Tayla Damir and Nathan Broad’s UNPLUGGED SummerGrove

Model and Media personality, Tayla Damir said I Do to Richmond AFL Star Nathan Broad on MONDAY the 17th of October (yes weekday weddings are still in!) Guests were encouraged to enjoy this beautiful moment and were kindly asked to leave their phones locked away for the ceremony. You would expect influencer weddings to have as many gram-able shots as possible ( minimum 100) but the Broads wanted to be in the moment with their nearest and dearest (nawww #weloveunplugged). A day filled with a lot of love, laughter, dancing and fireworks (we can’t forget the fireworks) this Hinterlands wedding was everything this couple could have dreamed of and more!

The Gowns

Everyone was very shocked when they saw my gown. They all assumed I would go for a really modern wedding dress and something slim and shaped to the body.

I was never a girl who had imagined their wedding dress or knew what I wanted. In fact I hated most wedding dresses I saw on me. I knew it had to be a dress that I felt comfortable in and like myself. After going back and forth for a few months I decided I wanted a princess moment for my first dress. I had seen a long sleeve, low plunging lace cut on a short dress before so I showed Sam and we got to work. The dress process was very collaborative. Sam and I would have fortnight fittings over 2 months and figure out what we liked and didn’t like. At one point we actually changed the lace of the dress. We didn’t have to say anything, we both just looked at each other and knew.

Sam and I have a very special friendship. He has dressed me for years and was one of the first couture designers to let me wear his pieces. It was because of this friendship and his talent of creating impeccable couture pieces that I can say “my wedding dress was the dress of my dreams”.

The 2 gowns took approx 140 hours to create.

The first gown was created by using layers of silk organza as a backing to the multiple layers of Italian tulle used in the voluminous skirt. The detail on the bodice was created by using various sizes of laser cut flowers intricately appliquéd onto the bodice and sleeves of the gown while being shared with hand stitched pearls throughout.

The second gown was embellished with intricate hand stitched beading onto French lace. The colours varying from white to ivory to champagne and through to silver creating a beautiful depth of colour. Highlighting the beading was mirror back Swarovski crystals hand stitched to create a cascading leaf design while catching the light with the slightest movement. … a labour of love.

Sam spent so much time creating this dress and I am forever grateful. I will forever remember the moment I walked back into the wedding and everyone was screaming and whistling, I truly felt a million bucks which is how a dress should make you feel.

The Wedding Day

Our ceremony was unplugged. Neither of us wanted to see the back of an iPhone when we were inside the chapel. That was a moment that was so very special. Everyone was in the moment, they felt our emotions and we could see and feel theirs. We had professional photographers and videographers that captured the ceremony for everyone. Once the ceremony was over people could use their phones as they wished however we asked that nothing was posted until the following day.

The Venue

I had seen Summergrove Estate on a tagged photo online and became instantly obsessed with the white chapel. Having grown up along the beach I knew that I wanted to try and fit both our love for the country and the ocean into the scenery. Summergrove has 360 degree views of the hinterlands and the ocean so it was a perfect match.

The venue was all about finding a place that represented both our upbringings. We both grew up spending lots of time in the ocean and Nathan also lived on big farm properties for most of his life. I chose Summergrove Estate because of the gorgeous countryside, and it’s amazing views of the ocean off in the distance. I loved the old barn they have on the property and instantly knew I wanted to fill it with fairy lights. I could see so much of Nathan and I in the venue and knew it was the perfect fit for us.

Favourite Wedding Moments

Having special moments when it was just Nathan and I. We sat in the vintage Rolls Royce for 5 minutes after finishing our photos and before our entrance and just had a moment to ourselves. We spoke about our mornings and how much we loved the ceremony. We also got a moment together on top of the hill while the fireworks went off later in the night which I feel is rare at a wedding.