Can I just say that you Australian bride and grooms are seriously awesome? Like so very, very awesome. Because not only are you some of the sweetest + craftiest ladies and gents I have ever had the privilege to virtually meet, you really, really know how to throw a drop-dead gorgeous wedding. Weddings like this one captured by the ever-amazing Liesl Cheney Photography, a whimsical affair boasting colorful blooms, lace details and sooooo much pretty (that’s a lot, lovelies). See it all right here in the full gallery.
From the Bride… Peter and I met in 2004 on his second day in Perth. I was at uni finishing my law degree and working retail on the weekends, while Peter had just moved from Queensland and was looking for a job in the mining industry. We soon made friends and started seeing each other about a year later.
After seven years together (during which time Peter got his Australian citizenship, we moved to Canberra and back and Peter got his geology degree) we bought and moved into our first home. Peter made me a beautiful Moroccan candlelit dinner that he said was to celebrate our 7th anniversary and our first proper dinner together in the new house. The food was fabulous, but the best part was dessert when Peter asked me to marry him and presented me with the most stunning diamond and sapphire ring that he had designed. It felt so amazing to be in our very own home and to be getting married.
The wedding had a rustic, shabby chic theme that suited our bush venue in the Perth hills, Darlington Estate Winery. I found some beautiful mismatched floral bunting on eBay and planned the entire wedding from there around a jumble of soft colours, lace, natural hessian and brown paper.
Our flowers were by the wonderful Jappalin Manning of FlowerTalk. My bouquet was a bright and beautiful mix of cream vendella roses, light blue delphiniums, yellow freesias, pink lisianthus and silver foliage. Mixed jars and bottles with the same flowers looked stunning on our long guest tables.
I wore a specially designed and made-to-measure lace and silk dress by Elvi designs, with a lace keyhole detail on the back and a small train. Having a dress made just for me was one of the best decisions I made. I loved the whole process and the finished product was everything I hoped for. The groom wore a delphinium blue silk tie with a William Morris print and cuff-links engraved with our wedding date.
I went a little crafting-crazy, tea-staining thousands of paper doilies and using them to make rose petal cones and decorate cupcake boxes and menus. We also made brown paper orders of service in the shape of a fan with a popstick handle, and a gorgeous bunting seating plan with guests names on little manila tags hanging on clothes pegs. It was loads of work but my fabulous friends pitched in and I was so proud of the results.
The highlight of the day for me was the wedding ceremony itself. We wanted our ceremony to be romantic and also to reflect that we were already in a long and committed relationship. Both my parents walked me down the aisle. We didnt have traditional attendants but we were helped at every stage by friends and family who acted as unofficial bridesmaids and groomsmen. Our civil ceremony included traditional vows and also our own personal statements of love and commitment. I dont think there was a dry eye in the house by the time we had wept our way through our promises, and Ill never forget the feeling of pure joy walking back down the aisle with my new husband.
Our honeymoon was a month touring around France.
Photographer: Liesl Cheney | Flowers: Flower Talk | Wedding Dress: Elvi Design | Cupcakes: Cupcake Decorate | Wedding Cake: Sherbet Bake Shop | Hair & Makeup: Sharon Padula of The East Salon in Maylands | Ceremony & Reception: Darlington Wine Estate