If you’ve ever fallen down a wedding forum rabbit hole, you’ll know the posts I’m talking about. They usually go up a few days after the wedding.
“I’m devastated about my photos.”
“Has anyone else felt let down by their venue?”
“I don’t know why my ceremony didn’t feel like me.”
I personally find these posts heartbreaking to read because, in most cases, the couple did everything they were told to do (mostly having never planned a wedding before!).
So, here’s what I’d love more couples to be aware of before they start choosing their vendors.
Firstly, pay attention to their work or offering, beyond just social media.
Ask your photographer to show you full galleries, look at how venues handle wet weather, read the Google reviews of celebrants, and get a well-rounded view of their style.
The second part is the conversation with the vendors themselves.
Trust your instincts when it comes to the sense you get of who they are as people.
Because what you’re really booking is judgment, temperament and how they’ll gel with you on the day. You want the experience they offer to match your expectations.
Book the people, and the work. Not one or the other.
Tell me, who’s a vendor where you just knew, from the very first conversation, that they got it? Tag them below 👇
#IvoryTribe #AisleInsider #WeddingRegrets
Hi, it’s Chloe 👋.
Spoiler - I’ve been married twice. My first wedding was a bigger, more traditional affair, in a time of flower crowns and hay bale seating.
My second was completely different, and I adored it.
Here’s what I let go of the second time around:
✨ The bridal party.
I got ready with my best friend and my two young goddaughters. My husband got ready with his mates. That was it - just the people who made us feel calm and excited, in an ease-filled way.
✨ The formal venue.
We got married in a gorgeous park opposite a pub our friends own. Midday on a Thursday. We had drinks and a delicious feast at the pub afterwards. It just made sense for us.
✨ The big guest list.
We invited 45 people; only people we knew well. Acquaintances were invited to join us at the pub afterwards for a drink. It was a beautiful, intimate feeling.
✨ The traditional aisle walk.
My husband and I entered together, hand in hand, while one of our closest friends played guitar and sang. That moment is still one of my favourite memories.
✨ The “expected” dress.
I wore something short and sweet by @rimearodaky and I adored it. I invested in my shoes and accessories instead, the things that made me feel like me.
✨ We did a first look.
By the time we stood up for the ceremony, we were relaxed, present, and completely ourselves.
The things we did invest in?
An amazing photographer, because, obviously (shout out @_alibailey ). Stunning, sustainable florals by handpickedethicalfloristry, because that mattered to me.
For us, it was never about doing less. It was about only including things that felt like us.
If you’re planning your ceremony right now and something on your list doesn’t feel right - cross it off. I promise you won’t miss it. (The last slide is from our dream day — and I didn’t miss a thing.)
More on making your ceremony feel personal at the link in our bio.
What’s one wedding tradition you’re thinking of skipping? Share with me below or via DM (I always love a wedding chat!)👇
#ivorytribe #ivorytribeweddings #ivorytribecelebrant
#weddingceremony #ceremonytips personalceremony
A Yarra Valley love story in full bloom ✨
Sophie & Brandon tied the knot at @zonzoestate surrounded by vineyards, heartfelt vows, their favourite people and the best kind of energy from start to finish.
From Sophie’s timeless gown and her bridesmaids in soft yellow, to Brandon’s James Bond moment in @institchu, every detail felt effortlessly them.
They said “I do” in the intimate chapel, danced under festoon lights, and partied the night away with @logan.ent bringing the sax + DJ magic. All beautifully captured by @jessicarosephotographyau, with the full feature at the link in our bio.
#IvoryTribe #RealWedding
One venue, endless possibilities ✨
Dine under the stars, celebrate in a marquee, or embrace the charm of the historic homestead at @theepicurean_emubottom; rare flexibility, unforgettable setting.
At Emu Bottom Homestead, you’re not limited to one style of celebration. With expansive grounds and multi-purpose spaces, every wedding can be completely tailored to your vision - something truly rare to find in one location.
And with the support and talent of @everaftereffect , you can choose to streamline your planning experience without compromising on vision, quality or style.
Link in bio to learn more.
Photos
@mottaweddings
@louloumemphis
@lizbarnesphoto
@georgiaverrells
@scotthorsburghphoto
@smithandarcher
#IvoryTribe #EverAfterEffect
Men are engaged too. Meet the new Men’s Engagement Collection from @blackfinch_jewellery .
For decades, the wedding industry has operated on a quiet assumption: that engagement jewellery is something given to one half of a couple.
A neat, gendered template that’s rarely been questioned.
