Karla & Simon

They sat across from each other at a wedding reception and later that night they danced. When it came to planning their own wedding, there was one colour that dictated the theme – red.

“Simon proposed with red rose petals...I wanted red, I love red and red is love!” says Karla.

They wanted to create an intimate celebration with 80 of their family and friends. They married at Prince Henry Chapel at Little Bay – a quaint little chapel overlooking the water. Three weeks before their wedding day their reception venue fell through and so, in a rather serendipitous series of events, Karla managed to book The Botanic Gardens Restaurant, the same place where she celebrated her hen's party.

Their invitations were redone and reposted, the cocktail reception changed to a sit down main meal with roving entrée and dessert and without too much hassle, their new venue became the perfect place for their fabulous reception.

She wore a stunning Mark Holt Bridal gown and, inspired by Sex and the City, scoured the internet to find the perfect pair of red shoes. A dressmaker made each of the bridesmaids’ gowns – in red, of course.

Karla carried an abundant bouquet of red roses and her maids carried white, a sentimental link to the petals on her bed when Simon proposed.

The Botanic Gardens Restaurant was a modern, blank canvas which Karla and Simon enjoyed being creative with. Each table featured white wax lantern candles with smaller candles on either side and rose petals spontaneously scattered. Candles were lit throughout the reception to create a romantic vibe. Karla had purchased wooden words spelling “Live, Laugh, Love” and they were placed at the entrance along with a white lantern as a wishing well.

The red and white lolly table was popular with guests and displayed the words “Love is Sweet.” Of course, the two-tiered cake was red and white – the top half was banana with white chocolate ganache, the bottom half white chocolate with white chocolate ganache.

Regardless of the weather – the heavens opened – Karla and Simon were determined to stay happy and bright. The gorgeous parasols they had purchased became beautifully practical and look fabulous in their photos.

On their wedding night they stayed in their Coogee home and left early the next morning for a luxurious week in Tahiti.

Their plans for the future? “To live, laugh and love.”

Photographer: Impact Images
Gown: Mark Holt Bridal
Bridesmaids: Nelder Jones
Florist: Uptown Florist
Cake: Oliver Rose Cakes