Vision to reality: How Carter & Ko brought this wedding to life
Steph from Carter & Ko Events shares her initial vision deck, offering insight into her planning process.
When lovebirds Rachael and Cameron approached Steph from Carter & Ko, they had a clear brief for their wedding day: great food, flowing wine, and a whole lot of good vibes with their favourite people.
We met with Steph to get into the nitty-gritty of how Carter & Ko Events turned Rachael and Cameron’s experience-first vision into a carefully curated mood board (sneak peek above!)—and then brought it to life in a seamless, colour-rich celebration at Port Phillip Estate.
This stunning wedding was photographed by Dan Brannan.
Steph, firstly, we adore your work at Carter & Ko Events. Can you tell us a bit about this initial brief?
“Thank you! For this wedding the initial brief was: we love gathering our people, and we love food and wine.
“They wanted good company, great food and wine, and a fun, relaxed day where they could just enjoy their friends’ company.
“It was honestly so real. It wasn’t about over-the-top aesthetics—it was about the experience.”
Great food and wine? Sign us up. How did those initial talks guide your planning approach?
“Rachael put a lot of trust in us… because we really understood the brief, we knew exactly who to present to her.
“At every stage of bringing on a new vendor, we encouraged Rachael to connect with them—just to make sure they were the right fit.
“That rapport is everything. It’s what creates the vibe on the day.
We managed every moving part—from dietary requirements and RSVPs to coordinating transport to and from the venue, as well as the recovery day—all seamlessly through the wedding website we set up.”
The concept:
The execution:
How would you describe the overall aesthetic?
“It was modern elegant. We used beautiful tones of champagne, burnt orange and ivory… and then layered in florals with pops of pinks and reds.
“The venue itself was already stunning—black, moody, very sleek—so our job was to bring in colour while still really suiting the space.”
The concept:
The execution:
Tell us about the florals and finer details!
“Nina (the red rose) was the hero. Our florist said, ‘We must have Nina—she’s going to be the hero,’ and he just tied everything together.
“They’re incredible with colour—we give them a vision board, and they curate something even better than we imagined.
“We had full reign of stationery and really went outside of the norm. Each guest had a personalised menu with their name—it wasn’t just a printed menu, it was a full custom stationery experience.”
Walk us through the flow of the day.
“It was very relaxed from the beginning. The couple got ready on-site—champagne, music, just enjoying the moment.
“One of the most beautiful moments was Cam’s ‘groomswoman’—his late best friend’s wife—standing in that role. It meant so much to him.
“From there, everything was seamless—ceremony on the balcony, canapés in the cellar door, then into reception and straight into the celebrations.
“The reception space was designed so guests could move—dining at one end, dancing at the other. You don’t want to sit in the same spot all night. This allowed people to flow, mingle, and really enjoy the space.”
The concept:
The execution:
Were there any challenges on the day?
“We had a delayed start because we had to work within the venue’s timing—but we just adapted. There were no hiccups. We managed the entire run sheet, so the couple didn’t have to deal with anything. That’s our role—we communicate with everyone so the couple can just enjoy the day.”
The concept:
The execution:
You also planned a recovery event?
“Yes—and we repurposed all the wedding flowers for the next day. It’s about maximising budget but also extending the experience—it became a beautiful two-day celebration. We even reused suppliers—the DJ became acoustic for the recovery day.”
The concept:
The execution:
What made this wedding stand out to you?
“It was about bringing an experience to life—not just a look. They trusted us completely, and that allowed us to create something that felt effortless, personal and full of energy.”
Carter & Ko Events
Carter & Ko is Melbourne's trusted wedding planner and stylist, known for delivering beautifully considered weddings with calm, precision and care. Led by Steph, we work closely with you, your suppliers and your venue from first consultation through to the final moment, so your wedding day unfolds exactly as you imagined, without you lifting a finger.
Rachael and Cameron’s wedding day as it happened, photographed by Dan Brannan.
