Photo: Courtesy of Clare Byrne1/32My friends Piotrek Panszczyk and Beckett Fogg design the brand AREA, and I have been working with them since their launch, so it seemed natural that they would make my dress. The whole process only took about 2 months. We are used to working within much shorter timelines so that almost felt like a luxury. This was taken at my first fitting of the ceremony gown. It was exactly what I wanted and felt really personal. For the reception dress, I wanted something that I could dance in. We used the same shape as my ceremony dress but changed the upper and length.
Photo: Courtesy of Clare Byrne2/32We worked together on the design. I had seen a Charles James dress from the 70s that I loved and Piotrek sketched options based on that body shape—we landed on this as the final design. The fabric was a big part of the design process and something we actually decided on before the dress. We sourced options and landed on a hammered silk that had a good amount of weight—not too light and the texture was a nice detail. We used the same fabric for both dresses.
Photo: Courtesy of Clare Byrne3/32My dad walking me down the aisle. I chose to wear pearl earrings from Céline and simple pumps from Dries Van Noten. I chose a tonal bouquet with some native flowers mixed in.
Photo: Courtesy of Clare Byrne4/32I had wanted long sleeves for my dress since it was fall in Australia, but instead of being the cooler day we anticipated, it was almost 100 degrees—nice for our visitors but not ideal for an outdoor ceremony.
Photo: Courtesy of Clare Byrne5/32My bridesmaids wore simple dresses from The Row and shoes from Manolo Blahnik. Michael’s groomsmen wore custom suits with Charvet shirts and ties.
Photo: Courtesy of Clare Byrne6/32Here is one of Michael’s nieces, Eve, just following the ceremony.
Photo: Courtesy of Clare Byrne7/32This photo was taken at the drinks that followed the reception. We had cocktails and oysters outside the reception venue.
Photo: Courtesy of Clare Byrne8/32Hannah and Thomas, both visiting from New York.
Photo: Courtesy of Clare Byrne9/32Piotrek (one half of Area), Kareem, and Matt.
Photo: Courtesy of Clare Byrne10/32Guests mingling.
Photo: Courtesy of Clare Byrne11/32The venue overlooked the Hawkesbury River, which is about an hour’s drive from Sydney.
Photo: Courtesy of Clare Byrne12/32Our ceremony took place overlooking the river, pictured here at sunset.
Photo: Courtesy of Clare Byrne13/32When it came to our wedding venue, the most important aspect was food. We had a small wedding, which meant we could really focus on this.
Photo: Courtesy of Clare Byrne14/32Michael went to Australia a week earlier than me the year before the wedding, so he actually chose the venue and just took me to see it when I arrived.
Photo: Courtesy of Clare Byrne15/32The property is owned by Martin Boetz, a chef who moved out of the city to focus on events and sourcing local produce for restauranteurs. We used the space itself as a starting point to inform the rest of the aesthetic. We had a big, leafy ceiling installation by Dani Butchart and not much else in terms of florals.
Photo: Courtesy of Clare Byrne16/32Our friends Matt and Helen.
Photo: Courtesy of Clare Byrne17/32We had around 80 guests. It proved to be a nice number for us, and we were able to speak to everyone there and make the most of everyone’s company—this was especially important to us as we had guests traveling from so far.
Photo: Courtesy of Clare Byrne18/32The environment and atmosphere were relaxed. It was nice that so many of our friends came out the week prior, as most people were able to meet and get to know each other ahead of the wedding.
Photo: Courtesy of Clare Byrne19/32Michael at the reception .
Photo: Courtesy of Clare Byrne20/32We had toasts from our parents and friends.
Photo: Courtesy of Clare Byrne21/32Sam and Charlotte, my bridesmaids.
Photo: Courtesy of Clare Byrne22/32Nate and Allison. Poor Nate.
Photo: Courtesy of Clare Byrne23/32Michael and I said a few words before we cut the cake, which was an orange cake with Persian figs and pistachios.
Photo: Courtesy of Clare Byrne24/32After the reception, we had music and dancing. A year or so before the wedding, Michael and I decided that anytime we heard a song that made us want to dance we’d save it. A week before the wedding we sent that list to our DJ, who based the playlist around that.
Photo: Courtesy of Clare Byrne25/32Seemed to work out!
Photo: Courtesy of Clare Byrne26/32My mother wearing DVF by Jonathan Saunders—the fun print and color was very much her vibe. She’s pictured dancing with Michael’s dad.
Photo: Courtesy of Clare Byrne27/32Champagne.
Photo: Courtesy of Clare Byrne28/32More champagne . . .
Photo: Courtesy of Clare Byrne29/32I changed into my second dress shortly after our first dance. I’m lucky I wasn’t dropped on my head.
Photo: Courtesy of Clare Byrne30/32Michael is pictured here with his twin brother and their twin nieces on the dance floor—a really fun moment.
Photo: Courtesy of Clare Byrne31/32Michael, his best man Brendo, and their friend Matt.
Photo: Courtesy of Clare Byrne32/32A photo of us leaving at the end of the evening. Our driver did not arrive as planned, so we hid in our car and watched our guests leave—some were singing with bottles of Champagne in hand—which will always be a funny memory.
