Episode 10 in Conversation with Olivia Molly Rogers

EPISODE 10 IN CONVERSATION WITH OLIVIA MOLLY ROGERS

THE WEDDING DIGEST, BY WEDBOOKER

Miss Universe Australia Olivia Molly Rogers opens up about postponing her

wedding, revealing a new date and

details of her big day

Many engaged couples have had to make the difficult decision to postpone their wedding in 2020 due to COVID19. Aussie model Olivia Molly Rogers and her fiance' Justin recently found themselves in a similar position. Olivia opened up to The Wedding Digest about the relief she's felt since they

made the call, revealing a new wedding date in 2021, her plans for a secret

outdoor ‘structure’ to feature in the ceremony, all the suppliers who will be making their day incredible, how she feels about becoming Mrs Mckeone and plans for starting a family!

Olivia is a model, Speech Pathologist, Mental Health Advocate and all-

round sweetheart. We hope you enjoy our chat with Olivia as much as we

did!

Much love, The wedBooker team xo

INTERVIEW WITH OLIVIA MOLLY ROGERS

THE WEDDING DIGEST Olivia Molly Rogers, thank you so much for joining us on the wedding digest. So we like so many have been following your wedding planning journey so far on Instagram. And we can't wait to find out more about it and, of course, all of your tips for our engaged couples as well.

OLIVIA MOLLY ROGERS Thanks, guys. I'm so excited to chat to you.

THE WEDDING DIGEST So I think we should start the beginning with your love story. So where did it all start? How did you meet your amazing fiance, Justin Mckeone?

OLIVIA MOLLY ROGERS Well, we met at an event and at that time, I had sort of given up on dating. I'd had a few duds and was in the sort of mindset where I'm like, Oh, I'm never gonna meet anyone good and probably have to just settle. I was really not looking to meet anyone. I just went with a girlfriend to a daytime event in St Kilda. And literally the moment that I walked in the door, this girl that I know came up to me and was like “Oh, you've got to come meet my friends”. And she introduced me to Justin. And he was there with two other mates. And we chatted a little bit, and then I wandered off and we got our own drinks. And then the boys sort of followed us after a little while, they were like, Oh, you look like you've lost your friends. And that was their way of sort of thinking there were the heroes. They just didn't leave us all day. And Justin and I were just chatting for the entire day and just got along really well. I thought it was really funny and thought he was pretty cute. And we've just been together since that day.

THE WEDDING DIGEST And this was all post Miss Universe Australia, wasn't it?

OLIVIA MOLLY ROGERS Well, at the time, I was still Miss Universe Australia. So it was just after the international final, so I still had six months left of my reign, I guess you call it. But when we started talking, he didn't know that I was Miss Universe and, and I liked that. I was happy because I didn't want him to be talking to me for that reason. I was glad that we obviously were getting along regardless. Because I think that was one of the things when I was Miss Universe Australia, it was hard to figure out people's intentions. He likes me for me and not for the crown. 2

THE WEDDING DIGEST So last year, you had this amazing trip around Europe. And then Justin proposed. Can you describe that magical moment?

OLIVIA MOLLY ROGERS Oh, he's so sneaky. I had absolutely no idea. The night that he proposed to me, we were already two weeks into the trip and people had been saying the whole time. He's gonna do it. He's gonna pop the question. And we were sort of joking about it. We'd walk past jewelry stores like tiny little ones, and I'd say, oh, you're gonna get me a ring in there. Then, we're in Italy, staying in Ravello. It was just so beautiful. But we were staying up on a hill so we had to scoot down to get a water taxi to then go to Positano. So he had said we were going to a really nice place for dinner. And so he told me to get a bit dressed up but that was nothing unusual that we went to nice dinners throughout the trip. So I got dressed up but he said to me, can you wear shoes other than Birkenstocks? I didn't bring any high heels or anything and I was like, I don't know why he cares so much about my heels on cobblestones. Anyway, that could be a disaster. Yeah, he didn't want my Birkenstocks in the engagement photos, apparently. So we got dressed up, we had a couple of drinks at our place and then scooted down. I got on the water taxi got to Positano. And he had actually put the ring box in his jocks because I got on the scooter behind him and if it had been in his pocket, I would have noticed it. We got on the water taxi and when we were getting off rushed to the toilet and that's when he took the ring out and put it in his back pocket. And then we stepped down onto the beach at Positano. And that view there is just incredible, as I'm sure you've seen the buildings on the hill. So we thought we'd get a photo on the beach. He said, Oh, I'll go over to these randoms and ask them to take a picture. So he grabbed my camera and my phone that he told these people that he was about to propose. And he said, can you film it and take photos? So these random Americans, I heard one of them squeal, he told me to take my sandals off and I took them off and then he he said he had planned all these words and they sort of just went out of his head and he started getting down on one knee and I was like What is going on? I was shocked, I honestly I think I swore I don't know if I'm allowed to swear on this but yeah. I said fuck off. I just really wasn't expecting it. But it was the best surprise ever. Amazing.

