Meeting Martina for the first time was like catching up with a long lost school friend. We chatted over green smoothies & talked all about wedding planning & her & Tom’s vision for a beautiful outdoor ceremony at Tyalgum Ridge with Mount Warning as their backdrop.
Fast forward a few weeks to their big day & mother nature had other plans. Although it poured rain almost the entire day, Tom & Martina never let it dampen their spirits. They danced until 5am as Byron Bay locals The Swamps put on a legendary set. We were there to film their amazing day, working alongside some incredible suppliers including Maleika Halpin Photography. We’ve included our favorite still frames from our film to highlight all the marvelous details below.
Bride + Groom details
Martina looked dazzling in the Paloma gown from Grace Loves Lace. It fit her so perfectly we would forgive you for mistaking it for a custom gown made exclusively for her! We are obsessed with the delicate lace & open back detail! Paired with simple Jo Mercer strappy heels.
Tom was equally resplendent in a sand coloured, linen two piece suit from MJ Bale. They chose not to have a formal bridal party but they spent the morning getting ready with friends.
The Morning
In the morning, the girls sipped Veuve while grazing on a lunch of ricotta & fig salad & mixed berries. They hired a Farmstay Airbnb just outside of Murwillumbah. The perfect spot for Martina & her girls to get ready! Tom & Martina’s mini Schnauzer Frankie lapped up all the attention (she’s too cute!). Mercer Makeup & Styling took care of Martina’s glam.
The Ceremony
Celebrant Shane Vincent told the tale of how the pair had met under the hot Nicaraguan sun on a surfing holiday some years ago. They fell madly in love in an instant & Martina decided to ditch her travel buddies & continue on to Costa Rica with Tom. They have shared many wondrous adventures around the world together since & they positively beamed whilst reading their vows to each other.
Shane knew how important an outdoor ceremony was to Martina & Tom & he was so determined to make it happen for them despite the persistent rain. But as Martina was due to arrive, the rain grew heavier & heavier & by the time we all realised the ceremony needed to be moved undercover, Shane had been running around in the rain so long he was soaking wet from head to toe! We didn’t hear a single complaint though, he was just stoked to be marrying the pair & is just generally a legend like that. What a guy!
Florals & Styling
Pollen Weddings & Events put together the most sensational bouquets full of lilac orchids, coral dahlias, dusky roses & scattered gold & fuchsia dried sprigs. We are obsessed with their work! They were also out in the rain alongside Shane, braving the elements for ceremony setup. Kudos to them for moving everything around at the last minute so that the ceremony could go on! It might not have been exactly as Tom & Martina had envisioned but we often find that weddings are ‘perfect’ in their imperfections.
The Venue
Tyalgum Ridge Retreat is nestled just at the base of the ridge itself, with lush rainforest & country views in all directions. The venue has accommodation onsite capable of lodging all of your guests & even better, it has no curfews! So you can party the night away with only a short walk back to bed.
There’s a rusted old cattleyard, llamas, cows & horses on site for those seeking a venue with a rustic farmstay feel.
The Bridal Shoot
Shout out to Tom & Marty for braving the rain so we could whisk them away for a romantic bridal shoot. With Tyalgum Ridge barely visible through the storm clouds, the rain pelted down around them. They cosied up under crystal umbrellas for our shoot, & despite the rain they could not wipe the smiles off their faces!
We had so much fun running around in the rain filming alongside Maleika Halpin Photography! It wasn’t a long shoot but just enough to get some amazing footage of the pair around the grounds of Tyalgum Ridge.
The Reception
The Italian Job catered pizza, salad & other delectable Italian fare. Food was coming out non stop & the guests were loving it! Tom & Marty’s cake was accompanied by a dessert bar & lolly buffet.
Tom & Marty’s first dance was a flurry of sparklers as The Swamps jammed away. The bands Unearthed profile describes them as ‘a couple of sexed up, rock ‘n roll laden, Pegasus-riding, blues gypsies from Byron Bay.’ They definitely lived up to that description & the harder they played the harder everyone danced.
It was a tough gig for us to find a track we could license that would stand up to the energy, vibe & pure fire you get from The Swamps. After a good three days of scouring the internet we came across Mexican rock band Yellow Cop & their track ‘Century’ fit the reception sequence perfectly.
Film Package
Tom & Martina chose our Love Story Package 2 which consists of one videographer for 8 hours + a 6-8 minute highlights film + full ceremony edit + full speeches + a 60 second highlights film.
We had an amazing day filming Tom & Marty’s wedding video! Special thanks to all the incredible vendors we had the pleasure of collaborating with!
Film by us // @luna.films
Photography // @maleikah
Gown // @grace_loves_lace
Shoes // @jomercershoes
MUA // @mercermakeupandstyling
Venue // @tyalgumridgeretreat
Catering // @theitalianjobcatering
Florals // @pollen_weddings_events
Entertainment // @matthewarmitagemusic
Celebrant // @shanevincentcelebrant
Prep Accommodation // @theriverorchard
Suits // @mjbale
Champagne // @veuveclicquot
