Melbourne VIP: Weddings, announcement and events
A 1920s-themed soiree didn’t disappoint when this Melbourne glamour couple tied the knot. This is what the bride wore.
Fiona Byrne
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A 1920s soiree with a hint of the mystery and romance of The Great Gatsby.
That was the vision Melbourne stylist Vydia Rishie-Howell had for her elegant wedding to R&D consultant Samir Howell.
Bruce Keebaugh and The Big Group brought Rishie-Howell’s dream to life blending elegance and beauty with old-world decadence and modern minimalism.
Rishie-Howell looked breathtaking in a voluminous bluff-coloured, custom designed gown by Off-White ℅ Virgil Abloh.
The groom, Howell, was dapper in a Saint Laurent tuxedo, Burberry shirt, Hermès bow tie and pocket square, Louis Vuitton shoes, and vintage Chanel cuff links.
The ceremony and reception dinner were held at Melbourne’s Mural Hall ballroom with 45 guests in attendance.
The wedding was catered by The Big Group, floral art was by Ivy and Eve Flowers, the wedding cake was created by Miss Ladybird Cakes.
The couple walked down the aisle to a string quartet playing At Last by Etta James and a ballerina performed during the wedding dinner.
SOCIETY NOTES
Well-known Melbourne model Brooke McAuley and her partner Brenton Perry have announced their engagement.
Perry, a management consultant, proposed to McAuley, a former dancer and Miss Universe Australia national finalist, on the beach at Barwon Heads followed by a surprise family dinner to celebrate.
“It was the most special day, complete with a surprise family dinner a few hours later. Who knew the boy I met 10 years ago at a nightclub would be my future husband,” McAuley said. The couple plan to marry in January 2022.
Melbourne publicist and founder of St Remio Coffee Julia Tink and her husband Trent Knox have welcomed the birth of their second child.
Winter Grace Knox, who has already been nicknamed Snow, was born on March 26 and is a sister for Hunter.
“Weighing 3.3 kgs, she is a beautiful ray of sunshine. We feel incredibly blessed to have a daughter and complete our family,” Tink posted.
International successful model and fashion identity Jessica Hart has a special guest as part of her 35th birthday celebrations – her four month old daughter Baby-Rae Kirkham.
Hart, who grew up in Melbourne and now lives in Los Angeles with her partner James Kirkham, will be back in town in November for the Australian F1 Grand Prix.
Neighbours star Jemma Donovan celebrated her 21st birthday in Melbourne last Sunday.
The UK born and raised Donovan is in Melbourne filming the long-running Australian soap which launched her father, Jason Donovan’s, international career. parents are in London where the COVID lockdown is still in place.
EVENTS
VRC FAREWELL DINNER FOR AMANDA ELLIOTT
THE Victoria Racing Club acknowledged the significant contribution of Amanda Elliott to the organisation with a stylish private dinner in The Club Stand’s Roof Garden on Wednesday. Elliott served 18 ½ years on the VRC Board and became the VRC’s first female Chairman in 2017. She was the driving force behind the building of the Club Stand and launched the Melbourne Cup Foundation. Elliott finished up as Chairman in November with Neil Wilson stepping into the role. Guests included Denis Napthine, Craig Tiley, Andrew Westacott, Gerry Ryan, Lindsay Fox, Peter Rowland, David and Jill Taylor, Rod and Paige Fitzroy, Mark and Toni Skaife, Penny Fowler, and Frank and Sharon Van Haandel.
Messages were played from some of those who could not attend including Bruce McAvaney, Lord Teddy Grimthorpe, the Honourable Harry Herbert and Johnny Murtagh.
PIXAR PUTT – CBD
The Pixar Putt is back and the timing is perfect for parents looking to entertain kids during Easter and the school holidays. The minigolf experience at Federation Square is made up of holes inspired by the stories and characters from some of Pixar’s favourite films including Toy Story, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Monsters, Inc. and A Bug’s Life.
While it is perfect for kids, the adults aren’t forgotten with After-Dark 18+ from 7pm Thursday to Saturday.
Tee-ing off at the opening night were Jo Hall, David Reynolds, Zoe George, Francoise Draschler and Natalia Kalinowski.
Pixar Putt runs at Federation Square until April 25, 2021.
FOR THE LOVE FESTIVAL
The For The Love festival combined music, lifestyle and surfing over five days at URBNSURF at Tullamarine. The festival was held on March 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28 with headline artists including Fisher, Ocean Alley, Flight Facilities, Hayden James and Matt Corby. With catering by Three Blue Ducks and Nana Judy hosting the VIP lounge, the festival attracted guests including Mia Fevola, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Tess Shanahan, Hannah Orval and Teagan Dixon.
KOALA KIDS COCKTAIL PARTY
Koala Kids, a Hawthorn-based charity which supports children and young people undergoing cancer treatment, held its annual fundraising cocktail party at URL Landrover in Malvern.
It was a “take two” for the event which was originally to be held during the week of Melbourne’s snap COVID-19 lockdown in February.
The event was a great opportunity for Koala Kids supporters, volunteers and sponsors to catch up in person after a year of Zoom meetings.
The evening also saw Dan Lawson and Daniella Mandie announced as the charity’s Volunteers of the Year.
Guests included Annie Moulden, Mandie Mandie, Vanessa Cohen and Liz Anderson, Catherine Roosenburg and Ben McGinn.
CHRISSIE SWAN’S NOVA LISTENER PARTY
Reality TV is entertainment’s water cooler talking point of the moment and NOVA’s Chrissie Swan has long proved to be a sleuth when sorting out the fact from the fiction with characters on these shows.
Swan, part of the Chrissie, Sam & Browny breakfast show, hosted NOVA listeners at an intimate cocktail party with some of Australia’s most popular reality TV stars at the Dive Bar at the Crowne Plaza hotel.
Guests included Patrick Dwyer, Belinda Vickers, Joanne Tate, Rebecca Zemek, Jane Elliott, Josh Collins, Booka Nile, Mel Tracina and Ash Gardner.
TOM AND JERRY: THE MOVIE
The cartoon cat and mouse Tom and Jerry never get old.
The characters are enjoying revival with Tom and Jerry: The Movie in cinemas now.
Plenty of young moviegoers armed with popcorn and mouse-themed cupcakes enjoyed a private screening of the film at the Jam Factory in South Yarra.
Spotted were Rachel Watts and her sons Levi and Harvey and Anthony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann and his wife Kelly Kearney and son, Laddie.
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