“less is more”: Kieta tells us all about her wedding in Byron Bay

By Andie Towner

16 September, 2022

Photography by Alli Studio

Keita

Date / 5th May 2019

Location / Byron Bay

Aesthetic / Italian Champagne Garden Party

How we met

Max and I met 13 years ago, through our mutual best friend (who was also MC at our wedding), just after he moved from Byron to Sydney. We instantly connected and always had a crush on each other. As soon as I met him, I was like, “that’s the sort of man you marry”, haha. Max has the most beautiful and kindest heart, and everyone who meets him just loves him. I always kept an eye on him, and he always kept an eye on me for eight years after that! We had this chemistry that even if we hadn’t spent much time together, when we’d bump into each other, it felt like we just saw each other yesterday.

Our Engagement Story

When he took me out on our first official date, I asked him, “why did you friend zone me for years and not try to date me?” and he smiled and said, “because you were never the girl I wanted to date, you were the girl I wanted to marry”. And then, a year later, he popped the question at our favourite spot, in the most beautiful setting, and we were married six months later.

Inspiration

We did want that beautiful Italian summer vibe running through the day, which helped anchor us to stay on course with our vision (because, as any bride knows, the choices for lots of beautiful things to include are very overwhelming).

Instagram is fantastic for visuals and sourcing supplies. I’d save pictures and create small storyboards of ceremonies and receptions, gathering visually what we love, then choosing from there what we think would complement the setting the most. Max and I have our style, and he is very creative and has an excellent eye for detail, so I knew that we would put together something we love and that our family and friends would love too.

I am also a person that is very “less is more” and “quality over quantity”, so my inspiration always sparked from the small yet beautiful, detailed things that Max and I enjoy that make us, us. For example, we love French champagne and cocktails, so we created a champagne and cocktail garden party straight after the ceremony for all to celebrate.

Planning

I love excel! I planned everything out of spreadsheets – haha. And I mean EVERYTHING! Including the honeymoon. I’d create tabs like “ceremony”, “reception”, “welcome drinks”, “Dress”, “Wedding Website”, etc. and would write down the things I needed to get done and tick them off. Then add links or visuals to items to what I confirmed. It was awesome because I had one central spot that I knew had everything and its progress. Plus, I’d just print off the excel spreadsheets for the day and give them to whoever needed them (i.e. the wait staff on where to set up the champagne tower, the venue on where to place the chairs, the florist on where to put the arrangements).

Because we arranged the wedding in 4 months, it worked in our favour as we knew what we wanted, and if we couldn’t get it, we’d then just cross it off the list; no issues weren’t meant to be. We spent money on the quality things that would ensure a beautiful day for everyone (excellent food, fantastic booze, great music, naturally gorgeous venues, etc.). Max and I found the planning process so much fun, and seriously, we’d do it again in a heartbeat.

The Dress

My inspiration was Caroline Besettte-Kennedy’s wedding dress. Mine was the Arlo dress from Grace loves Lace. I teamed it up with a layered cathedral-length Oscar de la Renta veil (adding a little drama to the outfit), my Christine Nicolades earrings Max gave me for my birthday (a little pop of colour that matched my engagement ring). My gold bangles mum gave me from her home country (which I will then pass to my children to make their wedding bands from, as I made ours from my Nana’s gold bangles).

I wore the La lune dress made by UK designer Luna Bea Bridal for the reception. My photographer is friends with the designer and showed a picture to me from French Vogue, and I fell madly in love with it.

Aesthetic

The ceremony was like an Italian Champagne Garden Party. The venue is so beautiful, with its Tuscan building and lush green garden looking out to the ocean, there wasn’t much else we needed to do. I added beautiful flower arrangements of white orchids and giant white flipped roses. Champagne was served in coups, cocktails and mini bottles of sparking water with cute paper straws. We opted not to do bridal party pictures and hugged, kissed and mingled with our guests, and the photographer captured the moments.

Unexpected Moments

What were some unexpected moments that may have taken guests by surprise? The weather. So it had been raining two weeks straight in Byron (classic Byron. Everyone thinks it’s always sunny, but trust me, it rains A LOT in the northern Rivers), and the day before, at the welcome drinks, there was a giant storm. But the next day, the sun came bursting out, and it was the most beautiful sunny day where it wasn’t windy, not too hot, and just unlike the last two weeks there.

Advice

Less is more, and quality over quantity. It’s all about the detail. Go simple yet elegant. Nothing is chicer than white linen, a beautiful glowing candle, a crystal glass to drink out of, a small bunch of luxury flowers and soft lighting.

Spend money where it matters. Everyone remembers the great food (and lots of it!), top-shelf alcohol/cocktails/champagne and great music. Those are the three great things that equal an epic celebration for all. Let it go if there is anything or anyone that isn’t working well to help you celebrate such a wonderful time in your life. It wasn’t meant to be, and the more you push, the harsher the reality.

Arrange the day, so you and your partner get at least half an hour together after the ceremony to be alone and bask in the incredible moment you two had. We didn’t do formal wedding pics; instead, after we sent guests to the reception after the garden party, Max and I celebrated in the garden, just us two. The photographer captured it, but Max and I wanted that alone time where we could celebrate becoming husband and wife; it was beautiful.

Have something planned between the ceremony and reception for your guests. We ran a garden party straight after the ceremony, so they could drink and mingle, then we sent them to reception for canapés and more cocktails. There was no awkward time in between, with no food or drinks or people not knowing what to do. Trust me; guests love that.

And my favourite piece of advice – this day is about you and your partner making such a beautiful decision to become husband and wife. That’s all that matters. It’s not about flower arrangements, getting the best pictures, or panicking about the weather. Having those things help with the day, but they’re not why people show up to see you. It’s about celebrating you two making a beautiful commitment to each other. So if anything is overtaking the importance of you two celebrating that moment, let it go. You’ll make the most magical day for everyone if you share a day of love.