Image: Laura Goodall

So, when it came to planning their wedding, the couple knew exactly where they wanted to be: on her family’s property, surrounded by gum trees, black cockatoos, and the distant hum of ocean waves. “It was never a question,” Neridah shares. “Having our wedding in Australia was the only thing we were set on. I’ve been in the U.S. for almost nine years, and I wanted my American friends and Rob’s family to experience this part of our lives.”

The result? A NYC-meets-Australia wedding that embodied relaxed elegance, effortless style, and a deep connection to home.

A Stormy, Perfectly ‘Us’ Proposal

The couple’s love story started at Hirshleifers, one of America’s most storied luxury retailers, where a mutual friend insisted they were ‘the same person’ and needed to meet. Months of friendship turned into love, and eight years later, Rob proposed in a moment as spontaneous as it was meaningful. While visiting her family in Terranora, Rob insisted they check the surf—despite an incoming storm. “I thought he was being dramatic,” Neridah laughs. “He tricked me into driving to Dreamtime Beach, our favourite, under the excuse of picking up a surfboard leash.” With the beach deserted and the storm rolling in, Rob got down on one knee. “I was in a worn-in t-shirt, vintage Adidas shorts, and probably had salt in my hair,” she says. “It was private, low-key, and a little funny—so ‘us.’”

The Wedding Vision: A Laid-Back, Australian Affair:

The couple’s wedding was designed to feel like an elevated Aussie BBQ—intimate, natural, and entirely personal. With 40 guests, the ceremony took place at her parents’ home, styled with terracotta pots filled with native florals by Flowers Gold Coast, while the reception unfolded at Tommy’s Currumbin, an intimate oceanfront restaurant. Instead of a traditional structure, the reverse-wedding format flipped expectations: the ceremony and party came first, followed by a relaxed rehearsal dinner the next evening. “It actually worked out perfectly,” Neridah shares. “By the time we had dinner, everyone had bonded, and it was so much more relaxed.” She handled all the planning herself, working closely with trusted vendors and friends to bring her vision to life.

Design to feel like an elevated Aussie BBQ

Florals: Flowers Gold Coast

A Wedding Wardrobe Rooted in Personal Style: For a stylist, a wedding wardrobe is more than just a dress—it’s a story told through fashion.

Look 1: Khaite for Getting Ready: She started the day in a sheer Khaite slip dress—a pre-loved find from The RealReal. “It was perfect for the heat,” she says.

Khaite Slip Dress

Look 2: Courtney Zheng for the Ceremony: For the ceremony, she wore a minimalist, high-slit Courtney Zheng gown, customised to lower the slit and close the open side. “I found it while scrolling online and knew immediately,” she says. She paired it with The Row chocolate flats in white, her Sophie Bille Brahe engagement ring, and a long veil she sourced herself.

Neridah wearing a minimal, high slit courtney zheng design

neridah’s long and elegant veil

Look 3: Alaïa Mini for the After-Party: Her after-party dress? A vivid cyan Alaïa mini, panic-purchased a week before. “My best friend flew it in from LA, and I’m so glad I went with it—it was a moment.”

neridah wearing an Alaïa cyan mini dress

neridah wearing an Alaïa cyan mini dress

Look 4: Alaïa for the Rehearsal Dinner: For the next evening at Tommy’s, she wore an Alaïa knitted set from the runway, paired with matching Alaïa heels and Alexis Bittar gold cuffs.

“I wasn’t going to wear the arm puffs at first,” she admits. “But I’m so glad I did—they completed the look.”

Alaïa from head to toe

Alaïa puff details paired with Alexis Bittar gold cuff jewellery

The Groom’s Custom P. Johnson Suits Rob kept his looks equally sharp yet relaxed, opting for custom P. Johnson suits. For the ceremony, he chose a navy suit with a silk shirt and Morjas loafers, while for the rehearsal dinner, he switched to a black suit with a knit polo and deck sneakers.

His parents surprised him with a personal touch—an embroidered message inside the suit reading, ‘Love always, Mum & Dad.’

rob’s Custom P. Johnson suit

rob’s relaxed black suit, knit polo and deck sneakers.

embroidered message from rob’s mum & dad

A Ceremony Rooted in Connection

The couple had already married in New York a few months earlier, making this celebration feel even more personal. Their celebrant, Emily Burch, delivered a deeply intimate ceremony that wove together their love story with a sense of warmth and humour. “We wanted it to feel like a friend sharing our story, not something overly scripted,” Neridah says. The ceremony music was equally meaningful: Van Morrison’s ‘Into the Mystic’ and ‘Bright Side of the Road’ played as they walked down the aisle. A spontaneous moment stole the show—her young nieces, the flower girls, got stage fright just before their big entrance. “We ended up walking down the aisle together, hand in hand,” she recalls. “It was actually more special than we originally planned.”

Neridah and rob’s deeply intimate ceremony

Rob, Neridah and their 2 nieces

A Coastal Feast and Standout Speeches:

The reception was all about good food, great cocktails, and heartfelt speeches. The couple collaborated with Joy & Joy Catering and Anyday Hospitality to create a menu centred on fresh seafood and unfussy, delicious flavours. The standouts? Fresh oysters topped with roe, bug rolls that disappeared in seconds, The crowd-favourite SameSame spicy margarita.

Fresh oysters topped with roe

Catering & Cocktails: Joy & Joy Catering, Anyday Hospitality

Tommy’s Margarita’s

But the real highlight? The speeches. “We knew they’d be good, but they were incredible,” Neridah says. “Hearing our family and friends reflect on our journey was so emotional and surreal.” As the night wrapped up, a surprise rain shower had guests huddling under the tent, dancing barefoot in the warm drizzle. “It was such a moment—laid-back, intimate, and completely us,” she shares.

Moments of heartfelt speeches

family & friends celebrating Neridah & Rob

Advice for Future Brides:

When asked for advice, Neridah keeps it simple: Be present. “It goes so quickly—soak it all in.” Start with the big vendors. “Venue, catering, hair, and makeup book up fast—secure those first.” Delegate. “My husband and I split tasks based on our strengths, and it made everything feel manageable.” Trust your gut. “I second-guessed my after-party dress and almost didn’t wear the Alaïa—but it ended up being my favourite look.”

family & friends celebrating Neridah & Rob

family & friends celebrating Neridah & Rob

The Wedding Dream Team:

Photography & Videography: Laura Goodall Venue: Tommy’s Currumbin Florals: Flowers Gold Coast Dress Designers: Courtney Zheng, Alaïa, Khaite Accessories: Alexis Bittar, Sophie Bille Brahe, The Row, Proenza Schouler Groom’s Attire: P. Johnson, Morjas Loafers, Cartier Wedding Band, Rebus Signet Ring Hair & Makeup: Elise Ann Hair, Candice September (MUA) Catering & Cocktails: Joy & Joy Catering, Anyday Hospitality