Emily & Dean opt for simplicity at their intimate wedding in Melbourne

Dinner with friends was the informal setting Emily Falcke and Dean Strauss sought for their special day on December 14, 2013.

Their intimate wedding did away with several traditions – the pair choosing to marry at Emily’s parents’ house and celebrate with 34 guests at Circa in St Kilda. “We wanted to celebrate our day with close friends and family,” says 34 year-old Emily. “We didn’t want a formal or stuffy affair.”

A champagne afternoon tea was held after the ceremony with wedding cake so Emily’s grandparents, unable to attend the dinner, were included.

Other than a thank you from Dean, speeches were skipped, as well as the first dance. “We only had a photographer for the ceremony and then provided digital cameras to allow our guests to be the photographers on the night.”

A mutual love of football and a shared birthday were initially commonalities that brought Emily and Dean, 38, together. It was a sporting bet that helped choose the venue for their wedding dinner. “The first time Dean and I met we made a bet on our two football teams (Collingwood and Geelong),” recalls Emily. “The loser had to buy dinner at the winner’s choice of restaurant – I lost and Dean chose Circa.”

“My sister took on an unofficial bridesmaid role and helped me with all the organising,” prasies Emily.

Emily’s initial searches for a wedding gown proved disappointing. “After a weekend in Melbourne of trying on every dress I could find and not loving any of them, I went home to Brisbane dejected. But then I was surfing the net and found this J Crew gown online.”

“We spent two days leading up to the wedding decorating the house,” says Emily. “My dad even took a go at making pompoms for bunting.”

Photos courtesy of Dreamlife Photography.