Right from the beginning Glenn, who you may recall from issue seven, was confident his proposal to Bianka would be well received. Bianka tells us, £I get home from a walk one Sunday morning, sweaty and ready for a shower. Glenn is sitting in our backyard with two freshly poured glasses of scotch on ice. I am confused at the offer of hard liquor so early in the morning until he gets down on one knee and asks, £How bout it?
And with that their epic journey as a happily engaged couple began. £The lead up to the wedding was long, a two year engagement, full of fun, stress and hard decisions. Lots of laughs and tears, countless hours trolling wedding blogs. I enjoyed many late night phone calls to girlfriends obsessing over every detail, says Bianka whose efforts didn’t go unnoticed. From the elegant stationery she designed to her incredible bouquet by Poppies Flowers, Bianka’s carefully curated selection of products and vendors, including photographer Lucy Spartalis from She Takes Pictures He Makes Films, well and truly paid off.
Their day began with a first look’ at their favourite pub, The Grace Emily, where as musicians (she fronts an acoustic blues duo called Coops and the Bird!) both Bianka and Glenn had played plenty of gigs. £It was so special to meet just the two of us before the ceremony at a place we have shared so many things? says Bianka who surprised Glenn in a gown that had him in tears even before he’d turned around.
£The dress consumed my thinking for the entire engagement, Bianka admits. £It was made by Paolo Sebastian. He was very patient with me because I found it difficult to decide on a silhouette. Once I decided on the Twigs & Honey headpiece, Paul suggested that we add a gold belt and it really finished my look. The dress took around six months to make. I am still obsessed with it. It was wonderful to wear, I could move about in it easily and when I twirled it floated around me. I want to wear it while I’m doing anything. Glenn jokes about finding me doing the ironing in it one day.
And twirl she did, incorporating an Australian-Italian tradition which involved being wrapped up in streamers while they danced. £It symbolises binding the couple together, creating a union of two souls as one, explains Bianka who also had Heidelberg Cakes create a white chocolate masterpiece that sat politely inside Glen Ewin Estate until it was time to be eaten.
Their charming, heritage listed venue in South Australia was playfully decorated with festoon lighting and simple table settings, and provided the perfect place for Bianka and Glenn’s vintage-inspired wedding. £Everything we chose represented us and what we love. Good music, fabulous food and scotch on ice.
CREDITS Photos She Takes Pictures He Makes Films // Bridal gown and bridesmaids dress Paolo Sebastian // Hair piece Twigs & Honey // Shoes Gorman // Hair and makeup Miss Coiffure // Ceremony, reception and catering Glen Ewin Estate, SA // Flowers Poppies Flowers // Cake Heidelberg Cakes // Rings James Thredgold // Groomsmen suits Joseph Uzumcu // Stationery Campus Color // Celebrant Father Chris Middleton // Cinematography Enlightening Films.