Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love.
We were born and bred on the beautiful south coast of Australia and spend a lot of our time outside walking our corgi Winnie, swimming when it’s hot, catching up with friends and family and eating at our favourite local cafe’s.
I, Rebecca, am a very social person, and I’m always making plans with our friends and getting Dan out of the house. Dan is much more of a homebody, he feels so content spending the day pottering around our home. We are both pretty easygoing people, we get a lot of joy out of the simple things in life.
How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?
We knew of each other most of high school. Dan was school friends with some of my close family friends. We met properly at a friend’s 18th birthday party. My first impression was that Dan was very tall and very drunk.
When did you first realise that this was someone you’d like to spend the rest of your life with?
Probably pretty quickly for both of us. We were only young at the time but we knew it just felt right being together. We actually spent a few years apart in our early 20’s, we both travelled and saw the world. We started seeing each other again when we got home and we just knew it was going to be forever.
Was there a proposal? Tell us a little about it…
There was! Dan booked a gorgeous little Airbnb about an hour away from our house. It was a boiling hot day and we were sitting on the balcony in the shade eating Thai food and drinking wine. Dan said he had to go inside for a minute and he came back out and got down on one knee. It was the best surprise. A day we will never forget.
Tell us about the vision you had for the mood or style of your wedding…
The main feeling we wanted at our wedding was togetherness. We wanted to be amongst the tables with our guests and wanted everyone to feel as special as they are to us. We didn’t have too much of a plan beyond that. I love doing crafty things so I enjoyed making lots of elements of our wedding, like the favours and table numbers and seating plan. We wanted simple, cosy, elegant and rustic.
What was one element you were happy to splurge on?
A photographer. Dan and I aren’t the most confident people in front of a camera, so we wanted someone who took natural-looking photos. We couldn’t have been happier with Lucy from Translucent Photography. Her photos absolutely took our breath away. They still do.
Did anything happen on your wedding day that you laugh about in hindsight (even if it was stressful at the time?)
When I was walking down the aisle my veil kept getting stuck on the concrete. I was so worried it was going to slide right off my head but it didn’t! Phew!
Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, is there a story?
We actually bought the suits for the groomsmen with another couple we are great friends with. Our weddings were supposed to be one month apart (they ended up being 6 months apart – thank you Covid) and the boys had basically the same people in the bridal party for both weddings. I recommend doing this by the way for anyone wanting to save money!
My dress I actually found before I was even engaged. My beautiful friend was married before me and as her maid of honour, I followed all the dress labels she liked on Instagram. The Stevie gown by Made With Love caught my eye immediately and I saved a picture of it on my phone. I knew as soon as I saw it that that was the dress I would one day be married in. The bridesmaid dresses were actually really easy to find. Forever New often bring out nice dresses that are elegant and reasonably priced.
Reception and ceremony location Centennial Vineyards Restaurant / Photographer Translucent Photography / Celebrant Kristie Wilkinson / Entertainment Mark Crotti and DJ Brian / Styling Perrie and Peach / Bus hire Highlands Chauffeured Hire Cars / Lights hire Me Lighting / Flora Rhonda Potter / Catering + Beverages Centennial Vineyards Restaurant / Cake Artisan Bakery Shellharbour / Accommodation Treetops House via Holiday Rental Specialists / Bride’s gown and veil Made With Love Bridal / Groom’s attire Tarocash / Bride’s rings Angus and Coote and Zamels / Groom’s ring Gold City Jewellers / Bride’s shoes Windsor Smith / Makeup Alysia Gardner Hair Volume Hair Lounge, Envious Hair and Beauty and Hair by Leshay / Groomsmen attire Tarocash Bridesmaids dresses Forevernew