We meet the people we’re supposed to when the time is just right. The love story of Emily and Ryan started as most modern couples do: they met online and connected instantly. Their first date lasted nine whole hours, but it flew by and felt like no time had passed at all. They would spend hours on the phone talking about anything and everything, and from the get-go, Emily knew Ryan was the one for her. She shared “It took Ryan a little while longer to realise it and I won’t let him forget that!”
Before getting engaged, they spent four beautiful years together; they travelled, bought their first home, changed jobs and supported each other wholeheartedly. Their days are always filled with love and laughter. Fast forward to 2020 and they had a weekend away to Philip Island, their favourite place in Victoria. Little did Emily know that it would be the most unforgettable weekend when Ryan would get down on one knee and ask her to spend the rest of her life with him. Of course, she said yes, and the many years of wedding planning she’d already done (hello Pinterest) would come in handy. They aimed to have their wedding on their 5th anniversary back in Philip Island but weren’t sure how this would go due to Covid.
Fast forward 12 months and they ended up having to elope with their immediate family and a handful of their best friends. It was a beautiful day that they will never forget. But it wasn’t the full party we had planned, so they trudged on with planning what they dubbed ‘Witty Wedding 2.0’. Beautiful Emily mentioned that “we’re still getting family and friends asking us when Witty Wedding 3.0 is taking place, as they all want to relive the night.”
“‘Witty Wedding 2.0’ was the most perfect day. Not perfect in the sense that everything went according to plan and looked immaculate, but perfect in that it truly represented us, our style, our humour, and our love for each other. Our life motto as a couple is ‘Bite off more than you can chew and chew like fuck.’ Forgive the language, but it’s honestly how we approach life and two weddings really do fit the mould with us. We wouldn’t have it any other way!” says Emily.
one piece of advice
Break the rules! Emily is fortunate enough to have the beauty of hindsight, having eloped with a traditional wedding theme in 2021 before their big celebration and wedding that you are witnessing here. This allowed them both to throw out all the rules that didn’t fit them and do what they wanted. One of my absolute favourite features of their wedding was their shot bar. Not something they had ever seen done before but knew they wanted to have. They had 80-year-old guests downing tequila shots like they were in their 20s and it was the most fun. They wanted their day filled with fun and humour and they allowed themselves to be free of the traditional rules to give them exactly that. Emily said “Not only is our wedding day one that people are still raving about, but we can honestly say it was one of the happiest and most fun days of our lives. Even better than our elopement when we were legally married!”
i do i do vendor love
Celebrant Catherine Styles Civil Celebrant Equipment Hire Over the Top Events Hire BOHO Wildflowers Makeup Rose Lane Makeup Artistry Marquee Over the Top Events Photographer Jana Woodhouse Photography
meet emily & ryan’s photographer
jana from jana woodhouse photography
Jana has been photographing professionally since 2014, passionately documenting human connection. She captures precious moments-and the moments-in-between-in images that genuinely and truthfully tell your love story. She lives and works on Bunurong land. Check out Jana’s Instagram @janawoodhouseweddings
