Winter has a way of making celebrations feel intimate, luxurious, and deeply romantic – and Renae and Adrian embraced all of it. Their wedding unfolded in layers: the soft glow of a Greek Orthodox ceremony, the dusky light of Centennial Parklands for their portraits, and finally, the lush reception at The Grounds of Alexandria filled with fruit, greenery, and so much love. With Splendid Photography capturing the day, every detail was perfectly immortalised.

Just as Sydney fell into their 4-month lockdown in mid-2021, Renae and Adrian matched on Hinge. Over the next few months, they shared stories about their childhoods, their families, cultures, travels and dreams for the future, growing closer and closer with each message. “Looking back, it’s astonishing how two strangers were able to form such a strong bond through just texts; we didn’t even FaceTime or call! It certainly made our first date unique since whilst we hadn’t met yet, we knew so much about each other. By the time restrictions eased, the anticipation of finally meeting in person was huge. Our first date was on a beautiful Sunday in October 2021 at the Western Sydney Parklands. We wandered the paths, talked for hours, and then shared dinner at an Italian restaurant. The chemistry we had built online translated effortlessly in real life. By the end of the day, we both felt quietly certain that this was the beginning of something really special, and by our third date, we became “official”, and the rest, as they say, is history!”

Adrian spent months planning each and every detail of their proposal, choosing a winter garden to set the scene. “I chose Mayfield Gardens, a place we had admired online and always talked about visiting together. The three-hour drive out there only built the anticipation for me, though Renae had no idea what was waiting.

When we arrived, we started exploring the gardens. I remember feeling a mix of nerves and excitement as the moment drew closer. What Renae didn’t know was that a week earlier, I had actually gone to Mayfield Gardens with my mum to scout the location and choose the perfect proposal spot. It was a beautiful part of the garden with a tree and a lake in the background that reminded me of a scene from a video game we both love, a small but meaningful detail.

As we got closer, I even spotted the photographer in the distance. Since it was winter, the gardens were almost empty, and at one point, Renae noticed her too, saying, “Oh look! Another person!” Luckily, the photographer blended in perfectly and didn’t give anything away.

Finally, we reached the spot, and that’s where I dropped to one knee and asked Renae to marry me. Seeing the shock and joy on her face in that moment is something I’ll never forget. She said “yes” straight away, and it was everything I had hoped for. We spent the rest of the morning on a little photo shoot before heading home, calling all our loved ones, and finishing the day with an amazing dinner at Darling Harbour,” Adrian shared.

The main priority for Adrian’s suit was finding the perfect shade of brown that complemented the bridesmaids’ dresses and his skin tone. He chose a beautiful shade of chocolate brown for his YD suit, and he knew from the moment he tried it on that it was the one. To finish his look, Adrian wore a matching vest made by his wonderful mother-in-law. “It was such a thoughtful and personal touch, and it felt really meaningful to wear something she had created especially for me on the day,” he explained.

“I paired the suit with ties from OTAA and a decorative bird pin as a finishing detail. Renae also surprised me with custom socks featuring her face, which was both hilarious and such a fun personal touch. Another sentimental piece was my watch, which Renae had given me as an engagement gift shortly after I proposed. It felt perfect to wear it on the wedding day.”

His wedding party included Renae’s brothers and Adrian’s childhood best friend. Each of them wore matching chocolate-brown YD suits, in perfect harmony with the day’s colour palette.

Renae’s wedding party wore elegant off-the-shoulder chocolate brown gowns from Bec and Bridge, tying into the groomsmen’s outfits.

From the very beginning, Renae knew exactly what she wanted to wear – even having her own design sketched in her notes. But as we know, not everything goes to plan all the time. “Everywhere I went, I tried to find something that matched the picture in my head, and I did my best to try on dresses ‘like it,’ but nothing ever felt quite right.

And then came the twist, like a classic wedding trope, the dress I wore on the day turned out to be nothing like what I had imagined. An experienced attendant from Bridal Secrets brought me a structured satin gown to try on, and I immediately wrinkled my nose and said, “Oh no, I’m not interested.” She gently encouraged me to at least give it a chance.

