On a beautiful autumn day, Ry and Louie celebrated their dream wedding on the spectacular beachfront, at the Byron Bay Surf Club. Having both grown up by the beach, the Byron Bay Surf Club was the perfect venue to turn their ultimate boho-styled wedding vision into reality. After a heartfelt ceremony, they enjoyed cocktails and canapes with their nearest and dearest on the deck until the sunset turned the sky into a multitude of colours, resulting in the most stunning bridal photos. For their reception, they moved inside the event hall for an intimate dinner and danced the night away to their favourite tunes. Read on to relive Ry and Louie’s perfect wedding day..
Tell us about your story, how did you both meet?
We met on Tinder in 2015. We planned numerous ‘dates’ to meet, but being the chicken I was, I bailed on him every time or came up with every excuse under the sun! I ran out of excuses months later and finally caved to meet him. I probably did the one thing everyone says not to do on the first Tinder date ‘invite them over’. My housemate was going out in the city, so we made a plan to drive her and if I got any ‘weirdo’ vibes, she was going to make up an excuse for me to come back 5 minutes later. But I instantly felt okay! My housemate got out of the car and said, “Thanks Ry, see you later” and closed the door. Louie sighed with relief and said, “oh I’m so glad she said your name ’cause I had no idea how to pronounce it”!
How did the proposal happen?
It was the week before my graduation ceremony. We were living in Lake Tyers Beach with my family at the time and Louie decided to take me away for the weekend. He told me he had the trip sorted as a surprise. The night before we were leaving, Louie handed me my first clue to ‘find out where we were going’. I had to be ready by 8am, wear something nice and had a $50 note attached. He told me I was going out for breakfast and to not ask questions. So, I didn’t ask questions. It wasn’t unusual for Louie to surprise me, as throughout our whole relationship he always planned surprises and secret nights out/getaways, so to me, this was just him being the sweet boyfriend he was.
The next morning, I was dressed and ready, I got a knock on the door and my good friend Elise, and her partner showed up to take me out for breakfast to celebrate ‘my graduation’. Louie didn’t come. We went for breakfast and they told me that I would get my next clue when I got to the next location.
When I had to take a short walk along the jetty first, things started to get suspicious. Elise pulled up at the beach car park in front of the tavern that my dad owned. She told me Louie was waiting with the next clue on the beach. When I saw him on the beach, he had a rug, beautiful boho pillows and a bag set up. He was dressed beautifully – but again, being an oblivious blonde, it didn’t click on. Louie handed me my ‘graduation present’. A go-pro hero 8, numerous gift cards for flights, Peter Alexander, etc. I was so overwhelmed by the gifts.
We were going to Bali for New Year’s Eve with our good friends, and we had spoken about wanting a go-pro for our trip! Louie insisted on turning the go-pro on to capture our date and ‘check out the quality’. He then pulled out the second clue which appeared to be a letter and said he would open it for me. Within seconds and before I could even adjust to what was happening, Louie pulled me into a standing position, handed me our very first polaroid picture together that he had kept with the words ‘Will you marry me?’ on it. He was down on one knee and I immediately started crying. I threw the go-pro and blubbered out a definite YES!
What were the reasons for choosing the Byron Bay Surf Club as the wedding venue for your special day?
After both growing up by the beach, we couldn’t imagine ourselves getting married with any other backdrop! We absolutely loved holidaying in Byron together, so it was the perfect spot for us to start our next chapter together. We wanted somewhere affordable, relaxed, by the beach and with flexibility for styling and getting creative in a blank space. The Byron Bay Surf Club exceeded all expectations for us! It was perfect!
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 were really drawn to boho, earthy, natural tones, with a pop of peach and terracotta. I’ve always had a passion for styling and getting creative! I loved styling our wedding with the support of our Wedding Planner Carlie from Byron Bay Weddings. I wanted to create a fun, minimal, coastal, boho vibe that reflected us as a couple. Em from Flwr Studio was so incredible to work with to bring this vision to life with the most perfect florals. The Wedding Shed had all my dream wedding styling items and were amazing to deal with!
