Melissa and Tom

A fun Sydney wedding for you today of Melissa and Tom who were teenage sweethearts! (Oh that always makes me smile!). It’s all about classic elegance  with a splash of gorgeous pink and plenty of candlelight!

Melissa says, “We met in 2003 when I was only 16 and Tom was 18!  I was still at school while Tom had just started uni but we were inseparable from the moment we met – traveling from one side of Sydney to the other to see each other!  We moved out together in 2005, bought our first property in 2008 and got engaged later that year.  We are so lucky to have found love at a young age and are so excited for what lies ahead for us.”

Photos today are by the talented crew at gm photographics who provide endless inspiration in my inbox and capture weddings with such a sophisticated beauty to them.

Melissa wore a stunning ballgown from Steven Khalil while her bridesmaids wore floor length black gowns from Charlie Brown. A bouquet of pink blooms was styled by Sweet Art. Melissa says “My three bridesmaids, Mum and I stayed in a hotel the night before the wedding and I really enjoyed that time – I was so nervous but it was lovely having all the important women in my life with me at that time.  The morning of the wedding, I had my hair and make up done and was standing in front of a mirror in my dressing gown – I looked my maid of honour in the eye and we both cried – I couldn’t believe it was my wedding day!” Each bridesmaid received a vintage lace handkerchief (Melissa carried one too as her “something old”) as a gift.

Melissa and Tom were married at Knox Grammar School, she says “Knox Grammar School, being the school that Tom, his brothers and his three groomsmen went to, held a special place in our hearts.  It was fantastic being able to get married there”. Melissa walked down the aisle to traditional Scottish bagpipes, with her mother.

Melissa and Tom held their reception at The Tea Room, Gunners Barracks. Melissa says “We fell in love with Gunners Barracks the moment we saw it and knew we had to have our reception there! It’s such a breathtaking spot, overlooking the harbour and we loved the feel of the old army barracks – romantic and sophisticated – exactly what we were hoping for our wedding day!”

The three tier wedding cake was made by Sweet Art (who also made the wedding stationery and wedding flowers) and sat on the bridal table in front of a mantle filled with pictures of Melissa and Tom’s parents’ weddings. One of Melissa’s favourite moments was the speeches, “I cried with happiness during every single speech.  Tom’s Dad, my Mum, Tom’s best man and both Tom and I all gave speeches – they made me realise how lucky we were to be sharing this day with our friends and family and  I was so taken aback by all the lovely things everyone was saying!  My Mum’s speech in particular really touched me – she is quite shy and was so nervous about making a speech but she made me so proud!”

The first dance was a special moment for the newlyweds. “Tom and I had around 6 dancing lessons before the big day.  Our first dance was to ‘Amazed’, Lonestar and we had the full 4 or so minutes choreographed to the second!  We were so nervous on the day – we forgot a lot of the steps and we were counting 1, 2, 3, 4 the whole way through the song but I wouldn’t change a thing.  Our family and friends were so impressed by our efforts and I will always remember their cheering and clapping – it was a really special moment!”

The night ended with another of Melissa’s favourite moments of the day. “I loved the ride back to our hotel with my new husband.  It was so nice to share a quiet moment after such a hectic day – we looked at each other and kept saying ‘husband’ and ‘wife’ trying to get used to our new names!”

Congratulations Melissa and Tom! Thank you for allowing us to share your wedding day today on Polka Dot Bride! Thank you also to gm photographics for sharing today’s images with us!