Adam proposed to Elena on the beaches of Byron Bay, overlooking the water, while on a picnic celebrating his birthday. So it's only fitting they would be wed at the gorgeous, laid-back Byron Bay Surf Life Saving Club. Read on to find out how they met, who brought their dream day all together and what helpful advice Elena has for soon-to-be #whitelilybrides.
How They Met
Elena and Adam's love story is a true tale of modern romance - they swiped right on one another. The two organised to meet at a local bar one Friday night for a casual drink. "We quickly realised we could talk for hours and the Tinder app got the flick pretty quickly after that night." The rest is history.
The Proposal and Engagement
"We planned to celebrate another New Year's Eve together, which is actually Adam's birthday. He decided that an early birthday picnic would fly under the radar." The two grabbed their new picnic set, some cheese, crackers, and liquid courage in the form of Brookie's Byron Sloe Gin. "The picnic was set under a beautiful tree on the sand looking out over Broken Head Beach in Byron Bay, which is just a short drive from Adam's childhood home. While we were sitting there, we noticed a pod of dolphins playing in the water just beyond the surfers." In one swift move, Adam rose from sitting to kneeling, producing an open ring box. "He got a very quick yes. There was a big celebration that night and the following night we rang in the New Year together."
Style and Theme
Because Elena and Adam got married near the beach in Byron Bay, they wanted to hero their surroundings. They kept styling quite minimalist with soft muted tones of ivory, pink & gold. Elena wanted to highlight some of their vendors who brought her vision to life.
"Firstly our incredible wedding planner, stylist, and on-the-day coordinator. Lori of Lulabelle Events. Her attention to detail was incredible. She took my vague ideas, Pinterest board, and descriptions and turned them into a dreamy reality I would never have been able to conceive myself. She was an absolute dream to work with."
She also raved about their photographer - Mint Photography. "The husband-wife duo, Sarah and Stephen, had a relaxed, laid-back charm that resulted in photos capturing the day perfectly." Our gorgeous newlyweds were thrilled to received candid images, their gallery filled with natural smiles. "Mint had excellent communication and we would 11/10 work with them again."
The other vendor Elena wanted to feature was their florist, Nicola of Moon Bloom & Co. "She was incredible in bringing together the florals for the day, especially with the difficulties in procurement of flowers, given recent events that disrupted the supply chain. Knowing only our budget, the three colours of the theme, and the fact that I’m originally from Colombia, Nicola managed to source the most beautiful Colombian Roses in creamy whites and soft blush pink." What a beautiful, thoughtful gesture!
Before coming to
White Lily Couture, Elena had already visited a few other boutiques with a particular style in mind. However, she hadn't had much luck finding the dress she envisioned.
"When I showed up at White Lily Couture and explained my vision to my consultant, she selected a few that matched my description exactly but also asked that I keep an open mind and try on their pick too." Elena tried on the dresses she expected to love, but none were quite hitting the mark. She left trying on the wildcard pick her stylist selected until last.
"I’d describe the gown as a princess dress, which was the exact opposite of what I described. But as soon as the zip was done up and I looked in the mirror, it was undeniable - this was my dress and I could instantly picture myself looking at Adam and saying 'I do'."It wasn't an immediate yes though. Elena's mother was at work and couldn’t come to the boutique for a few hours and she didn't want to say yes without her Mum's approval.
"I was so sure this was the one, so the wonderful team set me up with a drink and let me wait it out for over 3 hours! Finally, I was able to get my mother’s blessing in person and say 'Yes to the Dress!' The wait was worth it, the dress was an absolute dream to wear." Elena wore
Thea by
Martina Liana.
Favourite Memory
We love this unique element Elena and Adam added to their day.
"We did a first look before the ceremony with just our closest family and bridal party. Adam was looking out over the ocean and I walked up behind him; when he turned around and I saw him in his suit and he saw me in my dress, tears welled up for both of us. We had waited so long for this day and it finally hit us both that it was happening - it was the best feeling ever!"
Advice for Future Brides
Our bride has some very practical, helpful advice for future newlyweds. "
Look up as you exit the ceremony - often people are looking down at their feet as they walk (especially in a wedding dress that has a lot of material so as not to trip!) If you look up as you walk out, you can get really special shots of you and your partner with the backdrop of your loved ones. Everyone is smiling and it’s a great shot to use for thank you cards."
Complete this sentence: being married means...
"Commitment to doing life with the person I love unconditionally. For me, love can be summed up with this quote, "To feel the love of people whom we love is a fire that feeds our life" -Pablo Neruda.
The Dream Team
