Who doesn’t love a destination wedding? The Edge in Bali made for the most perfect backdrop being married to what looked like the edge of the world. High School sweet hearts Melissa and Aidan tied the knot with their nearest and dearest in Bali’s tropical climate. #RCREALBRIDE Melissa looked nothing short of stunning in her Sottero & Midgley gown in ‘Hadley. This alluring fit-and-flare wedding dress features striking lace motifs, a low back, and a sexy sweetheart neckline accented with a shimmer of sequins and beading. Finished with covered buttons over zipper closure. Photography: AT Photography THE FIRST SIGHT Aidan and I are High School sweethearts! We met eight years ago at school. We were in same PE class and it didn’t take long for us to officially become boyfriend and girlfriend. We were kids when we fell in love and truly are soul mates. THE PROPOSAL It was a stunning autumn day and Aidan planned a day trip along the Great Ocean Road. It was one week before our 7-year anniversary and Aidan completely surprised me as I was convinced he would propose on our exact anniversary date. We had a picnic on the beach in Anglesea with our dogs and were there for hours reflecting back on how amazing the past seven years have been. Aidan then popped the question! It couldn’t have been more perfect. THE VENUE Our first overseas holiday together was to Bali and we absolutely love the place. We visited Bali to look at venues and The Edge in Uluwatu was by far our favourite. I remember thinking – ‘what could be more special than to tie the knot on the edge of the world with our nearest and dearest!’ FAVOURITE MOMENT Our wedding day most definitely exceeded both our expectations and was simply magical. We have many special and favourite moments. We will never forget leaving the ceremony holding hands as husband and wife and the state of euphoria during this moment. The best thing about a destination wedding is only inviting your nearest and dearest. After the ceremony and photos, Aidan and I were extremely happy and excited to return to our family and friends. We were in our favourite place, hugging the most important people in our lives and officially now married as husband and wife. THE DRESS My dress – wow! I still can’t believe I was fortunate enough to wear this gorgeous gown. I always dreamed of feeling like a princess on my wedding day, like all girls do! I initially thought getting married in Bali would mean I would have to sacrifice the princess look and find a more casual dress with a lightweight, breathable fabric. However, this was not the case. The Hadley was immaculate and met all my needs. The shimmer of sequins and beading and the train length made me feel like a princess. The sweetheart neckline and low back was stunning and perfect for Bali’s hot climate. FINDING THE ONE I visited Raffaele Ciuca and the lovely Mimma assisted me. They say you don’t know which dress is ‘your style’ and suits your body until you’ve tried a few on. I never thought I wanted a strapless dress. I explained my wedding venue, lighting, climate to Mimma and she selected the dress for me. Her knowledge was incredible! I told Mimma that my reception was going to be outside at night time and she took me into a dark change room and shined a little bit of light on it so I could imagine what the sequins and beads would look like during the reception – this is what I call going above and beyond. ADVICE FOR OTHER BRIDES Don’t sweat the small stuff! This is what I said to myself numerous times throughout the day. All that matters is you are marrying the one you love. When I was getting my hair done, my chair legs broke and I fell on my bum – it was absolutely hilarious! It was perfect timing as I was feeling nervous and needed a good laugh. Life is too short to not marry the one that you love – find the one, marry them and cherish every moment together! I was lucky to find my husband at 16 and I feel fortunate beyond words that we found each other so early. VENDORS Dress: Raffaele Ciuca Bridal Photographer: AT Photography Venue: The Edge, Bali Cake: Butter Bali Hair & Make-Up: Dollface Darlings