Olivia Catanach, Priscilla Hajiantoni, Renée Spiridis exchange vows in beautiful ceremonies
From heirloom tiaras to silky gowns and embroidered veils, these Melbourne brides were elegantly dressed for their picture perfect days. See their photos.
Fiona Byrne
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As a member of the Catanach family, the esteemed Melbourne society jewellers based in Armadale, it was natural to expect that Olivia Catanach would sparkle on her wedding day.
As a member of the Catanach family, the esteemed Melbourne society jewellers based in Armadale, it was natural to expect that Olivia Catanach would sparkle on her wedding day.
Catanach exchanged vows with hospitality executive Kyle Wilkinson at the Ormond Hall chapel in Melbourne on May 6, 2023.
Fittingly for a Coronation Day wedding, Catanach wore a diamond tiara that had been in the family since the early 1900s.
“The tiara is a family piece that my great grandfather purchased around 1900,” Olivia said.
“Mum (Amanda Catanach) wore it at her wedding and my sister wore it at her wedding, so it is a piece that holds great significance for the family.
“We added pink morganites into it for my wedding. As the wedding was on the King’s Coronation Day, I just felt like a princess.”
The couple’s wedding rings were from Catanach’s.
Olivia and Kyle met at a house party in 2016 in Fitzroy.
“It was a university house party,” Olivia recalled, with Wilkinson proposing in Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens in July last year on the 6th anniversary of meeting.
Olivia wore a wedding gown by Anna Campbell Bridal in Armadale with shoes by Prada.
“It was A-line with lace applique and detachable lace applique sleeves,” she said.
“We did a veil with a little bit of sparkle. It was soft and pretty and I couldn’t have been happier.”
Olivia, was attended by three bridesmaids and her sister, Lexie Leonard, as matron of honour. Her nieces Lilly and Freya Leonard were flower girls.
Kyle was supported by his brother Joel as best man along with three groomsmen.
The couple’s reception for 180 guests, including family friends that had travelled from New York and London, was held in Ormond Hall where their first dance was to the George Michael hit Amazing.
Olivia said the wedding was the start of a year of family celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of Catanach’s Jewellers.
“It was the most magical and joyful day ever. It was full of so much love and excitement and happiness,” Olivia said.
“It is a really nice start to what is going to be a special year ahead for our family.
“I am generation six in the business.
“The official 150th birthday for Catanach’s Jewellers is October next year, but we are going to have a year of special events to lead up to that date.
“It is pretty special for a business to be 150 years in the same family.”
Olivia and Kyle were married by Melbourne celebrant Justin Morley.
Florals were done by Flowers Vasette with Tony Evans Photography capturing all the special moments.
Priscilla Hajiantoni and Jake Livock
After putting their wedding plans on hold in 2019 to fully commit to the building of their booming Bangn Body skincare business, Priscilla Hajiantoni and Jake Livock have tied the knot in an elegant ceremony in Sorrento.
The couple’s wedding came 15 years after they met in high school in Melbourne in 2008.
“We were actually at swimming sports when he asked me to go out with him,” Hajiantoni said.
Hajiantoni said the wedding was organised in six months after she and Livock decided an overseas trip to mark their anniversary as a couple should instead be their honeymoon.
“I was always the one to go against traditions, to live my life with no rule book,” Priscilla said.
“Jake and I have been together for 15 years and were engaged for nearly six years. I always knew Jake was my forever man and believed I didn’t need a piece of paper to formalise it. “Bangn Body has been our core focus for over four years and I realised my personal life was flying by, yet I was not even in it.
“I decided the time was now and only had six months to plan the wedding.
“Our wedding day was truly the best day of our lives and I would tell anyone thinking not to get married to reconsider, as it does bond you in a different way and the love that is shared is truly magical. It’s a love that makes you ready for the next chapter of your lives.”
The couple exchanged vows at The Continental Sorrento on February 3, 2023.
“We picked this venue as our happy place is near the beach and we used to always take road trips down the peninsula and go camping when we were kids,” Priscilla said.
She wore a wedding gown and reception dress by Karen Willis Holmes in Armadale.
“I love the elegance, lustre and shine of silk, while being incredibly elegant with a touch of sexiness in design,” she said of her wedding gown.
“My second dress certainly had an elevated, more of a party feel, while still being elegant, made of pure silk with feather detailing.”
The wedding was event managed by The Nuptials Collective, florals were by Sour Sunflower and catering was by The Continental Sorrento.
Priscilla and Jake’s first dance was to You by Dan & Shay.
Renée Spiridis and Caleb Pretorius
TikTok turned to love for Melbourne business managers and social media influencers Renée Spiridis and Caleb Pretorius.
The couple, who met in 2021, wed at Scot’s Church in Melbourne’s CBD with a reception at Luminare in South Melbourne on May 5, 2023.
“We met on TikTok,” Renee said.
“I approached Caleb and only months later he moved down from Sydney to Melbourne for us to be together.”
Renee shared her wedding journey on TikTok with her followers, charting the experience of finding a bridal gown and organising sharing
Renee’s gown was a spectacular bespoke creation by Marquise Bridal in South Melbourne which featured her married name embroidered onto the base of her long elegant veil.
“Marquise fitted me in a custom gown of my dreams, we worked together for months to get it right,” she said.
“They were such a delight to work with, we built a very special bond during the process. They even attended my wedding.”
Renee said she and Caleb had discussed eloping.
“We had many thoughts of eloping,” she said.
“The wedding planning process was harder than we thought, especially since we did it all ourselves.
“But once we finished the ceremony and saw how absolutely stunning the venue looked, … it was all worth it. It was perfect - everything we could have ever asked for.
“The theme was intimate, the vibe was romantic, and the crowd was thrilled. Nobody sat down, we just partied all night. It was so special for us to have enjoyed so much with our loved ones.”
Florals were provided by Your Flower Fix with photography by APL Photography and video by C2 Films.
While the wedding was elaborate and grand, Renee said Caleb’s proposal was far more simple.
“It happened very casually, at home,” she said.
“He was too excited to keep the ring any longer so he popped the question in our lounge.”
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