Megan married her beau, Daniel, in a heartwarming celebration set amongst dimmed chandeliers and rustic hanging lights. The young couple exchanged vows in the heart of Brisbane's trendy Fortitude Valley, in the urban venue, The Smoked Garage. At the end of the aisle, there was a floral arbour (by Garden Graffiti) with hues of purple and pink, alongside a flickering sea of candles. All of which exuded a mystical sensibility, adding to the magic of the day.
Choosing a venue can be overwhelming, but Megan and Daniel found the perfect one. “We searched for ages across QLD, NSW, and Tasmania to find the right venue with a difference and then finally came across Smoked Garage which ticked all the boxes and was right in the middle of the city, which was great for our out-of-town guests,” she says. “The venue is an absolute hidden gem and our family and friends were blown away by how beautiful it looked. It was fitting that it was in the Valley too, where we first connected.”
The stars aligned in 2016, when the two were brought together, working in the same office, but never spoke. It wasn’t until the two attended a friend's birthday party that they quickly connected. The two liked each other so much that they indulged in a sweet rendezvous “dessert date in Ashgrove”. Years later, Daniel planned to surprise Megan with a proposal. He organised a picnic at New Farm Park and asked Megan to marry him against the scenic views of the Brisbane River.
Marriage carries a myriad of meanings for different people. For the newlywed couple, marriage is significant to them because “it signifies a lifetime commitment and that we have chosen to be with each other through the good and the bad.”
When Megan began the search for her wedding dress she knew it was a pivotal decision, with the bridal gown remaining as a ceremonial centrepiece. She sought inspiration from artfully crafted wedding gowns from leading bridal shops across Brisbane before settling on a style that she connected with deeply and that spoke to her personal vision. ”I decided to just go dress shopping with mum to avoid being overwhelmed and ensure I could find exactly what I wanted without being swayed by others,” the bride explains. “It was such a special moment to share with Mum and as soon as I decided on the dress, we both just knew it was the perfect choice.”
Preparing to celebrate spending the rest of her life with the one she loves, Megan knew she wanted a custom look, personal to her. With an eye for fashion, Megan sought more of an avante-garde wedding dress that boasts modernity. “I had been to a few wedding dress shops before I went to When Freddie Met Lilly, but as soon as I walked into WFML, I knew this was the place for me. I wanted something a bit different and they truly delivered,” Megan says.
When Freddie Met Lilly is one of the few wedding shops in Brisbane that offers customers the creative freedom to design a dress that truly fulfils their vision for the most special dress they will ever wear. “The dresses at WFML are absolute perfection and I was able to work with Vanessa to create my dream dress, made to my exact measurements. I made a few changes at fitting appointments along the way, but nothing was ever too difficult for Vanessa and the team. I absolutely adored my dress and felt so special wearing it. I also received so many compliments from people saying how unique it was and that it was the most beautiful dress they’ve ever seen.”
To complement Megan’s wedding dress, the groom wore a classic black and white suit. Megan says “I left it up to him…and once he picked one out I gave him the go-ahead. His suit was divine, along with the groomsmen’s.”
The evening before their wedding day the couple decided to share a special moment to themselves. “We both decided to keep it simple as we are always spoiling each other, so we wrote each other a letter and we read it before we went to bed. So many tears!”
The ceremony began on a Tuesday in the heart of Fortitude Valley. Megan and Daniel were surrounded by the warmth and love of their nearest and dearest. Their intimate ceremony was graced with friends and family. Megan's immediate family made the journey, all the way from Tasmania, to toast the newlyweds and celebrate their bond and love for each other. Despite Megan’s grandma not being able to attend Megan’s wedding day, she was able to share a heartfelt FaceTime call on the day. She says “The day itself! It was absolutely magical and better than we could have ever hoped for. There was so much love and happiness in the room and it was amazing for our family and friends to come together. I still feel like I’m in a dream.”
Mollies advice for future Brides and Grooms is, “The lead-up can be incredibly stressful, but everything will be worth it on the day.”
“The day goes so fast, so try and enjoy the small moments – Choose your team of dream vendors and ensure you have amazing people around you, full of positive vibes, to support you through the planning.”
Vendors:
Bride: meglan8
Groom: danzigggy
Venue: smokedgaragebrisbane
Photographers/videographer: lovelenscapesphotography
Celebrant: carlysladeweddings
Hair and makeup: Blushdbrides
Florist: garden.graffiti
Music: thefamosandco
Cake: sweetsocietyco
Stationery: lauraelizabethdesigns
My shoes: loefflerrandall
My headband: Windsorbridaljewellery
Bridesmaids dresses: olegcassini
Suits: politix
Light up letters: eventletters
Photobooth: click.click.Photobooth
Favours: littlecocoa_au