LOVE STORIES SHARED WITH
HONESTY, BEAUTY & HEART
HONESTY, BEAUTY & HEART
Welcome to the beautiful Gippsland Wedding of Demi & Jesse. Their love story began in the most effortless and unexpected way – during their university days while living on residence. What started with a simple invitation from Demi to join her for a friendly game of Monopoly soon became the beginning of something truly special.
That one evening sparked a beautiful connection that has continued to grow over the past ten years – a love story built on friendship, laughter, adventure, and the kind of chemistry that simply can’t be planned. Demi & Jesse’s journey is a beautiful reminder that sometimes the most meaningful love stories begin with the smallest moments.
Jesse and I met up with friends at the Geelong Botanical Gardens to celebrate my birthday – a day that turned out to be far more magical than I ever imagined. He handed me a sweet little book titled ‘100 Reasons Why I Love You‘, filled with the most adorable animations and heartfelt words. As I flipped through each page, smiling and laughing, I reached the very last one – it read, ‘Demi, will you marry me?‘ I looked up, and there he was, down on one knee. It was the most perfect, heartfelt moment – one I’ll cherish forever
If people offer their help, let them! It truly took a village to bring our wedding together, and the day wouldn’t have been nearly as special without all the support and love from everyone who pitched in.
The moment I saw the picture of my first dress, I just knew it was the one. I’ve always been drawn to fitted silhouettes, and the backless design with a delicate cowl instantly captured my heart. I loved its understated elegance and simplicity – it felt effortlessly me. My second dress was a bit more dramatic, the perfect ‘wow’ factor for the party. I chose it because it echoed the backless cowl of my reception dress, tying the two looks together while keeping that same sense of chic sophistication.
We had been searching for venues closer to home, but nothing felt quite right. I’m not much of a beach person, so when I spoke to my mum, she suggested Daizies Function Centre, she’d attended a few functions there and thought it would be perfect. And she was absolutely right! I also loved the idea of getting married back in my hometown. Marrying in Warragul meant so much to me, especially since I moved away at 18, and knowing that Jesse agreed this was the perfect venue made it feel even more special.
We absolutely loved that our celebrant, Elisha, asked all the guests to take a selfie and send it to us – such a fun and personal touch! I wasn’t keen on writing our own vows at first, but Jesse convinced me, and I’m so glad he did. It turned out to be one of the most special moments of the day. We even included quotes from Dr. Seuss, Jesse’s favourite author, which added a playful and meaningful touch that made us both laugh.
One of my favourite parts of the day was having all my friends and family in the same room, celebrating us. I also really loved our first dance – you could say we ‘choreographed’”’ it right from our living room, haha! Those few little moves made the dance feel so special and memorable.
Honestly, it’s too hard to pick a single favourite – every part of the day was amazing! We took the time to choose each vendor carefully, and they all absolutely delivered. My makeup by Karissa exceeded every expectation, and our photos were just perfect. Elisha set the tone for the ceremony with such good vibes, while Kristen and Kim absolutely nailed the music. Michelle and Phill made sure everything ran smoothly from start to finish. Truly, every single moment and every person involved made our day unforgettable!
Accessories Guest Pix I Accommodation Daizies Function Centre, Halcyon Cottage Retreat I Alterations Como Alterations I Bars Daizies Function Centre I Bridal Gown & Veil Designer Made With Love Bridal, Grace Loves Lace I Cake / Sweets Little Birdie Bakes I Catering Daizies Function Centre I Celebrant Elisha Dowsett I Ceremony Venue Daizies Function Centre I Entertainment / Music Melbourne Entertainment Co. (DJ Kim & Singer Kristen) I Favours / Gifts Bellarine Brownie Company I Florist Handmade by Mum I Grooms Attire Politix I Hair Stylist Hair by Paradize I Hire Services Arbour via Daizies Function Centre I Invitations / Stationery Custom Italian Paper I Jewellery Valére Jewellery, Charles Rose Jewellery, The Tower Gallery I Makeup Artist Karissa I Nails / Tan The Sorority I Photographer J.L. Watson Photography I Reception Venue Daizies Function Centre I Robes, Sleepwear & Lingerie Shein (embroidered locally) I Transport Uncle’s Convertible Mercedes
For real wedding inspiration, explore our heartfelt Real Love Stories, where beautiful Gippsland couples share their heartfelt love stories and wedding day journeys. Discover how local brides and grooms brought their unique vision to life, from breathtaking floral designs and meaningful styling details to the special moments that made their celebrations unforgettable.
For even more expert advice, planning tips and creative ideas, wander through the I Do I Do Gippsland Planning Section and enjoy all the inspiration waiting for you.
Based in stunning Gippsland, Victoria, Jodie is a passionate wedding photographer who adores capturing romantic stories and special moments. A self-confessed Disney fan, lover of travel, Jodie found her true calling and hasn’t looked back since.
With a cozy studio and a heart full of creativity, Jodie is here to celebrate your milestones and create unforgettable memories. Ready to capture your love story? She can’t wait to meet you!
