BRIGITTE + STEVE by Tom Judson Photography

Tell us about yourselves:

Steve and I met through his best man as mutual friends, and love enjoying our time with such a close group of friends.

Our relationship is quite unique in that we are both strong individuals but bounce off each other with our strengths and share a loving relationship.

We live in the Yarra Valley, so we love going for walks and exploring our local areas. Our weekend has to include taking our dog Murphy somewhere fun, catching up with friends and family, and renovating our house at the moment.

Tell us about your special day, was there a specific theme? Tell us about the setting and some of your favourite details:

We chose to get married on the leap year day for a little bit of fun and luckily just made it in time before all the craziness that is 2020. Our wedding was at Basils Farm in Swan Bay near Queenscliff on the Bellarine Peninsula. Our style was set in a modern farmhouse winery, which featured lush gardens and a kitchen where the fresh produce was used throughout the menu on the day. Basils have stunning views of Swan Bay and we were so lucky to get a perfectly sunny day. We both love the beach so we were so happy to find such a special place that incorporated the water as well as a unique venue.

The venue allowed for the scenery and landscapes to be a perfect backdrop, which meant we didn’t have to over-style, which allowed us to embrace the beautiful setting around us, using classic blooms, like roses, and bold lighting that stood out in the evening. We chose it because Basils is not like anything you have seen before, it has such a unique backdrop and so many perfect spots to capture the day. It felt like such a natural setting, and not over the top which suited us perfectly.

Working with Basils Farm Manager, Talla was a dream, Talla helped make the whole experience from the initial first meeting to the ongoing planning and then, of course, the big day, so smooth and effortless. Talla coordinated everything – we didn’t need to bring in caterers or hire items, there was no added stress. Chef Sean supported us and created our very own menu, to suit Steve’s severe food allergies. This meant our whole wedding was Dairy, Nut and Egg free, it was such a relief not to have to worry about this as we do in our everyday lives, the guests didn’t even know as all the food was still so delicious. Basils used their own wine and supplied local beer which was another bonus!

The mood in the evening was such a great vibe! We had the fire going in the kitchen garden, the band playing sing-along tunes, guests dancing away and the festoon lights and our neon love heart all shining bright. Basils easily created our own style and worked around us, rather than having a generic list of features.

Tell us about your main outfits:

We decided to go with a classic, timeless and relaxed look for our outfits. We chose Australian brands and used natural fibres with a neutral colour palette with the added glam of gold accents. My dress was designed and made by Luci Di Bella, they created such a fabulous dress that really brought a bit of effortless and contemporary edge to a classic design, pockets and a side split included. I remember during the ceremony the wind was blowing it open, our guests all got a giggle out of that. The bridesmaids wore a soft yellow and gold floral print dress which I loved – the subtle print added an extra bit of difference. Steve and the groomsmen kept their look simple yet stylish with a linen jacket to bring the coastal vibes out.

What were some of the most memorable/unique moments from the day:

Brigitte: The Historic home “Clydesville” that I stayed in with my family and bridesmaids. It was the perfect spot to get ready and prepare for the day. We both came in an old kombi which was one of Steve’s groomsmen families, it brought a lot of laughs and really kept us calm on the drive to the ceremony.

The ceremony itself was such a joy and we both couldn’t stop smiling. Our celebrant was fun-loving, relaxed and made everyone feel welcome whilst hearing our story and saying our vows.

We spent some quiet time together between entrées and dinner by going down to the paddocks where the resident llamas, Basil and Houdini, joined in on our wedding fun. We got to feed them and get some fun snaps with our photographer Tom who made everything so relaxed and knew the perfect way to capture our special day.

We loved letting our hair down on the dance-floor to some of our favourite tunes with our friends and family, dancing our way into the evening.

Any advice for other couples planning to spend the rest of their lives together:

For your wedding – find a vendor that understands your vision and will help you do whatever it takes to achieve it. We were so comfortable working with Talla from Basils. We felt we could be ourselves and stick with what we like. She helped us keep to realistic goals and accommodated our requests so well.

As for the marriage part – be patient, listen, compromise and always try to make the little things fun!

Photographer: Tom Judson | Ceremony and Reception location: Basils Farm | Celebrant: Matt Finch | Entertainment: Unlimited Coverband | Styling: Basils Farm + Brigitte (Bride) | Planner: Talla from Basils Farm | Flora: Botanica Fresh Flowers | Neon Heart Light: Custom Neon | Brigitte’s accommodation: Clydesville | Bride’s Gown: Luci DiBella Design House | Groom + Groomsmen Suits: MJ Bale + Jack London Menswear | Rings: Montal Jewellers | Shoes: Stuart Weitzman (Bride) + Aquila (Groom) | Brigitte’s Earrings: Stephanie Browneau Australia | Hair + Makeup: Blondie | Fragrance: YSL (Bride) | Bridesmaids dresses: Bec + Bridge | Earrings: Hunter the Label