Nabilla and Dimitri
Like most couples who are drawn to the seaside for their vows, Nabilla and Dimitri wanted a day that was relaxed. They wanted sand between their toes, the backdrop of the Australian bush and their favourite people around them. Coupled with a cocktail reception at a restaurant famed for its curation of local produce, their beautiful Dunsborough beach wedding ticked every box when it came to a wedding day that reflected the newlyweds. Anni Maria Photography was behind the lens to capture it all for us today.
“It was a lovely relaxed experience” remembers the bride of her shopping trip to find her beautiful lace gown at Through The White Door. She added her grandmother’s necklace to complete her look.
Australian natives featured heavily in the floral arrangements of the day, JVK Floral Designs creating the bride’s bouquet with earthy tones of red and green. Nabilla telling “Joyce made a beautiful bridal bouquet and was very professional and pleasant to deal with.”
The couple chose Shelley Cove Beach for their ceremony, the bride walking down the steps to the beach with her father to the sound of Butterfly by Donavon Frankenreiter.
The bride notes “One of my favourite moments of the day was taking a pause before the ceremony got underway to soak up how we were feeling and to look at each other and out to the faces of our loved ones smiling at us on the beach.”
Kate Hopkinson officiated the ceremony, the bride remarking “We wanted the ceremony to reflect us so we wrote the whole ceremony. We had a friend do a hand blessing for us and had a reading by Louis de Bernieres.”
“We loved the photo that was taken when we were walking through the crowd as newlyweds with our friends smiling and showering us with rose petals.”
Of their photographer, Nabilla notes “Anni our photographer was amazing. We felt at ease and relaxed with her while she was shooting. As you can see by her photos she is a talented and creative photographer. Anni captured all the photos we had in mind beautifully with her creative twist. She went to all locations in advance so had a clear idea of where to go and was good at instructing the crowd. Anni got some highlight photos to us within a week and the rest came in a good time. Anni was quick to respond to queries and very accommodating.”
The newlyweds celebrated with a cocktail reception at Lot 80
Sweet Stylin created a semi-naked wedding cake, topped with natives. Nabilla explained “Summer was very helpful in helping us create a cake that suited us. And the tasting was good fun too.”
Not only were the speeches filled with love, the friends of the couple also shared their appreciation for the couple by decorating the wedding car and reception with beautiful Australian native arrangements. Nabilla says “For the reception as a wedding gift my friend prepared posies in glass jars of lavender, yellow button flowers, rosemary and Eucalyptus.”
The first dance kicked off with a dose of Greek fun says the bride. “We danced to ‘Moon Song’ by Edo & Jo. We started with a 15-second introduction of the Zorba to get our Greek relatives going. Our friend helped us choreograph a dance that suited to us and our dancing prowess. Dimitri was pleased to dip the bride twice without any dramas.”
The night was but young, Cold Matter Cold Brew serving up espresso martinis to make sure the party went from dusk until dawn. Nabilla noted “Our friend, owner of Cold Matter cold brew coffee, made a batch of Cold Brew Coffee Martinis to go on tap at the reception. They were a massive hit and really got the party started.”
Big congratulations to Nabilla and Dimitri on their marriage! Thank you for taking the time to share your day with us! Thank you also to Anni Maria Photography for sharing today’s beautiful day!
Locations are nothing short of amazing, wonderful use of natural light throughout the wedding. additional credits to JVK floral for those stunning flowers!