Tiffany & Ricky
October 22, 2023
Tiffany wore a custom Style 8146 from the Cosmobella Collection
How did you meet your spouse?
We met about 12 years ago when we were both competing in IRONMAN. I used to be the editor of an IRONMAN magazine and Ricky saw my picture in that and said to himself, he wanted to meet me.
Tell us about your proposal
RJ and I had been together for years already and we had not spoken about marriage much. I knew I would be with him for the rest of my life. He had bought me the most magnificent ring, a promise ring. We chose it together and the diamond that Saranda, our jeweler, found was filled with fire and such radiant light and that reflects our love, friendship and connection in so many ways. I will be forever mesmerized when I look at it. It is so special to me. Diamonds are pure beauty from the depths of the earth, just like our love.
We were in Paris in November last year and Ricky had oddly been looking to buy stationary. He kept showing me different stationary which, if anyone knows Ricky, is not his thing! We had been recommended a great Pizza place a short walk from the hotel so we booked a table for lunch. We wandered down and sat at a table right in front of a magnificent pizza oven. The same make of pizza oven that now cooks fabulous pizza’s in Blossom.
Anyway I got up to go to the bathroom and put my napkin on my seat. When I came back I sat back down grabbing my napkin, not realising RJ had put an envelope on the seat under the napkin. He looked at me and said “is there something on your seat?" I found the envelope with my name on it, opened it and pulled out a note which was in French. I looked at him and said I don’t speak French! He handed me a second envelope, again with my name on the front. I opened it and it was his proposal to me. We both burst into tears of happiness, I was literally so surprised. He has translated what he wanted to say into French in the first letter.
I felt like the luckiest women to have stolen his heart. We then went to Cartier where he bought me a stunning Cartier LOVE ring.
Tell us about your wedding dress. How was your experience when you were searching for "The One"?
My Dad passed away two years ago, and my mum knew he would have wanted to pay for my dress, so she offered to. My dress was going to mean a lot to me on the day because it represented my dad, so I wanted something to have a touch of glamour about it. It can be daunting walking into a bridal boutique, but The Sposa Group was the opposite, from the moment I stepped in the door at The Sposa Group I was welcomed so warmly, and it felt very comfortable. Then Marianna met me with her warm smile and introduced herself, then took me through to the dresses I had pre-selected to try on. She was fantastic! She was honest and listened to all my feedback as I tried each gown on. When I tried the dress on, I knew this was the one almost immediately. Marianna's expertise in translating what my vision was into slight alterations to the dress design was just spot on. I loved this dress and could not wait for it to arrive.
I received really clear communication of timelines and the process once the dress arrived. The lovely lady who fitted me for alterations leading up to my big day was just fantastic. Everything I explained and pointed out she just knew exactly what to do to make this stunning dress fit me like a glove on the day. I cannot thank Marianna and The Sposa Group team enough...everything was honestly just perfect.
Describe a favourite highlight or two from your wedding day.
My partner had no idea what dress I had chosen. We had both been married previously so we were less traditional than some other couples to the point that Ricky did not call our big day a wedding, it was a lunch with our nearest and dearest. As I mentioned, my dad was no longer with us, so I wanted Ricky and I to walk into the ceremony, which was on The Prince Deck, together. A highlight for me was when Ricky walked into the room I was waiting in and saw me for the first time...he started to cry, and so did I and we hugged one another so tightly...it was a moment I will never forget. He could not believe how stunning I looked, how he loved the dress and was just overwhelmed. The second favorite highlight for me was when we walked into the area where our ceremony was and our guests literally gasped when they saw us, there were not too many dry eyes in the house before the ceremony started.
Do you have any advice for couples currently planning their wedding?
Try not to put too much pressure on yourself. Ultimately this is a day to symbolize and recognize your love. A day to make a lifetime of memories with your nearest and dearest. Enjoy every moment.
| Wedding Dress | The Sposa Group Melbourne |
| Makeup | Ellie Beauty | elliebeauty.com.au |
| Hair | Tracey Watson | @hairbytraceywatson |
| Lashes | @lashdesign |
| Venue | The Prince Deck | @theprincehotel |
| Celebrant | Jo Booth | @jobootheventcelbrant |
| Flowers | Flower Temple | @flowertemplemelbourne and @melbflowermerchant |
| Photographer | John Tsialos Photography | @johntsialosphotography |
| DJ and Music | Chloe Wilson Sounds | @Chloewilsonsounds and Ash Smith | @bakerboysband |
| Candelabra | Weddings of Distinction | @weddingsofdistinction |
| Signage and Stationary | Pink Teapot Letterpress, wedding stationary and signage | @pinkteapot |
| Ring | Paul Bram | @paulbramdiamonds |
