Real Wedding // Kerry & Matt’s Byron Bay Surf Club Wedding

A destination wedding set right on the beautiful main beach of Byron Bay. Kerry & Matt’s ceremony and reception at the iconic Byron Bay Surf Club captured the most beautiful atmosphere where the sunset lingered over the ocean’s horizon and crashing waves echoed the evening. Witness how local photographer, Shane Shepherd, allows us to relive this stunning day. Read their love story below.

Tell us your story, how did the proposal happen?
Well, we had bought a holiday home in Bangalow (we’re now here full time) and we were having it renovated so we were coming to stay for the weekend and check up on the progress. Matt booked us into the Bangalow Guest House (which I thought was a little flash but not complaining!), and we arrived on the Friday night. On Saturday we went to The Pass and surfed for a few hours before venturing up to the house. When we got to the house Matt grabbed a blanket and a couple of beers and suggested we sit on the back deck in the sun. We had a look around at our shell of a house and then sat down with our beers and chatted about all the cool stuff we were getting done. Matt asked me to stand up and then he dropped to one knee and proposed! I was completely taken off guard and so surprised, but so happy. It was perfect!

What were the reasons for choosing the Byron Bay Surf Club as the venue for your special day?
We love Byron and really wanted that beach setting for our wedding. The Surf Club was perfect. The location is out of this world and you have a blank canvas to make it exactly how you want it. We also really wanted to have photos on the beach so this location makes that super easy to do without leaving your guests for too long.

What style were you striving for with your table settings, florals and reception? Was there a certain look or vibe that you wanted to create?
We wanted something laid back and fresh with a rustic / boho vibe. The table settings were mismatched jars with local, in season flowers. I love baby’s breath so that featured heavily as well as lots of candles as we wanted the night to twinkle. The driftwood arbour and plants lent themselves to the rustic vibe. We just didn’t want it to look too heavily styled and “perfect” – just perfect for us.

Were there any vendors that you particularly loved working with and why?
Everyone we worked with was excellent – Byron Bay Weddings made our life so much easier in terms of planning and certainly on the day.

Bower Botanicals were amazing and understood exactly the look we wanted. The cake from Let Them Eat Cake was delicious! Byron Bay Wedding Hair Co. made my bridesmaids and I look amazing, and they were so great to hang out with on the morning of the wedding. A heap of fun and so talented. Talitha Mitchell our celebrant was so amazingly awesome. She was fantastic from day one and on the day she made our ceremony so very special and so unique to us – we laughed and cried, and will remember it forever!

Forever Kombis were the best way to arrive in style and so friendly, making the experience so fun. Last but not least, Shane Shepherd our photographer. The second we met Shane we knew he was the one and the photos speak for themselves, we couldn’t be any happier. Shane listened to what we wanted and over delivered. He is also the coolest guy to have around for the day at your wedding.

Overall, what was your most favourite part of your wedding day and why?
This is too hard because from the second we got up to the second we got home it was all so wonderful. It sounds so cheesy but it really was the best day of our lives and to share it with our closest friends and family was amazing. If I had to choose, I would say our favourite part was the ceremony. It was so special to stand in front of everyone and make our vows. Talitha made the whole thing so personal and so much fun, everyone laughed and I think everyone had a cry!

Kerry & Matt

Suppliers
Venue: Byron Bay Surf Club // Hair: Byron Bay Wedding Hair Co  // Celebrant: The Byron Bay Wedding Celebrant // Photographer: Shane Shepherd Weddings // Cake: Let Them Eat Cake // Florist: Bower Botanicals // Catering: Feast Events // Music: Squeak Lemaire // Lighting & Audio:  Byron Audio // Stationery: Deer Daisy // Transport: Forever Kombis // Furniture & Styling: The Wedding Shed // Planning & Coordination: Byron Bay Weddings