Note from Ms Polka Dot: Some weddings just radiate heart. From DIY love notes to heritage rituals passed down through generations, this three-day celebration at Kangaroo Valley Bush Retreat was layered with meaning. And the best part? It’s told entirely in the bride’s own words. From the moment they swiped right to a wedding weekend filled with family, Filipino traditions, and even La Hora Loca, this is one story you’ll want to soak in slowly.

Our love story began like so many modern romances do, with a swipe and a spark. What we did not realise at first was how intertwined our lives already were. Mutual friends, family connections, and shared values kept pulling us closer, and it all started to feel meant to be.

Josh knew I was the one when we moved in together. As first‑time movers out, that step taught us so much about partnership and growth. A year later, with blessings from my mum and sister and help from his family, he planned a heartfelt proposal at one of our favourite date spots. He says he was not nervous, only filled with joy. He knelt, spoke from the heart, and I said yes. I am usually the planner in our relationship, so I did get suspicious when he became very interested in weekend plans. From little wardrobe prompts to asking about June 10 weeks in advance, the signs were there. Still, when the moment arrived, it was pure emotion, happy tears and a very full heart.

We married on 26 June 2024 at Kangaroo Valley Bush Retreat and turned it into a three-day celebration with our favourite people. With nature as our backdrop, we kept everything timeless and elegant. We chose a soft palette of whites and sage greens that complemented the landscape. I wore a classic ivory A‑line gown with a high slit from Essence Of Australia then changed into a sentimental second dress made in the Philippines by my auntie’s tailor. Josh took inspiration from David Beckham’s royal wedding look and brought it to life with InStitchu, adding his own personal touches.

Our ceremony was set at the Rock Cathedral, a natural stone formation that is more than a century old. We exchanged personal vows, cried through most of them, and felt time slow down around us. As a Filipino marrying someone from El Salvador, it mattered to me to share my heritage with him and with our guests, so we included the veil and cord ceremony. We chose two couples from each side of our families, couples we admire for their strong and enduring marriages, to place the veil and cord on us. The pieces were heirlooms from my mum’s younger sister, used more than twenty years ago, and they became my something old.

Our celebrant, (Celebrant Beverly), who is also Filipino, explained the meaning. The veil represents the love that covers and protects us both, a reminder that no distance or hardship should come between our hearts. The cord, looped and intertwined, symbolises the infinite bond of marriage, a promise to face life hand in hand with strength and devotion. It felt reverent and emotional, a bridge between generations and cultures, and a blessing we will carry through our marriage. I walked the aisle to “I Swear” by All‑4‑One, performed acoustically by the amazing D&S Duo.

We made the most of the whole weekend.

Day 1: Guests checked into ensuite rooms and found welcome bags with snacks, water, and hand warmers. That night we had a wood-fired pizza dinner (Wandering Woodfire Oven) and a Filipino-style games night. My sister ran the games like a pro. We split everyone into four mixed teams and played trivia, physical challenges, and relay style games. It turned into a full bonding session with cheering, friendly competition, and a bonfire finish with marshmallows and sing-alongs under the stars.

Day 2: The wedding. My husband’s family friends surprised everyone with a choreographed Samba that lit up the dance floor and kicked off La Hora Loca, which means The Crazy Hour. The lights dropped, LED sticks and long balloons came out, the music turned up, and even my 96-year-old grandmother danced with us.

Day 3: A recovery barbecue breakfast cooked by my aunties and uncles. We shared stories, hugs, and a last slow moment together before heading home.

We are not natural dancers, so we loved surprising everyone with a choreographed first dance that we learned from YouTube over six months. We chose “A Whole New World (Un Mundo Ideal)” by Zayn and Becky G, a playful nod to our love of Latin music.

My Cricut became my wedding sidekick. I designed our invitations, menus, welcome signs, and thank you cards in Canva, plus name cards, bridal party gifts, flower girl and page boy gifts, and custom tote bags that I sourced from AliExpress. It was a true labour of love. During my bridal shower, I discovered my auntie’s hidden floral talent. She and my family worked with our florist to add beautiful floral accents that made the venue feel even more magical.

I like to call myself the DIY queen. I designed a custom wedding logo for our signage, stationery, and even the cocktail menu. I made the seating chart, menus, name cards, and welcome posters. We filled custom tote bags with snacks for guests, created a wedding newspaper with stories and details, and put together personalised gifts for our wedding party and mums with custom makeup bags and handwritten letters. My auntie and I also styled the venue ourselves, from sourcing candles and vases to arranging extra florals, so the whole space felt like a true reflection of us.

My favourite photo was taken on the Sunset Deck at the venue, just the two of us with Kangaroo Valley sweeping out behind us.

For flowers, I wanted a clean, elegant, timeless feel and kept pinning white blooms. I gave Claudia from Rain Floral Design creative freedom to choose in-season winter flowers and trusted her completely. The result was soft and romantic and tied the whole look together. For the cake, our caterer (Rabbit and Co. Caterers) offered cakes and the tasting was a dream. We chose carrot cake because it was a favourite from our early dating days, and dark chocolate with banana because it was rich, bold, and unexpectedly perfect. Our florist provided extra blooms to dress the cake so it matched my bouquet and the venue styling.

Our styling took its lead from the landscape. We aimed to enhance the surroundings, not overpower them, with soft whites and gentle greenery, bridesmaids in elegant neutrals (Bec and Bridge), delicate florals, and minimalist stationery and signage. We chose Kangaroo Valley Bush Retreat because it offered everything on one site, just like a wedding we had loved in Melbourne. Two weeks after we got engaged, we heard about an open day, took the scenic two-hour drive, and fell in love. It felt peaceful, private, and very us. We booked on the spot. When you know, you know.

Our vendors were a dream and I would choose them again in a heartbeat. Having worked in the wedding industry, I knew how important it is to have people who are talented, kind, reliable, and great to be around. My glam team brought calm and joy to the morning and set the tone for the day. Lisa from House Of Colour by Lisa has been a close friend for more than ten years. She was the only person I trusted with my hair and she made me feel like the most confident version of myself. As a makeup artist, people asked if I would do my own makeup and my answer was no. I wanted the same joy and pampering I give my brides. Margaret Albia, the artist I chose, is someone I admire deeply, and she gave me the magical, emotional moment I had always hoped for.

Looking back, our wedding was everything we dreamed of and more. It felt like us. Heartfelt, fun, family first, and rooted in culture and community. Every tear, every laugh, every little detail meant something. We feel so grateful to have shared it with the people we love most and we will cherish these memories for the rest of our lives.

A huge thank you to Angeline for sharing your wonderful wedding story with us! Angeline and Josh’s celebration is such a wonderful reminder that weddings are at their most magical when they truly reflect who you are as a couple. From their thoughtful nods to culture and family to the incredible DIY creativity, every detail was infused with meaning.