There are some weddings that truly take your breath away, and Kathleen + James’ modern luxe celebrations in Byron Bay is one perfect example.
Set at the French-inspired chateau of Deux Belettes (complete with vine-covered walls and cobblestone pathways), it was a picturesque backdrop for their special day. Working with a sophisticated colour palette of soft greys, crisp whites, green and black, the day was styled to complement the surroundings of the venue.
Our black bentwood chairs paired perfectly with pale grey linens and lush foliage underneath a clear marquee, with elegant gold cutlery and matte black dinnerware completing the tablescape. With an abundance of fairy lights and green canopies hanging from above, it’s safe to say this was one seriously gorgeous reception in the hinterland.
Styled by The Wedding Series and captured by Amelia Fullarton, take a look below for more beautiful images from the day as well as some words of advice from the bride and groom!
What was the feel and style of your wedding: We took much of our styling influence from the venue, and came up with the concept of a black tie garden party with a modern twist. We wanted to contrast the terracotta palette with black, white and grey colours and fresh, minimalist styling.
Where was your wedding venue and why did you choose them: Our wedding took place at Deux Belettes, a French estate nestled in the beautiful Byron Bay Hinterland. From the very first time we drove through the wrought iron gates and up the tree-lined drive, we knew it was the only venue for us. We were immediately transported to a chateau in the South of France – we couldn’t believe this place existed in Northern NSW! Meaning ‘two hearts’ in French, Deux Belettes was the first and only venue we considered. I guess you could say it was love at first sight.
Where did you purchase your dress and accessories from: Brisbane twin couturiers, Margaret & Michelle, from MXM Couture created my gown. It was a modern take on a timeless style, with a deep V-neck and plunging back and figure hugging mermaid silhouette.
The dress was embellished with symmetrical panels of a bold format French lace and finished with an intricate handbeaded trim. For the ceremony, I wore an over skirt with a 3m silk train. I loved the idea of having two looks and this also meant that I could have my big skirt moment without having to sacrifice comfort or practicality for the entire night. For the ceremony, I wore crystal cluster studs by Samantha Wills Bridal. For the reception, I changed to a larger crystal ear cuff set by Chelsea De Luca.
Who was your wedding planner/stylist and why did you choose them: Hayley Cravigan from The Wedding Series assisted with the planning and styling of our wedding from start to finish. Hayley was very familiar with Deux Belettes so she was able to guide us as far where to have the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception and also recommended suppliers. Hayley also sourced styling pieces and coordinated the entire day including the set-up and pack-down. While we were fairly hands-on with all of the planning, it simply wouldn’t have been possible to do it all without Hayley’s help.
Where did you find your inspiration for your wedding day: Like most brides, I used Pinterest and Instagram extensively to draw inspiration for our big day. In particular, I looked to Melbourne-based The Style Co. for ideas. I also spent hours reading Real Weddings on the Lane, this was especially helpful for styling inspiration and for finding suppliers.
Who was your photographer and why did you choose them: Amelia Fullarton photographed our wedding. We came across her work on Instagram and immediately fell in love. She has a unique ability to capture beautiful candid moments. Those were what we wanted to remember from our wedding so it was an easy decision for us. We did an engagement shoot with Amelia at Broken Head Beach not long after getting engaged and this was a really lovely way to meet Amelia and to feel comfortable in front of the camera in the lead up to the big day.
Who did you hire for entertainment purposes and why: We love music and found it really hard to choose just one form of entertainment… For the ceremony and cocktail hour, Daniel Stoneman and Ellen Reed (from the Voice) performed dreamy accoustic covers of our favourite songs.
For the reception, we went in search of a Spanish guitarist to pair with the European theme. Our caterer, Mon from Seaweed Cuisine, just happened to live next door to an incredibly talented Spanish guitarist who learnt his craft travelling through South America. Lue performed authentic Flamenco love songs as we feasted on the candle-lit dinner. It was so romantic.For the later hours, we brought in DJ Scradley (Brad Dymock) who played great tunes, old and new to keep everyone dancing into the night.
Who was your caterer and why did you choose them: Monique Guterres and her wonderfully team at Seaweed Cuisine catered our wedding to absolute perfection. Immediately after the reception, a selection of canapes were served on the lawn alongside a rustic antipasto table brimming with local cheeses, cured meats and homemade dips. For the reception, we feasted on a three course meal served family-style with dishes including local Bangalow Pork, Tasmanian tarator trout and Vinno Cotto beef sirloin. Guests enjoyed full bar service throughout the day and night.
Our signature cocktails were an apple cinammon martini and bitter peach bellini. In terms of wine, we chose a pinot grigio and pinot noir to match the array of flavours in the meal. We also had a champagne tower which we filled with our favourite Italian prosecco and served or the toast. For supper, we served woodfired pizzas and espresso martinis.
Who provided your cake: We had a two tiered red velvet cake layered with dark chocolate ganache and coated in white fondant icing. We were inspired by photos of minimalist white cakes with a pop of florals. Tara from Byron Bay Cake delivered on our brief perfectly and the finished product look the part and most importantly, it tasted amazing.
What were the highlights on the day: When everyone was seated in the marquee, we made our bridal party entrance to ‘Girl like you’ by Edwyn Collins. It was such a fun moment dancing our way in with everyone clapping us on!
Do you have any tips for other brides: I have so much advice I don’t even know where to start… On a practical level, I would say to create a wedding website. We personalized ours using Squarespace and used photos from our engagement shoot to fill the pages. Our invitation directed guests to visit this site to RSVP, and for other information including gifts, travel etc. The website enabled us to update guests with information closer to day and meant we didn’t have to send several different pieces with the invite, which often get lost or forgotten about.
Ceremony + Reception venue: Deux Belettes
Photographer: Amelia Fullarton
Videographer: Stefan Jose, Sail Me to The Moon
Hire: Hampton Event Hire
Entertainment: Daniel Stoneman + Ellen Reed, DJ Scradley
Wedding planner/stylist: Hayley Cravigan from The Wedding Series
Celebrant: Marg Walgers – Amoret Ceremonies
Caterer: Seaweed Cuisine
Florist: The French Petal
Cake + favours: Byron Bay Cake Boutique
Hair and makeup: Mandi from The Blush Clique
Stationery: Cass Deller
Dress: MXM Couture
Accessories: Samantha Wills Bridal + Chelsea De Luca
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