West Aussie Wedding

simple = striking

You'd have to be pretty confident to pull off a simple dress like this for your wedding.

But how breathtaking does it look? 

No distractions.

  
image via Australian Womens Weekly magazine

A perfect winter wedding dress option for making a huge impact.

Would look especially good with an extravagent bouquet.

our anniversary

We've been married a year today! 

This morning we were thinking back to the Big Day... about all the decisions we had made.. the planning we had done.. the weight of expectation.. the intensity of it all..

I love these photos of us.. each taken as we were on our way to the wedding.. we both look so nervous!  

 
 

This morning we lay in bed and reflected upon the wedding and our favourite and least favourite parts of the day.

I have noticed that the things that you put the most amount of energy into are, in most cases, not the things you end up talking about a year later. 

The most magical moments can't be arranged or planned for.

Not that it means you shouldn't have fun with the details you do plan and arrange!

So much has happened in the last year, the wedding feels like it was long ago.. but it was such a wonderful way to kick off our married life.. but it really is just the start.  

Del & Charlie- WA wedding!

Prepare yourself for some West Aussie Wedding Gorgeousness..!!

The lovely Del and Charlie got married late last year.. their beautiful wedding was full of laid back charm and beautiful personal touches... all set against a beautiful West Aussie Hills backdrop! My favourite!

Del talks us through her wedding planning...

Mr. and I are not religious and always wanted a garden wedding followed by a
fun, light and easy reception with great food and loads of laughter. After
dragging ourselves to every winery in the valley we decided that actually
none of these suited or had the feel of what we were after. My Aunt and
Uncle had recently purchased a 25 acre block in Glen Forrest - they had lots
of trees and  enough space for a marquee!

We felt unsure about how they would respond to us saying "So....can we have
our wedding at your place?" But we plucked up the courage and they not only
said YES but were ecstatic at the thought. In fact they were building a big
deck around their new home which overlooks the valley which we could use
instead of worrying about a marquee - perfect

I began to draw loads of inspiration from bridal blogs particularly of West
Aussie Wedding and Ruffled. We wanted the overall event to be unique, fun
and to reflect our personalities. There was so much DIY that I loved even
though I would not consider myself to be crafty, I picked a few favourite
projects to have a go of.

Invitations
My father is an extremely talented photographer and very good at graphic
design so it began with the invitations. I wanted a silhouette of us and in
the background our high school (we are high school sweethearts - not sure if
that is cute or cringe worthy.)

We then also took a picture of the tree we decided we were going to have the
ceremony under and used that image in the invitation.

 
photo by Odelia Sarre
 
photo by Odelia Sarre

Ceremony Seating
I had seen hay bale lounges covered with quilts everywhere and loved it! My
grandparents are farmers and my grandmother makes everyone in my family a
quilt when they have a big birthday. So we had enough quilts and ordered
bales after I convinced my grandparents they didn't have to grow hay that
year "just so that it would be the right colour.

 
 

Dress
My favourite gown I found was on West Aussie Wedding blog it was by
Castigliano International. I hit many of the "off the rack" bridal stores
and found nothing to my taste, they all looked the same, white with beads. I
then hit a few of the couture designers, I still felt they did not
understand what I was after, that was until I went to Kevin at Galleria
Couture. Those of you that have been to him will be able to relate - he just
gets it and he was the only one who didn't constantly go on about how little
time there was left. You have to have faith in him right until the end
though as I really didn't feel as though I knew what my dress was going to
look like until my final fitting one week before the day!

  
photo by Rob Alla
 
  
photo by Rob Alla

 
photo by Rob Alla

Food & Booze
The beauty of having the ceremony and reception on a private property meant
that we could have anything we wanted! We found an amazing local caterer
Brush Fork and Pencil who offered incredible cocktail menus (so substantial
that our guests didn't have to hit the McDonalds drive thru on the way
home.) We also selected our favourite spirits and did a delicious raspberry
cocktail. I also bought water bottles and covered them with personalised
labels I designed myself, this was actually the easiest project to DIY.

 

 

 
photo by Odelia Sarre

Cake
I loved the cake that I had seen everywhere with the rustic wood stand. Mr.
doesn't like cake (and yet I still married him) and asked if we could have
"that stuff they put on top - the chocolate bit." My favourite dessert is my
grandmothers hedgehog - she suggested we have a hedgehog covered in white
chocolate ganache! DEAL we said! She made this for us a few days before the
wedding along and covered it with organza flowers (another DIY favourite on
all the wedding blogs.) She made the flowers well before the wedding - in
time for her singed eyebrows to grow back she reckons (if you have seen the
project you will understand.)