After styling our wedding, I have since launched my own Bespoke Wedding Styling business! Her Moon & Stars has taken off in Victoria and is based around the colour tones and style of our wedding. I have found my passion in styling and I am so excited for this next adventure.
Were there any wedding suppliers that you particularly loved working with and why?
Honestly, we can’t pick just one!! Every single one of our suppliers was INCREDIBLE!!! We honestly had a dream team! They all complemented Louie & I so well, and not only did incredible work, but were an amazing presence to have with us on the day.
Our celebrant Rachel from The Lady Who Weds, just blew us away. Kept our ceremony light-hearted, sentimental, relaxed and fun.
Our photographer, Jayde Creative Co, aligned with our style PERFECTLY! She went out of her way to support and capture our vision for the day.
Our videographer Lachy Films, WOW! What an energy! He was a ball of fun to have on the day! Capturing our day in such a fun and unique way, bringing in our love for retro/vintage vibes with a Super 8 film camera.
My make up artist, Xenia Elise, the sweetest of souls and made myself and the bride tribe feel incredible.
Hair Stylist, Sinead Marian Hair, brought my vision of relaxed, beachy vibes to life. She was such a lovely presence to have on the day.
The Bridal Atelier girls in Melbourne were amazing! They helped me choose my DREAM Rue De Seine dress & left me feeling like a QUEEN!
Timothy Wolf from Little Wolf Entertainment. A very good friend and talented musician; travelled all the way from VIC & went above and beyond to make our day so special. He set the most beautiful atmosphere for the afternoon. So special to have one of our best mates sing me down the aisle. Then himself and Robert Edwards produced some banger tunes & kept the dance floor pumping for the whole night of boogying!
Byron Bay Weddings; a massive thank you to you guys who ensured we didn’t have to worry about a thing on the day and helped bring our vision to life, especially Carlie (wedding planner)!
The beautiful Flwr Studio brought our venue floral vision! And the lovely Pipers Natives created my dream bouquets.
Fig Tree Catering was INSANE! The food was phenomenal.
Hire A Kombi Byron Bay – we booked the day before the wedding and we are SO glad we did. Set the mood for the day and despite it being last minute, was incredibly supportive and made our day amazing!
We left feeling like we had gained a whole new group of friends with all our suppliers; they were all absolutely AMAZING!
Tell us what were the most important aspects of your wedding day and which moments really stood out to you?
Our favourite part of the day was right on sunset; there wasn’t a breath of wind, the sky was lit up with blush and peachy tones and all our favourite people were there to celebrate us (with an amaretto sour in hand).
Ry was really close with her nan, who sadly passed away just before the wedding. But, they had always been connected through the moon with daily exchanges of ‘love you to the moon & back’ and a crescent moon tattoo on her ankle to represent her Nanna Pat.
Just before the ceremony started at 2pm, a PERFECT crescent moon appeared in the sky above the Surf Club deck. We now have such special images with the moon on such a special day.
The whole day was an absolute dream and we are still pinching ourselves that our dream wedding came to life!
