Kate + Nik's Wedding - Tara Lauren Real Love Tara Lauren

Kate + Nik’s wedding was a heartfelt and intimate celebration in Sydney’s breathtaking hinterland.

Of her GILES gown, Kate said: “GILES was actually the very first dress I tried on and I loved it from the start. I fell in love with the sweet simplicity and the flattering shape.”

Names: Kate + Nik

Wedding Date: 12.04.2021

Guest Numbers: 17

Wedding Location: Waldara Farm, NSW

Photographer: Kyle Ingram

Tell Us Your Love Story

How did you meet?

Nik and I met in 2015 whilst living and working in London. We were on the same team at work and soon became good friends. We texted and met for lunch almost every day but were too shy to tell each other we liked each other. It was only after many drinks on a work night out, and some encouragement from other colleagues, that we eventually got together, and the rest is history. We moved to Sydney in 2017 and have built a beautiful life together here.

How did he put a ring on it?

We had a trip to Vanuatu planned in April 2020, but COVID ruined those plans. After a 3 month lockdown, we decided to take a trip to Port Stephens, which is a 2 hour drive from Sydney, because we needed a holiday and we weren’t allowed to leave Australia, or the state, due to COVID restrictions. Nik told me he had planned a dinner somewhere and that he had booked a taxi. “Let’s take a walk while we wait for the taxi” he said, and we walked down a pier near our hotel. At the pier, there was a man waiting for us on a boat. We took a boat trip, had cheese and champagne, and Nik proposed soon after. Despite the romantic gestures, for some reason I had no idea he was going to do it! He had kept the ring for 6 months as he had originally planned to propose on our Vanuatu trip.

Where did you draw inspiration from?

We originally planned to have a big wedding in Ibiza, but with everything going on with COVID, we decided to have a small wedding in Sydney with our expat friends, and have a second celebration when things had calmed down. All we wanted from this wedding was something low key, intimate, and fun with our friends.

What made the wedding personal to you?

We loved that our wedding day was so intimate. We were sad that family and friends from home weren’t able to travel to Australia, but tried to always see this wedding as ‘just for us’, and the second celebration to be more about being reunited with our loved ones. The icing on the cake was that 4 weeks before the wedding, we were able to get travel exemptions for both of our mothers to come out. My mum walked me down the aisle and I couldn’t have been happier that she made it for the day.

What were you most nervous or excited about?

We were nervous that it would get cancelled last minute! But super excited to just get married and celebrate after a couple of difficult years.

Now, the most important part – the Dress!

Tell us about your dress?

GILES was actually the very first dress I tried on and I loved it from the start. I fell in love with the sweet simplicity and the elegant shape. The material is so flattering and it suited my body shape perfectly. I tried lots of other dresses but knew that GILES was the one for me. I altered the straps to be a bit narrower and had the side panels slightly lowered to my waist line to make the style even more elegant.

What stockist did you get it from?

Ivory Room Bridal, Sydney

What was your most memorable moment from your day?

The ceremony was so emotional – there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.