Taylah & Daniel – I do I do Gippsland – believe it or not, we actually shared the same table at our siblings’ debutante ball years ago. Daniel likes to say Taylah had her eyes on him back then (Taylah would disagree!). A few years later, fate intervened when Daniel spotted Taylah at a restaurant on Chapel Street. Instantly drawn to her, he noticed she was there with a mutual friend – the perfect excuse to say hello. One Instagram follow, a Facebook friend request, and a cheeky DM later… and here we are today.
Taylah and Daniel escaped for a weekend getaway to the stunning Mitchelton Winery, and Taylah had no idea it was anything more than a birthday celebration. She was completely surprised when Daniel got down on one knee and popped the question! The rest of the weekend was filled with laughter, love, and plenty of delicious food and wine as they celebrated this special moment.
Daniel and his groomsmen’s suits were inspired by our European theme. We loved the natural, earthy tones – they perfectly complemented the winery’s landscape and harmonised beautifully with the bridesmaids’ dresses. My gown was a custom Mariana Hardwick creation. I knew I wanted something simple, classic, and timeless, and the whole process felt surprisingly seamless. Daniel found his perfect suit on the first try, while I explored one other designer before finding ‘the one.’ Overall, choosing our outfits was such a fun and memorable part of the wedding journey.
Enjoy it! Don’t take yourselves too seriously, you want to look back at this entire stage of your life and remember it as a joyful and special time in your life, not stressful and unenjoyable. Remember to spend quality time with each other throughout the whole journey because it is such a special moment in time.
Originally, we had planned a property wedding, but we soon realised the unpredictability of Victorian weather made it a bit risky. We wanted a venue that still gave us that ‘property wedding’ feel – somewhere spacious, relaxed, and predominantly outdoors. We were looking for a blank canvas to make our day truly our own, ideally with on-site accommodation since our original plan had been to do glamping. Carrajung Estate ticked every box, giving us the freedom to create exactly the wedding we envisioned, and the team there was absolutely incredible to work with.
Taylah made a memorable entrance to the ceremony, arriving in one of her dad’s trucks while listening to country music – a nod to cherished childhood memories. Including both families in the ceremony was really important to us, so Daniel’s parents walked down the aisle first, followed by Taylah with her parents. Our Celebrant, Kellie Eddy, who had known Daniel since he was a teenager, brought a special personal connection that helped ease our nerves. We wanted the ceremony to feel lighthearted, so our vows were genuine, fun, and a little silly – not overly mushy, but full of love and laughter.
It’s impossible to pick just one – there were so many incredible moments! A few that stand out are Taylah’s solo performance with the band to ‘Man! I Feel Like a Woman‘ by Shania Twain, sharing the day surrounded by our handpicked people, and of course, our ceremony – it set the perfect tone for the night and felt completely ‘us.’
We honestly couldn’t choose a favourite – our team was absolutely incredible! Everyone worked seamlessly together to bring our vision to life. They really are the best in the business, and we can’t recommend them highly enough!
Our bus driver, tasked with bringing all our guests to the venue, took a wrong turn and got a little lost – arriving just 5–10 minutes before the ceremony started! We almost had a wedding with no guests… haha!
Accommodation Carrajung Estate I Audio Guest Book Off the Hook I Bar Carrajung Estate I Bridal Gown & Veil Designer Mariana Hardwick I Cake / Sweets Family Friend Matilda I Catering Carrajung Estate I Celebrant Kellie Eddy Celebrant I Ceremony Venue Carrajung Estate I Entertainment / Music Like This Entertainment I Florist Victoria Hall I Grooms Attire Peter Jackson I Hair Stylist Bonita Salon I Hire Services Bluebird Vintage Hire I Invitations / Stationery The Flair Creative I Jewellery The Jewel of Ivanhoe I Makeup Artist Latu I Nails / Tan Natan by Natalie I Photographer Motta Weddings I Reception Venue Carrajung Estate Robes, Sleepwear & Lingerie Le Rose I Transport Willaton Transport / Latrobe Valley Bus Lines I Wedding Planner Emerald Thompson I Venue Carrajung Estate I Videographer Mim Media
For real wedding inspiration, explore our heartfelt Real Love Stories, where beautiful Gippsland couples share their heartfelt love stories and wedding day journeys. Discover how local brides and grooms brought their unique vision to life, from breathtaking floral designs and meaningful styling details to the special moments that made their celebrations unforgettable.
For even more expert advice, planning tips and creative ideas, wander through the I Do I Do Gippsland Planning Section and enjoy all the inspiration waiting for you.
My name is Alex Motta.
I’m the photographer behind Motta Weddings, born into a lively Italian family of creative minds, from designers to actors. I’ve been working professionally as a photographer since 2008, capturing love stories across the globe, though I now focus exclusively on weddings in Melbourne, Australia. Based locally near the Yarra Valley, I often document weddings in the city, the Mornington Peninsula, and throughout Victoria. For me, the most important aspect of wedding photography is not creating moments, but capturing them candidly, artistically, and naturally. I work effortlessly on the day, offering a little direction when needed, but mostly letting the day unfold as it should. I photograph alone to keep the experience unobtrusive, ensuring your day is enjoyed fully while still capturing beautiful, timeless memories.