Inside the Hotel Windsor wedding of Melbourne book blogger Olivia Friend

“The only thing I was fussy about was the photography. I knew I wanted everything shot on Super8 and 35mm film.”

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 or a tropical destination celebration.

Melbourne-based book blogger, Olivia Friend (@oloffffy), first met her husband, Brendan, in high school. Though they were in the same social circles, it wasn’t until years later the two reconnected. While on holiday in the US, Brendan proposed during a hike in Yosemite National Park. “I was completely caught off guard and to this day I can’t believe he proposed to me while I was wearing a beanie,” Olivia says. “But it was perfect.”

Looking for more thought-provoking reads? Try our Life section.

When it came to planning their wedding, Olivia and Brendan wanted the day to be low-key and unfussy. “The thought of putting together a wedding was not appealing to me in the slightest,” Olivia shares. Instead, the two chose to elope at The Hotel Windsor, a Victorian-style hotel in Melbourne’s CBD.

Olivia wore a custom minidress from a local label and a Juliet cap veil thrifted from a vintage store. She later changed into a House of CB dress.

Their ceremony had 20 guests, with flowers from O My Beloved and a cake from Mali Bakes. Later on, Olivia and Brendan celebrated with family and friends at a garden party at home on the Sunshine Coast where they’re both from.

How did you and Brendan meet?

Bren and I went to high school together and were in similar social circles. However, we didn’t reconnect until years later – it just felt right. Fast forward to last year, we were on a very rainy hike in Yosemite in the US and he proposed. I was completely caught off guard and to this day I can’t believe he proposed to me while I was wearing a beanie… but it was perfect. We then spent a good amount of time celebrating in NYC which we always look back on fondly.

How did you settle on the venue for your wedding?

We chose to elope at The Hotel Windsor in Melbourne. We wanted the day to be very low-key and less about us and more about the people who came along to celebrate. A big fuss isn’t really our style and I’m not a planner. The thought of putting together a wedding was not appealing to me in the slightest.

Honestly, my choice of venue was heavily influenced by my obsession with the Windsor Suite’s carpet and the vintage pink and blue hues. Our florist, O My Beloved, was sent photos of the space and she crafted the most perfect floral arrangements that fit in seamlessly.

How many guests did you have?

Our wedding day was super cosy with just 20 guests. We had only immediate family and our bridal party. Later on, we had a big garden party at home on the Sunshine Coast to celebrate with everyone.

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

I had two dresses, the first was a custom mini dress from a local bridal company, paired with a vintage Juliet cap veil Bren and I found at a vintage store in Brisbane. My second dress was from House of CB originally and then a local seamstress re-made it to fit me.

My bag was made by Oana Bags in Sweden. I wanted something cute and different and also something sustainable that I would wear again. The mini bag is handmade and super sweet, I wear it all the time. My jacket was from Bübish Luxe, though I ended up stealing Bren’s jacket on the day.

What about Brendan’s outfit?

Bren’s suit was from Thames.

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

My little sister Sophie did my makeup on the day. I wanted something really natural and she did such an amazing job. I did my hair myself, although looking back wish I had given myself more than 15 minutes to blow dry my hair. I spent too much time browsing in bookshops in the morning and not enough time getting ready!

What did you do to celebrate after the ceremony?

We went to a bar after the ceremony for a drink and then later celebrated with an intimate dinner at a small Italian restaurant. It was the perfect way to unwind and enjoy the company of our nearest and dearest. For dessert, we had our wedding cake which was from Mali Bakes. It was red velvet with cream cheese frosting and yes, it was incredible.

Tell us about the photography. How did you capture the event?

The only thing I was fussy about was the photography. I knew I wanted everything shot on Super8 and 35mm film. We wanted our day captured in a way that was candid and documentary-style and I’m so glad we found Kara (@the.runaway.hearts), her style is so dreamy and aligned with my personal style so well.

Keep up with Olivia here.