State Library Melbourne chic wedding

Why did you decide to get married where you did?

We chose the State Library because, in many ways, it just felt like the stars aligned. It’s iconic Melbourne -timeless, grand, and a little bit unexpected – which felt like the perfect contrast to the more relaxed celebration we’re planning in Europe. With Charlotte’s dad unwell, we also felt a real sense of now or never, and wanted to celebrate while he could be there beside us. Plus, we needed somewhere beautiful and accessible for all the beloved “olds” in our lives. It ticked every box – and gave us a moment of magic right in the heart of our home city.

How many guests did you have?

We had 58 guests in the end.

What was your budget?

We didn’t set a strict budget – we just rolled with it and saved where we could. Owning our own business, Zetta Florence, gave us the flexibility to tap into industry relationships (including ourselves!) – especially when it came to styling, which helped a lot. Booking a wedding with just 30 days’ notice actually worked in our favour – we were able to negotiate with the State Library since the date was still open. It was a win-win: they filled a spot, and we landed our dream venue at a reasonable price. In the end, we probably spent around $40k total… but we haven’t done the final tally and probably won’t.

Tell us about your outfits.

Oh god – where do we begin? We planned a trip to China before choosing our wedding location, so we naturally decided to have outfits made there. It was total chaos but completely on brand for us. Ryan ended up in a custom burgundy velvet suit (yes, it was as fabulous as it sounds), and I wore a second dress we’d had made – a sparkly, beaded, pinky two-piece that needed a few alterations back in Australia but totally worked. The best part? We spent around $800 on both outfits – an absolute steal compared to what we’d pay here.

As for my main ceremony dress… let’s just say the original plan didn’t pan out. With two weeks to go, I visited True Society in Fitzroy, tried on a sample gown, and it fit perfectly. They sold it to me off the rack, and after a quick hem and dry clean, it became the dress. I absolutely loved it.

What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?

For me, the most important aspect of planning the wedding was making sure my creativity came through. It’s what I do every day in my work, and I really wanted to make this day reflect that. I knew I wanted to work with other ambitious, creative people who could help bring the vision to life. I was after drama, iconic moments, and memorable details that would leave everyone talking.

My team – who also work with me 9-5 – did an incredible job pulling it all together. Nick, who was part of the creative team, was absolutely pivotal. His ability to capture the essence of our vision through photos was nothing short of amazing. He made everything we dreamed up look even more spectacular in the final images.

Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?

To be honest, the most important element for me was having my dad there and marrying the love of my life. The original plan was just a simple courthouse ceremony, but… I might have gone a little overboard! Once I started picturing everything, it was hard not to dream big. But in the end, the most meaningful part was having my dad by my side and exchanging vows with Ryan. Everything else was just the cherry on top.

Any tips for couples getting married?

My biggest tip is that I felt genuinely surprised by what we pulled off in such a short time and how everyone rallied around the chaos. So, my advice is to put less pressure on yourself about timing and perfection. Don’t stress too much about the details. Your day will be epic no matter how many things go wrong – and most of the time, that’s all part of the journey. What really matters is the people around you and the love in the air, not all the fluffy stuff.

Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?

Look, my team was absolutely INSANE – seriously, they pulled off everything flawlessly. We took on the planning, creative direction, flowers, printed collateral, props and styling ourselves. We’re not currently doing weddings, but twist my arm and reach out, I might expand our business to offer them.

But, let’s talk about the vendors who made our day amazing. First off, Nick – who you already know is a total genius, and if you’re planning a wedding, you must work with him. As for the cake, Torte by Mirjana is a delicious talent – she’ll make you something that tastes as good as it looks, trust me. And lastly, my celebrant, Georgina Tilleyshort. She’s bubbly, funny, and has this amazing way of perfectly capturing you as a couple – she made our ceremony feel so personal and heartfelt.