Glamorous, modern and wildly electric, Amie and Matt’s nuptials were full of vitality and the zing of city-coastal living at Newcastle Beach. Inspired by the non-traditional, Amie and Matt created an upbeat, colourful day that was a true reflection of their personalities and their free, fiery sprits.
Beautifully adventurous, Amie curated a statement outfit – daring lace against a nude background, white low cut western boots and high-impact earrings. Nuanced touches of boho in Amie’s full sleeves, the soft curls of her hair and her embellished headpiece injected femme touches to their rocking, edgy vibe. We love the transition between wearing a headpiece and a black felt Panama – both chic alternatives to a veil, allowing for a seamless transition from the ceremony to the party beyond.
Trailblazing non-traditional venues, Amie and Matt sought relaxed yet vibrant locations to enjoy at their own pace with their select guests. The ceremony, enveloped by indoor plants, was a natural and low key setting to kick off their nuptials. Revelry ensued at Rustica, an intimate local restaurant with views out into the night and across the South Pacific. The decor – rustic, eclectic and moody – was heavily saturated in strong hues and carousing vibrance.
Escaping traditions has never looked so good! Unique moments captured by James White Photography.
How did you meet and how long have you been together?
We met at Newcastle Kiosk on Newcastle beach N.S.W. We had been together for a year when Matt proposed and I was four months pregnant.
How would you describe each other?
Matt; Easy going, honest, kind, warm, patient, loyall, hard working, emotionally intelligent, bright and good looking. Amie; Dedicated, organised, beautiful, funny, smart, strong, encouraging, stubborn and creative.
Tell us a little bit about the proposal and your engagement?
Matt proposed on our one year anniversary at the same spot we had met the previous year. We were on our way to dinner and he got down on one knee in front of beach goers and asked me to marry him. Matt had a ring made which was plain sliver and inside said “marry me”. Not long after we had a custom ring designed by Digby & Iona, they are makers of unique wedding rings based in Brooklyn, NY. We planned our entire wedding in EIGHT WEEKS. We kept our wedding a surprise and didn’t announce it until the day we got married so we didn’t have an engagement party. The plan was to have an engagement / baby shower when we got back from our honeymoon but it had to be cancelled due to Covid-19.
Tell us about your wedding style; what influenced your planning for the day?
I would say our style is intimate, mellow and natural. We really wanted our wedding to be a reflection of our lives and personalities and have something we would enjoy if we were guests!
Why did you choose your destination?
We wanted our venue to be an extension of our home and to have it somewhere which wasn’t ‘traditional’. I love indoor plants and our venue had never hosted a wedding so it was a must. It was very important to try and keep it as intimate and unique as possible. Our reception followed at a restaurant located on Newcastle beach called Rustica; the style of the venue is very romantic.
What does marriage mean to you?
Family is the first thing that comes to mind, and timing couldn’t have been better as it was a few months before the arrival of our little girl. Secondly, commitment, which we value highly being both loyal and trustworthy.
What was your favourite moment from the day?
The VIBE – because we had such a low key wedding, there was absolutely no pressure. Things didn’t feel rushed, we were able to get to every single guest and say ‘hello’ which was a big priority for us. Getting to share our commitment to each other in front of the people who really matter the most to us was far more valuable than any elaborate wedding could be. We also had our three dogs there which I absolutely adored.
Who were your stand out vendors?
Are we allowed to say all of them? Seriously!!! I was amazed to get everyone we wanted in such a short period of time. Okay, if I had to name top three it would be; James White our photographer he brought such fun, vibrant and relatable energy to the wedding, we’ve actually become really good friends with James since the wedding he’s such a stand up guy! Monty Haron – where do I even start? I honestly believe if we couldn’t have had Monty as our celebrant we wouldn’t have been married, Monty has been one of my friends for quite some time. He is the reason our ceremony felt so intimate. His electric personality and charismatic nature wins the hearts of everyone. Ash Wheelhouse, I’ve been obsessed with her relaxed approach to what seems to be a new style of wedding day foliage. Ash and others like her seem to be paving the way forward with seasonal organic creations. Oh, and I have to give mention to Loren Van – D and Lisa they were both fantastic on the day… okay that’s it, I promise.
Advice for other couples planning a wedding?
First of all, go with your instincts and keep all expectations aside. I honestly believe that because we did this, we were less inclined to feel overwhelmed. It kept fights over silly things at a minimum which was hard when you’re five to six months pregnant. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to have your dream wedding, you just need to be resourceful. We had everything we wanted including vendors and didn’t have to make any sacrifices. Ladies FYI I hired my wedding dress from Glam corner it cost me $250, which included shipping.
Do you have a favourite quote or piece of your vows you would like to share?
Amie: I promise I’ll always work with you and never against you because you are my best friend. I promise to listen to your advice even if I don’t take it. I promise I will always love you and be loved by you.
Matt: I promise to support you in whatever decision you want to make for you, for us and for our family.
|| CREDITS ||
Photography: James White Photography | Florals: Film & Foliage | Ceremony Venue: High Swan Dive | Reception Venue: Rustica | Bridal Gown: Glam Corner | Veil/Headpiece: Ashlee Lauren Designs | Bridal Shoes: The Iconic | Rings: Digby & Iona Jewelry | Hair Stylist: Lisa Fowler | Makeup Artist: Loren Murnane Makeup | Groom’s Suit & Shoes: The Iconic | Celebrant: Monty Haron | Catering: The Goods Catering | Entertainment: CrocQ
If you loved the luscious and sustainable styling of Amie & Matt’s ceremony venue, check out this earthy, luxe styled shoot by HapPea Events for more inspiration. To see more of James White Photography’s stunning work, head over to our exclusive Wild Hearts Vendor Collection here and follow him on Instagram here.
Words by Isabelle McKay.
