Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love, what is unique about you and your relationship…
William and I met many moons ago in Spain! It was during a pub crawl in a small beach town called Cadiz. We were from completely different sides of the world. I’m from Perth, Western Australia and William is from Oakland, California!
The night we met was absolutely incredible because we clicked immediately and knew we had found something special in each other. Love happened when I least expected it, and the funny thing is that my best friend also found her future husband on the same trip! We somehow survived the longest distance relationship possible, got married (coincedently on the same day we happened to meet) and have settled down in Oakland, California… for the time being. Our dedication to each other during our time spent apart has ultimately helped us build a foundation of trust, support and communication.
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…
We got married on a beautiful, sunny day at Ramekins Sonoma, California. Ramekins was perfect as it allowed us to be outdoors for the most part, only coming inside for cake and dancing. As it is primarily a culinary school, we were treated to a spectacular farm to table feast which was enjoyed on the courtyard patio. I remember sitting at the bridal table, looking out to see all of our loved ones together sharing a delicious meal, it was really special.
I wanted an intimate, natural and beautiful wedding. The overall colour scheme was neutral with hints of copper. I love lots of greenery, so we placed eucalyptus runners on our dinner tables. Ramekins had stunning, old European charm surrounded by beautiful greenery, trees and white roses. I fell in love with the stone walls and rustic wooden gates. We let our venue speak for itself, only adding a few personal touches to make it ours.
Tell us about your main outfits…
I adored my wedding dress ‘Tamora’ by Kelly Faetanini. It took me ages to finally find “the one” and I knew it was ‘Tamora’ as soon as I put it on. I loved how it was timeless and elegant, simple yet stunning! The dress had an open back with delicate thin straps and was made from a beautiful crepe fabric which felt so lovely on the skin. As it was a statement dress I only needed to add small diamond studs. My bridesmaids wore a beautiful wrap dress, in a colour called rust, which sounds horrible but it is such a gorgeous colour and one that you don’t see too often. Our wedding flowers had hints of burnt orange to tie it all together.
William wore a custom made blue suit in a beautiful bright hue, which we originally questioned “is it too blue?!” but he rocked it anyway and it was absolutely perfect for our summer wedding. He paired it with a crisp white shirt, baby blue tie and tan leather shoes. He looked so handsome! His groomsmen followed suit (no pun intended :-)) in similar colours, they looked the part – modern, simple yet stylish.
What were some of the most memorable/unique moments from the day…
My most memorable moment was definitely walking down the aisle. I was linked arms with my mum and uncle on either side of me. As soon as I started walking, the sunshine hit my face and when I opened my eyes I saw a sea of smiling faces. I immediately felt enveloped in love and warmth. I remember feeling so calm and happy. I made my way to the altar, my soon to be husband waiting for me. He was so emotional! I couldn’t stop smiling. It was surreal everything was all finally happening!
Any advice for other couples planning to spend the rest of their lives together…
Be in the moment and truly enjoy your special day! So much time, thought and planning goes into this one big day and when it finally comes along it goes so fast! Remember to take some time to enjoy just the two of you and savour the moment. During dinner we snuck out with our awesome photographer to capture some sunset photos – this is a must do! As much as you try
to plan for a perfect day, things don’t always go according to plan, roll with it as best as you can, don’t sweat the small stuff, it usually doesn’t make that much of a difference in the end anyway. What matters most is marrying the love of your life!
Ceremony and reception location: Ramekins | Photographer: Heart and Colour | Celebrant: Altair Peterson | Entertainment: AMS Wine Country | Planning and Styling: Bravo Weddings | Hire: Heirloom Events | Flora: Vanda Floral Design | Cake: Crisp Bake Shop | Bride’s gown: Kelly Faetanini | Groom’s Attire: Anatolys | Bride’s ring: Alexis Russell Jewellery | Groom’s ring: J. Sahadi Jewelers – have since closed | Bride’s shoes: Nine West | Groom’s shoes: Johnston Murphy | Earrings: Jardin Jewelry | Makeup: Samantha Keefauver | Hair: Bridal MUAH | Fragrance: Giorgio Armani | Bridesmaid attire: Shona Joy | Groomsmen attire: Mens Wearhouse