The moment I stepped out of the dressing room in that dress, everything changed. It was like all the noise around me disappeared. I was crying, my mum was crying, and my maid of honour was crying too. No one was more shocked than I to discover that the structured satin gown, the exact opposite of what I thought I wanted, was the one I would walk down the aisle in.”

For flowers, Renae leaned into moody, earthy tones. The arrangements were filled with rich, deep tones and textures that perfectly matched their Grecian-feast reception theme. “The flowers brought warmth, elegance, and just the right amount of drama to the day, exactly what I had envisioned.”

Their ceremony took place at St George Greek Orthodox Church, complete with beautiful high ceilings and flooded with natural light. “Renae had met the priest years earlier and remembered how warm, grounded, and genuine he was, which made it even more meaningful to be married by him. The church itself is beautiful, and it felt like the perfect setting to begin our marriage, steeped in tradition and filled with the people we love most.”

In the Greek Orthodox Church, aisle songs are chosen, so Renae and her father walked down the aisle as their incredible chanter’s choice rang throughout the church.

The ceremony itself was warm, personal and deeply rooted in both faith and culture – exactly as Renae and Adrain wanted. “We were married in a stunning setting that felt so special to us. The sunlight streaming through the windows was so beautiful it felt divine, and the chanters created the most moving atmosphere with their voices.

The priest brought such a genuine presence to the day. His sermon was thoughtful and heartfelt, and it resonated with us in a way we’ll always remember. Surrounded by our family, faith, and tradition, it was the perfect way to begin our marriage, reverent and sacred, but also filled with warmth and love.”

As for favourite details, Renae and Adrian couldn’t go past the ceremony and how much they loved it. “The church was beautiful, and the sunlight streamed in so perfectly that it felt magical. One of the most unforgettable moments was seeing each other for the first time in the church. That instant was full of emotion, anticipation, and joy, and we’ll carry it with us forever. Standing there, surrounded by our family, faith, and tradition, felt so powerful and truly unforgettable.”

After the ceremony, the party headed over to Centennial Parklands for their portrait session. “We had our third date there, the day we officially became a couple, and Adrian has spent many hours running and walking in the park over the years. It’s always been a place for us to connect with nature and unwind, so it felt like the perfect spot to capture that chapter of our journey.”

Splendid Photography was the perfect team to capture this glam winter wedding. “Their portfolio instantly stood out to us, and we loved that they had so much experience with Greek Orthodox weddings and had already photographed at many of the venues we were considering. It gave us a lot of confidence knowing they understood the flow of the day and the kinds of moments that mattered most. We met our team leader, Jason, at our engagement shoot and were immediately impressed by his attention to detail, sense of humour, and professionalism. He made us feel completely at ease in front of the camera, which carried through to the wedding day itself,” Renae shared.

“On the day, the team of photographers and videographers were outstanding. They guided us so effortlessly that it never felt staged or forced, and they captured every detail, from the big moments to the little ones we might have otherwise missed. Seeing the photos for the first time honestly felt like reliving the day all over again.”

When it came to their favourite photo of the day, this shot of the two of them in front of the Cadillac stood out. “With the trees behind us and the sun setting in the background, it feels like the perfect culmination of all the thought and preparation that went into planning the day. We had actually scouted Centennial Park a year beforehand, just to see what the sunlight would look like at that time of year and at that exact time of day. On top of that, we even provided our hire cars with a map and instructions so they could enter Centennial Parklands in the right order and park in just the right spot.”

Their reception was set at the beautiful gardens of The Grounds of Alexandria. “From the beginning, we had imagined our wedding as a celebration of abundance and nature, and The Grounds was the perfect blend of both, right in the heart of Sydney. Once inside, it feels worlds away. You don’t see the tall buildings or hear the traffic, just the greenery, twinkling lights, and warmth of the setting. It tied seamlessly into our Grecian-feast theme and felt intimate, elegant, and magical. One of the things we love most is that it’s a place we can keep coming back to for coffee or dinner and instantly relive the magic of our wedding day.”

Adrian and Renae wanted to make sure their wedding felt like them, so every detail was carefully considered and styled by Biophilia Blooms. “Our Grecian-feast theme set the tone – tables overflowing with seasonal fruit, vegetables, and greenery, tied together with earthy tones and touches of silver and gold. It created the cosy-yet-elegant atmosphere we’d always imagined.”

