There was nothing stiff or overly traditional about Joey and Travis’ wedding: it was pure celebration from beginning to end. They arrived in the back of a Hilux, waved to their guests with queenly flair, and welcomed everyone into a ceremony that was heartfelt, personal, and filled with tears of joy. Afterwards, guests wandered across the lawn for canapés and drinks, before sitting down to a long-table feast and raising glasses in a toast. The night carried on with music, laughter, and a delightfully goofy first dance, every moment beautifully captured by Merge Photography.

Joey had no idea when he packed up and moved his life from Brisbane to Perth that it would lead him to the love of his life: Travis. “Joey and I met on Tinder when he first arrived in Perth. While he was stuck in quarantine for 2 weeks, we started talking. We met for our first date once he was able to leave the hotel, and hit it off very quickly. We called it official a few short weeks later, as we were spending almost every day together!”

In late 2023, Joey and Travis trekked their way across the country to Hobart to complete a 4-day hike through the three-capes, and on the third day, Joey had a surprise (or two) up his sleeve. “We visited ‘The Blade’, which is one of the highest sea cliffs in the southern hemisphere. I was looking out into the scenery, and turned around, and Joey was on one knee. As soon as I said yes (which was immediate), he then told me to get down on one knee and popped out a second ring for me to use and said, “Now do me”. It was magical and funny, which sums up our relationship.”

Sticking to a super, rustic vibe for their outfits, Joey and Travis wore matching suits. A sand coloured blazer and pants, with a crisp white button-up, dark tan shoes and belts.

Each groom had three people in their respective wedding parties, wearing various shades of black. Travis had his brother Chris and his two friends, Amy and Katie. Joey had his sister Evelyn and two friends, Kele and Sophie.

A piece of advice Joey and Travis want to leave for future couples planning their own rustic weddings is this: “Wedding planning can be stressful, and it’s easy to fall into the trap of taking that out on each other. But then you realise, you are both in this together, and no matter what stressors there are, the day is about you two. Make time for yourself on the day, and step away from the event to digest it all in.”

Rustico at Hay Shed Hill was the perfect venue for this country wedding. It has the perfect blend of a rustic winery setting and picturesque vineyards. The venue was only enhanced by their choice of flowers: natural proteas and greenery from Yelverton Protea Farm.

Kate Kindle from Kate Kindle Music assisted Joey and Travis with all their live music, maintaining an upbeat vibe throughout the day. “She was fun, and the guests really valued her. She made a great impact on the wedding vibe,” Travis shared.

Joey and Travis arrived at the ceremony on the back of a Hilux, with Travis waving at guests like the queen. “It was the perfect entrance and a little bit goofy.” Their wedding party walked down the aisle first, bringing their two dogs, Shadow and Lexi, with them. Travis then walked down the aisle with his mum and dad on either arm, followed soon after by Joey and his mum.

Their 60 guests were spread out across the benches, with some standing at the back. Wanting to keep things light and fun, Joey and Travis omitted all religious content from the ceremony and read their own vows to each other. “We both tried not to cry, and failed at this. It was great.”

For Joey and Travis, the best part about planning their rustic wedding was heading down to the vineyard four months out to test out the wines and food. “We tried all the wines and food with our wedding party. It was a great weekend.”

With so many beautiful photos from this country wedding, it wasn’t easy for Travis and Joey to pick their absolute favourite. But the photo just below here has a special place in their hearts.

Jodie from Merge Photography took care of all things lens-focused for Joey and Travis, capturing their day in all of its rustic glory. “She made us feel very comfortable and had great ideas for the perfect shot. She also made sure everything was completed on the list with extra recommendations that we didn’t think of.”

All the incredible details and moments throughout the day filled Travis and Joey’s hearts to the brim with gratitude, but five things in particular really stood out:

“1. Having our parents walk us down the aisle and having the dogs included.

2. Reading our vows together and crying.

3. Having the champagne tower, where as soon as we arrived at the reception, we opened a bottle of champagne and poured it to celebrate.

4. Having amazing staff and vendors at the venue, who made everything run smoothly.

5. Having our goofy first dance in front of our loved ones.”

The reception was designed with connection and celebration front of mind. After the ceremony, guests strolled across the lawn, where canapés and drinks awaited. Every element was thoughtfully chosen to prioritise time together, laughter, and a seamless transition from one moment of joy to the next. “A champagne tower (was a must). A long table dinner was also a must. We also had a cocktail hour once the dance floor opened up after dinner. There was a very small gap between the ceremony and reception.”

When it came time for their first dance, Joey and their partner knew it had to be true to them – fun, lighthearted, and a little bit cheeky. They chose “Hold Me Closer” by Elton John, and with it brought out their signature move: “Joey and I have our ‘drunk dance’ that all of our friends know. We pull this move out when we are drunk, which involves a goofy spin, followed by flossing. We thought this would be the perfect first dance, and we made it longer, followed by a slow dance at the end. We then told everyone to join us after a minute.”

With every detail beautifully captured by Jodie from Merge Photography, Joey and Travis’ wedding was a true reflection of their love. Congratulations to the happy couple!