THE WEDDING DIGEST Okay, so that was last year. And since then you've been busy planning a wedding. And you've been quite open about that on Instagram, which we've loved. Now, you originally locked in your wedding date for October. But just last week, you made the tough decision to postpone it to your backup date in February. Obviously, COVID and the restrictions. How difficult was that decision to make for you? What was it that eventually made you decide to make the call?

OLIVIA MOLLY ROGERS

It was a really hard decision. I think it's something that's been in the back of my mind since March because Justin said to me I think maybe we might have to think about a backup plan for the wedding. And I was like, Don't be ridiculous. And you know, I think then we didn't really know I mean, we still don't even know what's going to happen With Coronavirus, but back then I was like, surely it'll be fine.

So it's been in the back of my mind, but something that I didn't really want to confront. And then as we've gotten closer and closer, it's something that I've been like, Okay, I need to at least put this backup plan in place. So that if we do need to cancel, then I'm not left hanging without any plans. So we started by contacting the venue and said, you know, what dates Do you have available? They didn't have many, they didn't have any in November or December. But in saying that, I feel like postponing by like a month or two is probably not the best idea anyway, because who knows if the restrictions will even change. So, I think four months out seems like a reasonable amount of time. So we just penciled in a date with them. And then I let my suppliers know that, you know, it was a maybe that we would postpone. And then yeah, there was a weekend here in Victoria, where there's been rising cases and restrictions have sort of come back in place. So we're just like, you know, coming closer and closer to the wedding and it's just too risky. So we made the call. And, you know, there were no tears. I feel like I felt more relieved than anything else. So I think it was definitely the right decision. Now we’ve made that decision, this might help any couples that are listening. Within an hour, I got my wedding list, got all the emails sorted and just emailed everyone and said, this is what we're doing about all the supplies. It was an instant relief. A bit of sadness as well, because that date was really sentimental, like the 17th of October is my grandparents wedding date. And they both have passed away and I just loved the idea of getting married on that date.

THE WEDDING DIGEST So you mentioned that you've got 170 guests coming.

OLIVIA MOLLY ROGERS I contacted the suppliers before I told our guests because if some of my suppliers couldn't do it, I had really considered finding another date. And I didn't want to do that. So I was stressing the thought of not getting my suppliers, but they've all been incredible. And really understanding and yeah, they've all just shifted the date with us. So we're very lucky.

4 THE WEDDING DIGEST So 20th of February. Oh, see that's got a nice ring to that 20th 22nd 2021 lots of two's. Now also another positive about moving your wedding day to February is that it's less likely to rain, which was one of your fears, because you have planned something quite special for your ceremony, which can only happen outside.

OLIVIA MOLLY ROGERS That's correct. I think more than anything, we might have to worry about some heat. So MUM suggested maybe we get some fans, you know, the little fans that spread out.

THE WEDDING DIGEST And then I guess going to February from October with the heat change? Does that mean a change IN your dress?

