It was at a city bar where Melissa and Brock first laid eyes on one another. Melissa, waiting for friends to show up, caught the eye of Brock, who was enjoying drinks with friends. Friendly Brock (skilled at “ice-breaking”) invited Melissa to join his group rather than wait alone. Once Melissa’s friends showed up, Brock again caught Melissa’s attention, asking her for her number while she was ordering a drink at the bar. The pair heading out for a first date together, before there was an odd silence between them for three years (Melissa? She describes it as Brock ghosting her).

Their paths would cross over those three years, a night out here, a chat in the bathroom there, until it slowly dawned on Brock, that perhaps he had made a mistake. He proceeded to stalk Melissa’s social media, catching the “single vibe” and proceeded to invite Melissa out for another date, via a DM. A few dates and an unsuccessful long-distance relationship later (thanks to Brock moving across the country for work) the couple finally figured out, that they were, indeed meant to be. Brock made it official by proposing during a vineyard picnic in the Adelaide Hills.

And after those ‘will they, won’t they’ moments, it was a definite “I Do” one fateful April day in South Australia. Tomek Photography joining the couple for a stunning forest ceremony, before they celebrated with their guests at a winery reception filled with all their favourite things. High on the list? Good food and good wine! And we can’t introduce you to Melissa and Brock’s beautiful wedding day without having a weak at the knees moment for Melissa’s sparkly, polka dot wedding dress (just the ticket needed for The Polka Dot Issue). .Today we cannot wait to share the wedding of the couple who were so ultimately meant to be!

Melissa’s sparkly polka dot dress? The beautiful “Lunella” gown by Willowby by Watters that she found at The Bride Lab. “The Bride Lab was the first place that I booked an appointment to start thinking about dresses. I took my Mum and my sister with me. I didn’t know what I was looking for, nor did I think I would settle on a dress in the first place I went. I was drawn to this dress immediately, I can’t put my finger on exactly why, but I loved the idea of having sleeves in particular. It was the first dress I tried on, and that was that! It just felt like ‘me’.” As a nod to her grandmother, who could not be present on the day, Melissa took a piece of her grandmother’s wedding gown and sewed it into her own.

The beautiful floral arrangements were styled by Sam Burnell Floral Design. Melissa sharing “Sam’s flowers were so stunning. Roses, orchids, and hanging amaranthus were a feature.”

Melissa walked down the aisle with both of her parents between two beautiful rows of trees in the stunning Burbrook Forest.  “We fell in love with how beautiful and calming this setting felt” she tells. “It felt both humbling and grounding to stand amongst such tall trees and be surrounded by nature.”

Melissa and Brock had someone very special officiate – dear friend Olivia. Melissa explained “We wanted our ceremony to feel personal. We each wrote our vows and had two readings – one read by Liss’ brother in law, Aidan, and the other read by Brock’s sister, Tyneil.

The most special part of our ceremony was also that our very dear friend, Olivia, studied and obtained her qualification as a marriage celebrant so that she could marry us on the day. It was a beautiful thing to have someone who truly knows you as a friend, and who has seen our relationship unfold, be there and share at that moment.”

One of the readings the couple chose was ‘Union’ by Robert Fulghum.

“You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this point of commitment. At some point, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes, to this moment of yes, indeed, you have been making commitments in an informal way. All of those conversations that were held in a car, or over a meal, or during long walks — all those conversations that began with, ‘When we’re married’, and continued with ‘I will’ and ‘you will’ and ‘we will’ — all those late-night talks that included ‘someday’ and ‘somehow’ and ‘maybe’ — and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart. All these common things, and more, are the real process of a wedding.

The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, ‘You know all those things that we’ve promised, and hoped, and dreamed — well, I meant it all, every word.’

Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another – acquaintance, friend, companion, lover, dancing partner, even teacher, for you have learned much from one another these past few years. Shortly you shall say a few words that will take you across a threshold of life, and things between you will never quite be the same. For after today, you shall say to the world — This is my husband. This is my wife.”

The couple also chose  ‘I’ll Still Be Loving You’ by C. David Hay.

“I’ll still be loving you.
When your hair has turned to winter and your teeth are on a plate,
When your getter up and go
has gone to stop and wait
I’ll still be loving you.
When your attributes have shifted
beyond the bounds of grace,
I’ll count your many blessings,
not the wrinkles in your face
I’ll still be loving you.
When the crackle in your voice
matches that within your knee
and the times are getting frequent
that you don’t remember me
I’ll still be loving you.
Growing old is not a sin,
it’s something we all do.
I hope you’ll always understand –
I’ll still be loving you.”

“We also decided to create a bit of a ‘time capsule’ as part of our ceremony. Before the day, we asked our immediate family and wedding party to write a letter or note for us to open, on our first anniversary. During the ceremony, these people were invited to come up and place their notes in a Mitolo wooden box (that also has a bottle of Mitolo wine in it.) We can’t wait to crack that bottle of red and read all the letters to us on 9 April next year!”

Melissa had her bridesmaids each choose their gown from Bec and Bridge.

“Have the type of wedding that you want – there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. Plan a day that you are excited for, and that is filled with all of your favourite things.”

The couple were so over the moon with the choice of their photographer. “Our photographer, Tomek is an all-around brilliant human being who did the most incredible job of capturing our day. Tomek was such a pleasure to work with. He made us feel so at ease – we had the best time hanging out with him on the day, and just laughing. [He’ll also stop at nothing to get the right shot, including stepping in cow paddies!!] We are so honoured that we could have our family and friends captured by him.”

After dark, guests gathered for a candlelit reception at Mitolo Wines. Melissa explained “We love Mitolo, we can’t go past their wine, and the food at their restaurant is amazing. Food and wine were our top priority for the day – we wanted to choose somewhere that we love to dine.”

The newlyweds took to the dance floor to “Everlong” by The Foo Fighters, sung live by acoustic duo Wild Hearts Entertainment.

Melissa and Brock had their wedding captured on film by Fragment Films. Melissa remarking “Big love and thanks to our videographer, Solomon (Fragment Films) – much like Tomek, Solomon was such a pleasure to hang out with on the day; our stylist Brooke (The Beautiful Life Weddings & Events) and Sam of Sam Burnell Floral Design (florist); Ollie and Katie (the acoustic duo of Wild Hearts Entertainment) – all of these people are incredible.”

A big congratulations to the newlyweds! Thank you for taking the time to share your wedding day story with us. Thank you also to Tomek Photography for today’s beautiful images.