Photo Credits: Translucent Photography
Sometimes the best love stories begin in the most ordinary places.
Not at a glamorous party or over dinner. Not with fireworks or grand gestures.
Just a bus stop in Wollongong.
Jess was waiting for a bus to head to a family dinner when a stranger walked up and asked, “You’re Jessica, right?”
It was Elle.
The two had been introduced online by a mutual friend after both confessed they wanted to meet more queer friends, but this was the first time they’d actually met. What started as a conversation about engineering, laser sharks (still apparently very cool) and university somehow continued all the way onto the train. In fact, they talked so much they were shushed in the quiet carriage.
Before the journey was over, they’d discovered they were living in the very same university accommodation building—only one floor apart.
A week later they had their first date.
They’ve been inseparable ever since.
Six years later, after years of dreaming about travelling to Scotland together, they found themselves hiking through the darkness at 3am on the Isle of Skye, chasing sunrise at the iconic Old Man of Storr. As golden light stretched across the mountains, Jess dropped to one knee.
Elle said yes.
Then, proving these two were always perfectly in sync, she reached into her own pocket, pulled out another ring and proposed right back.
If that’s not the perfect beginning to a wedding story, we don’t know what is.
When it came time to choose a venue, they wanted somewhere that felt just as special.
“We loved the feeling of Eleven Eighty with all the little details and character it has. We also really loved being able to get ready on site and have the day before and morning after.”
That extra time together is something we often hear couples mention after their wedding. Instead of rushing from place to place, they settle in. Friends and family arrive. Decorations slowly come together. There’s time to breathe.
For Jess and Elle, fourteen of their closest family and friends stayed onsite, turning their wedding into more than just a single day.
One of the many things that we love about this wedding were the little styling details, that made this day uniquely theirs: The rolled up newspaper article about Elle and Jess’s wedding on the South Coast, the mismatched glassware that guests got to keep and take home, the opportunity to take candid polaroid photos.
The celebrations began long before the ceremony.
The train carriage quickly became bridesmaid headquarters, filled with snacks, drinks, laughter and plenty of excitement while everyone got ready together.
“The vibes: HIGH! Getting ready in the train carriage was so fun. We had some snacks and drinks in there while we got ready and it was very relaxed.”
November turned on one of those perfect South Coast days where everything simply works. The willow tree was in full leaf, the gardens were blooming, and Jess and Elle’s colourful floral styling looked right at home against the heritage backdrop.
Their ceremony beneath the willow tree was beautifully personal, but perhaps our favourite moment came immediately afterwards.
As Bella Strings played Concerning Hobbits, the newly married couple walked hand in hand across to sign their marriage certificate.
“My favourite part of the day was as soon as we were officially married, having Concerning Hobbits play on the string quartet, walking over to sign the papers at that little table, and getting to sit down next to my wife. Couldn’t wipe the smiles off our faces.”
It’s those little moments that often become the biggest memories.
Their styling embraced colour from beginning to end, with flowers from Under the Willow Floral Design taking centre stage throughout the ceremony before seamlessly finding a second life inside the marquee for the reception.
It’s a fantastic tip for couples planning their own day. Because the ceremony and reception spaces at Eleven Eighty are only a short walk apart, florists can often repurpose ceremony arrangements, allowing couples to make the most of their floral investment while creating a beautiful flow between the two spaces.
As the afternoon rolled into evening, guests spread across the venue. Some challenged each other to lawn games while others gathered for drinks before making their way into the marquee for a relaxed banquet-style dinner.
Then the music started.
“We also had the BEST time on the dance floor.”
The dance floor quickly filled, but the undisputed star of the night wasn’t one of the newlyweds.
It was Jess’s 86-year-old Nana.
When she needed a quick rest, she simply claimed the white throne beside the dance floor, watched the celebrations unfold, then jumped straight back into the action.
It’s exactly the sort of memory that never appears on the wedding run sheet but somehow becomes one of the stories everyone tells afterwards.
When we asked if Eleven Eighty lived up to their expectations, their answer couldn’t have been more enthusiastic.
“Absolutely! As soon as we arrived things were already set up (even some bubbles haha!) and we were immediately shown around. We did get extra lucky that the weather was perfect—the willow tree and flowers all together turned out so beautiful and the reception space was perfect for our families.”
They also shared one piece of advice we’d encourage every future couple to consider.
If your budget allows, book the videographer.
Photos beautifully capture a moment in time, but hearing the laughter, the speeches, the music and the voices of the people you love is something entirely different.
“The only other thing I would have done is probably getting some more videos. We didn’t hire a videographer—whoops! I look back on it so fondly.”
Finally, when we asked if they’d recommend Eleven Eighty to future couples, their words reminded us why we do what we do.
“When my partner and I came to tour Eleven Eighty last November, we knew instantly that it was for us. We had the best time. Not only was it lovely getting to spend a bit of extra time with friends and family the day before, but being able to set up the space exactly how we wanted was great. Our family loved the lawn games and dancing, our bridesmaids loved the train carriage, and we loved it all. Big thank you to Dean, Clare and Rich. I’m so thankful you have this space. It means the world to us.”
Every wedding at Eleven Eighty tells a different story.
Jess and Elle’s started at a bus stop, found its next chapter on a mountain in Scotland, and culminated in a colourful celebration filled with laughter, family, Hobbits, dancing and one unforgettable Nana.
We couldn’t have imagined a better beginning to married life.
Photography by Translucent Photography
