Laidback coastal-luxe for Olivia and Luke's Sergeants' Mess wedding

92 guests were present for Olivia and Luke’s January 12, 2023, wedding at Sergeants’ Mess, Mosman. The day was captured perfectly by Ben Newnam Photography.

When Luke, reality star of The Block and Love Island fame, decided to propose to Olivia, he knew a cookie-cutter proposal wasn’t on the cards. “Luke asked me to marry him underwater while we were scuba-diving in Byron Bay,” explains Olivia. “It was phenomenal. He got his diving license especially, as diving is an important passion of mine. Underwater is one of my happiest places, so I love that he chose there to ask me.”

After initially considering Byron Bay and South Coast locations for their celebration, Olivia and Luke eventually opted for a Sydney wedding, making the logistics of the day more manageable with their baby daughter. Sergeants’ Mess was the first venue the couple saw, and they instantly fell in love with the high-luxury ambience and sweeping coastal views.

On the morning of the wedding, Olivia prepared in Sydney’s Albert Hotel. The bride chose a classic, elegant strapless gown by Melbourne designer Mariana Hardwick paired with a chic up-do and understated make-up. “We wanted every element of our wedding day to reflect a high-luxury take on the beach lifestyle,” explains Olivia.

A close family friend chauffeured Olivia, her sister, and her baby daughter to Clifford Gardens for pre-wedding photographs. Olivia and Luke chose to have their couple’s photography prior to the wedding so that they could focus on the festivities later on.

“If I could recommend only one of our vendors, it would have to be Ben Newnam Photography,” says Olivia. “He was so incredible. People didn’t even know he was taking photos most of the time which made for great candid shots. After the wedding, he had the photos to us within a few weeks. Ben was such a great find; he made the whole experience more memorable.”

The ceremony took place underneath a beautiful, old tree on the lawn at Sergents’ Mess. After vows were exchanged, the celebration seamlessly flowed on with a summer menu by the venue’s culinary team. Seafood and champagne complemented the coastal aesthetic of the day — “There was not one complaint! Sergeants’ Mess catered a wonderful wedding feast.” remembers Olivia.

After a showstopping first dance, Olivia, Luke, and their guests celebrated with a combination of old-school tunes and modern remixes. “It all went so quickly,” says Olivia. “I couldn’t believe it!”

After initially considering a Byron Bay or South Coast wedding, we realised that, with a baby, it was easy to find a local venue in Sydney. Sergeants’ Mess was the first one we went to see and we just loved it. It had that high-luxury feel to it with stunning ocean views. We also loved that the venue had a lot of beautiful greenery surrounding it. The coordination and culinary teams at Sergeants’ Mess went all out to make our day perfect.