Miranda and Richard

Today’s couple, Miranda and Richard celebrated their day with such beautiful relaxed style in Melbourne’s bayside suburbs of St Kilda and Port Melbourne. That relaxed style is so quintessentially Australian that it’s hard to ever want to live anywhere else (ironic because today’s couple lives in Hong Kong. I guess that’s another thing Australians do so well- never lose their Australian flavour!)

Miranda tells of how they met. “We met at Butterfly Ball in May 2005, both dressed in Studio 54 themed outfit.”

Today’s photographs (and making his Polka Dot Bride debut!) are shot by Ben Swinnerton . I love Ben’s easy going but oh so elegant style. He has captured the sense of fun without losing the sense of occasion and importance of the day.

Miranda chose a gown by Lisa Ho with a veil by Sara Gabriel, from Hitched Bridal in Hong Kong. Her bridesmaids wore gowns from Massimo Dutti.

Miranda walked down the aisle to, “In the end, nothing… We’d planned music for the ceremony, but the celebrant’s AV died at the last minute! I ended up walking down the aisle without music, and we had the ceremony without any AV as well – but it was actually really lovely, much more personal.”

Miranda and Richard wed in the St Kilda Botanical Gardens, Miranda explains ” We wanted the ceremony in the botanical gardens in St Kilda – we used to live around the corner (before we moved overseas) and it was really our “backyard”, so it was a special spot.”

The day had a different schedule to a typical day, Miranda recalls. “We mixed up the “traditional” order of wedding etiquette by having some speeches and cake cutting immediately after the ceremony. We figured that we had a beautiful garden setting, everyone together (and in need of some post ceremony champagne) and plenty of time before the reception. The waiters circulated glasses of champagne to everyone and then our fathers both spoke briefly and gave a toast. We then cut the cake and everyone got some afternoon tea. It also meant that we did not have too much “speech time” at the reception.”

Miranda remarks, “We had a lot of very helpful family and friends – there was a lot of pitching in. From the cakes and sweets post ceremony, to decorations at the reception…”

Of their photographer, Miranda remarks “We used Ben following a recommendation from a girlfriend, who used him for her wedding. He was great! He was focused on really capturing the moment and feel of the whole day without being intrusive, and he steered clear of those really “posed” shots. He was fabulous on the day – and so are the photos.”

The reception was held at Port Melbourne Yacht Club which is run as a wedding venue by Peter Rowland Catering. Miranda tells “We both love the beach – and Rich is a keen sailor – so the Port Melbourne Yacht Club was perfect for the reception. It’s just got a lovely feel. We really appreciated the professionalism, organisation and eagerness to please of the PMYC Peter Rowland’s team – everything went very smoothly.”

Miranda notes, “We live overseas so what made it most special was having all our nearest and dearest with us to celebrate.”

Miranda describes the wedding as “Low key, elegant, happy and very us. ”

For their first dance, Miranda and Richard chose Etta James -‘ At Last’. Miranda remarks “Just something simple and slow.”

Congratulations on your marriage Miranda and Richard! Thank you for sharing your story with us! Thank you also to Ben Swinnerton for sharing today’s images with us!