GRACE + NICK - Breathtaking Ballroom

Grace and Nick's wedding was held in one Melbourne's most charming of venues, The George Ballroom.    Nestled in the heart of St Kilda, the heritage-listed ballroom exudes a timeless charm, capable of transporting guests to a centuries-old European palace the moment they step inside.

With its polished timber floors, ornate ceilings, distressed walls, and well-considered lighting, The George Ballroom is a masterpiece of restoration - a credit to the hard work of Damm Fine Food Co, who also manage the venue. Every detail of the space speaks to its rich history, while also providing a breathtaking backdrop for modern celebrations.

On Grace and Nick’s wedding day, the ballroom's inherent beauty was elevated to new heights, thanks to the creative talents of Wild Flos and Poni Studio. Known for their ability to transform spaces into works of art, the teams curated a ceremony setting that was nothing short of exquisite. Hydrangeas and roses in shades of blue and cream, carefully arranged alongside an abundance of candles, helped to create a serene and romantic atmosphere, while rows of perfectly placed ghost chairs gave a sense of formality.

Capturing every moment of this extraordinary celebration was the talented team from Lost In Love Photography. Their ability to immortalise the elegance and beauty of weddings is nothing short of exceptional.

Grace looked so very elegant in her Sassi Holford gown as she entered the ballroom alongside her proud parents.  While Hey Jack performed Adele’s Make You Feel My Love, her parents lifted her veil, embraced her and then smiled as she took Nick’s arm and walked the remaining steps of the processional.

After carefully arranging Grace’s cathedral-length veil, I took my place alongside her attendants and shared a few light-hearted relationship stories. I also highlighted a few of the personal qualities she and Nick bring to their partnership.

Vows and rings were exchanged and then, to an almighty cheer, the newlyweds sealed their status with a kiss.

Guests saved their congratulations and ventured across the road to LOLA St Kilda for drinks and canapes while the room was reimagined with the same meticulous attention to detail.

Grace and Nick, your wedding was a perfect blend of timeless elegance and modern sophistication, a day where every element came together to create a truly beautiful experience.

Thanks for inviting me into your lives to prepare and present your ceremony… and for the many laughs shared along the way. What a wonderful ride.

---

LOVE NOTE

“…Sally is such a beautiful, humorous, genuine and captivating celebrant. Sally ensured the entire process from start to finish was seamless, and her communication is second to none.

She has the ability to engage the audience whilst simultaneously putting her couples at ease. The delivery in her ceremonies is unmatched. Sally is beyond what we could have hoped for in a celebrant.”

— Grace + Nick

Celebrant: Sally Hughes // Photographer: Lost In Love Photography // Venue: The George Ballroom // Venue Management & Design: Damm Fine Food Co // Floral Design: Wild Flos // Planner & Stylist: Poni Studio // Videographer: Luca Zarik Films // Music: Hey Jack // Grace’s dress: Blue Bell Bridal & Sassi Holford // Nick’s suit: MJ Bale // Make up: Maddi Nichols // Hair: Hair by Caroline // Jewellery: Anton Jewellery

Melbourne's Best Micro Wedding Venues

By Sally Hughes, Melbourne Marriage Celebrant

Are you planning a small wedding, otherwise known as a micro wedding?  

If you intend to marry before a small number of guests (twenty or fewer) and host a celebratory lunch or dinner in a private setting afterwards, then yes, you’re planning a micro wedding.

Increasingly, couples are looking to marry and celebrate in intimate settings and very often, they look to me to recommend an aesthetically-pleasing venue with private ceremony and dining areas, delicious food, an extensive wine list and excellent service.   Here are my recommendations.

- City -

Chancery Lane

Garden State Hotel - Balcony Dining Room

Julieanne Perara Photography

Melbourne Supper Club 

Society - The Green Room

Vue de Monde

W Melbourne 

- Inner East -

Entrecote - Le Salon Prive

James Said (Armadale)

- By the Bay -

Stokehouse - Cellar Room or Palm Room (St Kilda)

Trinity St Kilda (St Kilda)

- South East -

San Lorenzo - Sala Privata (Scoresby)

- Inner North / North East -

Aunty Kim’s (Collingwood)

Chapel 1885 (Collingwood)

Cutler & Co (Fitzroy)

Molly Rose (Collingwood)

Post Office Hotel (Coburg)

Rupert on Rupert (Collingwood)

- Outer North -

Farm Vigano (South Morang)

- Yarra Valley -

Fergusson Restaurant & Winery (Yarra Glen)

Fondata 1872 - Wellers Room (Kangaroo Ground)

Harriett at Hubert Estate (Coldstream)

Levantine Room - Levant Room (Coldstream)

Re’em (Gruyere)

Michael Briggs Photography

Rochford Wines (Coldstream)

Stones of the Yarra Valley - The Stables (Coldstream)

Zonzo Estate - The Stables (Yarra Glen)

- Dandenong Ranges -

Ethan Gallery Photography

Avalon Castle (Cockatoo)

Need a marriage celebrant for your micro wedding?

