Surfing Stylista's Wedding Day

Spring has arrived in Australia and wedding season is in full swing around the country. We caught up with one of Melbourne’s favourite stylists, Simone Haag from interior design firm Hecker Guthrie to get a personal run down on how a stylist puts together one of the most stressful projects of their career!

Held in a little white chapel on the cliff tops of Victoria’s Phillip Island, (a regular surfing haunt for the couple) the wedding was an intimate affair shared with their nearest and dearest. Decorated in festoon lights and wreaths of jasmine, the timber shed on Sunset Hill farm on the island set the scene for the relaxed, laid back reception while guests dined away on fare from a "posh BBQ'" prepared by Ed Dixon Food.

Having spied her wedding dress worn by NY magazine editor Kristin Rawson on her own wedding day, Sim knew that her Caroline Seikaly dress, made from delicate Solstiss French Leavers Lace with vintage trim inserts, was a dead cert. Net-a-Porter was the go to source for the Versace two tone nude pumps with white heel and the stunning rose gold cuff by Lara Bohinc was bought from Grace in Hawksburn, Melbourne.

Describing the day as “whimsical, wild, wonderful and just a tiny bit wet”, the reception was held at a private farm in a shed decorated in festoon lights and personal touches as part of Simone’s DIY extravaganza.

Accent colours of grey and peach were chosen for the old shed with one of the biggest ‘craft’ projects being the dip dying of dinner napkins in pastel hues. Our personal favourite touch was the ceramic ring bearers bowl with the hand etched ‘to have and to hold’ sealing the deal for the couple.

We loved the wedding favours - tin cans lovingly painted by Simone’s dad and planted with Thyme by her mother in law with swing tags attached saying “thanks for making our wedding day such a good thyme’…..awwww!!

Melbourne Florist Fleur McHarg – famous for her service that stretches the extra mile - personally sourced and hand delivered the flowers for the event on the day to ensure the styling was perfect. David Austin roses, jasmine and hydrangeas were chosen to set the tone of old world elegance and understated charm.

Naturally Simone set the style direction and used personal touches to create intimacy. Coasters asking guests to give their advice to the bride and groom made for entertaining reading while blackboards were hung inviting friends to leave love ‘quotes’. An old typewriter added a vintage appeal to the styled setting, complete with Simone’s draft letter that she forgot to extract before the day, cursing the machine for not working!

Simone’s gorgeous father installed a gallery wall of photos of relatives weddings over the years capturing the essence of the day... intimate and personal right down to the very last detail.