Weddings

Grace & Sam’s Whale Beach Wedding

Words by Hannah Pronesti / Images by Kieran Moore Photography
May 28, 2016

One only needs to look at the wedding snaps captured by Kieran Moore Photography to know that Grace and Sam were made for each other. Despite attending the same school a few years apart, the pair didn’t cross paths properly until they met at church in 2010 but fast-forward to 2015 and the two finally made it official.

Green grass and panoramic views of the surrounding beaches sounds pretty sweet to us and that’s exactly what sold Sam and Grace on Mona Vale Headland’s Whale Beach. Hayley Ann Styling prettied up the ceremony, not that it needed much! – and we can’t imagine these two tying the knot anywhere else!

Wanting to incorporate their individual styles, the couple let their theme unfold organically and the result was a perfect fusion of both, “Sam is very beachy and rustic whereas I love anything bohemian and feminine.” Grace shares. “We tried to mesh the two styles as best we could and our ceremony stylist did an amazing job of doing so!”

Our favourite thing about this couples special day? A fateful accommodation choice that would lead them to naming their son, “We were actually six months pregnant with our first at the time of the wedding and we ended up naming him Jonah, inspired by the hotel we stayed at the night of the wedding, Jonah’s at Whale Beach!”

With his unruly locks and beachy-vibe, Sam was always gonna be a stylish groom and a blue-grey three-piece Politix suit and bowtie had him well and truly looking the part.

Beauty-wise, this bride had Annabelle Harding on hair and Jes O’Brien on makeup. Already babin’ as is, Grace left her hair long and loose, and we do have to wonder if she owes her glow to that bun in the oven!

lace long sleeve wedding dress by Rue de Seine

Grace confesses to being quite the bohemian so her feminine Rue De Seine blouse and custom-made skirt suited her down to the ground –plus it was the perfect fit for her six-months-pregnant belly! So gorgeous!

lace long sleeve bridal separates by Rue de Seine

The husband-and-wife team behind Kieran Moore Photography were a hit with our newlyweds, with Grace describing them as ‘The loveliest people you will ever meet!” and their light-filled, vibrant brand of photography also won them brownie points.

Wild Lotus Florist crafted some beautiful bouquets of lush white roses and blushing bride proteas - and don’t forget the stunning festoon of flowers for the ceremony arbour!

White lace C&M by Camilla & Marc dresses did the job for the bridesmaids and they perfectly complemented Grace’s boho attire.

Moby Dicks Whale Beach had everything the pair wanted in a reception venue – “it was already very much a mix of our two styles, we were sold the moment we walked in the door.” Grace tells us, adding and “Sam, initially, because there was a surf comp on that day so he got to watch it while we checked out the venue! Once he tore himself away from that he also loved the style and the atmosphere of the place.”

Tillee Music set the scene post-ceremony with some sweet acoustic tunes, while Grace’s brother Kane did a one-man acoustic set during the ceremony, crooning a beautiful rendition of Elvis’ Can’t Help Falling In Love.

With Moby Dicks taking care of catering, guests enjoyed roaming canapés in the courtyard before heading inside for an array of seasonal share plates, “We loved the idea of share plates as opposed to alternate dishes,” explains Grace, “because it felt less formal and more like a big family dinner with everyone we love.”

Now that they’ve done it themselves, these sweethearts have some simple advice for others tying the knot, “Enjoy! Do things the way you want to do it, it’s your day, you have only yourself to please. Also, the day goes so so quickly, take as many moments as you can with your new husband/wife to enjoy it together.”