Erica + Justin by Kate Disher-Quill

Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love, what is unique about your relationship?

This is a Love Story between a kiwi boy living in Melbourne, and a Sydney girl who fortuitously met at a music festival in Sydney on New Years Day, 2016.

A one in 30,000 chance, was it fate or a love of dancing in fields with strangers that brought our 2 souls together? After a year of long distance, Justin moved up to live with me in Sydney. In August 2019, Justin proposed under the stars & the giant redwood trees of Big Sur California, after an incredible motorcycle road trip around California. Justin is a financial planner, Erica in marketing/communications, and the cofounder of a motorcycle girl gang @thethrottledolls. Our relationship is unique in so many ways, but one of them is Justin & I are both into personal growth & self development, and one of the ways we help each other achieve our goals is by having a joint vision board, which captures some of the dreams we share together.

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

Married on Valentine’s Day, we chose magical Bradley’s Head Amphitheatre in Sydney Harbour National Park to have our love filled ceremony, followed by a short harbour-side bush walk to beautiful Athol Hall. Our look was natural, bohemian & wild glamour. We had native flower pillars , a vintage persian carpet runner to stand on, wooden benches for guests & vintage paper umbrellas for some glamourous sun protection. At the reception, we had rattan outdoor furniture for the lawn, and inside Athol Hall, we had native floral installations including reusing the ceremony pillars & peacock chair. Where we could, we tried to be eco conscious.

The theme of the day was ‘Love Story’ including welcome to our love story welcome signs, red rose petal confetti cannons & throwing petals, love poems read by the speakers and italian baci chocolates (kiss) as guest favours.

It was important to us to also weave in elements from our heritage – Aussie (italian + dutch)  & Kiwi. So we had native flowers for Aussie, and we had a kiwi celebrant, kiwi dress, and a haka. One of the many special details included the Bride’s mum handcrafting 120 bonbonerie from foraged gumnuts, afixed to recycled brown paper creating pillows filled with italian chocolates.

Tell us about your main outfits?

Erica – I had a very special connection to my outfit. I wore the same veil that my mum wore on her wedding day, which was handmade for her by my Oma… a 43 year old veil!. And my Nonna had bequeathed me money specifically to buy a wedding dress with. So i was surrounded in Spirit by very special women on my big day. I wanted something unique & bohemian but with showstopping glamour. The lace detail is incredible, as is the dramatic train, but somehow it felt relaxed and I felt like me. This dress was the 2nd one i had tried on, and immediately I knew it was the one. Because it’s Valentine’s Day, I had to have a nod to the theme, so I chose beautiful heart drop earrings from Jennifer Behr. My something blue ended up being my pastel blue pedicure, and I had the cutest heart shaped manicure with a tiny white heart on my ring finger nail.

Justin – I wanted something navy, sleek & contemporary. A friend had recommended Suit Supply, and this was the first suit I tried on in their store & it fit me like a glove. It was important to have something comfortable as our Feb wedding meant the height of Aussie summer, and this suit was breathable & light but also looked so sharp.  I chose a crisp white shirt navy tie & dark brown brogues all from Suit Supply , and a dark brown belt I already had at home. My pocket square was an offcut from Erica’s wedding dress for that unique touch.

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

Walking down the gigantic aisle/ Justin waiting at the ‘alter’ down at the harbour while Friday I’m in Love by The Cure was playing was goosebumps – made even more special as completely randomly, a sky writer had drawn a big love heart in the sky (for valentine’s day perhaps? or a present from the universe…we dont know!).

Sneaking off for a quick 20 mins of  sunset photos, which gave us a moment to just be together and take it all in.. we went down to a harbour beach, took our shoes off, and practiced our Wedding Dance one last time.

Our final dance, All Night Long by Lionel Richie resulted in a spontaneous Conga line, which ended outside where we had a confetti cannon send off.

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

It’s absolutely true what they say – your day flashes by in a whirlwind of love. So try to find a couple of moments throughout the day to be just you two.  We carved out some time after our bridal party photos and then again at sunset to be together & to take it all in.

Ceremony location: Bradley’s Head Amphitheatre | Reception location: Athol Hall | Photographer: Kate Disher Quill | Celebrant: Victoria Eustace | Entertainment: We Are Paper Hearts | Hire: Rustic Character | Flora: The Wilds Sydney | Cake: Messy Spoon | Bride’s dress: Rue De Seine | Groom’s suit and shoes: Suit Supply | Rings: Sofia Zakia and Henson And Gold | Bride’s shoes: Asos | Bride’s earrings + headband: Jennifer Behr | Makeup: Luana Coscia | Hair: Remnation | Bride’s fragrance: LE LABO Fragrances | Bridesmaid’s dresses: Asos | Groomsmen’s attire: Oxford Shop