OLIVIA MOLLY ROGERS No, I can't do that. I'm not going to change that. And I've spoken to my dressmaker about that too. I'm very set on the design. So yeah, I think everything else would just have to work around it. You know, we met here in Melbourne, and we don't see ourselves moving away from Melbourne. So it made sense to us that you know, Melbourne is the place that we both call home and we thought it would be a nice sort of neutral spot to bring our family and friends together because I think if I went to Adelaide, it would be a little bit more biased to me. And if we went to Perth, it would be a little bit more Justin’s way. So, I think, yeah, having it in Melbourne was a little bit more neutral and feels like we're sort of you know, kickstarting our life. So we are getting married at Terindah Estate on the Bellarine Peninsula. I'm really excited. It's a beautiful spot. The venue is such a big part of our decision. So as long as they were available, we had to pencil that one in.

THE WEDDING DIGEST Okay, so let's talk about the planning side of things. Has Justin had much influence or input into the wedding planning itself.

OLIVA MOLLY ROGERS I didn't make a budget spreadsheet. I prefer not to look at the numbers all written down like that is quite overwhelming. I don't do that. Yeah, that was probably his biggest contribution to be honest. He said to me,put in all the effort for the engagement. Now the wedding's up to you. I was like, Okay, cool. I've never done this before. So we're just winging it. But um, but yeah, he has been a bit of a yes, man. I would say he probably wouldn't like me saying that. But he does have really similar taste. And you know, we both want it to be a really fun party kind of experience towards the end of it and we find the same aspects of a wedding important. So yeah, he's just been very easy, which is awesome for me.

5 THE WEDDING DIGEST How would you describe yourself as a bride?

OLIVIA MOLLY ROGERS I think probably chilled. I’ve been pretty organized making decisions early on was really important to me because I didn't want the wedding to be a stressful thing. I wanted to be able to enjoy the process and I think part of that is that I am also quite decisive so making decisions wasn't that difficult for me. I really know what I like. I think that's where some brides get really overwhelmed and stressed there's just so many things on offer.

THE WEDDING DIGEST I know you said you have actually enlisted the help of a stylist.

OLIVIA MOLLY ROGERS The stylist that I got on board I've worked with for years: Party with Lenzo. They are absolutely amazing. And the woman who owns it, Eleni Pierce is originally from Adelaide as well. So that's how we met. And that's how she first sort of got me on board. Basically, they're party stylists, so they years ago styled something that was, it was meant to be my 30th birthday. I was actually 24 at the time. I've shot with him so many times and I've just always loved their style. And I said to them, whenever I get married, whoever I get married to I want you guys to be part of that. So yeah, so it's awesome that now down the track that's come together and they've just been amazing and you know, getting all of the little things organized. So the the table napkins and the things that you know, there are so many little details that are actually quite important but they may not cross your mind so I think having a stylus to organize all of that has just taken taking the pressure off and and I trust them completely that there will be picking beautiful things.

THE WEDDING DIGEST So then what about your glam squad for the day? How did you go about choosing them?

OLIVIA MOLLY ROGERS Well, that was I guess, I don't want to say it was easy because I've worked with so many amazing hair stylists and makeup artists over the years with modeling and Miss Universe. My hairdresser I've been working with for years now. So she was an instant decision. And she she's so cute. She was so excited when I asked her. Her name's Kate, and she owns a salon called HBK and Co HairdressingSo I'm really excited to work with her. My makeup artist is Nicole, who I've been working with for ages as well.

6 THE WEDDING DIGEST Speaking of super talented people, you are one of those people, you have so many incredible talents yourself. And one of those is your super artistic and we've seen on your Instagram, you do some incredible paintings and drawings. So you obviously have an amazing creative eye. So will you be having any artistic input into your wedding day for example, like doing table charts or postcards or I don't know I maybe invitations?

OLIVIA MOLLY ROGERS I haven't completely decided on that. I think that's something that we'll play around with a little bit closer to the wedding. I've got a meeting coming up with my florist Lucy. Shout out to her. She's amazing. Her Instagram handle is @Lulu_ bird. She is just incredible. And I worked with her years ago thanks to Party with Lenzo. So we did a shoot together and she designed this incredible flower crown for me as part of that shoot and on that day two, I said to her whenever I get married, I'm, I'm using you. So I think together, we've worked really collaboratively and came up with a mood board together too with all the tones that I like, and I guess in a way, it's kind of in line with the work that I do, but you’ll have to wait and see all of that.

