Wedding | Gabriella & Samuel – The Blackline Bottega

Inspired by the beach, Gabriella & Samuel tied their love knot to the sound of rolling waves at Avalon Beach Surf Life Savers Club followed by a relaxed celebration at Dunes Palm Beach. The Puglian-inspired venue was the perfect backdrop for the couples' day in which they wanted to incorporate olive leaves inspired by Gabriella's Italian & Maltese heritage and keep with neutral, texture-focussed styling.
For their stationery, we kept the lettering light and cursive and mixed it back with a spacious, modern sans serif font to give it some grounding; including small nods in the phrasing to Gabriella's Italian heritage.

How did the two of you meet & fall in love?
We actually met in the most casual, unassuming way; through a friend at our local leagues club. I didn't think much of it at first. It was just a nice night out, a few drinks and a chat with someone new. But something about him stuck in my head afterwards.
Not long after, he added me on Facebook, and that's really where it all began. We started sharing songs with each other every day. One of us would send something we were into, and the other would reply with a track that matched the vibe. It sounds small, but it became our little thing. We got to know each other through those songs; what made us feel, what made us laugh and what reminded us of something we couldn't quite explain yet. Then we started hanging out properly. Nothing too serious at first; just good company, good conversations and more music, of course. It didn't take long before it just clicked. Suddenly, we were boyfriend and girlfriend, and everything felt really natural and easy.
We started going on holidays together, making memories and genuinely enjoying life as a couple. Then came the big step. We moved in together just before COVID hit. Honestly, that was a real test of patience. Being locked in with anyone 24/7 is intense, but we made it through with a lot of laughs, a few deep breaths, and plenty of Gelato Messina. That's when I knew...if we could survive that and still like each other, he was definitely a keeper.
After that, we rented another apartment and kept building our life together. Eventually, we bought our first home, something we'd dreamed about for ages. Just two days later, on Christmas Day, surrounded by my family, he proposed!
He definitely made me wait, but looking back, it was completely worth it. Every step, every song, and every challenge brought us closer to where we are now. It wasn't some whirlwind fairytale. It was better. It was real. And I wouldn't change a thing.What was the highlight of your wedding day?
One of the most special moments from our wedding day was arriving at the ceremony in a little blue MG, driven by my dad. It brought back so many childhood memories of cruising around with him in his old Mazda MX-5, just the two of us. Those drives were simple, but meaningful, and being in that car again, only this time on the way to marry the love of my life, was incredibly emotional. It felt like everything had come full circle. I was that same girl, just a little older, still beside my dad, but now heading into a whole new chapter. I'll never forget that feeling. Who were your favourite suppliers to work with throughout the process?
We were so lucky to work with some incredible suppliers who made our day feel truly special.
Maddie from The Etilier was an absolute godsend. She just got the vibe I was going for and supported me every step of the way. Nothing ever felt too hard and her eye for detail was amazing.
Kristian from Viking Flora brought my floral vision to life perfectly. His passion and enthusiasm for what he does really shines through, and it was such a joy to work with someone who was just as excited about the flowers as I was.
White Lane Events were our stylists and they absolutely nailed what we were after. They worked seamlessly with Maddie and Kristian to make sure everything flowed beautifully and felt cohesive. I was blown away by how they brought my vision to life; it was everything I imagined and more.
Our celebrant, Gazza from Marry Us Gary, matched our vibe to a tee. He took the time to get to know us as a couple, kept communication clear and easy, and had our guests laughing, crying and fully engaged from start to finish. He made the ceremony feel so personal and memorable.
Giorgia from Sweet Flair Cakes Sydney was such a wonderful surprise-find. I came across her page on Instagram and was instantly captivated by her work. She's a self-taught, fellow Italian and a mum of two and she puts in 110% into everything she does. I was so excited to have her create our wedding cake. She even came to my bridal shower and assembled the mille foglie in front of our guests; my nonna absolutely loved that!
And finally Lauren from The Blackline Bottega! Her work was next level. She communicated so efficiently and was such a dream to work with. I'm so glad I stumbled across her on Instagram; she brought everything together so beautifully.
Each of these people played such a big role in making our day everything we hoped for and more. What do you love most about the stationery we created for your day?
Lauren really took the time to understand my vision and how she could support the overall feel of the day. We went back and forth over email, chatting through different layouts, styles and details, and I truly appreciated how thorough, prompt and thoughtful she was throughout the whole process.
Her advice and creative input were so valuable, and she made everything feel so easy. One of my favourite details was the handwritten vows and envelopes; such a beautiful and unexpected touch that made that part of the ceremony feel even more intimate and special. Working with Lauren was such a positive experience and her work added such a meaningful layer to the day. What advice would you give to newly engaged couples' planning their wedding?
My biggest piece of advice is to have a clear vision for your day. Without that, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and pulled in too many directions. Once you know the vibe or feeling you want, it's so much easier to make decisions that feel right for you.
Don't be afraid to lean on your vendors for advice; they're the experts and genuinely love helping couples bring their dreams to life. They can offer ideas you might not have thought of and help things run smoothly.
Also, think about the time of year you're getting married and how that might affect your choices; from the venue to the flowers to the timing of your day.
And most importantly, try to add personal touches wherever you can. For example, I'm pretty emotional, so I organised little tissue packets with 'for your happy tears' printed on them for our guests at the ceremony. It's those small, meaningful details that make the day feel truly yours and create special moments for everyone involved.What were you surprised by the most about planning your day?
Honestly, I felt surprisingly organised throughout the whole process. I stayed in regular contact with my vendors, and I even involved some of them in my bridal shower, which helped me to get to know them better before the big day. I kept a careful record of all my expenses and looked for places we could save money without compromising on what mattered most.
The only thing I DIY'd was our bonbonniere (the sugared almonds) because every Italian wedding needs them! It was such a special moment putting them together with my Mum, sisters and Nonna.
People kept asking me if I was stressed and honestly, my answer was no. I trusted my vendors completely because they really understood what I wanted and had great judgement. I think that's one of the most important things; learning to trust the people you've chosen to bring your vision to life.
Lastly, I made sure all my vendors were connected by sharing their contact details before the day. That way everyone knew their role and could support each other if needed, which made the whole day run smoothly.What excites you most about your life together?
I'm excited about sharing milestones, creating fun memories and simply being with each other. Building a life full of love and laughter together is what I'm most looking forward to.

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Wedding | Gabriella & Samuel

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