With such an incredible vendor dream team, Renae and Adrian were overflowing with gratitude. “From The Grounds of Alexandria team, our photographers/videographers, DJ, hire cars to the saxophone and bouzouki players, every single one of them helped create such an unforgettable day. We honestly felt so lucky to have been surrounded by such talented and passionate people.

That said, we must give a very special mention to Josie (Biophilia Blooms), our wedding stylist. From the very beginning, we trusted her with our vision, and she brought it to life in the most breathtaking way. Josie took care of every detail with such grace, creativity, and exceptional taste. She made us feel comfortable throughout the whole journey, always aligning our ideas with our budget without ever compromising on beauty or meaning.

What truly set Josie apart was her genuine excitement to create something unique with us. It’s rare to find someone who feels just as invested in your wedding day as you do, and she really was. Warm, thoughtful, detail-oriented, and endlessly talented, Josie made the day look and feel like us, a true reflection of who we are as a couple.”

The top five things that made their glam winter wedding so unique were;

“1. Our ceremony at St George Greek Orthodox Church – it was deeply meaningful to be married in such a beautiful setting, surrounded by tradition and family. Having our goddaughter as our flower girl was also very special.

2. The Grecian-feast theme – the feeling of abundance with seasonal fruit, vegetables, greenery, and touches of silver and gold made everything look and feel magical, cosy, and truly us.

3. Our first dance surprise – performing a salsa to Vivir Mi Vida was such a joyful, unexpected moment for our guests, and it was so special to bring in Adrian’s Latin roots.

4. The personal details in Adrian’s attire – from the custom vest handmade by Renae’s mum to the watch gifted by Renae after the proposal were filled with sentimental touches that meant so much on the day.

5. The people and atmosphere – having our closest family and friends together, feeling looked after, and seeing everyone laughing, dancing, and enjoying themselves created the intimate yet vibrant celebration we had always hoped for.”

When asked about what advice they’d give to couples planning their own wedding, Renae and Adrian had four things to share:

“1. Our biggest advice is to stay true to what feels right for you as a couple. There are so many traditions, opinions, and endless inspiration out there, but at the end of the day, the choices that reflect you are the ones that will make the celebration feel special and memorable.

2. Don’t be afraid to lean on your vendors and trust their expertise; it takes so much pressure off, and they really do make the day run seamlessly. Also, try to carve out little pockets of time together during the day. It all goes by so quickly, and having those quiet moments just to pause and take it all in with your new husband or wife is priceless.

3. One of the more practical things we did was also scout out our photo location a year in advance to see exactly how the sunlight would fall at that time of year and day. It made such a difference and gave us one of our favourite photos from the wedding.

4. And finally, don’t forget to enjoy the process along the way. Whether it’s food tastings, dance lessons, or even designing your website, those little milestones can be just as fun and meaningful as the wedding itself.”

For their first dance, Adrian and Renae knew they didn’t want to do a traditional waltz or sway. Instead, they wanted something full of energy and reflective of their style – choosing Vivir Mi Vida by Marc Anthony, remixed by Renae herself. “For me, with my Argentine background, it was important to bring something of my Latin roots into the day. We toyed with the idea of an Argentine tango, or even combining tango and salsa, but salsa felt like the perfect fit; the energy and tempo were exactly what we were looking for. It also gave us the chance to surprise our guests. Only a handful of people knew we had been dabbling in salsa, and the reactions afterwards were priceless. Friends and family were completely blown away, especially my close mates, who would never have expected to see me salsa dance!” Adrian shared.

“We had been taking lessons on and off for two years, but about three months out from the wedding, we got serious. We worked with a salsa teacher through private lessons at a dance studio and learned a full choreography. It was so much fun to prepare together, and on the night, everything flowed exactly how we hoped. It was such a fun surprise for everyone and set the tone for the dance floor.”

They finished out the night with some traditional Greek dances – with guests joining in the kalamatiano, zorba, zeibekiko, sousta, and more! “The mix of live music, laughter, and dancing made the whole night feel vibrant, joyful, and deeply connected to our cultures.”

Congratulations, Renae and Adrian, on your beautiful winter wedding. And thanks to Splendid Wedding Photography for sharing these heartwarming moments with us.