Ry & Louie xo
Suppliers
Venue: Byron Bay Surf Club // Hair: Sinead Marian Hair // Makeup: Xenia Elise // Celebrant: The Lady Who Weds // Photographer: Jayde Creative Co. // Videographer: Lachy Films // Florals: FLWR Studio // Musician: Little Wolf Entertainment // DJ: Rob Edwards Music // Cake: Byron Bay Cake Boutique // Transport: Hire A Kombi // Catering: Fig Tree Catering // Lighting: Byron Audio // Furniture & Styling: The Wedding Shed // Planning & Coordination: Byron Bay Weddings
Real Wedding // Courtney & Bird’s Forget Me Not Wedding
Nestled in a tranquil and secluded hinterland setting, Courtney & Bird celebrated their gorgeous wedding at Forget Me Not. Their vision was clear: to have a creative destination wedding, all in one picturesque location. Forget Me Not effortlessly ticked all the boxes, and felt like the perfect combination of Courtney & Bird – country & coastal.…
Real Wedding // Sasha & Roshitha’s Fig Tree Restaurant Wedding
On a magical spring day, Sasha & Rosh celebrated their dream wedding at the stunning Fig Tree Restaurant. Their celebration was a breathtaking fusion of cultures and personal style, highlighted by a heartfelt Poruwa ceremony honouring Rosh’s Sri Lankan heritage. From their days as junior doctors to a dreamy proposal in Broome, their love story…
10 Reasons to get Married at the Fig Tree Byron Bay
Choosing the perfect venue for your wedding is a pivotal decision, setting the stage for a day that will be cherished forever. The Fig Tree Restaurant, nestled in the idyllic coastal town of Byron Bay, offers many compelling reasons to consider it as your dream wedding location. With its awe-inspiring ocean views, romantic charm, gourmet…
Real Wedding // Emma & Tom’s Fig Tree Restaurant Wedding
Emma & Tom celebrated their gorgeous wedding day at the Fig Tree Restaurant on the first day of spring. Their wedding was an ode to modern minimalism and timeless elegance, flawlessly encapsulating the essence of their love and connection as a couple. Drawing inspiration from the beauty of simplicity and embracing an all-white colour palette,…
Real Wedding // Svetlana & Guy’s Earth House Wedding
Svetlana & Guy celebrated their magical wedding day at The Earth House in Byron Bay’s hinterland on a gorgeous spring day. Resonating with their vision of an intimate, relaxed, and naturally beautiful celebration, the moment Svetlana and Guy laid eyes on The Earth House, they felt an instant connection — as if the venue had…
Discover the Earth House – Byron Bay’s Iconic Hinterland Wedding Venue
Overlooking the breathtaking Nightcap Ranges, The Earth House stands as one of Byron Bay’s most iconic hinterland venues for its flawless integration of architectural innovation and stunning natural beauty. The extraordinary space is a testament to sustainable design, nestled harmoniously within the lush Byron Bay hinterland. Its organic rammed earth walls, cathedral ceiling and exposed…
The 2023 Byron Bay Wedding Fair
Celebrate the magic of our 11th annual Byron Bay Wedding Fair! On a beautiful winter day, we showcased over 70 talented suppliers and 16 premium wedding venues. The day overflowed with excitement and creativity, featuring awe-inspiring styling displays by The Wedding Shed and local florists, along with lively performances by local musicians, talented cake makers,…
Discover the Orchard Estate – One of Byron Bay’s Top Hinterland Wedding Venues
There is something truly special about the Byron Bay hinterland—the breathtaking landscape, lush rolling hills, natural surroundings, magical golden sunsets, and complete serenity. For so many reasons, the hinterland is undeniably one of our top picks as the ultimate Byron Bay wedding location. If hinterland serenity with magical views is what you have been searching…
Real Wedding // Millie & Jay’s Fig Tree Wedding
On a beautiful spring day, Millie & Jay celebrated their dream wedding at the gorgeous Fig Tree Restaurant. Millie & Jay’s heartfelt ceremony was held under the iconic fig tree and was followed by an afternoon of fabulous cocktails & canapés poolside with their nearest and dearest. With a dreamy palette of pastel florals, soft…
Real Wedding // Dani & Alex’s Fig Tree Wedding
Dani & Alex celebrated their gorgeous wedding day at the stunning Fig Tree Restaurant on a picture-perfect spring afternoon. With a romantic, elegant vibe at the heart of their styling vision, Dani – who works in the wedding industry herself, drew inspiration from some of her past brides and chose vibrant pops of colour to bring her…