Here at Fashion Journal, we make no secret of our love of weddings. We’re suckers for a bit of romance and have a soft spot for weddings that do things differently, whether it’s a Las Vegas elopement, a tropical getaway or a Town Hall celebration.
Phoenix Ryan and Max Knight had two weddings. First, they eloped at Sure Thing Chapel while on a road trip in the U.S., embracing the over-the-top spontaneity of Las Vegas. Later on, they travelled back to Australia and had a classic ceremony and reception at Max’s family home on the Mornington Peninsula. “Our first wedding was just for us,” Phoenix says of their decision to elope. “It was intimate, deeply personal and allowed us to be completely present with one another, free from distractions.”
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Following their ceremony, the couple took photos in a classic, red convertible and then went back to their Airbnb, where they indulged in cheap champagne, chicken wings and sat outside rereading their vows. “Later, we wandered down to the Las Vegas Strip and spent the night celebrating, just the two of us,” Phoenix tells me. They both thrifted their outfits in L.A and Palm Springs and Phoenix spent the night before sewing two lace veils together.
However, proving to marry legally in the U.S. proved difficult. This partially led to their decision to get married back in Australia but it wasn’t the only reason. “It was about extending that love and energy to the people who had supported us along the way,” Phoenix says. “More than anything, it was important to me that my family saw me fully, exactly as I am, expressing myself in my truest form, without hesitation. [It] wasn’t just about love between partners, it was about self-love, too.”
How did you meet your partner and how did the proposal happen?
My partner and I met on the evening of the 2019 AFL Grand Final, an event I had no interest in. Yet, somehow, I found myself right in the thick of it – streets overflowing with rowdy crowds, pubs reeking of Bundy and cheap beer and hyper-masculine energy everywhere. The irony wasn’t just that I had ended up there but that this was where I’d meet him.
That night, my friends and I headed to the Corner Hotel in Richmond. When we finally got inside, the pub was packed like a tin of sardines. Amid the chaos, mutual friends introduced us and an instant crush developed. Later, I posted a photo of us on my Instagram story. Someone replied, ‘My high school crush’. I responded, ‘I think I’m in love’. I couldn’t stop thinking about him for days until I found out that, at the time, he identified as heterosexual and was in a long-term relationship with a woman. Sigh – another crush ruined.
Fast forward five years and we were engaged. Our proposal wasn’t a grand gesture but an intimate conversation, something we both consider a strength in our relationship. My best friend was there, watching as we navigated our way toward the decision to get married, not through a single question but through the kind of chaotic, deeply honest dialogue that defines us.
I had been planning to propose, unsure of how he truly felt, since every time I brought up marriage, he either became reserved or pivoted the conversation. Little did I know, he’d been planning to propose as well. Eventually, he admitted he couldn’t keep a secret from me and that confession became the catalyst for the conversation that led us here.
What venue did you choose for your ceremony and reception?
For our first wedding in Vegas, we chose a place called Sure Thing Chapel. The name alone felt like it captured the perfect mix of cliché and charm. It had that eclectic, vintage aesthetic we wanted, complete with a red convertible straight out of an old movie. After the ceremony, we headed back to our Airbnb, ordered cheap champagne and chicken wings and sat outside rereading our vows, taking it all in. Later, we wandered down to the Las Vegas Strip and spent the night celebrating, just the two of us.
Our second wedding took place at Max’s family home on the Mornington Peninsula. We wanted the day to feel relaxed, skipping the usual formalities. The ceremony was held in the backyard and the reception flowed into the front, creating an intimate, familiar atmosphere. Being in a place that already felt like home made the whole day feel effortless and personal.
What was the intention behind having two separate weddings?
Our first wedding was just for us. It was intimate, deeply personal and allowed us to be completely present with one another, free from distractions. It was a moment to celebrate our love with just the two of us. However, we didn’t legalise our marriage in the U.S. The process turned out to be more of a headache than we anticipated but that only led us to plan our second wedding, where we could make it official.
The high we felt after Vegas and the overwhelming love between us was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. That feeling made us realise we wanted to share a moment like that with all our loved ones.
Our second wedding wasn’t just about legalising our marriage, it was about extending that love and energy to the people who had supported us along the way. More than anything, it was important to me that my family saw me fully, exactly as I am, expressing myself in my truest form, without hesitation. This wedding wasn’t just about love between partners, it was about self-love, too. Standing there, surrounded by the people who mattered most, we felt completely seen, accepted and celebrated for exactly who we are and that meant everything.
Where was your outfit from and what was the process of sourcing it?
Our Vegas outfits were sourced during our road trip through California. Max found his three-piece suit and shoes at a thrift store in downtown L.A. We were shocked at how well the suit fit. It had a subtle flare at the bottom, which was perfect for the Vegas wedding. I found my slip dress in a vintage store in Palm Springs, where we also picked up a handful of pearls to layer around my neck.
I was determined to recreate a lace hooded veil, so I bought two separate veils and spent the night before the wedding cutting them up and super-gluing them together. I also found a pair of sheer gloves covered in silver sequins, which we spent all night picking off. My white stockings were from Walmart and my brown knee-high boots were the only thing I had packed from home.
For our second wedding, we sourced our outfits in Melbourne. Max had a suit made by Oscar Hunt Tailors and I found my dress at The Bridal Curator, a made-to-order piece by New York designer Jenny Yoo.
In terms of beauty, tell us about the look you went for on the day.
For the Vegas wedding, I wanted finger waves, a style that fit perfectly with the vintage aesthetic we were going for. I had booked a stylist but they cancelled the day before. Determined not to let it ruin the vibe, I spent hours watching TikTok and YouTube tutorials, attempting the look myself. In the end, I was pretty happy with how it turned out.
In Vegas, I found an incredible makeup artist, gave her full creative control and she nailed the look. For our second wedding, I wanted to refine the style I had originally envisioned for Vegas, so I found a hair and makeup artist who was able to bring this look to life.
What kind of food and entertainment did you have on the day?
Our wedding at Max’s family home was made even more special by the people who helped bring it to life. The catering was done by an incredibly talented friend who, despite never having catered for such a large event before, delivered the most unforgettable spread. We spent months designing the menu together, carefully choosing dishes that felt abundant, warm and communal. When the day came, I was blown away by how beautifully it all came together. The grazing-style feast featured big, colourful salads, whole roasted fish, antipasto platters, barbecued lamb, fresh focaccia and delicate tarts.
For entertainment, we were incredibly lucky to be surrounded by so many talented people. One of our closest friends, along with my brother-in-law, performed a beautiful rendition of Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Time After Time’, inspired by Triple One’s Like a Version cover. As the night carried on, our friends who are DJs kept the energy alive, carrying us through to the end. Another dear friend took on the role of our celebrant and MC, guiding the day with warmth and humour and making everything feel effortless.
We kept our wedding cake simple with a white vintage-style sponge from Costco. It wasn’t extravagant but it was delicious, and honestly, it felt perfect for the day. Keeping this wedding budget-friendly was important to me and this small detail was a reminder that what mattered most wasn’t how much we spent but the meaning behind it all.
How did you capture the event?
Both weddings were captured on a variety of film cameras. There’s something so special about film and the way it captures not just an image but a feeling and fleeting moment suspended in time. For our second wedding, we also filmed on a Super 8, a choice that felt so right. The grain, the softness, the way it moves – it has a dreamlike quality that perfectly captured the day.
Our photographer in Vegas was CJ Vierra and for Melbourne, we had Cal Foster.
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This article From Vegas to Victoria: A tale of two weddings appeared first on Fashion Journal.
2025-03-06 11:59:00
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