Zesty was the dress code, and zesty was the energy: a riot of colour, queerness, and Jewish joy that pulsed through every moment of Brandon and Dan’s Melbourne celebration. Captured with warmth by We Are All Stardust and These Wild Eyes, this was a wedding where personality ruled the day. Their story has always had a rhythm of its own – intimate, sincere and delightfully unscripted. Their wedding followed suit with floral-embroidered suits, a hand-built chuppah threaded with family history and a hora that lifted everyone, literally, off the ground.

After being introduced through a mutual friend, Brandon and Dan dated long-distance from their respective ends of Australia: Brisbane and Cairns. And six months later, they made the decision to move to Melbourne together and start their happily ever after.

One lazy Sunday morning in bed, Brandon rolled over and impromptu proposed to Dan, knowing he didn’t want any of the bells and whistles that usually came with a question like that. What Brandon didn’t know was that Dan was planning to propose the week after; he was only waiting for the ring to arrive.

Both Dan and Brandon wore complementary floral embroidered suits from Perte D’Ego, pairing them with relaxed white linen shirts. “The different designs of the suits reflected our different personalities,” Brandon shared.

As a pre-ceremony, Brandon and Dan were lucky enough to have Dan’s cousin Anna legally marry them with an intimate ceremony.

The actual ceremony was held in the timber and glass auditorium at The Edge, followed by a gorgeous reception at Zinc Fed Square.

They entered the ceremony as an acoustic version of “I’ll Be There” by The Jackson 5, a wedding song shared with Brandon’s parents and sister. “We had a green/brown/white colour scheme array of beautiful botanicals from Fern and Fallow, with many ferns, as these are Dan’s favourites.”

Instead of a traditional wedding party, Dan and Brandon had their parents standing next to them for the ceremony, looking show-stopping! “Dan built the wedding canopy himself, and his grandfather’s taleisim (Jewish prayer shawls) were woven into the chuppah we got married under,” Brandon explained.

Their ceremony was officiated by Dan’s childhood best friend: Reuben!

No traditional first dance was had; instead, the couple and their guests broke into a lively hora immediately after the ceremony. “This included our parents being hoisted up on chairs and us being thrown up on sheets.”

This was also where Brandon’s favourite photos were taken. “There is a photo of us under the chuppah, crying, and also one of me being thrown up in the air on a sheet, which is epic!”

After the ceremony, Dan and Brandon needed a moment to cool off, so their coordinator let them into the walk-in freezer for a debrief. “We just had a happy cry together in the freezer surrounded by frozen produce.”

For Brandon, the five things that made his and Dan’s vibrant and zesty wedding so unique to them included:

“1. How gay it was.

2. How Jewish it was.

3. The dancing.

4. The food.

5. Everyone’s attire!”

Nat from We Are All Stardust captured Dan and Brandon’s wedding alongside them, slotting in perfectly. “Nat was so friendly, chilled out and moved with us. She felt like such a natural part of the day!”

Aside from Nat, their other standout vendor had to be Zinc Fed Square and their iconic coordinator, Amber! “They were incredible in the lead-up and on the day.”

Dan and Brandon want to leave this piece of advice for couples planning their own special weddings: “Don’t make choices on behalf of other people, do things that bring the two of you joy!”

A huge congratulations is in order for Dan and Brandon! You did an incredible job pulling together this vibrant event – pat yourself on the back. Thanks to Nat from We Are All Stardust for capturing and sharing these beautiful moments with us.