Sonia and Cameron

Sonia and Cameron’s day was, as the beautiful bride put it “Timeless vineyard wedding with accents of my Indian heritage, the atmosphere was classy but also laid back as it was a familiar family property.” The pair, who had already officially tied the knot in London, decided that the groom’s family vineyard in the Yarra Valley was just the setting they wanted for a classic, yet relaxed wedding celebration. The bride making her own gowns (not just one, but two!) the day filled with handmade touches, and the relaxed vibes enough to make you want to kick off your shoes and join right on in. Captured by Ilsa Wynne-Hoelscher Kidd, every moment is an utter delight.

Beautiful Peru was the setting for these two to first lay eyes on one another, says Sonia “We met in Peru 10 years ago whilst both travelling South America. Cameron decided to stay at the hostel I was working at whilst his friends travelled up to Colombia. During this time our relationship blossomed and so I decided to leave Peru and travel up through Ecuador and into Colombia with him. The years that followed were of long-distance as I’m from London and he from Melbourne, we used this as an excuse to meet in different parts of the world and by the time we married, we had a full understanding of each other in different environments.”

The proposal took her completely by surprise. “I thought I was walking to a friend’s family dinner, she suggested we skip through Primrose Hill in London as a little shortcut and as we approached the hill, I saw Cameron standing there with candles all around and floating lanterns. He proposed and I accepted in the presence of friends who had flown in from Europe as a surprise, they were hiding behind a tree with champagne, flowers and a dinner reservation.”

The bride made her own gowns under her own label sumu. studio. “I have a small label named sumu.studio where I make and sell lifestyle pieces that are an ode to my Indian heritage. I felt that it was a natural progression for me to make and wear an all-white modern silk sari to walk down the aisle in and am so happy with this decision. I also wore my mother’s heirloom Indian gold jewellery and had bridal henna all over my hands and feet which really set the tone for my style. I felt like an ancient painting and enjoyed the ritual of my sisters wrapping me in the sari before I walked down the aisle.” She finished the look with her mother’s gold jewellery.

Sonia walked down the aisle by herself to Donnie & Joe Emerson’s “Baby”.

Of the ceremony, Sonia notes “We wrote our own vows, five each, it was very special. We wanted it to feel intimate and it did.”

Sonia and Cameron held their official registry office wedding in London, and their Aussie celebration, was on the grounds fo Cameron’s family vineyard, Hyde Park in Coldstream.

The groom’s attire? Sonia shares “He wore all white too and looked exceptional, he had lightweight white woollen trousers tailored from Suit Shop Melbourne that we matched with a white mulberry silk shirt from Cos that a friend altered slightly. He wore tan suede loafers also and felt the right amount of classy and cool. He also wore a little Indian gold earring so that we complemented each other.”

Of the couple’s chosen photographer, Sonia and Cameron have zero regrets. “Ilsa is an amazingly talented analogue and digital photographer who works to capture intimacy and sensitivity, she did all of this with the warm colour and depth I was hoping the pictures to have. A true artist, her images are both classy and timeless.”

Dinner was an utter feast thanks to caterer Ella Mittas. “We hired independent caterer Ella Mittas who makes delicious Mediterranean food that had the perfect rustic vibe about it but was also Michelin star in taste.”

Before the reception got underway, Sonia ducked out to change into her reception gown. “I made a silk dress for the dinner, which allowed me a little more movement to dance and paired it with less extravagant Indian gold so that I could continue to sip on champagne worry-free.”

There was so much DIY for this wedding and that was just the way Sonia and Cameron wanted it. “We made our own rings, dresses, styled and put together the venue, lighting, flowers, did my own hair and makeup (the hair I regret!) and hosting family and friends who flew over from the UK. It was a lot! Luckily we have plenty of friends and family to help which created the atmosphere and vibe a lot. People loved feeling included and a part of the magic.”

Explains Sonia “We bought wholesale baby’s breath flowers from local Tesselaar Flowers and then mixed these with other natives including eucalypt we found and cut on the property. The day before the wedding our friends got together and made the flower arch, bouquets and table arrangements.”

The first dance? Unforgettable says the bride. “We built a beautiful dancefloor on top of the water tank! We covered it in flowers and danced to Childish Gambino’s cover of Tamias “So into you” I had made my dress so that the embroidered lace train could be removed, which Cameron did during our dance.”

Congratulations on your marriage Sonia and Cameron! Thank you for sharing your beautiful day with us and thank you to Ilsa Wynne-Hoelscher Kidd, for sharing today’s imagery!