By splitting their day into two very different vibes, Brooke and Sam say that they “really got the best of both worlds.”
“The ceremony in the garden was beautiful,” share the couple, who were married at the groom’s parents’ country home in rural NSW, surrounded by just immediate family. Following, the bride (in a 1960’s crocheted find) and groom (in InStitchu) chose to share their vows in private, before digging into celebratory brunch with the fam. “Sam and his dad even manned the BBQ, and we had a mini version of our wedding cake as well.”
Changing gears, our newlyweds then hit the road, joining up with around 65 for the party portion of the evening in Canberra city. “From start to finish, it was intimate, joyful, chaotic, and beautiful,” Brooke and Sam share. “We wouldn’t change a thing.”
As you explore B&S’s wedding album (captured by Hello Ro Photography), keep your eyes peeled for charming, vintage aesthetic inspo (those cinema seats!!), and pics of the pair’s sweet pooch. But first let’s hear more from the newlyweds on their day’s cleverly unique configuration.
Two-Part Wedding Day Across NSW and Canberra
“For the ceremony, we wanted something intimate with just our families. When Sam’s parents moved to their country home with a lovely garden, we knew it would be perfect for our ceremony and brunch. It also let us style it exactly how we wanted, including using old cinema seats and having our dog fully involved. For the party, since we live in Sydney, we looked at venues there and in Canberra. There were a few great options in both, but we wanted to minimise travel for our guests. We’d also been to Verity Lane before and loved the vibe. It met all our requirements: great food (we’d recommend the ‘Feed Me’ package), plenty of space to continue the party, and a relaxed, inclusive atmosphere.”
Vintage-Inspired Wedding Styling with Nostalgic Details
We wanted our wedding to feel like us, relaxed, intimate, and full of warmth. A big, traditional wedding didn’t feel right; we just wanted to gather our favourite people and celebrate in a way that felt genuine. In terms of style, we were drawn to a mix of vintage charm and nostalgic romance, soft, timeless details with playful touches, and a little of that old-school whimsy. We loved the idea of it feeling personal and sentimental, like a collection of beautiful, imperfect moments coming together.
The Bride’s 1960s Crocheted Vintage Wedding Dress
“I actually found my main dress online at an antique store years ago, and the moment I saw it, I knew it was the one. Originally made in the 1960s, it was crocheted to look like lace, which I loved, and it was covered in pearls, a little nod to my love for the ocean. I also knew I wanted to get married in the cooler months so I could wear it comfortably, as it’s quite a heavy dress. On the day, it worked perfectly! The morning was cool but it warmed up, and I felt cosy, comfortable, and completely myself. I also had a second dress, again inspired by the 1960’s, from the brand Motel, but with a slightly later-decade vibe. It was a mini dress in sheer lace, with a keyhole opening and flare sleeves. I found it online after searching for quite a while for the right thing, and paired it with a thick faux-fur coat of the same length, taking inspiration from courthouse wedding styles of that era. For shoes in the evening, I swapped my Mary Janes from the morning for some stiletto that still felt cohesive with the dress. I also switched my larger pearl dotted veil for a short bow veil.”
Exchanging Private Vows
“One of the most memorable moments for both of us was exchanging our private vows under a beautiful old tree after the ceremony. It was just the two of us, completely intimate and heartfelt. Saying those words to each other, fully present in the moment, made it feel so real, grounding, and emotional.”
More Good Stuff
Hope your Pinterest board is open because we’ve got more real retro weddings, backyard weddings, and really almost any flavour wedding you can imagine here on the blog. Unconventional bridalwear inspo? Say no more (and click this way). Or for suiting, suss out InStitchu on the directory.
CONTRIBUTING VENDORS Photographer Hello Ro Photography Bridal Bouquet The Bridal Collective Stationery Paperless Post Ceremony Venue Private Property Reception Venue & Catering Verity Lane Market Cake Maker Flour Lane Celebrant Louise Sumner Rings Sam & Brooke (Groom & Bride) Accommodation Burbury Hotel THE BRIDE Bridal Gown Designer Vintage Second Dress Motel Veil Amazon Hair & Makeup Brooke (Bride) Fragrance Demeter THE GROOM Suit, Tie Institchu Shoes Xero Shoes Grooming Tooth & Nail Marrickville, Evo
