Mountains, wombats and snow: Inside Luca and Jaii’s Tasmania wedding

“I had always planned on making my wedding dress and it’s become my biggest project to date.”

Here at Fashion Journal, we make no secret of our love of weddings. We’re suckers for a bit of romance and have a soft spot for weddings that do things differently, whether it’s a Las Vegas elopement, a tropical getaway or a Town Hall celebration.

Luca first met her now-husband, Jaii Furlong, when they were both kids. “We stayed close until we were 18 and realised that over the years, we had fallen deeply in love,” she says. From there, the couple spent their twenties travelling and it was on a road trip to central Queensland fossicking with friends that Jaii found the sapphire he’d later turn into Luca’s engagement ring.

“We travelled with family across the Middle East and after exploring for a couple of weeks, Jaii surprised me on a hike to the top of Masada overlooking the Dead Sea,” Luca says. Jaii cast the green sapphire in white gold with the help of Melbourne jeweller, The Line of Sun.

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The couple chose to celebrate their nuptials underneath Mount Roland in Tasmania. “We didn’t actually know if all our family and friends would be able to come but everyone made the trek down to Tassie.”

For her wedding dress, Luca leaned on her background in fashion and decided to design and sew both her own and her bridesmaids’ dresses. Her first look was backless, with flared sleeves and a train, while her second dress was a redesign of her mum’s. “With her permission, I cut into her dress and completely redesigned the corset with a scoop neckline and long spaghetti bow straps. I kept her original skirt, trimming off and hemming the train.”

From her dress to the ceremony itself, both Luca and Jaii’s families played a central role in their wedding. Luca’s uncle played the song she walked down the aisle to, Jaii’s sister was in charge of their flowers and their marriage celebrants were Luca’s grandfather and Jaii’s mother. “We love our family dearly and hold them close forever.”

Fashion Journal: How did you meet Jaii, and how did the proposal happen?

Luca: I met Jaii when we were just kids. My auntie, who I grew up with, knew Jaii’s family and thought we’d get along because we’re both creative. Jaii was into shaping skateboards and I used to embroider and sew T-shirts. After an awkward introduction, we quickly became best friends. We stayed close until we were 18 and realised that over the years, we had fallen deeply in love.

In our early twenties, we travelled a bit, including a road trip with some close friends out to central Queensland. We had planned a fossicking trip to search for sapphires. We camped out, searching high and low over a week or so and managed to find a handful of gems and sapphires. Jaii found a large one that he showed me, although he ended up hiding it and I didn’t see it until a year and a bit later when Jaii decided to pop the question.

We travelled with family across the Middle East and after exploring for a couple of weeks, Jaii surprised me on a hike to the top of Masada overlooking the Dead Sea. He designed the ring around the green sapphire that he found, had it cast in white gold by The Line of Sun, and tucked it away in a wooden box until he asked me to marry him. My engagement ring will always be one of my most treasured gifts.

What venue did you choose for your wedding and why?

Our ceremony location was underneath Mount Roland in Tasmania. We were married in a little field, across from the northern face of the mountain. Our dream was an to be married under Cradle Mountain but we had to pivot so that we could be surrounded by everyone we loved. Under these mountains we sealed our promise forever. Our reception was a spot some locals told us about on a previous visit to Tasmania, called Mount Gnomon Farm. Guy, the owner of the farm, was the most perfect host in every way.

Was it a big or intimate wedding? 

We always knew we wanted our family and closest friends to be a part of such a special day. Even though we wanted an intimate wedding we still had 60 people. We didn’t actually know if all our family and friends would be able to come but everyone made the trek down to Tassie. Our wedding invites were made from sheer ivory silk, sewn to a pressed flower and paper card. I hand embroidered them one by one, each writing out the question, ‘Meet us under the mountain?’.

You custom-made yours and your bridesmaid’s dresses. Can you tell me about what this process involved?

Since I was a little girl, I have sewn toys and clothes for myself and the ones I love. Eventually, I made my way into the fashion industry. I had always planned on making my wedding dress and it’s become my biggest project to date. I ended up sewing and designing each of my bridesmaid’s dresses, as well as two different wedding dresses for myself.

I sourced fabric from The Fabric Store in Brisbane where I work, and from online textile stores, as well as from a friend who sews bridal dresses. I also had a close friend, Maddi Goodridge, pattern make my first dress as I needed to outsource due to my poor time management skills.

