Sugar & Spice have had the amazing pleasure of working with Wade & Mohammad twice now on their amazingly beautiful weddings and in honour of this month’s theme, of celebrating LGBTQIA love, we thought we’d get in contact with Wade to have him share a bit about their story. There is something significantly special about hearing true and happy love stories, but there is a different kind of special when you know the couple has been waiting for their love to be legally recognised and now it is! So, sit back and enjoy hearing about the real-life wedding of Wade and Mohammad!
Congratulations! You’re married! We loved helping with your wedding and would love to share your story. Would you be able to tell us about how you first met, any funny first date stories and about your proposal?
“We first met while working in the Middle East. We were not huge fans of each other, and in fact on our first date Mohammad made an excuse to leave early. But my charms a winner, and over a year later, sunbathing on our private deck, in an over water Bungalow in the Maldives, I asked him to marry me. With Mohammad running into the villa, screaming and jumping up and down, totally unaware that the curtains where open and I was watching his every crazy move.”
Who said I love you first?
“Ah the difficult one, I don’t really remember to be fair.”
If you had to describe your wedding day, how would you describe it? What were ideas for themes and styles when you were planning?
Well, due to the laws in Australia, we were fortunate enough to partner with Sugar and Spice two times to do our vows. The first time was a Civil Union, with the backdrop of Versace Hotel, an international guest list, fireworks across the lagoon and a Private Penthouse reception, overlooking the Mr and Mr Lagoon, with the entire Versace Hotel especially lit up in hues of blue and purple, the night was magical. So magical, that as soon as Australia changed its laws, we knew immediately we needed to get Decinda back onto to planning to make our second walk down the aisle just as memorable as the first one. Because of first round has an all expense spared event, our second walk down the aisle we wanted a stripped back version, simple, clean, over the water, and more casual.
This time over to the Marriott and again beside the Lagoon with a private reception at Misono. We wanted to keep the same baselines from before so we stayed with the arbour, but this time more in keeping with the tropical feel of the Marriott, vs the fashion powerhouse of Versace. A simple arbour filled with lush greens and pops of white florals did the trick, lit below by candelabras and intimate lightings. With the lagoon lit to reflect the blue hues to the evening. Keeping a fashion forward approach, dressed by Philipp Plein this time, Merino Navy Tuxedo Jackets, partnered with Dsquared2 stressed jeans and topped off with Pliens sparkling loafers. The event may have been stripped back, but hey, it’s all fashion darlings.
How did you find Sugar & Spice Events? What made you trust us with your story and your special day?
We had used the gang already before, and we would not trust anyone else in Australia in being our partners for planning any type of event. Decinda is the Godmother of event planning. No matter a simple romantic moment, through to a Couture Fashion spectacular, we knew we would be in great, well planned, hands.
What is one thing you wish you knew before you started your planning? Do you have any advice for anyone planning their wedding?
Think hard to the future when looking back. A function room is simply four walls, no matter how you dress it up. Think differently and most importantly, create a moment that is yours.
What’s the best piece of advice you took when planning your own wedding?
The art of the fake cake. Through Decinda, we designed a multitier wedding cake, spectacular and grand. The only thing was is that the bottom tiers where simply fake. It looked great, reduced on cost and saved us dumping a few tiers to the bin.
Did you write your own vows?
Again, Decinda and the team partnered us with our little Celebrant hottie, Mitch. The entire process of planning the vows, writing the vows, and how he compiled our entire wedding script from interviews, was awesome. Locally he is known as the Surfing Celebrant, well if you get the chance to have him in speedos and a surfboard, tag along for the ride.
Did you skip or change any wedding traditions? How did you change any traditions to suit your couple style?
We did not walk down the aisle, we simply all gathered for cocktails and then Mitch started the evening. We also did not have the normal quiet for signing the marriage license, we blasted the air with Katy Perry’s Unconditional, a much more momentous and a goose bump moment.
Now that you’re married (YAY!), what’s the best piece of advice you can give to other couples?
Weddings can be long and boring, receptions dull and dragged out. Make sure you create fun, not formality, be unique and most importantly the day is about the two of you, not guests and family, do what’s right for you.
Finish this sentence. The most unique thing at our wedding or that we did at our wedding was:
We doubled everything, 2 weddings, 2 cakes, 2 vows, 2 arbours, 2 lagoon side weddings and 2 events planned with Sugar and Spice.
Related Tag: Getting Married in Australia