Inside the wedding of Sydney-based stylist and content creator, Millie Sykes

“If you’re curious about the smaller wedding experience, I’d say follow your curiosity!”

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 are a little different, whether it’s a Las Vegas elopement or a huge, debaucherous party.

For Sydney-based content creator and stylist Millie Sykes, a small wedding was always on the cards. The lowkey event took place at the NSW Registry Office and was attended by 13 members of their immediate family.

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They opted for a playlist Millie curated herself instead of hiring entertainment and after the ceremony had “lots of laughs around a big dining table” in Il Baretto’s private dining room. “There was no feeling of obligation or being pulled in different directions like I imagine a larger affair would have required,” she tells us when reflecting on her big day. Below, Millie gives us a glimpse into her intimate but vibrant wedding.

How did you meet your partner?

As all good love stories begin – on a dance floor. A dear friend introduced us at a gig and as the night played out we couldn’t help but keep gravitating towards one another. He swiftly followed up with a slide into the DMs after we’d left!

How did the proposal happen?

As we’re long distance we’ve kind of done things a little back to front. We’d been talking of marriage for quite some time and had set a date for the day but of course, we both still wanted the Hollywood proposal moment. He took me to a waterfall and packed a picnic lunch with champagne. It was magic.

What venue did you choose for your wedding and why?

We chose to get married at the NSW Registry (basically what has traditionally been known as a courthouse wedding) and followed it with a five-course meal in the private dining room of Il Baretto with our immediate family. We really liked the idea of doing something small and intimate that would be beautiful with minimal fuss.

How many guests did you have?

Just our immediate family, so 13 in total.

Where was your dress from and what was the process of sourcing it like?

There were a few factors weighing on my dress choice. It had to be stunningly unique and iconic on a tiny budget with only one week on the clock to find it. I took a recommendation from a friend to visit Cannonball & Tilly, a vintage store in LA’s Miracle Mile and funnily enough, my eventual choice was the first and only thing I tried on in the store.

How about your shoes and accessories?

My shoes were Steve Madden and all jewellery items including my ring were designed by incredible Melbourne-based designer Underground Sundae. The final piece dé rizzizztance – my oversized bow – was custom-made by Sydney-based designer Georgia Harper. It really stole the show.

What about your partner’s outfit?

I asked my partner to describe his sourcing process and the answer was “a long struggle of trying things on and sending things back”. The eventual look was a mix of Acne, Mfpen and Cos pieces.

In terms of beauty, tell us about the look you went for on the day and your inspiration.

My darling friend Sean Brady did my makeup and honestly, I trusted him enough to just take the lead and paint away. We chatted about a few different options but I knew I’d feel incredible no matter what he did. Then my second darling friend Nina, of @extrasilky fame, took the reins on my hair which we chose to keep slick and fierce to showcase Georgia’s bow. I feel very lucky to have had so many beautiful people contribute to the final moment.

What did you do to celebrate after the wedding?

Champagne in a hotel suite at the InterContinental Double Bay, darling!

What kind of food and entertainment did you have on the day?

No entertainment, just wonderful company and lots of laughs around a big dining table. Oh, and a fabulously curated playlist by myself.

Any other special touches you’d like to share? Perhaps something sentimental or something that set your day apart?

On the other side of the experience, we’ve not stopped talking about how nice it was to have kept things small, and how much less anxiety and overwhelm we experienced consequently. There was no feeling of obligation or being pulled in different directions like I imagine a larger affair would have required. Perhaps not for everyone, but if you’re curious about the smaller wedding experience, I’d say follow your curiosity!