While working hard on two blogs – one celebrating life and plus sized fashion, the other providing advice for those taking on the adventure of moving out of home – Melissa has taken the time to sit down with us and gush over her wedding. Although the ceremony was just over ten years ago, Melissa speaks fondly of her memories as if they were just yesterday. We sat down for a virtual glass of bubbles with Melissa and could instantly feel the love she and husband Kel share.
Tell us about you and your business/blog?
My name is Melissa Walker Horn; I live in beautiful South East Queensland and have been a lover of the beach since birth. I love stripes and 90’s movies almost as much as I love my husband Kel and my family. Almost. I juggle two awesome businesses based around my blogs Suger Coat It and The Leave Home Blog, which I love. Mostly because I use every opportunity the internet offers to tell people what to do and have been doing so since 2009.
Tell us about your wedding?
Over ten years ago now (yup, whoa), our wedding had a winter theme and was based around a black, white and silver colour scheme. We had a church ceremony, afternoon photos and reception at a local venue overlooking the race course. We ended up with a rather extensive bridal party of 12 including two flower girls.
Our wedding was a real family affair with my Aunt making my dress, Kel’s sister making the flower girl dresses and my cousin did all the flowers. But I wouldn’t have had it any other way – it was so easy to be able to set our timelines and hang out in the process. My mother had a friend who was a decorator so she and her daughter did the styling, arranged the printing of the invitations and other stationery and, all in all, it was a smooth process. I’m not sure now what I was stressing out about. Haha.
But at the time, it felt like the biggest spectacle known to humankind. The guest list was growing, and we’d gone from a simple ceremony in a garden to a church service. A small reception at our old family farm was now at a larger venue… I’m from a large family, so I said to both sides that they could invite whoever, as long as no one complained about the numbers, the cost or the people I wanted there. It turns out there was nothing to worry about; 140 of our nearest and dearest joined us and we spent a fun-filled weekend together including a rehearsal dinner and recovery brunch (where we ate our wedding cake that the caterer forgot to serve, whoops).
Highlights? My husband’s face when we were saying our vows, and not just because he’d gotten sunburnt playing golf that morning and had makeup on his nose to cover it. Haha. When we blew out the church speakers with our recessional song by the Jett’s “Are You Gonna Be My Girl”. My cousin Darren on the video camera caught some great moments. I tore a seam in my dress climbing into the back of a vehicle for a photo and stood in a hole (literally) to give just the right angle for another shot. It was lots of fun. I remember being so excited, exhausted, thrilled and happy the whole time. It’s a weird combination of emotions, that’s for sure.
The ceremony seemed to go so fast, then the photos with our favourites, and then on to the reception and before we knew it the whole day was over! Finished. I remember as the dance floor filled up grabbing the last bottle of champagne from the bar, and with my new husband, dashed out the door somewhere before midnight. I was exhausted, sick of bobby pins in my skull and ready to get into the giant bath at our accommodation. So we escaped and left them too. A perfect end to a great day.
What was your most memorable moment (or moments!)?
Kel and I stole away to the balcony level of our reception venue and just sat there a while, overlooking our family and friends settling into their tables, overhearing the laughter and feeling the happiness of the room rise to us. Someone had told us to steal a moment like that during the day, and they were so right. That moment, my hand in his, our whole life together spreading out in front of us, that’s something I’ll never forget.
If you could change one thing, what would it be?
I would do my best to chill out. Seriously by the time our wedding day came and went I was a mess of nerves, anxiety and stress. I know it had a lot to do with my ‘do it myself’ personality but maaaan, if I, had a dollar for everyone who told me to chill out, I would’ve paid for my wedding ten fold. And in the end, they were right. None of it mattered in the end. The day went on and we loved it and it was over and the real fun began.
Who was your photographer?
Bambi Wixon of Photography by Bambi. We were one of the first weddings she did when she moved to the area, and it’s been amazing to watch her develop her personal style and skills over the years.
Images by Photography by Bambi
What advice do you have for others planning their wedding?
Don’t spend more than you can afford. Pay for a great photographer – it’s those images that will carry on into your marriage with you. And most importantly, calm down. Calm down and have some fun with it all; enjoy the time planning with your partner and friends – it’ll all be over in a minute and you’ll miss it if you don’t.
Ms Chinoiserie Says: Thanks Melissa for sharing your gorgeous memories with us – how special that you were able to include so many members of your family in the planning! And your story about Kel’s sunburnt nose is priceless! For the latest advice on style, confidence and no fuss advice on plus sized fashion and moving out of home head over to Suger Coat It and The Leave Home Blog.
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