Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…
Liam is a commercial plumber and although studying graphic design and university, I currently work as a Pharmacy Assistant. We both love exploring small towns and their shops, we love looking through antique stores, finding hidden gem cafes and spending time with our two border collies. I (Ashleigh) love spending time in my garden at home and Liam loves his golf. We love nothing more than sitting back after a long week with Saturday night take-away and watching our favourite shows.
How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?
Liam joined my high school in year 12 and we shared the same maths class. During this time we didn’t have anything to do with each other, however somehow had each other on Facebook. This was where many years later – Liam slid into my messages and 3 months later we had our first date at Bondi.
A: My first impressions was that he truly went above and beyond for our first date remembering all the things I said I loved, city skylines, sweet treats and Italian food (haha!) and then incorporated it all into the date. He showed that he just genuinely cared.
L: I thought she was beautiful and I thought to myself “wow im punchin’”( hahahah). I admired her at school and just couldn’t believe she was right here with me at Bondi on our first date.
Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, is there a story?
A: My dress actually came from a boutique in California. I saw my dress online many, many years ago and the dresses I tried on in-between just didn’t compare. I went with my heart, despite many people’s reactions of ‘what are you doing!! You haven’t even tried it on!” I took the plunge, sent my measurements and then 9 weeks later my dress arrived in the smallest box at the doorstep. My heart sank as I saw the tiny box sitting there, I took it into the bedroom and sure enough inside that tiny box was the dress of my dreams, the softest lace and putting it on it fit like a glove, It was perfect.
When did you first realise that this was someone you’d like to spend the rest of your life with?
L: Ashleigh was sitting around interacting with my two younger siblings and her just being there and fitting in so perfectly with my world, my family, who means so much to me – I just thought that this is how it’s supposed to be forever.
A: There wasn’t an exact moment for me, it was more the little things. Just seeing Liam be himself, watching tv, playing guitar, cooking dinner and seeing him fit right in with my family. I just knew that this is who I want to be with forever.
We constantly just look at each other and think “how did we get here!”
Was there a proposal? Tell us a little about it…
It was the June long weekend 2020 and we had spent the weekend painting our new home. We had finally finished what we had set out to do and so we spent the afternoon packing up a heap of paint, brushes and rollers. We were covered in paint, the fireplace was roaring and as I sat down in front of the fireplace to admire our work, I turn to my left and Liam was down on one knee – ring in hand and asking me to marry him. I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was the most perfect moment and it was just us.
Tell us about the vision you had for the mood or style of your wedding…
We didn’t have much of a vision – we fell in love with Montrose House as soon we saw it. We were in awe of the gardens, the canopy of trees over the ceremony area and the beautiful exposed brick reception area. It was the style that we love, but also just felt so right. All that we said from the beginning was that we want our day to just be ‘us.’ We wanted it to be simple, lots of greens and whites in the palette and nothing over the top, we want to feel the warmth around us as we are surrounded by our nearest and dearest.
What was one element you were happy to splurge on?
We were very conscious of what we were spending our money on as it can add up very fast – but we were more than happy to spend money on what was important to us and the vendors we had our hearts set on such as photography and food!
Did anything happen on your wedding day that you laugh about in hindsight (even if it was stressful at the time)?
We don’t know about laughing – more so just very grateful. It rained the entire week leading to the wedding, more rain than the southern highlands has seen in such a long time. On Friday, the day before the wedding our ceremony area was a swamp. We told ourselves the whole time: whatever the day will be, is what it will be! But seeing it like that was such a disappointing feeling when you’ve pictured yourself getting married in that spot the whole entire time. We chose a ‘backup’ location in the gardens and from the get-go the morning of the wedding the staff at Montrose mulched the original ceremony area so that it could go ahead in the spot we dreamed of. We could not be more grateful. The day was beautiful and the sun shone through the trees on us as the ceremony began, it was a warm Autumn day and it was just beautiful.
Ceremony + Reception location: Montrose House | Photographer: House of Lucie | Celebrant: Karen Taylor | Flora: Jacqueline (family friend) | Catering + Beverages: The Chef and I | Cake: Kylee (family friend) | Stationery: Designed myself | Attire: Wear Your Love + Tarocash | Ring: Parade Jewellers | Shoes: Bride’s Shoes Novo Shoes, Groom’s Shoes: Tarocash | Other jewellery / accessories or anything else unique: Earrings from The Silver Collective | Makeup: Lulu Makeup Artist | Hair: Emma Grace | Fragrance: Si by Georgio Armani | Bridesmaids: Forever new (with alterations), Groomsmen:Tarocash
