Melanie and Daniel

Oh I am so excited to bring you today’s wedding! Remember the fantastic tutorial on ribbon wands we posted a few months ago? How about the birds nest cake topper tutorial? Or perhaps you remember the DIY moss letters project? If not you have to recall the birdseed favors project!

That’s the completely fantastic thing about today’s wedding – all those projects? Well they’re all from today’s bride! You might know her from her fab blog The Crafty DIY Bride! It’s such a buzz to see all of Melanie’s hard work come together in her beautiful wedding! Melanie and Daniel married a few months ago on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria.

Mel says, “Daniel and I were high school sweethearts – we met outside English class in year eleven and haven’t parted since.”

Photos today are by Darin Collison Photography who captured all of Mel’s hard work so beautifully!

Mel spent the morning putting finishing touches on the wedding plans. In her words:

“Here’s what I DiY’d:

  • Bouquets
  • Reception flowers and décor
  • Invitations
  • Ceremony and reception stationary
  • Bridesmaid and flower girl jewellery
  • My own earrings
  • Flower girl basket
  • Reception and ceremony music
  • Bridesmaid totes with special gifts
  • Wedding favours
  • Wedding Cake and cake topper
  • Photo booth
  • Ribbon wands

Of course, I had some help from my fabulous friends and family. The first motive was to keep costs down, but as I kept making things, I realised how important it was to inject a little part of ourselves into the whole event. It just made everything a little more special!”

Mel, of course, put together the bouquets herself using orange, pink, yellow and white blooms. Mel’s bridesmaids wore different gowns from Review, EziBuy and Vivid and Mel wore the “Jacqueline” gown from the Wendy Makin Bella Donna range with a veil handmade by Jennifer Gifford Designs.

There were moments for reflection. “Although we had planned the day so that I would probably turn up a little late to the ceremony, we arrived ten minutes early. So, I had to wait nervously in the car until everyone had turned up! The weather was just perfect, so it was actually nice to just sit quietly and reflect in the warm sun.”

Mel walked down the aisle to “Happy Ever After” by Ben Harper. She says, “The whole day was an absolute blur. The special parts I hold on to tightly include walking up the aisle and seeing my husband’s face – his eyes were lit up. When I got to him, he just said, “You look so amazing”. We couldn’t stop giggling for the whole service from then on.”

Mel and Daniel chose to marry in a gorgeous garden setting. “The two main venues we used were perfect for us, although it took us a while to find them. We had first thought of hiring a local exhibition hall, but with my thesis to write, I just didn’t have the time to set it up and get caterers and music etc all organised as well as the rest of the wedding details. The gardens at Karrawingi Park were just beautiful and we ended up having such a relaxed atmosphere, which was perfect for us.” Mel’s dad presided over the service, “It was very special to have my dad do the ceremony for us and he did such a wonderful job. It was the most perfect service and I’m so thankful.”

There were also moments of laughter. “The funniest part of the day that I always laugh out loud at when I think back, is when we were walking back up the isle and hugging everyone, my cousin stopped me. I had lipstick on my teeth – yuck. So, she just stuck her finger in there and wiped it off!” Melanie and Dnaiel walked back down the aisle to  “Higher and Higher” by Jackie Wilson.

Melanie wore red shoes from Aldo. Daniel wore a suit from Spurling.

Melanie and Daniel held their reception at Barmah Park . Mel says “We then moved to Barmah Park for the lunch reception and, again, it was so relaxed. Everyone could just sit on the porch with a glass of wine and soak up some autumn sun.”

Tables were decorated with fresh blooms in mismatched glass jars, wooden birds and homemade table numbers. Mel’s homemade cake was topped with a homemade cake topper and set behind homemade moss letters, the birdseed favors hung from a branch.

The speeches were a special moment for Mel. “One of the most special moments of the day was when my dad was giving his speech and said that my mum wanted to give me something special she had made. My mum came up with tears in her eyes and handed me a little love heart that had been made using pieces of her own wedding gown and that of my grandmother. I was so touched.”

Mel and Daniel had a romantic first dance. “It was funny, because on our first date over 11 years ago we went to see She’s All That. Corny I know. Since then,’ Kiss Me’ by Sixpence None the Richer has always been our song. It was such a special moment when we could finally dance as husband and wife to that song.”

A big thank you to Mel and Daniel for sharing their wedding day with us on Polka Dot Bride! Congratulations! Thank you also to Darin Collison Photography for today’s photographs!