Real Bride

#EnzoaniRealBride Hannah + Jake

Simple. Intimate. Romantic.

"Simple yet heartfelt - we focused on expressing our love for each other rather than the bells and whistles." - Hannah.

And that my friends, is exactly what Hannah and Jake did. Friends and family were able to celebrate their love at the Heide Museum in a beautiful outdoor ceremony. This couple's wedding favours were by far the most interesting we've seen giving their guests an insight of how this couple rolls!

Featured Above: Junko | Blue by Enzoani

Jake and I met a few years prior to our first date while he was already in a relationship. We played in the same volleyball centre (he also worked there) and I would just make the occasional flirty comment to him when I got the chance. I didn't even know his name.

Featured Above: Junko | Blue by Enzoani

I went overseas and a few years later returned to Perth and started playing volleyball again. Remembering my flirtatious nature, and him now being single, added me on Facebook (I know, not so romantic) and struck up a conversation which led to us going on a date. I went in with fairly low expectations - I had a string of lousy dates in the months prior and didn't want to be disappointed. However, he was very approachable, open, honest and sweet. We hit it off immediately and spent all night talking with a nice kiss shared at the end of the night. Our first weeks of dating were a dream - he was so thoughtful and romantic, we realised we shared all of the same values and enjoyed many of the same things, and couldn't fault each other. Within 1 month we had fallen madly in love. I remember so clearly the day I realised. He had stayed the night and I was itching for him to leave so I could enjoy some 'me time' but as soon as he left I wanted him to come back.

Featured Above: Junko | Blue by Enzoani

Five months later we moved to Melbourne together to embark on a new adventure a bit closer to my family and closer to his other true love - AFL (Australian Football League). After about 3.5 years, we went back to Perth for a holiday when Jake decided to take me on a date. He isn't usually the 'planned' date type - so I had my suspicions when he asked me about 7 times not to make any other plans. He organised a lovely night which was a treasure hunt with rhyming clues on burnt-edged scrolls leading me to a range of special places across the city - where we first met, had our first date, first kissed, and where he first told me he loved me. The final clue, of course, led to him getting on one knee and proposing - and of course, there was no hesitation. Within a year we had set the wedding date and entered the choppy waters of wedding planning.

Featured Above: Junko | Blue by Enzoani

We got a lot of advice but really did it our way. Our main priority was to make each other happy and not to do anything that would compromise our relationship or happiness in the lead-up. After all, we were doing this to make us stronger, not to make us argue! We chose a simple theme which was reflected in our casual style - a nice outdoor ceremony in a garden with the reception in a local cafe with mounds of Middle Eastern food to share.

Featured Above: Junko | Blue by Enzoani

The biggest focus of the day - rather than bells and whistles - was to showcase our love for each other. Our ceremony was short but our vows were the longest part. This was our day to tell everyone why we love each other so much and we wanted it to be very personal. We got a lot of compliments on this and will be very memorable to all who attended.

Featured Above: Junko | Blue by Enzoani

We also steered away from cliché wedding things, had a club DJ, had men in my bridal party, didn't have centrepieces, had sticks of connoisseur ice creams come out at night, and a number of homemade props in our photo booth. Everything just oozed 'us' and we didn't regret any of it. Because of this, everyone also had so much fun!

Featured Above: Junko | Blue by Enzoani

We are now happily married and have bought our first house, have never had a serious argument and still say 'I love you' at least 10 times a day. We love each other more and more each day and wouldn't change a thing. For everyone who says that love, attraction and romance fade with the years, I'd have to disagree. We work to acknowledge each other and do nice things daily, as well as communicate very freely. I greet him and say goodbye just as I did 5 years ago, and care for him more and more every day. Things with him are just so 'easy', so I recommend to anyone in doubt not to settle for anything less than they deserve.

Featured Above: Junko | Blue by Enzoani

Instead of the usual bonbonniere or wedding favour, I had a crazy idea that was a bit silly and very personal that I thought would be funny. It wasn't until execution that I realised it was a bit harder than I first thought! We decided to make everyone a personalised pair of underwear which would double as our place cards. The underwear had our faces printed on the crotch, photoshopped on to a cartoon wedding couple with our wedding date. We had a range of granny panties, jock straps, G-strings and briefs in a range of sizes. I didn't realise how hard it would be to find that many pairs of white underwear!

Featured Above: Junko | Blue by Enzoani

Although ironing them on by hand for hours was painful, it was SO worth the response and everyone thought it was hilarious. Again, this was very much a personal touch that reflected us. The photos of people wearing them in the days following were almost as good as seeing them on the dance floor!

The Dress

My friends know I hate shopping - I avoid it like the plague. When it came to finding a dress, I booked a solo appointment at a dress shop that my cousin recommended to me. This was my first fitting and I thought I knew what I wanted.

Featured Above: Junko | Blue by Enzoani

I was on a mission - within 5 minutes I had chosen a few off the rack, including other Enzoani dresses. 10 minutes later I had tried them all on, most of which didn't even make it past my knees without me knowing it wasn't for me.

Featured Above: Junko | Blue by Enzoani

Sensing my disappointment, the shop assistant brought in a dress she thought might suit me. I didn't have the heart to tell her I didn't like it, so I agreed to try it on. I was so shocked when I actually didn't mind what I was looking at in the mirror, especially seeing as I didn't like the ones I had selected! At the time, the idea of not having to go shopping anywhere else was so enticing, along with the fact that the dress was on sale!

Featured Above: Junko | Blue by Enzoani

So, without a second opinion, I said yes. It actually wasn't until a bit later I really fell in love with the dress, and now I tell everyone I know to try everything on because you don't know what you will like until you try it!