Melody and Daniel are a pretty cruisy couple and their relaxed backyard wedding suited them to a tee. Their ceremony and reception took place in the spacious garden of a family home just outside of Geelong and was catered by Taco Truck, in a picnic-style affair.

Melody designed all the stationery and with a horde of enthusiastic helpers, DIY’d up a storm with bunting, fabric streamers, hanging ‘gems’, a potluck dessert table and giant lawn-scrabble. She even created illustrations of songs from their ceremony and framed them as gifts for their 140 guests!

Crafternoons, op-shopping, borrowing and enlisting help from loved ones allowed Melody and Daniel to create their perfect day and stick to their budget. Melody has these words of advice for other couples planning to dominate with DIY.

“Get started well in advance, and don’t be afraid to delegate! We are blessed with an awesome bunch of friends who were so willing to help with different aspects – I’m glad I took them up on their offers – it not only helped to get things done, but allowed for a really special sense of community ownership and investment on the day. It’s our hope that that will extend to our marriage too – that we would continue to involve our loved ones and seek their support through our life together.”

The lovely Jessica Tremp of Brown Paper Parcel captured all the day’s beautiful moments, our favourite of which has to be Daniel’s reaction to seeing his bride walk down the aisle. Absolutely darling.

Photography: Brown Paper Parcel | Bride’s dress: Jann Marie | Bride’s shoes: Witchery | Bridesmaid’s dress: People Tree | Groom’s suit: Menzmode | Rings: Klepner’s jewellers | Hair and makeup: friend | Ceremony and reception venue: family home | Celebrant: couple’s pastor | Flowers: Featherwood Flowers | Prop hire: Memphis Hire | Catering: Annie’s Provedore and Taco Truck | Stationery/invitations: Bride