This romantic Australian affair is proof that you don’t need to be outdoors to have a garden wedding. And with special touches like lace from the Bride’s mother’s wedding dress sewed into her custom Celyna Ziolkowski gown, DIY florals and playful cootie-catcher menus, this beautiful day was truly one-of-a-kind. See all the gorgeous images from Daniel Griffiths here.
From the Bride… The theme of our wedding was romantic vintage garden with rustic accents. My auntie assisted with creating mood boards inspired from Pinterest and Style Me Pretty. With a fusion of different styles and elements we came up with the perfect pieces to create the wedding which Chris and I dreamed of – elegant with a touch of vintage and the feel of an indoor garden. Many items were DIY. Vintage and rustic pieces were hired or bought, including a hired gelato cart.
Our ceremony and reception were held at historic Oatlands House. Close family and friends gathered and mingled in the pristine gardens holding parasols to shelter from the hot sun… the Orders of Service were in the shape of Kraft paper fans; newspaper cones filled with rose petals; DIY bouquets in mason jars decorated with lace and twine; a vintage table in front of a rustic screen set up for the signing of the wedding certificate… it was picture perfect.
One by one, my bridesmaids slowly walked out – as if in rhythm with the soft sounds of a harp in the background – gorgeous in buttercream off-the-shoulder Zimmerman dresses, holding bouquets of white spray roses, hydrangeas, lisianthus and dusty miller. The groom and groomsmen looked stylish in their navy suits.
Keeping to tradition, my father gave me away. Walking down a long aisle runner scattered with rose petals, I joined my soon-to-be-husband. Under the canopy we declared to each other the vows we wrote.
Based on a vision of my dream dress, Sydney designer Celyna Ziolkowski meticulously fashioned my gown: Ivory French lace, an open back and a soft flowing fishtail. French lace from my mother’s wedding gown was also appliqued onto the bodice (something old) and sentimental. Also designed by Celyna was my French lace mantilla veil, which softly flowed around my dress. My bouquet was a mixture of hydrangeas, spray roses, lisianthus, dusty miller and hypericum berries.
The Deck Room was filled with the scent of French pear from soy candles from Oleria Emporium. Table seating and names were hand-written on an old vintage glass door. The names were written as they were known to Chris and I. Our guests thought this was endearing.
The bridal table was placed in the middle of the room. It looked breathtaking. A long rustic table and chairs, bejeweled with a stunning floral and foliage garland on a lace runner spilling over both sides. Interspersed between the garlands were floral centerpieces: lisianthus, miniature roses, chrysanthemums, and tortured willow on a moss and bark base with dodger vine. Votive candles hung off the twigs. Crystal glasses and crystal charger plates completed the elegant setting.
It was the special touches that made our wedding unique… the menus were inside custom-made cootie catchers along with Q&As about the bride and groom; on a vintage dresser were three generations of family wedding photos, including one of the bride’s brother who passed away in his youth; viewfinders with images of the bride and groom at different ages; candles in mason jars and rustic ornament decorations. In a corner of the room with a peacock chair, white wicker chairs, an old plant stand with ornate candelabra, guests wrote advice on wooden love hearts.
Delectable home-made desserts were displayed on a vintage table. A naked cake adorned with orange roses and berries was baked for my father, who also celebrated his birthday – all made by my youngest auntie. The wedding cake sat atop an old cotton reel wrapped in floral wreaths mirroring the floral garland on the bridal table.
An emotional moment for me was when one of my bridesmaids and childhood school friend dedicated a song she had written for Chris and I.
Our day was “just how we imagined – romantic and elegant,” a day we will never forget.
Photography: Daniel Griffiths | Videography: Moving Presentations | Floral Design: D.I.Y. | Wedding Dress: Celyna Ziolkowski | Cake: Faye Cahill | Bride's Shoes: Shoes Of Prey | Jewelry: GS Diamonds | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Zimmermann | Catering: Oatlands House | Makeup: Jess Chapman | Hair: Lizzie Liros | Ceremony Music: Belinda Ping | Transportation: Abbotsbury Wedding Cars | Venue: Oatlands House | Advice Box & Wishing Well: Braggingbags | Bride's Headpiece: Johanna Johnson | Ceremony Programs: Fossil Letterpress | Escort Cards: Etsy | Groom's & Groomsmen's Attire: Politix | Photo Booth: Platinum Photobooth | Rentals: Decorative Events | Rentals: Timbermill | Rentals: Vintage Patina | Signage: Ashdown & Bee