Pop-up Poetry: Emma & Marichi’s DIY North Melbourne Wedding

Written By Jordan Kadell

There are few people I’ll get on a plane with an 11 month old for, but Emma and Marichi are top of that list. They wanted to get married somewhere meaningful with all their favourite people (and makers) present. They found an events space walking distance from their home in North Melbourne and filled it with friends, family, and the finer things, proving their DIY capabilities are nothing short of otherworldly.

Emma and Marichi are owner-operators of North Melbourne favourite cafe and wine bar Lumen. Being long time hospitality legends they’re no stranger to catering events or hosting pop-ups, but executing their wedding was a whole new level of event management. With the help of their friends and family, what they created was truly beautiful and one of the best weddings I’ve ever attended. So how did they do it?

The secret to their DIY success…

  • Hired their friends! Every one of their vendors was someone close to their hearts (and you could feel it)

  • Employed a friend as co-ordinator to assist in sourcing furniture, set up, styling and running the day

  • Kept styling simple and elegant

  • Prioritised food, drink and entertainment (good vibes)

  • Emma was her own florist and took a trip to the Victoria Markets the day before the wedding to source cosmos and poppies for the tables and a bunch of peonies for her bouquet.

  • They hired brass vases and candle holders from Facebook marketplace and styled the space the day prior

  • Table runners and napkins were cut from the same length of fabric from a local supplier on Sydney road

  • Let the food speak for itself as its own styling element

  • Used both inside and outside the venue to keep the use of space fluid

  • Hired the venue for multiple days to ensure they had adequate time for set up and pack down

Cakes, cookies, pickles, cheese and bread on a trestle table with striped table cloth

Food preparation by Hannah Bradley and Charlotte Vermeersch. Photo by Arianna Harry.

Food styling as the hero – a literal visual feast!

You don’t have to choose just one type of cake! Emma & Marichi’s friend and talented baker Hannah Bradley baked them several cakes as well as cookies so guests could select from sweet or savoury right from the get go (best lemon meringue pie of my life). With the help of Charlotte Vermeesch’s pickling talents and excellent taste in cheese they created a beautiful grazing a table to feed their guests before snacks were served. Packed with vibrant pickles, oversized segments of cheese, and whole bread loaves and baguettes. Guests had to get in there and rip the bread themselves which created connection and conversation as guests literally broke bread together.

Guests had to get in there and rip the bread themselves which created connection and conversation as guests literally broke bread together.

Snacks & dinner by Manze

Emma & Marichi chose to use catering by their favourite local restaurant Manze, just around the corner in North Melbourne. Manze’s cuisine is inspired by the island of Mauritius, soulful and bursting with flavour. Snacks were all finger foods that were really easy to eat standing with a drink in the other hand, and so delicious that it took no enticing for the guests to get seated for the main meal. Food was prepared off site, then heated and served with a pop up kitchen at the reception.

Food by Manze. Photography by Arianna Harry

What they wish they’d done differently?

Nothing. Every element was hand picked by Emma and Marichi themselves. Every vendor, including Wilsn who sang them down the aisle and during their first dance, their MC and celebrant were all close friends (hello). It was an event that could only be created by them because it was made with the help of people they love. It was a true reflection of their relationship, their values, and their idea of a good time (including a late night snack of sausage rolls, yum!)

Their Vendors:

Jordan Kadell
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