My first wedding dress was 100 per cent silk sand wash satin, about eight metres to be exact. I wanted something with sleeves that were both fitted and flared, as I knew it would be cold in Tasmania, but I also loved a backless look with a train. I sketched this up and changed things more and more as it came to life.

My second dress was inspired by my mums wedding dress. She had a corset and big skirt with a large train. With her permission I cut into her dress and completely redesigned the corset with a scoop neckline and long spaghetti bow straps. I kept her original skirt, trimming off and hemming the train. I added an over skirt to match the corset. The morning of the wedding day I was still punching the eyelets for the corset but it turned out so beautiful.

I gave my bridesmaid’s the freedom to choose whatever design they wanted. I bought a bolt of chocolate brown deadstock viscose satin to use. My maid of honour Ash wanted a drop waist corset with a full skirt and draped scarf . My next bridesmaid Courtney wanted a strapless backless slip style and Asha my sister-in-law to be wanted a slip style that would be comfortable. I had lots of fun sewing all their dresses.

What about Jaii’s outfit?

I wanted Jaii to have a similar experience to me by having something designed for him. He’s always been interested in the detail and craft of clothing. After meeting with a couple of tailors and not loving the experience, he found a label he really aligned with had recently opened up shop close to us. P.Johnson was the perfect fit.

We both went to the first appointment where Jaii got to choose fabrics and try on different styles they offered, although he had a vision. Jaii went with a dark chocolate wool suit with wide leg pants, a seersucker undershirt styled with an open collar over the suit, giving it a very ’70s flare and of course his Frye motorcycle boots. His ring was designed by both of us and cast locally by Slow Burn Jewellery. The signet ring included two Sapphires we had fossicked to match my ring on that same road trip.

What kind of beauty and hair look did you go for on the day?

I wanted something effortless and natural for my wedding look. Fortunately my mum is a hairdresser. It was really lovely to have my mum do my hair as well as my bridesmaid’s hair. Makeup was done by a local makeup artist named Ally. Everyone chose their own style – I wanted my girls to feel comfortable and confident which meant I had some in Doc Martin’s and some in heels.

I sourced a pair of white Maison Margiela tabis for our big day, something I had always dreamed of having in my wardrobe. For jewellery, I kept on all my silver handmade rings and added some drop pearl earrings that Jaii’s sister bought me. I wore a Le Labo perfume we bought when we first got engaged and it’s now a scent that brings us back to such special moments. Jaii wore a scent called ‘Tasmania‘ from Gentle Habits. I think sensations like smell are equally as important as the feel of fabric or the taste of food and wine. These small things are a nod to remind us of the day.

What did you do to celebrate after the ceremony?

Our dream of getting married under Cradle Mountain hadn’t died yet, so we ventured off with our bridal party and close friends for a little photo shoot in the beautiful mountains. After a few hiccups, the national park crew let us in. We spent hours walking around Dove Lake and the hills filled with wombats. Just as we were leaving snow began to fall! We couldn’t believe it was snowing but we were over the moon. We ran outside to enjoy the splendour, keeping close to stay warm.

What kind of food and entertainment did you have on the day? And how did you choose the cake?

We had the most tasty farm-to-table dinner plated up for us on the night. Most (if not all) of the produce was directly from Mount Gnomon farm. A banquet mix of lamb and pork was paired with roasted pumpkin, potato, fresh winter veggies and house made drinks. We wanted the night to feel like a warm family dinner, so all the food was set down a single row of tables and lit with silver candelabras. We shared our thoughts, food and treasures through the night with our nearest and dearest.

Tell us about the photography – how did you capture the event?

Bibi from Runaway Hearts shot our entire wedding day on 35mm film. She was so lovely, with an unmatched eye and knew exactly what we wanted. We couldn’t have asked for a better photographer and someone who was up for the adventure.

Did you have any other fun or unique quirks about your wedding?

Our wedding day felt like the fruit of our families coming together in one basket – from the dresses I made and my mum’s hair styling, to the song I walked down the aisle to, which was played by my talented uncle (who learned French just so he could sing it). We also decided to make my grandfather and mother-in-law our marriage celebrants Jaii’s sister did our flowers, and my aunty, who first introduced us, was our witness. We love our family dearly and hold them close forever.

Keep up with Luca here.