The love story
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 & Daniel – The engagement
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.
The wedding gown
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.
One piece of advice
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.
The venue
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.
Beautiful details
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.
Favourite memories
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.’
Favourite vendors
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!
Unexpected plans
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!
Taylah & Daniel – Vendors
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
Motta Weddings
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.