Today’s bride and groom mixed whimsical woodlands with Peaky Blinders to create a wedding filled with gorgeous botanicals and an old-world feel. As passionate vegans, they also incorporated eco-friendly touches throughout their DIY, menu, invitations and attire choices. There’s so much great inspo in this wedding, especially if you’re looking for ways to make your own big day have less of an impact on the environment.

Marybel and Paul’s wedding took place in Echuca, Victoria. Their ceremony was held at the Port of Echuca Wharf, with celebrations following at Radcliffe’s. Capturing the day in all its glory was photographer Love by Shae.

But before we dive into the wedding, let’s get to know our couple! They met eight years ago at a bar, with Paul describing the moment he saw Marybel walk through the door as the perfect stereotypical slow motion entrance of a film. After a friend introduced them, they became inseparable.

When it came time to pop the question, Paul decided the perfect time was while they were on a hike around Melville Caves with friends. They were standing at the top on a huge flat rock overlooking the beautiful scenery and taking photos when Paul dropped to his knees and asked Marybel to marry him. And of course she said yes!

Marybel and Paul’s wedding invitations (by Seed & Ink) were printed on recycled seeded paper, allowing guests to plant them to grow mixed lettuce.

Paul, a fan of old-school gentleman style, chose a three-piece suit minus the wool from Next as the couple tried to buy products with no animal products as much as possible. Its dark green colour complemented the bridesmaid dresses. He also went with non-leather shoes from Vegan Style. His non-leather belt in brown was from Connor, keeping with the earthy tones of the wedding.

Marybel’s dress was from Bendigo Bridal Collections. “I chose this dress as it made me feel like woodland goddess princess,” she says. “I had embroidered vines that matched all the vines in our reception. I customised the dress in having the vines at the back extend all the way to the trail of the dress. I also loved the little off-the- shoulder sleeves.”

She also chose a make-up artist (Amanda Elliott) who works with products that are PETA approved. Marybel’s brother and his girlfriend, who own an eco and vegan hair salon in Melbourne (Earth to Betty), styled the bride’s and the bridesmaids’ hair as a gift to the couple.

As for the gorgeous blooms, they were the work of Bryants Buds. “Sarah who owns this place is an artist and knows her stuff,” says Marybel. She created a whimsical weeping style arbour for the ceremony, as well as bouquets in simple green and white colours. Marybel also carried a locket with her dad’s photo in it. “He gave this locket to me on my 18th birthday,” she says. “He passed away from lung cancer when I was 20.”

The ceremony was held at Port of Echuca Wharf, a location which was chosen by Paul. “It suited his old English/Irish style, just like in the TV show Peaky Blinders,” explains Marybel.

The staff at Port of Echuca were incredible, according the couple. “For the small fee they charge to have your ceremony there, the staff went above and beyond expectations, from decorating and supplying props, cleaning up after and also coming up to us with drinks to keep us hydrated whilst taking photos. They met us the day before the wedding to go through everything and how we want things decorated. They organised the drinks and food station and were all so friendly.”

As a lover of historical romance books and an eco-friendly enthusiast, Marybel used the pages from one of her first ever romance books to make cones to hold dried rose petals and gum nut leaves (to be used as confetti). She also used washi tape (which is biodegradable) in her wedding DIY.

“I even used the pages that had some steamy details in them,” says Marybel. “Our celebrant warned the guests that they may be the lucky ones to have a one with these details. At the end of the ceremony whilst taking photos, the guest were found reading the pages and having a good giggle over them!”

They made their own signs too, using thin wooden boards from Bunnings. Paul used a jigsaw to cut them out in circles and Marybel ordered the decals to stick on them.

Marybel walked halfway down the aisle by herself, then her mum met her and walked with her the rest of the way. All of this was to the tune of ‘I Get to Love You’ by Ruelle.

For their wedding party, the couple had six bridesmaids: Karly (maid of honour), Kaisha, Sherridan, Sally, Brigette and Brooke.
They wore olive green infinity dresses  from The Gown House Australia. There were worn in different styles at the top.

There were six groomsmen: James (best man and the groom’s little brother), Chris (groom’s big brother), Jared, Beau, Daniel and James. Their attire and accessories were from Connor. The couple had Paul’s two nieces and Marybel’s niece as flower girls. Their dresses and flower crowns were all made by Marybel’s mum, who decorated their petal baskets too. They also has Marybel’s nephew as their page boy.

Marybel and Paul wrote their own vows. “Our celebrant, Married by Georgia, was amazing and did her homework. The guests said she sounded like as if she knew us well. She gave so many personal touches,” says Marybel.

She also remembers during her vows, one of the paddle steamers on the Murray River blew its horn, killing the soppy moment! “We all laughed so much as it went on and on and on. We think it was on purpose to wish us well. Thanks buddy, whoever you are!”

For their ceremony, the couple merged whimsical with a modern 1920s British/Irish gents look. “The Echuca Wharf gave us the old pioneers look for that style to fit in well,” says Marybel.

Behind the camera on the day was Love By Shae, who the couple say is incredibly talented, original, and really brought out the romance and set the scene.

Their reception was held at Radcliffe’s and was chosen for its hanging vines and fairy lights, which gave it a magical whimsical woodland feel. The couple asked the venue to  cater vegan food only. “Whilst they have served some vegan food, this was the first time they had done an entire vegan catering. Radcliffe staff said they had fun practicing making and taste testing these dishes before our wedding. It was all amazing!”

As for reception DIY, Marybel and Paul made the ‘Mr and Mrs Avery’ sign behind the huge wedding table at the reception. While out walking one day, they found a huge, old looking branch on the ground that had pine cones on it. They hung the sign on it, along with jars that had fairy lights in them. “We then got some peppercorn branches to hang off the branch to give that weeping whimsical style.”

The bride and groom danced to ‘Beauty and the Beast’ as they both love this movie.

Their advice for those in the middle of wedding planning? Don’t stress try to enjoy it, and turn looking for a venue, cake, florist and other vendors into an adventure! “Also, don’t forget it’s two people getting married, so include your partner in the decision making and where you can’t agree, compromise.”

Congratulations Marybel and Paul! Thank you for sharing your incredible day and all its details and eco-friendly touches with us. Also a special thanks to Love by Shae for sharing the amazing photography.