MICHELLE + DAVID Real Weddings - Raffaele Ciuca Bridal Shop

We are asking Michelle + David if it was love at first swipe? This lovely Melbourne couple met the modern day love potion, a dating app. This sensational wedding has a mixture of classic Hamptons vibe with a kick of vibrance and colour from the traditional side from this couples heritage. We are loving the location and the photos from this love (and sun) drenched wedding. Congratulations love birds!

#RCREALBRIDE Danielle wore the elegant Prunelle by Pronovias. Marvelous georgette wedding dress with a low waist and a sweetheart neckline. A gorgeous mermaid style dress with enchanting floral lace and gemstone embroidery details.

Photographer: Corey Wright

THE FIRST SIGHT

David and I met the traditional way – through online dating. David said I was his first date from the site and he was my 5th or so. When I first saw him I just remember thinking he was really tall! We met up in the city on Easter Monday for coffee at night. We instantly clicked and the conversation flowed, there was no awkward feelings or anything of the sort people normally associate with online dating first dates.

THE PROPOSAL

We were together for just over 2 years when David proposed. I knew it was coming because earlier in the week I saw a piece of paper in his apartment that he had purchased the ring back in December (it was April now). So when he called up on the Friday asking if I wanted to go to Mount Dandenong on Saturday night I knew why! So that day I got my nails done, made myself presentable and in the car up there I could tell he was so nervous and quiet. He kept on asking “what’s the shiny stuff on your lips, why is your hair straight?’. Then when we got out of the car and was looking at the view of Melbourne and all the lights, he took me away to a quiet area and pulled out the ring and asked me! It was a super sweet moment and brought champagne to cheers with afterwards. It was a very sweet intimate moment!

THE VENUE

I chose a place called Summerfield Country House in Bittern. It was the 3rd venue we visited but as soon as we drove up the long driveway and I saw a flock of geese that live there, and I knew it was meant to be. We went to see more venues afterwards but I kept on thinking about Summerfield and we went back a second time and booked it in. I always wanted to get married outdoors in a beautiful garden and that’s exactly what Summerfield had.

FAVOURITE MOMENT

The whole week! All my family arriving from overseas and interstate and all my bridesmaids coming early and staying with me to help me beforehand!! I just felt loved from every direction! I loved the reception and dancing with everyone and just seeing everyone enjoying themselves!!

THE DRESS

The dress made me feel like a true bride! I loved the back of the dress with the buttons down my back the lace pattern on the back as well as how it hugged my figure. I had Pinterested wedding dresses and all of them were a mermaid style dress with a long train. I just loved how it looked so I went to 2 or 3 bridal stores with no such luck. Then one day my friend just googled wedding dress stores in Brunswick and clicked on the first option and it happened to be the RC store. I walked in and all the store people were so lovely! They helped pick out a couple of dresses and I picked one out as well. As soon as I put on the dress I picked out my friend and my mum started crying and I knew it was the dress. I was really torn to maybe keep looking because I’d hardly looked around properly but from their reactions, I knew I had to get the dress! The RC crew brought out champagne and the dress was locked in!

FINDING THE ONE

It was great! I had gone to a couple of stores before RC and the service at one was so shocking that they made my wedding dress shopping experience depressing! I felt so disappointed so when I walked in to RC it was such a pleasant change. Everyone was so helpful and friendly and accommodating in helping me with what I wanted it to look like. It was exactly how I expected wedding dress shopping to be. They even brought out champagne for all of us!