Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love, what is unique about you and your relationship…
We were set up on a blind date in Sydney, Australia, and have been globe-hopping ever since. We now live in New York with our little boy Atlas and soon to be baby boy number two.
Living overseas and being away from friends and family means we lean on each other a lot. We make big decisions just the two of us. But we have also been through a lot. I have had some major health setbacks since we met, and we have had to lean on each other through dark times without family here. It has made us stronger, both individually and together. We had lived our wedding vows for years before we actually got married – for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, and come out better for it.
Here is a little excerpt from our wedding on what makes us special:
Jake may not be a man of 1000 words, but what he does choose to say is always valuable and insightful. Of his very soon-to-be wife, Jake summed it up with “Nat is my best friend and she has made me a better version of myself.” For Jake, there is no empire worth building that doesn’t revolve around the happiness of Natalie and his son.
For Natalie, she loves that Jake is like no other person you will ever meet. He might present a sometimes deceivingly intimidating exterior but he is at his core, incredibly kind, loyal and affectionate, and it is a privilege she says, that she gets to see all of him. She loves that he knows how to have a good time, and that he still finds a reason to smile when things get really hard. She loves that he is relentless and driven, but all for the sake of family – which he values above all. She loves how he melts at the sight of his son, and how he makes her laugh at her lowest.
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…
I am a proud Australian. I love everything about Australian summers and all I wanted was to get married under the gum trees. It was all about the gorgeous Australian backdrop and the styling was designed to respect and compliment the outdoor ceremony and the rustic barn where we had our reception. We chose simple neutral colours with accents of greenery and white florals. Tanglewood was a magical setting to celebrate our country and our love.
Tell us about your main outfits:
After several days of trying on dresses in NYC, I had a very specific image of a dress I wanted, but could not actually find the one. I set about the complicated process of creating my own dress. I had no idea how intricate this process would be, but in the end, it was humbling to see the process of how NYC designers come up with and then build something from an idea. I even had my fittings in the famous fashion district where the magic happens.
I have to take a minute to appreciate the immense skill of my pattern maker Lena Ratterree who is an expert in building dresses for a range of high-end NYC designers, and my dress developer Gabrielle Bennett – who operates as a niche, bespoke developer also with some amazing brands here. These two ladies helped my dream dress become a reality, while also building it in a way so as not to exacerbate my chronic pain. I am so grateful to have had the honour to work with them.
What were some of the most memorable/unique moments from the day?
We were both SO nervous! We are not anxious people at all, but my goodness we had the jitters. I loved the moment it was just the two of us on the back of the golf cart post-ceremony. We decided to sign the documents in the quiet of the chapel with just our celebrant, photographer, and two sisters as our witnesses. This was such a magical moment. You need those quiet moments to soak up all the excitement and love.
Any advice for other couples planning to spend the rest of their lives together?
Our wedding day went so quickly. Make sure you take a few minutes to step back at several different points throughout the day, hold hands, and look at all the people there who love you and have come to celebrate you.
We have had “Beyond” by Leon Bridges on repeat in our house for years. I think we both would secretly imagine our wedding day to this song. Dancing and singing the words of this beautiful music together was such a special moment. I have since heard it brought many a tear to eye amongst our guests.
I also loved having our two year old son Atlas pop in to see us between the ceremony and the dinner. He looked dashing in his bow tie and it felt right to have him there. I remember walking into the reception with him on my hip and being absolutely struck by the love and beauty in that room. It felt like having my whole world in my hands.
Venue: Tanglewood Estate | Videographer: Renny Wijeyamohan | Photographer: Tess Follett | Celebrant: Lara Williams | Styling & Planner: Pop Up with Style | Linen Hire: Simmons Linen | Lawn Games Hire: A Day to Remember | Furniture Hire: Peninsula Party Hire | Bride’s Transport: Mornington Mercedes Benz | Flora: Wild Flos | Catering: Provider | Bride’s Dress: Custom Made in NYC | Groom’s Suit: P.Johnson | Ring/s: Ashley Zhang | Makeup: Ross Andrewartha | Hair & Bridesmaid Makeup: Sophie Knox | Fragrance: Diptique – DO SON EAU DE PARFUM
