Former Sydneysiders Ali and Alex gave their family and friends the ultimate surprise when their Grounds of Alexandria engagement party during a quick trip home turned into a wedding! And on hand to capture all the details (and surprised faces!) was Sydney photographer Matt Godkin.

The couple, who now live in San Francisco after quitting their jobs three years ago to travel, decided that being back in their hometown was the perfect opportunity to tie the knot and that keeping it a secret was the key to making it fun and low-key. Ali shares, “It turns out that it was far more fun for us to plan a party, rather than a wedding… When it was all said and done, we all agreed it was about as low-stress as a wedding can get. The most stressful part was keeping a secret!”

Close family were in on the secret and pitched in to pull off the surprise. Ali’s twin sister, Pip, just happens to be a wedding celebrant and proved a very useful resource, recommending vendors, helping to plan the night and even trying on wedding dresses on behalf of her sister. Ali says, “Getting married by Pip was by far the most incredible part of the whole wedding thing. From the moment we were engaged, she was such a thoughtful and insightful companion for the whole wedding journey. Then, the ceremony itself was perfect. There was so much of us in it, we loved it. To be married by your sister, to the man you love, in front of the people you love, is pretty special.”