Melanie and Nathan's whirlwind romance began at a wine bar where they both worked.
After 3 months of dating they were engaged and within a fortnight of the proposal their wedding date was locked for 6 months later.
Melanie tells us her story. "Almost immediately after our engagement, Nathan discovered he was being transferred to another military base later that month. With Nathan and I at opposite ends of the country, planning a wedding in Brisbane where our families lived was definitely an unforgettable experience! We liaised with suppliers and venues over email, then consulted each other over phone most weekends. I wanted a semi-formal/classic style wedding with a lot of white flowers and decorations.
"My four bridesmaids were all a similar size and would look good in anything, so choosing the bridesmaid dresses was really easy! I didn't want them to have to spend a lot of money on something they wouldn't wear again. The pale yellow dresses worn by the bridesmaids were only $100 and worn with a matching flower in their hair (worn down in loose curls) with pearls and silver jewellery."
"I remember walking down the aisle on my fathers arm, with a string quartet playing Canon in D Major. I couldn't stop smiling - I was so, so happy!
"I was one of the most easygoing brides, I didn't have any ideas set in stone so I was happy with whatever looked pretty. The main colour scheme was white with small details of yellow such as ribbons on vases, to match the bridesmaid dresses." Melanie recommends checking with your venue on preferred suppliers as they may give you something extra - the florist gave Melanie all the vases to hire for FREE as long as she put her flowers in them.
"I loved our reception, everything looked so beautiful! When cutting the cake I remember smiling to myself as I looked at the bride and groom figurines on top - 24 years earlier as a 4 year old flower girl at my first wedding, I had admired the doll on the wedding cake and couldn't wait to have my own."
"Nathan and I had our top 5 songs chosen for our first dance and let the DJ randomly choose one so we could have a surprise. It ended up being "Never Let Me Go" by Florence and the Machine which was nice as we had been to see Florence in Perth together earlier that year.
If you love someone, marry them - life's too short! Especially when you have dated the wrong person and you know that you have finally found the right person."
Congratulations on your marriage Melanie and Nathan! Thank you for sharing your wedding story with us.
Photography by Dave Kan Photography, Flowers by Pink and Purple Petals. Melanie’s favourite websites for inspiration Modern Wedding.
By Ingrid Szajer
Lindsey