Black Finch has spent years pushing against that template. As pioneers in contemporary, non-traditional engagement ring design, the Collingwood studio has long resisted rigid categories around who jewellery is for.
Their new collection makes that position visible — pieces designed with the same emotional depth, sculptural beauty and contemporary sensibility that defines every Black Finch creation.
Your engagement. Your story. Your rules.
Swipe through to explore the collection, and book your appointment at the Black Finch Collingwood studio at the link in bio.
Photographer: @caseymoore
Art Direction: @marielauren_
Talent: @k.w.a.b.a & @kyah_richards
Every time we ask our community about wedding regrets, the responses come fast.
Not because people are unhappy, but because hindsight is specific in a way that planning advice rarely is. The things couples wish they’d known often aren’t in any checklist.
So we collected them. The practical, the emotional, and the IYKYK moments.
Consider this your big sister intervention, the perspective you need when you’re drowning in seating chart options at 2am.
And a note from me (hi, it’s Chloe 👋), as someone who’s been a part of ceremonies for over a decade: the couples with the fewest regrets aren’t the ones who had perfect days.
They’re the ones who planned with intention, communicated clearly, and gave themselves permission to prioritise what mattered to them.
Photography:
@ashleighhaase@kinshipbykristy@tessfollett@katie_harmsworth@weddingsbyheston@rolanjohn_photo@madforyoucreative
#WeddingRegrets #RealWeddings #IvoryTribe
One private property, endless possibilities.
Set in the heart of Western Victoria, @chatsworthhouseevents is where heritage charm meets refined, modern elegance - sweeping views, historic bluestone spaces, and a setting that feels entirely your own.
From garden ceremonies to candlelit celebrations in the Longroom, long-table dinners under the stars, and weekends that unfold slowly with on-site stays… every detail is designed to be as relaxed or as elevated as you choose.
An unforgettable backdrop for a wedding that feels both timeless and deeply personal.
Head to the link in our bio and be sure to save this one 🤍
Photos
@flickthephotographer
@ashleighhaasephotography
@georgie.mann.photos
#IvoryTribe #VictorianWeddingVenue
Vows at sunset. Dinner under a blood moon eclipse. Just six guests on a Daylesford hilltop.
Lachlan and Chris’s elopement at @skyhighmtfranklin captured on Super 8 — golden-hour ceremony, sweeping views across the Daylesford and Hepburn shires, and a once-in-a-lifetime sky overhead.
An intimate wedding day that proves smaller doesn’t mean less.
If you’re considering a Daylesford elopement or a small wedding with just close family, this is the blueprint.
Filmed and photographed by @georgiaverrells
Full feature at the Real Wedding link in our bio ✨
#IvoryTribe #RealWedding
Small in scale, rich in every moment 🤍
Daylesford has always held a special place in Lachlan and Chris’s hearts, the perfect setting for their intimate celebration with just six guests (and their gorgeous dog!).
At @skyhighmtfranklin , they exchanged personal vows overlooking sweeping views of rolling hills, before a breathtaking sunset and blood moon overhead.
From curated welcome boxes to shared moments over incredible food, every detail felt intentional, true to them and incredibly special.
Captured by the indomitable @georgiaverrells, enjoy every stunning moment at the link in our bio.
#RealWedding #IvoryTribe
We recently asked you to share your wedding regrets, so it only felt fair to share mine.
My second wedding? Honestly, no regrets.
But my first taught me a lot, especially about where to spend your money and what you’ll actually care about years later.
Three things I’d change are in this reel.
One of them completely transformed how I approached wedding number two.
If you’re planning your wedding, let me know if this is helpful, or share what you’re most worried about getting wrong 🤍
Shout out to the amazing photographer we chose for my second wedding, @_alibailey .
#IvoryTribe #WeddingRegrets #AisleInsider #HonestTake
Planning a black-tie wedding? Meg and Michael’s celebration at Woolbrook Homestead is a masterclass in elevated alfresco dining with Italian flair.
Held entirely outdoors at @woolbrookhomestead , the day opened with a sunlit garden ceremony, moved into a cocktail hour with an oyster bar served on ice, and ended with a long-table reception with shared pasta plates as mains, a nod to Michael’s Italian heritage.
The night closed with a cigar bar and limoncello shots.
Unable to be captured adequately in this caption? The effervescent energy and genuinely uplifting emotion in every frame - scroll for the best kind of dopamine hit!
Venue: @woolbrookhomestead
Photography: @ashleighhaasephotography
Coordination: @weddings.by.e
#RealWedding #IvoryTribe