 

Flowers
I wasn't really bothered with bouquets and centrepieces, we were having a
cocktail reception as we felt people would mingle more. I did however like
the idea of a hanging arrangement. Luckily I have brilliant grandparents who
designed and built from scratch two hanging baskets -more  6 feet in
diameter which the day before we filled with native bush and chrysanthemums

 

 

Photography
Being in the photographic industry and knowing many of the wonderful
photographers we have in Perth - this for me was the most difficult decision
to make. I had been watching Robert Alla's work and knew he would hit it off
with the Mr. He brought his friend along on the day hoping I wouldn't mind,
Rocco Ancora (Australian Wedding Photographer of the Year who flew in from
Melbourne.) I had high expectations and they went along with all of my ideas
- even jumping on the trampoline!

 
photo by Rob Alla

 
photo by Rob Alla

 
photo by Rob Alla

Photobooth
Worth every cent! We got guests to put one pic in our "guest book" and write
a note. It was an absolute hit (especially the props) and the photos still
crack us up!  

 
 

 We had an amazing day overall, if we can continue to surround ourselves with
the beautiful love that was there that day emanating from our friends and
family I'm sure married life will be a success. I didn't have all the things
people said I "had to have" (such as favours) and am glad I didn't. To other
brides - it is totally worth all the preparation on the actual day and don't
be dramatic it's not that hard to plan a wedding. Have your favourite things
and invite your favourite people and at the end of the day so long as you
are married to your sweetheart that's all that matters.

Love your work Del!

You can check out more of Del's magic at Sarre Photography

 

light the way

It would be so cool to do this sort of thing

It puts my tea lights in paper bags to shame

 

by Rune Guneriussen via Au Pays des Merveilles  

I think a collection of small mis-matched lampshades would made a great feature, maybe for table centrepices or too illuminate a room or pathway

not quite white

Speaking of grey... If you don't feel like wearing white.. here are some lovely options, for the laid back bride.. or bridesmaid

1st Row: ALC, Vena Cava

2nd Row: Sass & Bide, Chris Benz

 

all images from bopshop.com

busy bridesmaid

Former Perth local Rebecca Twigley married AFL player Chris Judd on NYE just gone.

The Bride and Bridesmaids all wore gowns by Melbourne duo J'Aton.

Love the detail on the gowns! And the way each bridesmaid wore a unique dress, in slightly different shades of grey.

   
 
images via news.com 
 
Didn't they all look absolutely beautiful!!

Especially that raven haired bridesmaid, who I happen to know from experience is the best Bridesmaid in the whole wide world and basically an all round top chick. hehe.

Congrats to the Newlyweds!!

cake glorious cake

I went to a friends wedding in Darwin and this was their wedding cake..!!

Made by a friend of theirs! Like, with their bare hands..

All those little leaves and petals and bugs were edible!!

It was awesome.

I'd never been compelled to actually take a photo of a cake before.

 

This is not just a mix of flour and sugar and eggs.

This was a work of art.

It was delicious.

 

wedding season

It's in full swing!

I have to note that since our own wedding earlier this year I have simply loved being a guest at other peoples weddings.

Compared to being the Bride and Groom it's just so easy. And so fun. All you have to do is rock up in your favourite outfit, eat, drink and be merry! No stress or fuss or planning required.

I have been to some gorgeous weddings this spring and summer.

They've all been so different, but all so cool.

 

image via WeHeartIt

I will be back with some of my favourite details soon.

In the meantime... I hope all the summer brides are enjoying their wedding planning!!

 

Di's sapphire

I'm very happy to see the official engagement photo of Prince William and Kate Middleton gives us a decent look at the famous sapphire and diamond ring.

Isn't it beautiful! And doesn't it look lovely on her hands!

  

If course, I'm biased.

 

little bit famous

Ooh our wedding featured yesterday on Polka Dot Bride

Check out some more of our wedding photos here!

new digs

Heelllooooo 

Sorry I have been missing in action.

I never intended to drop off the radar as soon as the wedding was over.

But by the time we got our photos back I felt I had really truly run out of wedding-related things to talk about.

Weddings aren't on my mind anymore and I'm happy to report that life goes on!

If I come across any super awesome wedding stuff I will continue to post it on West Aussie. But as I'm no longer actively looking for wedding inspiration it's likely to be sporadic at best.

However! You can now find me over at Desert Darling, where I have started a new blog. It's not really about anything.. but not limited by anything either.

image via Inspire Please  

Now we are settling into married life, settling into our new town, and new jobs I'm going to start gaining momentum with my posts over there, so please pop over to check out my new haunt.

Living Statue

We had a living statue posted at the front of our venue, as a kind of welcome to our guests.

We organised her through James Gray Living Statues and we went with a Bushland Nymph.

She was pretty crazy looking and gave quite a few people a surprise, but I think its good to have a few unexpected surprises.

 

Dizzy Wizzy Interview

 

The lovely Nat from Dizzy Wizzy Designs interviewed Little Old Me the other day and has posted the Q & A up on her blog.

You can read my profound and unbelievably clever insights here

Dizzy Wizzy are a WA company based in Perth, and have a range of fresh and funky stationery.

