Emily and Brian’s Australian Tipi Wedding

Emily and Brian

If it’s one thing I love, it’s finding something different and fun for your wedding. Enter the Australian tipi wedding! Emily and Brian kept the traditions alive – a traditional tea ceremony, a classic church ceremony and then? Then they let loose and had a fun garden party with their guests under two giant tipis. The couple chose Jonathan Ong to capture their day.

Emily tells the story of how they came to be. “We met through a mutual friend whilst we were both at Uni. Brian pooh-poohed my choice of career! We met up annually through this friend for years before I finally asked him out. Despite me asking him out, Brian organized our first date and we’ve been together ever since!”

Emily’s dad designed the stationery for the day.

Emily and Brian were married at Littlejohn Memorial Chapel at Scotch College.

The bride walked down the aisle to Panis Angelicus by Franck, on pipe organ.  Emily remembers, “We had some extra stress with my mum being diagnosed with cancer and admitted to hospital two weeks before the wedding, Mum was able to leave hospital for the day which means we have beautiful memories and photos of her from the day. I loved having mum there, despite her being so ill & being walked down the aisle by my parents and having Brian at the end.”

Of their photographer, Emily remembers, “Our favourite moment was when Jon the photographer called us out for some photos as the sun was going down. We forgot he was shooting and just had a lovely few moments together reflecting on what had just happened. It seems funny but you don’t get much time with your new spouse on your wedding day!”

Bud Flowers created the formal flower arrangements for the day including the bride’s bouquet.

After traditions it was time to party! Emily remembers, “Our reception was held in tipi’s (from Tipikata) at Collingwood Childrens Farm . The Collingwood Children’s Farm provided us with a country setting only ten minutes from the city. The tents were near the banks of the Yarra River with a 360 degree view of farm and parkland.”

Emily describes the day as, “A gorgeous celebration that really reflected our personalities and our heritage: with a traditional Chinese tea ceremony, church wedding and brilliant, slightly quirky party for a reception! ” Ed Dixon Food Design catered the reception, grazing picnic style with, in Emily’s words “sensational food and drink.”

Of their first dance, Emily tells, ” We danced to Ed Sheeran’s “Kiss Me.” It was choreographed and we had been madly practicing until it was perfect, but we still seemed to end up a few bars out – it didn’t seem to matter!”

Even the favors were fun! Emily tells, “The favours were test tubes filled with tea reflecting our backgrounds – one with Jasmine tea and one with English Breakfast tea!”

Of the tipi decor, Emily set to work, she explains, ” I made the bunting in the tipis from an old atlas and the tea-light candle holders out of paper and glass jars. The paper was from Mills & Boons, so if you looked carefully there were some saucy sentences!”

Congratulations Emily and Brian! Thank you for sharing your wedding day with us! Thank you also to Jonathan Ong and Ed Dixon Food Design for sharing their beautiful work with us!