Sebastian And Joanne’s Colourful, Contemporary Celebration

Sebastian and Joanne went from friends to forever with a wedding day that will make you swoon! Featuring colourful decor and the most delightful florals, this spectacular love story was celebrated in the most classic and contemporary way.

Friends To Lovers…

Sebastian and Joanne’s love story began when they met at various social functions back in 2014. Their connection started with them building a friendship, and then one day, everything changed. “We had been friends for so long, it eventually came to a point where we began developing feelings for one another. Once we shared those feelings with each other, Sebastian and I both realised that there is no one else we would rather be with and we became inseparable.” the bride shared.

The Perfect Proposal…

The couple’s magical proposal took place on May 26th, 2019. One gorgeous, sunny day, Sebastian surprised Joanne with a picnic up at Copes Lookout in Kirribilli. The couple enjoyed the atmosphere with champagne, rose petals, and the most mesmerising view of the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. “He confessed his love to me and went down on one knee and the rest is history!” the bride shared. The next few hours were spent admiring the view and enjoying a glass of champagne by candlelight…but the story doesn’t stop there! It turns out sneaky Sebastian had arranged for a private boat to take them to a second location for dinner, where 100 of their closest family and friends were waiting! “It turns out that everyone knew before me!” the bride tells us. “Sebastian had planned the whole event with our closest family and friends keeping the secret from me for weeks!”

I’ll Meet You At The Altar…

With both Sebastian and Joanne having Lebanese backgrounds, it meant there were many fabulous pre-wedding celebrations! When the big day arrived, the couple walked down the aisle at their local church for an intimate and traditional ceremony with their closest friends and family in attendance. “The church ceremony was the most special and unforgettable moment of the day for us. We didn’t see each other for a week before the wedding so it makes it a pretty emotional, yet exciting moment.” the bride shared.

Colourful And Contemporary…

Sebastian and Joanne had the theme for their wedding picked out early on! “We wanted colourful, bright, young, fun, contemporary but still classic at the same time. We wanted to capitalise on the stylish, yet simple canvas they had at Linseed House and complement it in any way we could. With the industrial brick finish of the interior walls that contrasted the wooden finish of the bar setting, I felt that it needed some seasonal colour and so we advised our florist to put some colours that matched the time of September.” the couple explained.

A Champagne Classic…

On the big day, the couple was surrounded by loved ones! The groom had his three brothers by his side, each dressed in a classic style suit with a peaked lapel, black bowtie, and french cuffs. The bride had her cousin, best friend, and sister in law next to her on the day. Each of the lovely ladies was dressed in chic champagne coloured gown with some gold statement earrings to match.

The Shimmering Bride…

The bride went through quite a journey to find her dream gown! As her mother was a dressmaker, she wanted to choose a designer that would let her be part of the process. After trying on a range of gowns, she picked the pieces and parts that she loved and combined them together to create a sketch of what her dream gown would be. The princess cut gown featured a low back and low cut halterneck and was finished with a 3 metre long train! Wanting a gown with see-through detail, the bride picked a sheer fabric that was covered in shimmering sparkles so that you could see her silhouette as she walked against the sun. The look was completed with a plain veil, a bouquet of classic roses and orchids, and stunning, sparkling stilettos.

A Classic Style…

Keeping with the contemporary theme, the groom opted for a classicly styled suit. The custom design featured a french-cuff, hidden button white shirt, and black bow tie. Wanting to change up his look for the reception, Sebastian changed into a more formal fit. This look consisted of coloured round buttons to add character and was finished with a tailored vest matching the rustic theme of the venue.

In Love With Linseed…

“The Linseed House was the most unique venue we had ever laid eyes on. It was the first venue that we looked at and we fell in love with it straight away” the couple tells us. The space features high ceilings, brick finishes, green balconies, gorgeous mirrors, shimmering chandeliers, and striking glass doors throughout. The venue was then decorated with a colourful flower theme, bringing blues, oranges, reds, pinks, and whites to the draped floral displays. Lastly, low table settings created a subtle layout so that the magical florals could stand out.

Hidden in the shadows…

With such an incredible location to celebrate their love, the couple couldn’t help but stroll around the grounds so that they could capture some dreamy shots. When it came to working with the photography team at Salt Atelier, the newlyweds said “perhaps the most notable thing we found was that we didn’t even know they were there! They were hidden in the shadows getting all the natural and emotion-filled shots of us. We are obsessed with the moments they captured. Subtle, intimate, brilliant”.

The Covid Challenge…

Like many couples who were planning to wed in 2020, Sebastian and Joanne had to change their initial wedding plans. “We had actually planned our wedding to be held overseas in Lebanon, but with Lebanon struggling with economic and political issues, we decided to move it to Sydney. Unfortunately due to Covid-19 restrictions, we had to move the date from June to September. So after moving it twice, planning and booking the third date was awesome. We kept our eyes on the prize and we had the wedding of our dreams!”

Their Advice…

All couples that have tied the knot during 2020 have faced so many additional struggles, and they have some advice to share! “Don’t overthink or over-complicate the day” the couple shared. “Things will go wrong but just remember that at the end of the day, regardless of what happens, it is your special day with your loved one and you will enjoy it regardless of what happens.”

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