JULIA + KIT - Midweek Micro

By Sally Hughes, Melbourne Marriage Celebrant

When Julia and Kit shared their vision for their wedding with me, it was clear: they wanted a relaxed and joyous gathering where family could come together, enjoy good wine, delicious food, and lots of laughter. Their wish was for a celebration that truly embodied the spirit of Melbourne, and I couldn't have been more excited.

On a sunny Wednesday afternoon in Autumn, Julia and Kit and about twenty of their nearest and dearest gathered at the Melbourne Supper Club to enjoy wine, canapes and lively conversation. About half an hour later, as the final song in their pre-ceremony set played, I invited guests to replenish their glasses and gather near while Julia and Kit took their places before the iconic arched window.

Julia and Kit chose a micro ceremony, preferring not to delve deeply into the story of their relationship. However, they did allow me to share a few significant and amusing moments, which helped create a ceremony that was both personal and interactive, mirroring their easy-going and sociable natures.

What truly stood out during the ceremony was the range of emotions that swept through the intimate gathering. There was an overwhelming sense of happiness, but also deeply moving moments that highlighted the love and connection within this small group.

After heartfelt and humorous vows were exchanged, Julia and Kit’s scene-stealing son kept the laughs rolling with some off-the-cuff commentary and his unique style of ring presentation.

Julia and Kit were keen to include a further three children in their ceremony. When we discussed their ages and comfort levels I suggested that they be the ones to declare them married. I was confident that it would add a sweet and memorable touch to the proceedings.

Though I was ready to step in if needed, I knew after my pre-ceremony pep-talk that they’d nail it. They did.

After one of the funniest certificate signing sessions I’ve ever known (awesome banter Leanne and Leigh!), I closed the ceremony with a toast to the newlyweds.

As their guests refilled their champagne glasses (their celebrant included), Julia and Kit took to the streets of Melbourne for a photo session with the talented Julieanne Perara. They later rejoined their adult guests for a long lunch, their favourite pastime, bringing a perfect end to a perfect day.

Reflecting on Julia and Kit's wedding, I'm reminded of why I love being a celebrant. Their day was a beautiful blend of love, laughter, and genuine connection—a true celebration of family and togetherness in the heart of Melbourne.

Congratulations Julia and Kit. What a joyous and heartfelt celebration that was. Thank you for placing your trust in me to prepare and present your ceremony. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with you and your lovely family. xx

---

LOVE NOTE

“Sally is an exceptional Celebrant. She is engaging, funny, warm and thoroughly organised. She made sure that all the admin happened seamlessly in the background which took a lot of pressure off us and was greatly appreciated. ⁠⁠

Where her real value lies, though, is in the personal touch she offers and the ways she helped us plan and run our ceremony. She has a wealth of information available that helped us with our vows, and the order of ceremony - as well as great recommendations for photographers, florists and other service providers which we used. ⁠⁠She also helped with practical, logistical things such as furniture placement, where to stand and how to best put on our rings to ensure the best photos, patiently coaching the kids involved in our ceremony on their roles and lines… it really felt like she went way above and beyond expectations to ensure the day went exactly as we wanted it to. ⁠⁠

She then delivered the most heartwarming, humorous and fun ceremony we could have hoped for. She was warm without being cheesy, funny without stealing the show, flexible and adaptable and a lot of fun. She even went so far as to dress so as to match our autumnal theme.

⁠⁠We feel very lucky to have found Sally and don’t think there’s anyone who could have done a better job of making our day so perfect. ⁠⁠Thank you Sally, we are forever grateful.”

— Julia & Kit

---

Celebrant: Sally Hughes // Photographer: Julieanne Perara Photography // Venue: Melbourne Supper Club, Managed by Spring Street Events // Julia’s Outfit: Scanlan Theodore // Julia’s bag: Kit’s Suit: Calibre // Flowers: The Road Stall

ASH + VINNIE - Party Vibes and Laughter

By Sally Hughes, Melbourne Marriage Celebrant

It was just a typical Saturday in 2014 when eighteen-year-old Ash finished her shift at Max’s Burger Bar in Montmorency and made her way to the Perseverance Hotel in Fitzroy.