Here is one of my favourites from Nat's gallery

Design by Dizzy Wizzy

They do custom so give Nat a call to chat about what you are after.

See here for some more Dizzy Wizzy loveliness
 

our ceremony

We put a fair bit of thought into our ceremony. Our Celebrant was very patient with us, we kept chopping it and changing it around. We wanted it to be just right.

Here are the the highlights from our ceremony- our readings and our vows. I think you may have read them all at other places on the blog but I like to see them all in one post.

The first reading was Union by Robert Fulgham, which our celebrant used for the part of the ceremony where he usually describes what marriage means to the couple. We thought this reading summed it up perfectly and wanted it incorporated seamlessly into the ceremony, rather than announced as a reading per se.  We got him to modify it slightly to better reflect our circumstances.

"You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this point of commitment. At some point, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes, to this moment of yes, indeed, you have been making commitments in an informal way. All of those conversations that were held in a car, or over a meal, or during long walks – all those conversations that began with, “When we’re married”, and continued with “I will” and “you will” and “we will” – all those late night talks that included “someday” and “somehow” and “maybe” – and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart. All these common things, and more, are the real process of a wedding.

The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, “You know all those things that we’ve promised, and hoped, and dreamed – well, I meant it all, every word.”Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another – acquaintance, friend, companion, lover, dancing partner, even teacher, for you have learned much from one another these past few years. Shortly you shall say a few words that will take you across a threshold of life, and things between you will never quite be the same.

For after today you shall say to the world –This is my husband. This is my wife."

 

We opted for a very traditional Asking. I know these lines are old, but in our opinion that is what made them so powerful.

 

MrWestAussie, will you take WestAussie to be your lawful wedded wife?

Will you love her, comfort her, honour and respect her in sickness and in health?

Will you stand by her through whatever may come, and forsaking all others, keep only to her as long as you both shall live?

 

I will

 

And I said exactly the same thing..

 

Then these were our vows (the promises we made each other were identical):

 

I WestAussie call upon the people who are present here today to witness that I take you MrWestAussie to be my lawful wedded husband. This is my solemn vow, and these are my promises to you

 

I promise to stay present when I want to turn away

I promise to be compassionate when it is easy to be angry

I promise to give and receive comfort during the hard times

I promise to embrace your needs and make them my own

I promise to share my heart with those you love

 

After we said our vows and exchanged our rings My Aunty did her reading. 

We held hands while she read out the Hand Blessing.

 

"These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever.

These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future.

These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other.

These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind.

These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow, and tears of joy. These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children.

These are the hands that will help you to hold your family as one.

These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.

And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch

 

Then our Celebrant did the Declaration of Marriage and we had a big kiss. Mwah!

 

our wedding photos

We got them!

All photographs by Filip Welna.

The ever lovely Thiana Sperry putting my slap on

I don't look very happy here, but I was just trying to keep still

 
The requisite dress shot. Can't remember if I already told you but it's a Collette Dinnigan evening gown, from Elle Boutique in Claremont

Flowers By Sally Philip, which I loved!

 
The most beautiful Bridesmaids in the whole wide world! The Misters' sister on the left, mine on the right.

All dolled up. Earrings from House of Lavande

 
My Mister. Love that man

   
Mum and Dad walking me up the aisle. My Mama's stylish suit by Carla Zampatti. Dad is wearing Hugo Boss

This was about 5 minutes before the veil came off. Oh well! I had been in two minds about it anyway.

 
Saying our vows. Our wonderful celebrant was Kenneth Booth. We had a lot of comments on what a wonderful job he did. And our beautiful lanterns- Put up by Reeces Hire

My lovely In-Laws. Her gorgeous dress is by Studibaker

 
Note the Misters styling non-floral buttonhole. Also by Sally Philip

 
Why hello Husband! Hello Wifey!

The photos taken immediately after the ceremony are some of my absolute favourites. Not possible to chose just one

 
    


 
1. Me and my Mama
2. The Mr and his Aunty
3. Me and one of my dearest friends, with her husband looking on. I was bridesmaid at their wedding
4. Me and my Grandpa (the Calligrapher!)
5. The Mr and his Merry Men
6. My Nan

We only did a few quick portraits after the ceremony but got a couple of goodies

 

 
We didn't want to waste too much time having photos taken when there was a wedding to be at!

 

Listening to my Dad's beautiful speech 

 
Listening to the Best Mans funny speech 

Formalities were over by 7.45pm.

 

  

  

 

   

 
 

Looking through the photos has been so much fun.

It's reminded us of little moments we might have otherwise forgotten.  

Our package was really reasonably priced- it included two photographers who arrived when we were getting ready and stayed till the end of our reception, an album with the heaps of pages, another mini-album for yourhandbag and an engagement shoot.. so if you are still in the market for a wedding day photographer, I highly recommend giving Filip Welna a call!