With the stunning KittyHawk in Sydney as their backdrop, Ellen and Thomas tied the knot surrounded by their favourite people. After attending many weddings, they knew deep down that they wanted to plan a charming yet intimate wedding. So they stripped it down to the basics and just planned the things most important to them, like having plenty of great food, great company, and a relaxed atmosphere. And with Rose Photos by their side, they got to capture each and every wonderful moment forever.

Ellen and Thomas met like many modern couples—on an app! After chatting for a few days, they bit the bullet and decided to meet up for coffee. The rest, as we know, is history.

When Ellen was on a trip to the US, Thomas visited his parents, who kept gently hinting and nudging the idea of him proposing, which flipped the switch. “The more I thought about it, the more it made perfect sense. It was a small engagement, just the two of us in our apartment.”

For Thomas, his favourite part of the day was that he and Ellen did it all together – including getting ready together at the Langham in the morning. “It was very much a representation of how we go together as a couple, so the fact we stayed together the night before, got ready together, and went through the day together meant so much,” he shared.

Thomas wore a simple yet charming suit from MJ Bale. “I had always wanted to go with a three-piece suit for the occasion. I found the one I liked best in-store and had them help me make any alterations.”

Ellen chose a beautiful lilac dress from Alca Line Bride to match the intimate and relaxed vibe of the day. With a small train and intricate detailing, it was the perfect outfit. “Cass from Sunday Eve Bridal helped her find and arrange everything, and Ellen couldn’t have been happier with how it all went.”

Keeping with their slightly non-traditional theme of the day, Thomas and Ellen knew there would be no huge displays of roses or fancy florals. So when Ellen found Cassandra Kempster Roberts online, it was a match made in floral heaven. “We had always wanted to go for flowers that were more unique, something that would fit the aesthetic of the venue but also our own style. She put together a gorgeous plan of what she wanted to do. We trusted her, and she did a spectacular job!”

Because the wedding was so intimate, they only invited their closest friends, siblings and parents. “We also brought together our closest friends from work, high school, university, and more. We wanted all our closest friends and family there but still wanted to keep things small.”

After they’d finished getting ready, the couple headed to their venue for the day—KittyHawk. “It was a perfect place for us. It fit our style and the size of the wedding and also made the planning a lot easier for us.”

While they waited for the ceremony to begin, Ellen and Thomas had a pre-ceremony shoot with their photographer, James, from Rose Photos. “James was incredible. We had been looking for a photographer who could capture more candid moments rather than stuffy, staged portraits, and he did this perfectly,” Thomas explained. “He was so relaxed and made every moment flow naturally, so he really captured everything at its best.”

Some of his favourite photos from the day were taken just before the ceremony, where James captured the moment of anticipation between Thomas and Ellen. “Ellen and I are listening to the song start and waiting for our moment to walk down the aisle. James snapped a few photographs through the windows nearby and just caught us in our own little world, being together and laughing, waiting to make our entrance.”

They walked down the aisle hand-in-hand as an acoustic rendition of “Dreams” by the Cranberries floated through the air.

For their ceremony, the couple wanted something short and sweet but with personal touches. Victoria from All We Need Is Love was the celebrant they chose to guide them through their vows, and I Do’s. “It was important for us to write our own vows and keep them centred on what we valued and enjoyed about our relationship.”

Their top five things that made their intimate wedding so special included:

“1. Doing it all together and being together,

2. The fact it was so tailored to us and our wants,

3. Our friends and family being there,

4. Sharing our vows for the first time,

5. And, of course, the food.”

To add a few small touches of DIY to their reception, they included a lightbox for their cards and well wishes and provided a few disposable cameras for guests to use throughout the night.

Now for the most important part of their planning—the food, drinks, and desserts. “I wanted to do a big array of desserts rather than just a standard cake. We also wanted to have it open and relaxed, so not big table arrangements and set meals, but plenty of food and drinks people could have as the night went on, small tables so people could move around and mingle.”

Ellen had always wanted a gelato cart for her wedding, so when she found out Mapo provided exactly that, she was sold. “I, on the other hand, wanted to bring together lots of the desserts that had featured in special moments throughout our relationship,” Thomas explained. “We ended up with several sweet pies, doughnuts, cookies, and heaps of gelato, which everyone loved.”

Congratulations, Ellen and Thomas, on your charming, intimate wedding! And thanks to James from Rose Photos for capturing and sharing this beautiful day with us.