Love thy neighbour: Amy & Dan’s outdoor wedding

It took an interstate holiday for two love birds who grew up in the same suburb to finally meet.

Amy Hastings, 29, and Dan Hallisey, 34, were raised in the same Melbourne town but didn’t cross paths until both were on holiday in Byron Bay, NSW. “I don’t think that at the time either of us expected that we would be so perfect for each other,” beams Amy.

Fast track a few years and Dan proposed while on a hill in Ireland. They weren’t alone on this hill, however. Their life-changing moment was witnessed by small two goats. Amy says she was so shocked at the proposal that she forgot to say yes.

The couple chose an outdoor wedding for their big day on November 22, 2013. “The day itself was perfect,” explains Amy. “I didn’t even fall down the stone stairs of the amphitheatre that made my aisle!” Her most memorable moment? “Dan doing a good old fist pump once we were made husband and wife made me probably the happiest person ever,” she laughs.

Their reception at the Playroom in Fitzroy was the ideal setting for their taste. “(We loved) the whitewashed brick walls and the high wooden ceilings, along with the beautiful architecture of the windows,” says Amy. “I have always loved the outdoors and wanted to feel like we were bringing nature inside.”

Photos by BriannaKate Photography.

The couple chose the flowers a few months in advance. “We wanted something colourful and not too formal so putting them together ourselves worked well for us,” says Amy.

“I love colour but didn’t want to go overboard so we had the bright wild flower and the bridesmaids and I had a pop of colour each with our shoes,” says Amy.

“Before the first dance was even through the whole dance floor was full,” laughs Amy.