THE WEDDING DIGEST Have you guys thought about what you want in terms of flower arrangements or in terms of those really explosive flower moments?

OLIVIA MOLLY ROGERS Yeah, there'll definitely be a bit of that. I don't want to give too much away when it comes to the arrangements. But I'm really excited. Lucy is very creative, and I love flowers. So flowers would definitely be a big part of our day. I also don’t want to say too much on this, but preserved flowers will be involved too.

THE WEDDING DIGEST I'd love to know how you actually went about finding your wedding dress. Did you know what you wanted? And did you go with that?

OLIVIA MOLLY ROGERS I feel like I searched photos from the day after we got engaged lying on the beach initially, and I was scrolling through Instagram and Pinterest and just saving a million pictures. And, and in those my style was all over the place that I loved. When I went to my first fitting I just wanted to try on everything. But I think that's a really important part of the process to be open minded and to just try on lots of things because you never know how you're going to feel until you put it. In saying that I'm having my own custom made. So I tried on quite a lot. But Megan, my dressmaker is just amazing. And she is custom designing one for me that I've had a lot of say in, it's been quite a collaborative process. We bought the fabric the other day.

7 THE WEDDING DIGEST So do you think we will be surprised with your final choice?

OLIVIA MOLLY ROGERS I hope so. I think so. I feel like it's very me. But also even when I showed some of my bridesmaids they were like, Oh, that's very you but not what I pictured. So I think that's a good thing.

THE WEDDING DIGEST you've obviously been to so many amazing events. In your opinion, what would you suggest to any couples listening at the top three things make an event amazing, or in this case, a wedding amazing?

OLIVIA MOLLY ROGERS You've got to have great food and drinks. Always. There's nothing worse than going to an event and being starving or thirsty… and entertainment. It's got to be fun, got to be good music. So music has been a big part of our planning.

THE WEDDING DIGEST You mentioned that music was a big thing for you guys.

OLIVIA MOLLY ROGERS I have a beautiful singer Emanuela who is going to sing me down the aisle and she'll be part of the beginning. Yeah, like the ceremony and then the canapes. Then we've got a an awesome sax player later in the night and a DJ. Shout out to Ash, the coolest guy he's so good at sax, which I think is one of the coolest instruments

THE WEDDING DIGEST And what about special moments in your wedding? What are you most looking forward to?

OLIVIA MOLLY ROGERS I'm really excited for the moment that I get to the beginning of the aisle and see everyone's faces and see Justin at the end. I'm excited for the first dance. We still need to do a bit of rehearsing for that, I think because neither of us are that great at dancing. And the moment that we say I do, I'm excited.

THE WEDDING DIGEST Did mention that there's something special that you're planning for the ceremony, which is why you wanted outside. Can you give us any hints what that might be? H

OLIVIA MOLLY ROGERS I'll tell you a structure. I haven't seen anywhere else do it. So yeah, so I'm excited.

8 THE WEDDING DIGEST Are you planning on changing your surname as well? When you get married?

OLIVIA MOLLY ROGERS Yeah, I will be. Justin's mum cried when I told her she was so happy. Olivia Molly Mckeone, I think it sounds pretty cool. I think I'm a bit traditional that I want my kids to have the same last names as both of us.

THE WEDDING DIGEST How soon are you guys thinking about having a family?

OLIVIA MOLLY ROGERS My job as a speech pathologist. I work with a lot of toddlers and I just love them so much. But I've you know, I've loved kids since I was a kid. I've just always been obsessed with kids. So I Yeah, it's definitely in the near future, I think.

THE WEDDING DIGEST What would be your top tips for any brides or couples that are listening at the moment?

OLIVIA MOLLY ROGERS To really communicate with each other and make sure that you both know what's important to you. So I think communicating what is really essential to making your day special for you and making sure that you can compromise on certain things to make it work. And then just enjoy it. It's meant to be such an exciting, amazing day. So don't get too caught up in the small things. I just think, enjoy the process. And yeah, and make it about you.

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