our wedding: a final few details

We gave our guests homemade preserves and hand-raised plants. The personalised ribbon is from The Lonely Heart.

Little spring posies for each place setting.

For dessert we offered a buffet of our favourites. My sister made lemon meringue pies, my sister-in-law the chocolate cake, Will's brother the orange friands and Mel made chocolate cupcakes. My brother made the cake stands using Hunter Valley Ironbark. 

Will and my brother brewed four different types of beer. The fancy labels were from Girl in Gear Studio. 

My nephews hosted Love Trivia.

 We said a few words.

 Attempted a dance.

 Wiggled around some more.

 Will's sister rounded up all of our beloved balloons.

 And then it was time to go.

Thanks so much for reading! Photos: Tim Coulson

our wedding: the main event

It was 5pm. Mum, dad and I were dressed and ready to leave the cellar for the short walk around the corner to the garden.

I love this photo of me with a balloon-head.

The extremely talented and lovely Kelsey Genna made my dress. It's a customisation of her Begonia Gown, made from pure silk crêpe de Chine in a blush-pink colour. For the skirt, Kelsey hand-cut and finished loads of dreamy scalloped petals. I was so comfortable in it and happy to twirl around on demand to show off the skirt. Kelsey also made ties out of the same silk for Will and the two dads. 

Then we took off to the vineyards for some photos of just the two of us.

I knew from the time we started planning our wedding that I wanted to do the flowers. My mum has a beautiful spring garden and that was my inspiration. Joe Nati from Nati Bros. Roses was a delight to work with, finding almost every flower that I requested. My brother and sister-in-law picked the native gum leaves from their garden, and the lavender was from Will's mum's garden. Mel and her mum Barb helped me put the posies for the tables together and also let me pick some of their geraniums. It was a real family affair!

The sun was setting. There was time for a few more photos and then Tim, Kesh and the two of us (although, technically there were five of us as Kesh is having a baby!) headed back to the courtyard to enjoy time with guests before we sat down for dinner. 

One more wedding post to come! Photos: Tim Coulson

our wedding: finishing touches

Will and I got married in the Hunter Valley at Briar Ridge Vineyard. We wanted a place that was naturally beautiful and relaxed, and Briar Ridge was perfect for that. It's also typical of the Hunter and very Australian, which was important to us having spent so many years away from home. Mum, dad and I arrived before the coach, so we had time to add the finishing touches to the venue and, of course, to change our clothes! 

The gorgeous balloons were by the fabulous Jihan from Geronimo!. 

They were fantastic! I had a dreamy, giggly thirty-minutes or so to dot them around the garden before it was time to get dressed.

We'd also decorated with Good Will Bunting and fairy lights. 

On the pews we sat small bags of rose petals for confetti, fans and order-of-service cards.

More soon! Photos: Tim Coulson

our wedding: getting ready

I'm so happy to share some more of Tim's beautiful photographs of Will's and my wedding, if you'd like to see. Mum, dad and I got ready at a local hotel. I did my mum's makeup and my own.

The weather was perfect.

Without planning it, Mum and I wore the same colour and pattern combination, just in reverse.

Dad was our fabulous assistant for the day, picking up the odd forgotten thing from the shops, feeding us muffins and cups of tea.

Will got ready a few blocks away, at his family home.

We've been feeding a small family of kookaburras and one of them came to visit.

For Will and the two dads, I made boutonnières out of soft-pink roses and gum leaves.

Will's mum helping him with the final touches.

My handsome husband-to-be, dressed and ready to go.

Back at the hotel, we had a few surprise visits from family and friends who were checking in for their stay. We had booked a coach to take guests from Newcastle to the Hunter Valley venue. I think my nephews were pretty excited about it all.

Dad, mum and I left the hotel for the hour-long journey out to the vineyards. We were getting dressed out at the venue, so we could relax in the taxi. I even slept most of the way!

To be continued...  Photos: Tim Coulson