The Calm Before the Perfect Storm -Vanessa & Michael -
When the world came to a sudden halt last year and schedules were slowly progressing, there was one couple of ours who insisted they were sticking with their original plan and of course it was important for us to stick by their side along the way.
Vanessa and Michael first approached Honey Lane back in the latter end of 2019, and we jumped on board as their full wedding planners and stylists right away. It was all systems go from this point on and everything was coming along so beautifully and at ease.
Lara, the owner and lead events planner of Honey Lane was looking after their wedding planning. From the dress, invitations, entertainment, hair and make-up to the on the day co-ordination and run sheet. Vanessa and Michael were ticking the boxes with efficient consideration.
Alannah (me!), Honey Lane’s event designer and stylist worked with Vanessa and Michael on their wedding styling. We went for an Understated Elegant Romance with a bold twist. Introducing rich Autumn tones of peach, apricot, terracotta, mustard with a subtle introduction of black. Vanessa and Michael really wanted to leave a lasting impression on the styling and having been guided by their chic taste in style and swift decisions – I must admit it came together so beautifully!
With all of that in mind, the world changed, and our Brides and Grooms had to make a hard and confronting decision. When it came to Vanessa and Michael, their guest numbers were always sitting below 50 and no matter the rules and regulations they just wanted to enter the new year as husband and wife, and that they did!
But it wasn’t easy! Only 2 months out from the wedding Vanessa and Michael made the difficult decision to change their venue. Albeit Gunners Barracks were available and happy to help! Gunners Barracks being one of Vanessa and Michael’s first choices (it was a win win scenario!)
While this experience is a story we could tell, we thought we would leave it over to the wonderful Bride and Groom who were so calm and gracious throughout this whole experience and what it was like getting married during a pandemic.
The Venue …
"Finding our wedding venue was an interesting process. We initially did not plan on getting married at Gunners Barracks. But once COVID hit, we unfortunately had some problems with the original wedding venue and needed to make a quick decision. It was a hard call to make, but Michael and I decided to change venues just 2 months out from the wedding date!"
"Guest capacity was never an issue for us when looking for a new venue, since we always planned on having only about 40 guests. What was important for us was the feeling we would both have when we saw it, and when we walked out to the Harbour Terrace, we just knew that it was meant to be our wedding venue. The space was so warm, intimate, and romantic, which lined up perfectly with the styling vision we had in mind. It just felt right. Not to mention the Harbour views were stunning also."
Your Favourite Details …
"Both Michael and I agree that the ceremony was the most special and meaningful part of the day for us - it's what the day was all about! And to have just our immediate family and closest friends there to experience it all with us meant the world to us. But I will never forget the feeling I had of walking into the reception and seeing how all the styling elements came together to create such a beautiful, romantic, and elegant space. I'm a detail-oriented person by nature, so seeing how all the colours - from the florals to the stationary to the linen - blended together perfectly really made the day that much more special for me."
"It's hard for me to put into words the joy I felt when I first saw how all the styling elements came together, and it was beautiful for us to see our family and friends appreciate everything just as much as we did."
The Dress …
"I decided to visit Brides by Francesca to have a look at their selection of wedding gowns. Amazingly, the very first dress I tried on was 'the one' - a beautiful Jessica Couture gown. I was so grateful for the lovely staff there who worked with me at the fitting appointments to help me alter the dress to be exactly how I wanted it. We added in some boning to the sides of the dress, which totally changed the shape as it gave the appearance of extra support and structure. We also decided to add a small wrist loop to my dress, in case I would need to lift the train when dancing. But the wrist loop was concealed within the train so it would not be seen when I wasn't using it. The ladies at Brides by Francesca were so creative with these additions, really making my wedding dress feel like a one-of-a-kind creation."
We are glad we …
"Found Honey Lane! After seeing all the hard work our amazing planner Lara and our lovely stylist Alannah put into creating the most magical wedding for us, I can't even imagine having to have done all of that on my own. They were so kind and patient with me through all the changes we requested along the way, and they took all the stress away from us so we could really enjoy our day and take in every amazing moment of it."
"I also was so grateful to have Lara with me at every moment through the day, from when I was getting ready in the morning right up until our send-off at the end of the night. I knew that she would be by my side if I needed anything through the day, and having that support really made such a difference."
Word of Advice for Future Bride and Groom’s …
"The wedding day really does go by quickly, so enjoy every minute of it. Don't worry about the things that may not go to plan, because you likely won't even remember those moments once the wedding day has passed. But what you will remember is the time you spent celebrating your new spouse on the day, taking in everything you had worked months in preparing for, and how you made the most of having all of your friends and family together sharing the special moments with you."
If you are looking to create your perfect wedding, Honey Lane can help bring it to life with careful advice, direction and experience. As Sydney wedding planners and stylists, we are on hand to help.
Thank you:
Florals @_ellebore ⠀⠀
Signage/stationery @invitesbyveasnachea ⠀⠀
Furniture & cutlery @simply.seated ⠀⠀
Glassware @class_occasion_hire⠀⠀
Linen @simmonslinenhire ⠀⠀
Dining Chairs @harrythehirer ⠀⠀
Venue @gunnersbarracks⠀
Photographer and Videographer @storytelersweddingco
Complete Wedding Planning and Styling @honeylaneevents
We are your wedding planners and stylists located in Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
