Claire & Steve
The elegance of Claire and Steve’s Byron Bay wedding is such a stunning contrast to the relaxed vibe of this buzzing seaside town. I love that they stayed true to their own personal style and took Van Middleton along for the ride.
The bride and groom remember the story of how they met. “Steve and Claire met in a bar. It’s not a particularly special story or a particularly special bar, in fact one of the worst we’ve been to! Neither of us have ever gone back. However it’s particularly rare to meet someone you never knew before in a bar and marry them years later. Be kind to a stranger.”
The bridesmaids chose outfits from Minty Meets Munt while Claire chose a gown from The Babushka Ballerina, telling, “My dress was classic with a contemporary edge. I wanted something that suited my figure and I was comfortable in, without sacrificing the look. I loved the lace bodice and the lightness of the layers of tulle to the skirt. I never thought I’d go for what I chose so just goes to show try on everything!”
Claire and Steve were married at Beach Byron Bay. The bride explaining “We had our ceremony in a marquee directly in front of the Byron Beach Cafe in the parkland and our reception at Byron Beach Cafe. It was exactly the relaxed feel we were after and took into consideration if the weather turned.”
The Honey Trees played a cover of “Moon River” as the bride walked down the aisle.
Skai Daly officiated the ceremony, the bride noting, “Our ceremony was very honest, simple and authentic. We chose Skai, a local from Byron to do our ceremony. She was fantastic and we felt her presence the whole way through. We didn’t complicate things and chose music that was special to us rather than a lot of readings.”
Guests enjoyed post ceremony music with Kyle Lionhart and cocktails. “It was really easy for guests to wander over and have cocktails in the courtyard listening to Kyle Lionhart playing live before going in for dinner. We can’t recommend Beach Byron Bay enough. They were extremely professional and took everything off our hands on the day.”
Of their photographer, Claire remarks, “Van Middleton is an amazing photographer. A very zen personality that blends into the background but knows when to jump in and get involved. He had an amazing eye on the day for people’s reactions without everything looking staged. He also took advantage of the weather conditions using the light to his advantage. The photos weren’t over directed and allowed us to feel natural.”
“It really was the best day of our lives. We had many people tell us it was their favourite wedding. I guess that’s what they all say, but looking around everyone was having so much fun.”
Of their decor, which included floral arrangements form Poppy and Fern, Claire remarks, “We wanted it to feel personal and approachable. We used an arbor with wild flowers to stand under for the ceremony, it was important for us to add something special to the space. We used large glowing lanterns in the trees and over the dining space to add some drama in the evening. Bold flowers scattered throughout the space in gold vases amongst votives with candles in them.”
Of the first dance, Claire remembers “We chose the song You’ll Never Walk Alone by Gerry and the Pacemakers. It was a special song to Steve and his sister, who passed away not long before our wedding.”
Congratulations on your marriage Claire and Steve! Thank you for sharing your day with us! Thank you also to Van Middleton for sharing today’s celebration!
Join the conversation