DEANA & VINCE | STONES OF THE YARRA VALLEY

Weddings

Feb 2

Modern Bridal Couple walking on grounds of Stones of The Yarra Valley

I just can’t get enough of Deana and Vince’s day-time wedding at Stones of the Yarra Valley. Listed in my top 5 romantic wedding venues in Melbourne, Stones is one of a kind and a stunning location for the couple’s ‘Italian Art Gallery’ inspired wedding.

In our Q&A chat, Deana shares her wedding styling inspiration, favourite vendors and experience designing a custom gown with Sonia at Cappellazzo Couture.

Inspired by art, architecture and design, Deana had references and images in her mind that Graham at Tweed Twigs transformed into table-scapes that blend beauty, nostalgia and emotion. Tweed Twigs is one of Melbourne’s top florists and if you are inspired by his work, he shares his top trend predications here.

More of Deana and Vince’s wedding gallery is available via my website and vendor details are listed below.

Grazie Deana and Vince,

Lei x

Why did you decide to get married AT STONES OF THE YARRA VALLEY?

Vince and I had always wanted to get married in Italy. We were looking at a few options but with so much ‘unknown’ at the time with Covid, we had to rethink what to do. We wanted a daytime/lunch wedding and were after a venue that had a beautiful landscape and an Italian aesthetic.

When we went for a drive to the Yarra Valley, we immediately fell in love with Stones of the Yarra Valley. Driving down the tree lined road up to Stones’ stunning Chapel and the Barn function space, it was quite breathtaking. We loved how the ceremony and reception spaces are so beautifully framed by the vineyard and mountains,

“Don’t be scared to go for something different. Push the boundaries of what you see on Instagram / social media. Look to other sources for inspiration. Make your special day showcase everything you are and love.”

-DEANA & VINCE

TELL US ABOUT YOUR OUTFITS AND SOURCES OF INSPIRATION.

The Wedding dress . . . was the one item that I was freaking out about. For me, the thought of dressing up in a gown was so overwhelming. I am usually always in black, jeans and sneakers!

I had spent a lot of time researching and narrowing down ideas. I wanted something that was different to a lot of the images I had seen. There were a few elements that I knew were ‘a must’ which helped bring the design together. I wanted the dress to feel effortless and organic with soft detailing, nothing that was too rigid.

When I met with Sonia from Cappellazzo Couture it was an instant connection. She understood my personality, my style and exactly what I had pictured in my mind. A collaboration I absolutely adored. The result truly shows just how amazing she and her team are. The dress was everything that I could have wanted. I felt so incredibly myself on the day.

Vince decided that he wanted to wear a three-piece black suit. We connected with Domenic and Kellie from Carbone Master Tailors. What an incredible duo. Vince’s suit was exactly what we were after; custom fit and quality in every detail.

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH YOUR CONCEPT FOR THE table settings and florals?

I am still obsessing over the table settings and florals!! The overall theme I had in my mind for the Wedding was “Italian Art Gallery”.

I am an an Interior Designer so art, design, art history and architecture are huge passions of mine. My heritage is Italian, so bringing in family references and inspiration from our trips to Northern Italy and Southern Italy felt natural. The towns where my families are know for their Baroque architecture, local sculpture artists and white stone surrounds.

I also had a specific art works stuck in my mind; a print that hung over my Nonna (Grandmother) dining table and a stone sculpture that my Mum was gifted on her 21st birthday. My Nonna’s art piece was of a renaissance-feast; white clothed table filled with fruits, wine and florals.

It was a matter of finding the right vendors to help bring the vision to life and Graham from Tweed Twigs was honestly amazing. Graham was so supportive, invested time and was willing to bring different ideas to the table was truly brilliant. I am still in awe of what he created for our day; I loved collaborating with Graham.

Our guests still tell me how ‘in love’ they were with our table settings which is heart-warming. It’s so nice to hear that after all the hard work that goes into planning a wedding!

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

We wanted to take our guests to another place and time through food, music, styling, florals, and thoughtful details; hopefully, we achieved this.

WHAT WERE YOUR SPLURGE ITEMS?

My dress, photography, video, and flowers were at the top of the splurge list. As you keep planning, there are always new items that pop up though. I think it’s a matter of finding a balance and really exploring ways to enhance your vision in a budget-friendly way.

For example, I was ready to start an op shop hunt to source vintage stone sculptures for our tables when I came across the option to hire items from The Small Things Co. Brainstorming with Paula and Sarah on what items to hire from her huge range was beyond fun! When she showed me the David and Venus sculpture candles, I knew it was going to save me time (and money). The way in which the team at The Small Things Co. added romantic styling to our tables was perfection.

What are your three tips for couples planning their wedding day?

Be organised from the very beginning. It pays off in the last week!
Don’t be scared to go for something different. Push the boundaries of what you see on Instagram / social media. Look to other sources for inspiration. Make your special day showcase everything you are and love.
Respect and reach out to your vendors for help. They are there to make your day so amazing, value their expertise.