummers.
To honour her culture, Mrs Ngabo swapped her ceremony dress from Adelaide Bridal Emporium to a custom-made beaded dress from Nigeria.
“We found ways to honour our cultures with our own touch to it,” she said.
“It was a blend of Rwandan and Burundian cultures with an Australian/European twist.
“We celebrated our heritage with Burundian Royal Drummers and Rwanda/Burundian traditional dancers.”
The Campbelltown couple said music played an important role in the celebration beyond drummers with a pianist playing in the middle of the garden during canapes and the DJ accompanied by the rich sounds of a saxophone player.
Tom and Amelia Whitfield
Wedding date: October 13, 2023
Wedding venue: Meadows Farmhouse, Green Hills Range
Tom and Amelia Whitfield adore the spooky season that brought them together on Halloween, 2017.
The newlyweds get a “thrill” from going against tradition and doing the things that are forbidden, according to superstition.
“After Tom proposed, I started looking up Friday the thirteenth in the calendar year and when I saw one in October – it was perfect – it encompasses how we met,” Mrs Whitfield said.
“And getting married in October and Friday the thirteenth just feels fun and I love telling people about it.
“We don’t believe in anything superstitious and so we kind of intentionally do the unlucky thing, not only because it’s more exciting but because we believe you make your own luck.”
The couple also ditched the rule book by deciding to spend their special day together from start to finish.
“I know a lot of couples don’t see each other until the ceremony but we didn’t do it like that,” the bride, who wore a black gown said.
“We rented an Airbnb on the property and spent the night together.
Joshua and Syjourn Kelly
Wedding date: October 20, 2023
Wedding venue: Sunken Garden, Adelaide and The Jade, Adelaide
Their nuptials were a surprise for the dozens of guests who believed they were attending an engagement party – only to discover Joshua and Syjourn Kelly had already said ‘I do’.
“We had 90 people, our closest family and friends, and we were doing some pretty simple speeches for this faux engagement party; then my dad during his speech revealed a photo from our wedding day by dropping a sheet,” Mrs Kelly said.
“And the crowd just went absolutely crazy, like there was so much cheering and clapping.
“It was actually very thrilling for us and quite funny.”
The Sevenhill couple had secretly married the day before their “engagement party” in the Botanic Garden surrounded by seven of their closest family members.
The next day, guests turned up to celebrate their engagement only to learn they were the Kellys.
“I think about how you feel when someone throws you a surprise birthday party – how fun that is – and so we just did that for 90 people,” Mrs Kelly said.
For the couple, it meant they could throw a low-key wedding reception without the usual pressure with guests dancing the night away and eating pizza from a food truck.
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