Forever By Your Side - Emily and Pierre's Glamorous Melbourne Wedding

We felt honored when B Wedding Invitations reached out to Engaged Life and asked us to share Emily Simms and Pierre Ghougassian’s best day ever on August 17, 2018. This glamorous wedding was captured so beautifully by ATEIA Photography, read on for this couple’s love story and so many dreamy pictures!

How did you and your partner meet?
Pierre and I first met at Pontoon, a trendy bar on St. Kilda beach (the old Riva). I went there with my friend Anna (one of my bridesmaids), and as soon as we walked in, she said, “oh there’s my friend Pierre at the bar!”.

How did he propose?
Pierre’s birthday is the 14th of February, Valentine’s Day, and I had arranged to take him out for dinner at The George on Collins. He suggested we get a nice photo out the front before we go in. So, we asked a nice passerby if they could please take a photo for
us. He then turned to me and proposed. The lady taking our photo, switched it to video mode, so we have both photos and videos of the gorgeous moment.

Emily got ready with her bridesmaids in a hotel room with a city view. She wore a white lace Home Bodii robe and sipped champagne while she did her makeup. Rachel Vitullo gave her long curls pinned back with a delicate silver headpiece by Jeanette Maree.

The Dress.
My gown was designed and made by Tanya Didenko Bridal Couture. She has made me stunning dresses to wear to various events over the years, so it was a no brainer that I would go to her for my wedding dress. I never tried on any wedding dress at all. I went to her with photos of different designs that I liked, and took inspiration from each of them.

The Flowers.
I told the lovely Nat from Foxy Evergreen, that I didn’t want standard flowers. I can’t stand your average old rose. I was quite specific about that. The one flower I told her I absolutely wanted was phalaenopsis orchids. All whites, soft pinks, deep pinks and lots of greenery. We couldn’t have been happier with her work.

We laughed a little reading that a previous bachelorette can’t stand roses. But think her choices were perfect. The flowers and dress were so unique and fit her bright personality and slender figure incredibly. She was stunning.

ATEIA Photography & Video - www.ATEIAphotography.com.au - Wedding Photography Melbourne

Pierre got ready with his groomsmen and father while they drank scotch whiskey and laughed frequently. Emily tells us the groomsmen’s suits were made by Remy, Pierre’s youngest brother. He owns a bespoke tailoring business in Sydney. How cool is that? We loved the classic navy with an ivory tie and pop of color in the boutonniere to match the bouquets. The groom also wore a permanent smile, excited to get to the ceremony space and see his bride for the first time!

The Ceremony.
Our ceremony was on the balcony of the Melbourne Town Hall. I loved the columns, and I found it in keeping with the style of The George Ballroom. I really wanted everything to flow nicely. We had exactly 100 guests. We wanted only our closest friends and family there. Our wedding was very bitter sweet for us. My beautiful older brother had taken his own life only 3 weeks prior to our wedding, so it was incredibly difficult, and when it first happened, I couldn’t even comprehend the thought of a wedding. But I like to think he was there, shining down on us. It was also the only day that week of really beautiful weather (for the middle of August!), and I like to think that was Michael’s doing.

Emily arrived in a Triple R vintage car, her father gently helped her out and they walked, hand in hand, down the aisle. Pierre teared up when he saw her for the first time. When she grabbed his hands they both smiled from ear to ear, beaming with love and happiness. After vows and a romantic first kiss, guests threw rose petals to celebrate Emily and Pierre, husband and wife.

The Highlight of Their Day.
The highlight of the day, was definitely when we first saw each other down the aisle, and walking down the aisle with my dear old dad. It was a beautiful moment, and one I will never forget.

After the ceremony, we get a peak at the bridesmaids dresses for the first time. And are obsessed. They were designed by Love Honor. Emily says she sent them a number of inspiration photos and they made them exactly as discussed, they fit the girls perfectly. We love the playful sleeves and sweetheart neckline. Before the reception, the newlyweds snuck off for photos and the photographer found so many incredible and diverse locations for shots. From moody pictures in the hotel corridors to a sunset walk on the lawn. Emily and Pierre looked over the moon in every one!

The Reception
Our reception was at The George Ballroom in St Kilda. The George is simply amazing. It is by far the most beautiful venue I think I have seen in Melbourne. The way they have restored it is so divine, it was the perfect setting for our wedding day. I tried to stick with a glamorous, old world sort of theme. I was adamant about there being no black, and there wasn’t any at all. Everything was white, cream, soft pinks and rich, deep pinks. The florist really outdid herself! The cutlery, the napkins, everything just worked exactly the way I had hoped it would.

Green garlands, colorful florals, blush napkins from Simmons Linen Hire, gold flatware from Gold Cutlery Hire, and ivory chivari chairs decorated each table in the incredible space. A gold mirrored welcome sign by Inktank Printing greeted family and friends and gold dipped place cards were tied around each place setting. We loved that each guest received a gold wishbone, the perfect wedding favor because it’s the gift that keeps on giving! Every little detail was simply gorgeous.

The Cake.
We chose a cake from Nikos Cakes. We went for 2 different layers, one vanilla citrus and one vanilla berry. We opted against chocolate cakes, as we had some chocolate and coffee dessert canapés. We chose the 3-tier cake, mostly because Nikos suggested that because both Pierre and I are quite tall. I wasn’t sure what difference it made, but it did look great! We had a white rendered cake, with gold foil on the bottom and top tier.

To end the night, Emily and Pierre cut their wedding cake, shared another just married kiss, and danced with their closest family and friends into the night.

Advice.
My best advice is to make sure you know what you want, before you go talking to suppliers. Scour the net, Pinterest etc, for inspo. If you don’t know exactly what you are after, then I feel this is where confusion can start to creep in, and you become unsure if you’ve chosen the right thing or not. You need to be clear and concise, so that you don’t feel disappointed on your big day. Think about yours and your partner’s taste, and try your best to emulate that on your wedding day.

Congratulations Emily and Pierre!! We wish you a lifetime of stunning sunsets, date nights at The George, and enchanted orchids!! XOXO