A Stunning Wedding Reception - Melissa & Aiden | Bramleigh Estate Weddings with Views Yarra Valley

Melissa & Aiden held their stunning wedding reception at the beautiful Bramleigh Estate in November 2024.

Find out more about their celebration at our award-winning Melbourne wedding reception venue.

When and where did you first meet?

I had to do a deep dive into my Instagram DMs to figure this out! It all started back in August 2018 when we swiped right on Tinder. Fast forward to 2020, we had our first official date at this cozy little spot on Lygon Street called La Spaghetata. And well, as they say, the rest is history!

How long were you together before your partner popped the question?

We were together for nearly 3 years before Aiden popped the question. He made it worth the wait!

Tell us about the proposal! Did your partner suspect anything?

Our proposal was a total plot twist! I’m usually so in tune with everything happening around me, so I was convinced I’d catch on to any sneaky moves Aiden made. But nope, he pulled off and managed to keep it a complete surprise from me!

It all started on a random Wednesday afternoon, just a day before my birthday. My boss called me in for a ‘meeting’ to talk about my sales progress for the year. Totally didn’t suspect a thing. It was a super weird meeting, though as my boss was fumbling through his words, but I figured it was just a normal catch-up.

Meanwhile, Aiden was at home, masterminding the proposal with one bridesmaid and my mother-in-law. He had to work extra hard to make sure I wasn’t home before him. He went full stealth mode, texting my work friend for updates and calling me to say, ‘Hey, park in the garage when you get home and we can take my car to the gym,’ just so I’d walk in through the right door!

When I finally walked through the door (after 10 minutes of him waiting for me to get out of the car) I was greeted with him on one knee surrounded by photos, candles, rose petals everywhere – it was so magical. What made it even more special, it was at our first home together. And well of course I said YES!

What did you love about having your ceremony at a church? Did you like having time in between to have photo stops, chilled time etc?

Having our ceremony at St. Mary Star of the Sea was everything! The church itself is so stunning—it felt like the perfect backdrop for our big day. Aiden and I really wanted to get married in a place that reflected our faith and values, surrounded by all our loved ones. The sacrament of marriage was something so special to both of us, and honestly, once we set our sights on the church, it was an easy choice.

Now, let me tell you about the time between the ceremony and the reception. We had a solid 4 hours, which was a perfect combination to our day and a true reflection of Aiden and I as a couple. Our first stop was at this cute little café called Caffe e Torta in the Arcade on Little Collins Street. It was the perfect spot for a couple of celebratory cocktails with our bridal party. After that, we moved onto Melbourne University and then wrapped up our photos with a beautiful park in Warrandyte, close to Bramleigh Estate. With all this time to relax and take in the day, we didn’t feel rushed at all. We really got to enjoy every second.

Who were your favourite suppliers on the day and why?

I will start by saying, there was not one supplier we could fault on the day. Every single one of them showed up for us and made our day a little less chaotic. Even with a few hiccups on the week of the wedding, everything was handled with such care.

That being said, if we had to pick favorites (and trust me, it’s hard), the two suppliers that we felt really bought the energy and made our day extra special were our videographers, Annette and Dani and our MC/DJ DJ Michael! Aiden and I were familiar with both vendors from previous weddings we had attended or been a part of so naturally we were comfortable as it was familiar to us.

Our other fabulous suppliers were:

Photographer – Bek Smith Photography

Florist – Floretta by Grace

Cake – Joan Lakes Custom Cakes

Champagne Tower – Event Merchant Co

Cars – Exotic Limo

Looking back on your wedding day, what was the best part?

This is such a tough one because there were so many incredible moments! But if we had to pick just one, it would be sitting at the altar, looking out at all our friends and family who came to support us. It was such a surreal moment, realising how much love was in the room. Just seeing everyone there, all gathered to celebrate one of the biggest days of our lives, was such a memorable feeling. It made everything feel even more special and meaningful.

What tip would you give to anyone planning a wedding? And also, a tip for the actual day?

Here’s the best wedding advice we can give: be decisive and don’t ask for too many opinions! Seriously, it’ll just confuse you and make everything more stressful. Everyone has their own ideas, so if you ask for 100 opinions, you’re going to get 100 different answers! At the end of the day, do what feels right for you and your partner – it’s your day, not anyone else’s. Oh, and of course – happy wife, happy life! Had to throw that in there.

Now, for the big day itself – let go of control! You’ve hired amazing vendors because you trust them, so let them do their thing. They’re there to make your day perfect, and the best part is they won’t let you down. And remember, don’t sweat the small stuff! If a minor detail is missed, trust me, no one else notices except you. Guests are there to celebrate you and your partner, not to spot the little details. Enjoy every moment!

How has married life been for you since the big day? What’s next for the future?

Married life has been treating us so well! About a month after the wedding, we kicked off our honeymoon and first Christmas as husband and wife in the States, and it was filled with so many beautiful memories. As for what’s next? Well, we’re thinking about the future and a family. Babies are on our radar, and we’re hopeful that one day we’ll be blessed with them. It’s something that’s super important to both of us, and we can’t wait to see where the future takes us!

Learn more about Bramleigh Estate wedding venue Melbourne or download our wedding package. Or why not get in touch with the Bramleigh Estate team to schedule a personalised tour and start planning your own dream wedding!