Ashleigh + Matthew by Kristie Carrick - Together Journal

We opted for a winter wedding because we didn’t want to wait – and are so glad we did!

Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…

Hi, our names are Ash and Matt! We are a couple of young people who grew up in Sydney and were recently married on the beautiful NSW South Coast. We’d describe ourselves as laidback and relaxed, very family-oriented, and lovers of the simple things in life, including weekends away down the South Coast, good food and music, time outdoors and camping. Oh, and of course, our family’s dogs are treated as children, not animals. Our idea of travel includes finding the most pristine swim spots and keeping a written list of our all-time favourite meals for us to look back on forever. Ash has developed a career as a child psychologist, and finds it so rewarding to offer a safe space in the life of a young person through their most difficult moments. Matt works in business intelligence and has spent most of his career at various tech startups.

How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?

We have the algorithm gods to thank after swiping right eight years ago (tinder). We hadn’t chatted for long before Matt invited Ash to dinner at a small bar in Wynyard to enjoy a burger and some drinks. Once we got in, Ash thought things were off to a great start when Matt proceeded to order one of every bar meal off the menu. We stayed just about until close. Matt hates to admit it, but he then followed up the very next day, asking to see each other again that night. He was never one to play it cool! From then on, everything fell into place effortlessly. Ash remembers arriving to see a person looking very glam in his suit and coat, being impressed by his confidence and how he proudly showed me his funky-coloured socks, and instantly feeling at ease. She could tell he’d put a lot of thought into the evening and was out to impress by ordering huge amounts of food!

Matt: Ash was very easy to talk to, and I didn’t have to try to make the conversation flow. I was instantly captivated by the way she carried herself, even making friends with people on the table next to us. I loved her sense of fashion and the little dimples that formed when she smiled or laughed at all the hilarious jokes I was making. I didn’t even mind that she had tomato sauce running down her arm and all over her clothes when she was holding a burger and trying to tell me a story.

When did you first realise that this was someone you’d like to spend the rest of your life with?

Ash: There wasn’t one particular moment, but it was very early on. My favourite thing about Matt is how loved he has always made me feel. With him there were never any insecurities or uncertainties, it was always going to be him.  

Matt: probably the second time I saw Ash. She had elaborately planned a date full of things I enjoy and I knew she really took note of what was said on our first date. 

Was there a proposal? Tell us a little about it…

In 2022, we travelled to Canada. The plan was to hike, eat and soak up the beauty of summer in the Canadian Rockies. We travelled to Joffre Lakes near Whistler, where Matt proposed to be at the lower lake. It was early in the morning with mist still hovering over the turquoise blue of the water, there was no one around, and the moment was perfect. Matt was clearly eager to pop the question as he proposed at the very beginning of the day, 5 minutes away from the carpark (rather than waiting for the more spectacular scenery at the upper lakes). He claims that he saw a quiet area and seized the moment. Ash could see he looked nervous and wanted to get it done! It was likely a clever move on Matt’s behalf, though, as Ash isn’t sure she would have had the stamina to get through the challenging hike to Middle Lake otherwise.

Matt proposed with a beautiful gold band. He had booked a design consultation with Jason Ree Jeweller’s the day after we returned from our holiday. Together we designed a dream ring – featuring a parti sapphire the colour of the gorgeous lakes we saw, complete with an intricate gallery setting featuring an outline of the mountains from our trip. We had so much fun creating this unique piece, and it is now one of Ash’s most cherished items.

What was one element you were happy to splurge on?

The venue! It was really important to us to find a space that had character and ample space for us to make it our own, and that included on-site accommodation for our closest people to join us for the weekend. We also wanted to ensure there was a great team behind the venue to keep us as stress-free as possible and who would ensure our focus on the day was enjoying it all! Greyleigh was the most perfect venue in every way and truly surpassed all of our expectations. From the incredible staff who were truly invested in making our day everything we hoped for, the unique and colourful accommodation, and the expansive views over the rolling countryside. Having our favourite people with us, sitting around the fire watching the sun go down the night before, and lazing on the lawn on picnic rugs the morning after making it even more special to us. We opted for a winter wedding because we didn’t want to wait – and are so glad we did! The winter sun was glorious, and the fireplaces scattered around the property and in the reception made it feel so cosy and intimate.

As fans of live music and a thriving d-floor, we also wanted to prioritise the music. We opted to go with the six-piece Baker Boys Band, which included the saxophone to really raise the energy.

Did anything happen on your wedding day that you laugh about in hindsight (even if it was stressful at the time)?

It was so important to us going into our wedding day that we didn’t have a strict vision of how the day HAD to occur so we could feel relaxed and not sweat the small stuff. So I wouldn’t say anything hugely stressful occurred, we were able to take everything in our stride and soak up the joy of the day. A few moments come to mind…

Our family’s dogs were always meant to be part of the day. Of course, they were dressed in tuxedos and a leather leash with the words ‘I do too!’. One of them (a west highland terrier named Mighty) became a little over-excited and energetic during the ceremony and so was unfortunately banished from the ceremony with his minder. The other one (a groodle named Floyd) sat under the chair with his back to us the entire time.
We had our first dance to Tina Turner’s ‘the best’ as Matt is a lover of strong female female vocalists in the 80’s specifically! We weren’t keen on the slow and romantic sway, so we opted for something more upbeat and fun. We had so much fun in the lead up doing a few lessons and learning some lifts. It’s all fun and games, though, until Matt lifted Ash, and the dress flipped upwards, leaving a little too much on display for every person we know. We shrugged it off and wanted to forget that it had ever happened. We love looking back on the late-night cheeseburgers that were delivered (a nod to a late-night drive-thru – Ash’s fave) and the iconic daft punk final song that led to most of the men opting to go shirtless. Clearly, the dance floor got sweaty.

Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, is there a story? The history of the ceremony dress…

Ash: It was the only dress that made my Mum cry! I never had a clear vision of what I wanted to wear, it just had to be something that I felt myself in. My favourite part was definitely the Jimmy Choo footwear – a surprise pre-wedding gift from very close friends.

Matt: had a clear vision from the outset. He wanted velvet and he wanted green (the colour of his favourite football team, obviously). He was completely in charge of his look, and was attentive to all the details including the gold lining of the jacket, black buttons and initials embroidered on the cuff. He’s a man who knows what he wants!