Vinnie, then twenty-one and at his physical peak, had spent the day playing for the Fitzroy thirds, accruing thirty and three from the car park…. (I didn’t fact-check that statement). He too, made his way to the Persa, unaware that life as he had known it was about to change forever.

And that’s because upon arriving, he was introduced to Ash and her bestie.  Within minutes, he bought them a round of vodka raspberries… the first of four… and did his best to impress. Whether it was his killer smile or his chocolate and red wine-stained shirt, Ash can’t be sure, but Vinnie did make a strong first impression.  

An exchange of witty repartee ensued, as did a stint on the dancefloor (whereupon Ash exhibited a dance style that can be best described as “breaking through a pack”) and then, to the highly sentimental soundtrack that is Mr Brightside, they shared their first kiss.   When their evening came to a close, they parted ways on Brunswick Street with new contacts saved in their respective iPhone 4’s.

A decade later, Ash and her Vinnie were married on the top floor of The Craft & Co; a light-filled urban industrial brewery, distillery and event space in Collingwood.

Their ceremony brief was enticingly simple; “Party vibes and laughter”, so needless to say, I couldn’t have been more excited to get to work on their script. As one of the most affable couples on the planet, I knew they’d let me push their brief as far as I could. They answered my many questions with playful humour and allowed me to play to the crowd on the day.

Guests arrived to welcome drinks, DJ Dani Smarrelli playing Ash and Vinnie’s favourite tunes and a particularly excited Celebrant (because Ash is my niece).⁠

The energy in that space was palpable. When I invited Vinnie and his Groomsmen to take their places at the top of the aisle, Vinnie’s cheer squad roared, at which point it was clear to me that the scene for an interactive ceremony had been well and truly set.

But for all the pre-ceremony excitement that filled the space, it was Ash’s entrance that proved most powerful. She caught us all by surprise when emotion took hold and her eyes welled with tears. The touching moment had many of us reaching for our tissues. It was the first of a few.

As their processional song Simply The Best drew to a close, Vinnie led Ash to stand with their wedding party.

From thereon, we laughed and laughed as I roasted… err… introduced their wedding crew, acknowledged their much-loved parents and shared a little of their relationship story.

The mood took a sentimental turn as vows were exchanged - though Vinnie did weave a fair few hilarious insights into their relationship into his. They landed VERY well.

Ring Bearer and North Melbourne AFLW celebrity Kane drew the loudest applause of any Ring Bearer I’ve ever introduced. He was a definite crowd favourite.

And then they kissed, signed their certificates and allowed their sentimental celebrant to have a moment.

The newlyweds strutted down the aisle to an almighty cheer, hugged their loved ones and then followed photographer Jerome Cole outside for a stroll along Smith Street.

A nod to the North Melbourne AFLW Football Club in the form of a blue and white Kombi van. Ash is a midfielder and Vinnie, a strength and conditioning manager. Pretty clever, huh?

While guests were seated in the reception area, Ash and Vinnie spent a private moment rehearsing their first dance.

Speeches, espresso martinis, love and laughter.

A quick costume change and then over to the dance floor to entertain the crowd.

Ash and Vinnie, you fit, funny and altogether fabulous couple!

Thanks so much for inviting me to celebrate your marriage with you and congratulations on cementing the Ash and V-man duo with the likes of Romeo and Juliet, Barbie and Ken and Stuey Dew and grand final third quarters. (See what I did there, Vin?)

---

“Sal, you’re an amazing celebrant! You went above and beyond to give us the most enjoyable and stress-free experience imaginable.

You were organised from the beginning and very easy to communicate with throughout and we’re so grateful to you for giving us so many wedding tips and supplier recommendations along the way - which saved us so much time and expense.

Your ability to entertain our guests with clever humour and confident delivery and your sensitivity in knowing when to pull back and allow sentimental moments to play out was masterful.

We are so grateful Sal. You’re the best celebrant ever!”

— Ash & Vinnie

Celebrant: Sally Hughes // Photographer: Jerome Cole // Flowers: Babylon Flowers // Venue: The Craft & Co Collingwood // Videographer: Kate Newlyn Videography // DJ (ceremony and reception): Logan Entertainment // Ash’s dress: Made With Love Bridal // Suits: P Johnson Tailors // Bridesmaids’ dresses: Bridesmaids Only // Hair and make up: Magical Makeovers // Transport: Kombi Haus

Follow me on Instagram