A small, simple, natural and intimate day shared with only our very closest friends and family was always the idea for our dream wedding. We were lucky enough to soon be offered the stunning gardens belonging to a client of mine which would set the scene for our casual outdoor nuptials.
With a small budget the invitations, decorations, styling and flowers were all DIY. I had been collecting jars, old crockery, cutlery and other bits and pieces from every opportunity shop I could find for months. It was a lot of hard work doing it yourself but we were very lucky to have a lot of help from our friends and families to pull it all together, which in the end made it all the more special.
We always wanted our family members to all be involved in the day, so each had their own special roles, including our grandmothers who each held a ring which they then passed onto the best man as a special part of the ceremony. We also wrote our vows together, which we read one vow at a time back and forth between us. It was a bit of fun but we had the crowd in tears at the end of them.
We had both wanted our wedding in the summer so we could have our reception under the stars. So the 40 of us sat down at one long table to share a rustic BBQ dinner, Argentinien style (my maid of honour is Argentinean) with yummy charcoal grilled ribs! Dessert was also a family affair with our mothers and grandmothers each making their signature dessert for the shared desserts table. Although the weather turned a little chilly later on, it actually made it all the more intimate as everyone either huddled around the firepit or kept warm heating up the dance floor.
We had the most amazing day with loads of special memories (and gorgeous photographs) that we will have forever. We wish we could do it all over again!
Photographer: Jonas Peterson // Ceremony & Reception: Private Gardens, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia // Wedding Dress: Tibi and Vintage Lace Belt // Flowers, invitation, event styling, and decorations: By bride // Catering: Senor BBQ
This morning I’ve got two fabulous vendors to share with you. We’ll start off by looking at some of the photography work by a Once Wed newbie, Kristen Richie, travel over to Zhush for some bohemian bridal beauties, and then land in paradise with a long time favorite of ours, Traveler’s Joy…Lets get going!
Aren’t these images from wedding photographer, Kristen Ritchie, so sweet? I love the soft simplicity of her work and how she captures each moment with such joy. Kristen is inspired by creative individuality and strives to create images that reveal intimacy and honesty. If you value quality, timeless photography, you have found your match with Kristen! She loves to integrate energy and humour into all her work and sounds like such a fun She works with a limited number of couples each year and has photographed weddings in both Canada and the US. Check out her website and blog to see more of her beautiful work.
Any bohemian brides out there? I’m thinking these accessories from Zhush are right up your ally. I could totally see some of these pieces used in a whimsical, boho-inspired destination wedding– I mean, wouldn’t that turquoise necklace be such a stunner?? If you’re looking for a high-end boutique featuring eclectic finds, you’ve got to check out their Zhush today.
Oh hello paradise! I lovvveee the idea of honeymoon registration. You get the creative opportunity to use your wedding gifts towards the trip of a lifetime and your guests receive the gift of giving towards memories that will last a lifetime. What’s better than that?? Enter in Traveler’s Joy — the best honeymoon registry site in all the lands. Not only is their registry site incredibly easy to navigate and use, but their Instant Registry feature allows couple’s to complete their registry in just minutes! When setting up your gift inventory you can choose from a list of pre-made theme based (think beach, cruise, mountains) or location specific (think Italy, St. Lucia) registries. With one click you can instantly add items and experiences to your registry specific to the theme or destination.
Not to mention you can know register for physical items including travel guidebooks, cameras, video, cameras, luggage, snorkeling gear, and even newlywed flip flops. Their registry system makes it really easy to divide the cost of expensive items into manageable gift pieces so a camera that may cost
$500 is actually spit up into 4 gift of $125.
Check out the Real Member Honeymoon Section to read more stories about Traveler’s Joy couples and their fabulous adventures!
