Every memorable wedding needs a good side quest! Leah and Cameron took that idea quite literally, sending their guests off on a “wedding quest” with star signs, stories about how they met and a champagne prize at the end. It was just one of the many little details tucked into their garden wedding at Cleveland Estate. There was a burgundy custom suit, a classic KWH gown, dahlias and roses in warm pink, orange and burgundy tones, Sri Lankan traditions, homemade chilli oil!

Mia Sara Photography and Gareth from Solasta Wedding Films captured the whole lively event, from the laughs, the tears, the saxophone-fuelled dance floor and the quieter moments that happened once the crowd disappeared. “Gareth did such an incredible job with our video and highlight video and captured the day perfectly, truly blown away… I still watch it every other week!!”

A few hours before the NYE party Leah and her friends were planning to attend in 2020, Dan Andrews announced a 30-person limit on any events happening that very night. Her friends had quickly made other plans, but in the middle of studying for her physician’s exam, Leah didn’t have the time and decided to just go to the original party, even though the only person she knew was the host! “Midnight came and went; I was still having a good time, but hadn’t met anyone of interest just yet! Around 1 am, as we were standing out on the balcony with a small group, Cameron had arrived from his hospitality shift at the restaurant he was working at at the time. I remember he introduced himself, how big his smile was, and how friendly and warm his demeanour was,” Leah recounted.

“We got chatting; it was so ridiculously easy. He was sweet, funny, witty and smart. He told me how he was about to begin his master’s in teaching to become a high school science teacher. I told him that becoming a science teacher was my dream job. I found him so charming! Later that night, he asked for my number because he wanted to make sure we could see each other again after this night. I was swept away with how much of a gentleman he was… and the rest is history!”

Cam surprised Leah as she was coming home from work (still in her scrubs!) with an intimate proposal right in their apartment. “He had set the house up with rose petals, candles, balloons and playing a song that meant something to our story: it was so sweet! Of course I said yes!” She shared.

“We had our best friends also hiding in the other room, who came out to surprise me and celebrate with us. Later that night we had a city view dinner to celebrate!”

This was the first event Cam had the chance to create a custom-made suit for himself – and he absolutely loved the experience with Oscar Hunt. “Given the earthy tones of the wedding, he went with something a bit different, with a deep burgundy suit; he loved it, and so did I,” Leah shared.

For her own look, Leah went with a classic strapless gown from Karen Willis Holmes with a gorgeous silhouette. “I don’t usually wear ballroom-like dresses and thought I would end up going for something more fitted. However, when I went to try on dresses (which was such a fun experience with my mother, mother-in-law, and bridesmaids), I ended up surprisingly loving having a fuller skirt/bottom as well as the corseted top. I ended up going with the dress that we loved on the day!”

Cam and Leah both fell in love with Cleveland Estate from the moment they stepped onto the incredible grounds just outside of Melbourne. “Such a beautiful venue and grounds with rustic charm; we loved the homestead estate and the idea of us getting ready there – such a photogenic venue! We loved that it was out of Melbourne, but not too far and the option for guests to stay the night.”

With the expertise and talent of Ali from Handpicked Floristry, all of Leah and Cameron’s florals looked incredible for their early summer celebration. “Ali was fantastic, and saw our vision exactly. We wanted warm colour tones of pink, orange and burgundy with pops of white to lift and lighten. We wanted to go with seasonal flowers such as dahlias, roses, and carnations.”

Beaming at Cameron, Leah walked down the aisle with her mum and dad on either side of her as Billianne’s cover of “Simply The Best” rang out around the garden.

Monique Duggan led the ceremony, creating the perfectly personal and intimate tone that Leah and Cameron had dreamed of. “We loved Monique being able to include and read the important parts of our story and what marriage means to us; and we had readings by Michael and my sister Vanessa. Cam and I both wrote our own personal vows and wanted to be able to say these to each other in front of those we love dearest – it was so special.”

Mia Sara Photography captured this garden wedding with a precision we’re frankly impressed by – every beaming smile, every cheeky glance, and the complete and utter joy radiating from guests was all encapsulated in their gallery. “Mia was fantastic! She perfectly captured the day, from candid moments to the romantic atmosphere. She captured our guests beautifully and the emotion and vibe of the day. We both felt so comfortable in front of the camera with her!”

Cameron created a lot of their stationery and design himself! From the invites, menus, place cards and venue signage pieces to their wedding favours: a delicious homemade chilli oil! They also had help from Cameron’s mum Lisa with the floral arrangements and on-the-day styling. “Cameron organised a “wedding quest” (as he loves a game/quest!) so each guest would have to tick off side quests throughout the night (eg. find someone who shares the same star sign, tell someone how you met the groom etc): then go into a draw to win a bottle of champagne once completed. It added a little extra fun for the night!”

They also had sprinkles of Sri Lankan traditions throughout their day. Starting with Leah’s aunt and uncle performing a Milk Mixing ( Kiri Kala) before the ceremony, where they poured milk together into a decorated vessel to symbolise the blending of the couple’s lives. “We also had traditional Sri Lankan love cake (made by two of my aunties) as another favour guests could take home!”

After the speeches were completed, Leah changed into her second look of the night – a beautiful halter mini from Sau Lee! “I loved my reception dress, it was so fun to dance in, and I loved the material,” she shared.

With five dance classes with The Secret Garden Dance under their belts, Cam and Leah were so ready for their first dance! “You Make Loving Fun” by Fleetwood Mac as they dipped and twirled around the dance floor. “Those lessons were something we both were really looking forward to as part of the wedding day preparations!”

Having a fun and lively dance floor was super important to Leah and Cameron. So with the help of Spinning Disc Entertainment, they had the perfect atmosphere – Sax on the floor and everything!

One of their favourite memories was the quiet stolen moment they had on the dance floor while guests milled outside ready for their sparkler send-off. “Cam and I stayed back to have one last final private dance together (no DJ, no guests, no cameras), just us. It was incredibly special to have such a moment to reflect on the amazing night and how exciting this next chapter was.”

Thanks to Mia Sara Photography for capturing and sharing these shots with us! And a huge congratulations to Leah and Cameron on this beautiful summer wedding.