How exactly does a wedding planner and stylist, who has a head swimming with ideas upon ideas, who spends her days immersed in weddings, plan her own big day? Today, we’re discovering just that. Meet Gretel owner and founder of Queensland wedding company House Of Harvey. Gretel (and her beloved Matt) planned a day that was modern, moody and all kinds of stunning, leaning heavily on Gretel’s styling collection to bring the day to life. “We went for a very tonal, moody and dramatic vibe” explaining Gretel who adds “It was approaching a cooler time of year, so we wanted something romantic and classic, with very minimalistic colours.”

And with beautiful imagery by Common Studios, we could not resist including Gretel and Matt’s story in The Minimalist Issue.  The pair begin their tale when “We met at the gym, after being paired up as partners for an exercise. After getting to know each other for a few months, we eventually went on our first date to the Dixie Chicks concert in 2017.”

The pair, both smitten, became engaged at home, in a beautifully simple, but romantic proposal. “It was just at home, really early on a Saturday morning. I was working in my office, in my PJs, and Matt had to go to Bunnings for a Hose Reel. He was gone for quite a while, which I found strange, but he walked back in with flowers so I immediately thought he had crashed the car. Then he got on one knee, pulled out the ring and proposed. He took me completely by surprise!”

Let’s kick it all off with this beautiful film of Matt and Gretel’s day, it’s a stunner captured by  Phoebe Galloway Films and a decision Gretel wholeheartedly recommends. “A must-have was a Videographer for us. It will be so special to share with our kids one day.”

Matt went for a classic black tie look, with a cream jacket from the suit gurus at Institchu. “Our dress code was black tie,” explains Gretel “and so he stood out amongst his groomsmen and guests in the cream jacket. It suited him so well.”

Gretel fell hard and fast for her dress, which was a beauty she found at White Lily Couture, designed by Pronovias. She tells  “I chose a really big, elegant and dramatic dress. It was the only dress I had tried on and felt like a bride so I went with it. It was the second dress I had ever tried.”

To honour their families, Gretel and Matt held their ceremony at the local church  St Kevin’s Bangalow where they chose a  Eucharistic Mass.

Gretel walked down the aisle with her father, “A moment I will cherish forever. We had booked a string quartet for our ceremony, which was just perfect. They played “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis on strings. It was perfect.”

A wedding photographer has a lot to live up to when they work with a fellow vendor, but Gretel and Matt have nothing but praise for their photographers! “Bryce and Lauren were such a joy to work with” raves Gretel. “So accommodating, calm and fun to be around. We were so overjoyed when we received our gallery back from the day. They did such an amazing job! We loved all of our vendors. Couldn’t pick a favourite!”

Can’t forget to tell you about one of Gretel’s favourite parts of the day (she stresses, apart from marrying Matt of course!) the margarita van Margarita Margarita that served up margaritas all night!

Gretel and Matt invited guests to celebrate their marriage with a dinner at Frida’s Field – styled completely, of course by Gretel and team at House Of Harvey “I run an events business, specialising in Event Hire, Styling and Catering. Whilst we didn’t attempt any of the Catering, we did do our entire Styling, Event Hire and Set Up on the day. It was a mission but so well worth it!”

The modern and beautiful blooms, by Florals & Co tying right into the moody, modern style. Says Gretel “We absolutely loved our florals. A very memorable part of our day. To complement the settings, we had a mix of white, toffee, pale pink and black flowers with no greenery.”

Worried about things going wrong on your wedding day? Let the fact that Gretel and Matt’s champagne tower almost didn’t happen to reassure you that it happens to everyone! “My 83yo Grandmother knocked over our Champagne Tower. Thankfully we were able to salvage some of the glasses, and the pour still happened!”

To start off the party vibes, and Gretel slipped into a frock by Rebecca Vallance for the reception.

For their first dance, Gretel and Matt took it all back to where they met, with a little Barry White. “We chose the song that the Gym trainer played the night we met, as a joke to get everyone to hold a wall sit” laughs Gretel! “Ironically, the song was “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe” by Barry White.” And then, the dance floor well and truly kicked off with Nick Trovas Band. “We are both really big on live music. So having the String Quartet for the Church, and a live band for the Reception were two non-negotiable things.”

Thank you Gretel and Matt for being so generous in sharing the beautiful stories of your day. The words, along with the images by Common Studios were the biggest treat!