Talia & Giulian

A wedding with a Showtime touch

Even though Talia works in the industry and knows all the best venues across Melbourne, Showtime Events Centre was always the clear choice. “It’s dark, moody, magical… the ultimate party venue.”

She planned the entire wedding in just six months – armed with 14 spreadsheet tabs and a meticulous eye for detail. “Being a planner definitely helped – I had everything mapped out.”

Both ceremony and reception were held onsite, and her entrance was nothing short of iconic. As the curtains opened, live drummers and singers from Speranza Entertainment launched into The Circle of Life from The Lion King. “It was everything I imagined – dramatic, powerful, theatrical. That moment of walking in, seeing Giulian’s face, and hearing the music… I’ll never forget it.”

While guests headed to nearby bars between the ceremony and reception, the Showtime team flipped the space in under an hour. “Ella, Jake, Declan – they all went above and beyond. It felt effortless.”

Jungle glamour and bold colour

Talia’s vision was anything but traditional. Inspired by The Lion King, she imagined a wedding bursting with energy, theatre and bold colour – think pinks, purples, and burnt oranges.

Shane from Botanics of Melbourne didn’t just deliver – he defined the palette and brought it to life with florals that perfectly matched her theme.

The creative flair didn’t stop there. Talia curated most styling elements herself using Etsy and Pinterest. A standout detail? The bomboniere – mini Nutella jars with personalised labels featuring each guest’s name and the message Spread the Love, created by The Design Bar.

Moments to remember

While the day was filled with colour, sound and celebration, Talia made sure to carve out space for stillness and meaning.

One of the most emotional moments came that morning, during a special reveal with her Nanna. “Seeing her face was absolutely priceless,” Talia says. “She’s no longer with us, so when I reflect on those photos and videos now… it means the world to have shared that moment with one of my favourite people.”

Another unforgettable memory? Including her puppy, Nala, in the ceremony. “Showtime gave us the ability to have her walk down the aisle as my flower girl – and just as The Circle of Life finished, my Maid of Honour lifted her up just like the movie!” The perfect Lion King moment.

Of course, not everything was quiet. Talia had one more surprise in store – a secret fake final song. “The DJ and I were in on it. We pretended it was the last track, but then launched into A Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay.”

Theatrics were perfectly timed: LED glowsticks lit up the dancefloor, gold confetti exploded from cannons, and sparklers circled the room. “It was like a Coldplay concert – but better. Honestly, I think I’ve started a new trend.”