The Bride Wore a Drop-Waist Gown and Veil of Italian Lace for Her Wedding in a 100-Year-Old Garden

May at Gabbinbar has a particular clarity to it — soft light, mild air, and gardens that feel calm and open. Into this setting arrived Sophia King, her drop-waist gown catching the midday sun. “Max and I were after a European garden-inspired wedding,” she said. “We felt that Gabbinbar could deliver this vision whilst providing exceptional service.”

What unfolded was a relaxed and thoughtfully detailed celebration — a long lunch surrounded by greenery, understated styling, and a focus on being fully present with the people they love.

For Sophia and Max, choosing May was deliberate. “May is the PERFECT time of year. It was honestly dream weather, not too hot or too cold. It was important to us that the gents were comfortable in their suits.”

Sophia adds, “We really just wanted to maximise and enjoy the whole day so having Gabbinbar set everything for us was super important. I wanted both my mum and Max's to just enjoy the morning in The Retreat and not have any stress.”

The decision to host a luncheon shaped much of the day’s styling. “Deciding to make our wedding a lunchtime wedding was the best decision,” she said. “I really felt like we could get creative with the layout and styling as it was during the day. We incorporated a lot of fruit styling and pearls to help add some depth to our florals.”

Their aesthetic leaned toward simplicity with thoughtful detail, and the signage became one of the most distinctive elements. “We were trying to create a minimal but effective look. I think we achieved this with our linen sign over the hedge, our cake/tiramisu tower and additional fruit styling. Our linen sign incorporated many different florals and fruits at the base of a 12m sign, I found this to be very effective yet affordable.”

Fabric signage has become a defining feature at Gabbinbar for couples seeking texture and impact without visual heaviness — an approach explored further in our recent article on elevated fabric signage.

Sophia’s bridal look balanced structure and softness. Her Made With Love gown combined a drop waist with a clean neck scarf — modern, refined, and easy to wear. “I really felt like this suited the European garden party feel we were trying to achieve.”

Her accessories followed the same direction. “I wanted simple yet classic earrings so opted for some gold buttons with pearls in the centre, I bought these from Aje. My veil had some Italian lace details which I loved as this was bit of a hat tip to Max's heritage. My shoes were also from Aje and they were their own moment. They featured a bow with a buble like heel.”

Her bridesmaids wore one-shoulder black gowns — a streamlined contrast to the surrounding greenery. Max wore a velvet tuxedo jacket, offering a subtle nod to evening formality despite the daytime setting.

The reception unfolded in the Conservatory, where guests shared a generous, Mediterranean-inspired lunch. “The food was phenomenal! We opted for the Med feasting and it was perfect for our guests.” The tiramisu tower quickly became a standout feature. “The tiramisu tower was a massive hit.”

As afternoon eased into evening, the couple surprised their guests with live music. “We are so glad we booked a band to surprise our guests with. We did a cocktail reset, and the band started playing following our first dance outside on the chessboard. We felt like this worked perfectly and the guests re-entered the Conservatory to a band which really set the tone for the rest of the night.”

Some moments left a deeper imprint. “So hard to choose just one. The processional was very special and emotional, along with our first dance and the dedication of my bouquet to my mum. The tiramisu tower was also just perfect, it was executed better than I imagined it would be.”

Later, the couple stepped back to take in the scene. “Other than marrying my best friend. To share our wedding day with our friends and family. It truly was the best day of our lives, and we are so grateful we have loved ones to share it with. Max and I also took a special moment to take it all in and it was one of the best things we could have done.”

Now, the Kings look ahead with a quiet sense of excitement. “We are really looking forward to starting our life together as the Kings. We can't wait to travel some more together and just enjoy being married.”

Their day unfolded with intention and ease — a garden setting, shared food, thoughtful design choices, and the steady presence of the people who mattered most.

More from the day: View the full collection of images that tell the story here.