Florence and Carlos’ autumn-inspired, Cockle Bay wedding

By:
Content Team
/
Updated on: March 16, 2022

The night Florence Altarejos met Carlos Gabila clubbing at Sydney’s Kings Cross, it may have well been a ‘blind’ first date.

“The club was really dark so it was hard for me to have proper ‘once-over look’ but I did remember he had a sweet smile,” laughs Sydney bride Florence, 31, of Carlos, 38. A Facebook friend request and a game of golf later, and Florence says, “the rest is history!”

As the eldest daughter of a traditional Filipino family, the couple’s Cockle Bay wedding on April 24, 2016, became a huge international family reunion for Florence, with a whopping 80 friends and relatives flying in from the Philippines for the big day.

“This involved airport pick-ups, a tourist designated driver, pre-wedding dinners and catch-ups and, the logistics challenge of gathering everyone in one place for the bus pick-up,” recalls the bride.

Dressed in a gorgeous fit-and-flare gown by Rajo Laurel, Project Runway Phillipines judge, Florence married Carlos before 200 guests at St Mary’s Church in North Sydney. An autumn-inspired reception at Dockside, Darling Harbour, followed, where speeches were short and a band, as well as Dockside’s in-house DJ, kept the crowd on the dance floor most of the night.

“Our wedding was not your typical Australian wedding,” smiles Florence. “But all the effort was worth it because we had the best time, and everyone had the best time.”

Photos courtesy of Luisa Dingal Blanco.

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Bright red and orange blooms, including the boys’ boutonnieres, were arranged by a close friend of the bride.

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In contrast to fiery autumn colours, Florence’s bridesmaids wore teal coloured evening gowns with mismatched necklines.

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Photographer Luisa Dingal Blanco captured some stunning photos of the couple at Sydney Harbour.

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The three-tier naked cake was made up of white and dark chocolate and coffee flavours.

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Featured Suppliers:

Bomboniere Bomboniere: Paula Sun

Brides Accessories Brides Accessories: Family heirloom

Brides Gown Brides Gown: Rajo Laurel

Brides Shoes Brides Shoes: Jimmy Choo

Bridesmaid Shoes Bridesmaid Shoes: Own shoes

Bridesmaids Accessories Bridesmaids Accessories: Their own

Bridesmaids Dresses Bridesmaids Dresses: Studio Fabrics

Celebrant Celebrant: Father Bong Pamintuan

Ceremony Music Ceremony Music: Lady of Dolours Choir

Ceremony Venue Ceremony Venue: St. Mary's Church

Entertainment Entertainment: Song Division , Dockside in-house DJ

Flowers Flowers: Paula Sun

Gift Registry Gift Registry: Wishing well

Grooms Attire Grooms Attire: Hugo Boss

Grooms Shoes Grooms Shoes: Hugo Boss

Hair Hair: Cala Salon

Invitations Invitations: The Write Designs

Makeup Makeup: TeeKay Makeup

Pageboy Attire Pageboy Attire: Studio Fabrics

Photographer Photographer: Luisa Dingal Blanco Photography and Film

Reception Venue Reception Venue: Dockside

Rings Rings: Family heirloom

Transport Transport: JC Limousine

Wedding Night Venue Wedding Night Venue: Park Hyatt Sydney

Wedding Planner Wedding Planner: Darlene Bender