Chyvonne and Ash’s wedding day in the serene beauty of Acacia Ridge in Yarra Glen, Victoria was nothing short of magical. From heartfelt moments to unique touches, their celebration radiated love and authenticity.
One of the most touching highlights was Chyvonne’s 16-year-old son walking her down the aisle alongside her father, assuming the dual roles of best man and bridesman. It was a poignant symbol of family unity and the blending of past, present, and future.
As they embark on this new chapter of their lives together, their wedding day stands as a beautiful testament to love, family, and staying true to oneself.
Where did you get married?
Acacia Ridge in Yarra Glen, VIC
Why did you choose to get married at Acacia Ridge?
Just an absolutely stunning venue with a beautiful backdrop, rustic miners’ hut, recycled red brick paving, clear roof fixed marquee with fairy lights and chandeliers and adjoining vine room. Also has a great backup if it’s wet or too hot which I think is super important as you don’t want to be stressing about weather which you can’t control. We fell in love the minute we saw it!
What was the most memorable part of your wedding day?
The entire day is so emotional and whirlwind and we wish we could do it all again! For me the most memorable and special moment was having my 16yo son walk me down the aisle with my dad. He was also my best man/bridesman.
Having our friends and family together celebrating us was so special and we had so many compliments on how intimate and personal our ceremony was. My Husband would say his favorite part was the cutout cat heads I had made of our fur babies to involve them in the day. It’s ok to think out of the box and stay true to yourselves.
Chyvonne, paint us a picture. What was the theme, style, colors, and overall vibe of your wedding day?
The venue itself is stunning so we went with simple and elegant to complement it not overdo it. We also used arbour as a backdrop for the reception and used the bridesmaids bouquet for table decorations great tip to not waste them! Our tables were recycled raw timber with white chiffon runners and then random eclectic vases with some rose stems and pillar candles with gum Gartlan.
The colours were subtle with greenery, white, with pops of cappuccino and quicksand roses. My dress was more plain/simple and the bridesmaids wore black same style/design but all with variations that they were most comfortable in which I think is so important. The groomsmen were in black chinos with white shirts and a grey checked waistcoat. The groom wore a jacket to be a bit different. We had a large bridal party and although harder to coordinate you don’t want to look back on your day with regrets so I don’t think it matters how large or small it is or if it’s uneven.
The overall vibe was to be classy and elegant but with a relaxed fun vibe! We had welcome drinks, cocktail hour, and then an open bar, and after the reception finished we had bus transport that took guests to an afterparty at a bar nearby. We hired neon love letters which were a great photo prop and we had a Photo Booth with guest book which is a great keepsake and so much fun to look at!
What was your favorite part of planning your wedding?
It’s an overwhelming stressful process but I enjoyed seeing others opinions and ideas and meeting different vendors and then seeing it all come together on the day! There are no standards or rules when organizing a wedding these days so it’s ok to think outside the box.
After all, it is your personal day so go with what you want. The dress shopping was my favorite part. You often end up getting something completely different to what you had in mind.
What was the best investment you made for your wedding?
Venue and location. If a venue is beautiful then that is the canvas for your day. Check what is and what isn’t included when shopping around. I think it’s important to budget and have a spreadsheet to keep track of things as you go and my biggest advice is to not rush into things give yourself plenty of time to plan and save to have the day how you both want it. You won’t regret it!
Try and stick to doing it within your budget and stay true to yourselves. At the end of the day it doesn’t matter how fancy or simple it is…it is your day!
Is there anything you would have done differently?
I’m an overthinker so I probably stressed or second guessed myself a bit unnecessarily. Go with your gut and don’t get stuck going down rabbit holes on Instagram after you have made a decision. I would also recommend spending money on longer venue hire to make the day last longer and have more time than the standard 6 hours. An earlier ceremony would have been better. Also if you have a photographer you love even though it is a big investment go with them instead of trying to cut costs on this as it’s so important.
What was your favorite part of using WedSites for your wedding?
Was able to get all RSVPs to multiple custom questions is one place and if I needed information from any guests I could just send them an email through the website. It was so easy and helpful! You have all the information in one place and can change/update or send reminders at any time from anywhere.
Chyvonne and Ash custom designed wedding website
Wedding planning is notoriously stressful. Now that you’ve gone through the process, do you have any advice or words of wisdom for couples who are currently in the midst of planning theirs?
Don’t overthink it. You will always go back to what you originally wanted so get ideas or inspo from others but don’t let it influence what you had planned. They say it’s supposed to be fun and it is but if anyone says it’s not stressful they are lying! Communication with each other and vendors is key. Write your own vowels to add that intimate personal touch. The day is about you and everyone is there to celebrate you. If things don’t go exactly how you planned no one will notice or care so just enjoy. It will all be worth it in the end!
The amazing team of vendors involved with this wedding
Venue: Acacia Ridge Winery
Photographer: Melbourne Wedding Collective
Celebrant: Margaret Milne
Dress: Chosen by KYHA
Shoes: Badgley Mischka
Bridesmaids: Shona Joy
Groomsmen: yd. Australia
Florals: Mountain Daisy Florist
Hair: Liv Lowden Hair
Makeup: @gracekmup
Photo Booth and love letters: The Photobooth Girl | The Event Hire Girl
Second dress: Rebecca Vallance
Acoustic: Joel Quinn
DJ Sax/Trumpet: Melbourne Entertainment Company
Catering: Locavore Studio
Wedding Website: WedSites
