They say that when you know, you know, and these two KNEW. After initially getting flirty over the ‘gram, Catherine, the creative director of one of our fave brands Spell, and Darcy, a nurse, were engaged a year after they first laid eyes on each other IRL. It’s true… these two don’t muck around, and after leaving their wedding weekend with a little more than just a marriage certificate, there’s no sign of slowing down. “Something we will never forget – Darcy and I unexpectedly fell pregnant on our wedding night. We now have a beautiful baby boy, Wylie.”
Northern Rivers rural charm meets ’70s-inspired style? No wonder we’re obsessed with everything about Catherine and Darcy’s big day. The bride sported a super cool bespoke crochet frock from social enterprise She Made Me, and the groom looked stellar in a three-piece number from our mates at M.J. Bale.
A very groovy group of vendors, including The Wedding Shed and FLWR florals, helped bring the vision to life, as did Nina Claire, who’s responsible for these fab, fab, fab photos. All the good vibes are below!
THE VENUE “I heard about Byron View Farm from my good friend Amanda (who also did my makeup for the wedding). What Darcy and I loved about the venue is that it has that hinterland charm we fell in love with when we moved to the Northern Rivers. It felt intimate but breathtaking with the most spectacular views of Byron Bay. I am also a big animal lover and we loved the alpacas and horses surrounding the property.”
FAVE DETAILS “Something that really stood out to me from the day was our flowers. I told Emily from FLWR the inspiration behind my dress and that I wanted to feel like I was walking down the aisle surrounded by wildflowers. I loved her flower arrangement so much and she chose the most beautiful palette that worked beautifully with my vintage cream dress and Darcy’s wedding suit. We also had a hint of blue in there for tradition! My mum wore a flower crown on her wedding day, and I really wanted to replicate this.”
THE DRESS “I didn’t see or try on my dress until a week before the wedding! My dress was never a huge focus for me. All I knew was that I never wanted to wear a stereotypical white wedding gown. I wanted to feel authentically myself and wear something I felt comfortable in. I have always been a lover of artisanal handicraft techniques, and crochet felt like such a perfect option. The final design was inspired by one of my all-time muses – Brigitte Bardot. There is an iconic photograph of her waltzing around her Saint Tropez home in a gorgeous 1970s crochet dress. It all magically came together in the end, and I couldn’t be more happy with how it turned out. When I tried it on for the first time, it was perfect.”
THE SUIT “Darcy loves fashion just as much as I do, and he was pretty clear about what he wanted to wear. First and foremost, he wanted to feel himself on the day. He wore a three-piece suit from M.J. Bale and a gentleman’s hat that went back with the old-world charm of our wedding. He also wanted to wear cream to match the colour of my wedding dress.”
MEMORABLE MOMENT “There were so many to mention! I really loved when Darcy and I had a moment to ourselves in the paddock at sunset with our photographer, Nina. Due to the recent 2022 floods in the Northern Rivers region, the paddocks were so muddy and damp. Darcy had to lift me up as my shoes were sinking in the mud, and my crochet dress was getting caught in shrubs and sticks. It didn’t help that we both had a few too many beverages! It was wild but fun, and we had so many laughs! The photos from this moment are magical and something we will always treasure forever.”
MARRIAGE MEANS… “Darcy and I knew we were each other’s forever the day we met. To be honest, I knew Darcy was going to be my husband the day I laid eyes on his Instagram photo all those years ago. To be honest, we never needed to get married to prove how much we love each other – I didn’t even take Darcy’s last name (sorry, Darcy!) Our love is eternal, and our wedding day was such a beautiful way to celebrate it.”
WE’RE GLAD WE… “Darcy and I felt really passionate about having kids at our wedding. Most of our family and friends have children, and we wanted them present. While our wedding was probably more ‘tame’ than most, it added another funny and beautiful element that we will never regret. The children also loved the animals – feeding the alpacas and patting the horses was a highlight!”
How magical are these two?! And how magical is a rural wedding? If you’re looking for something a world away from the hustle and bustle, check out our round-up of country venues here. When you find the perfect spot, you’ll want to hit up event hire heroes, The Wedding Shed, here. Besotted by those blooms? Reach out to FLWR here, or if you still need to suit up, the M.J. Bale team will have your back (literally). Check them out here.
CONTRIBUTING VENDORS Photographer Nina Claire Event Planner Byron Bay Weddings (Maddie) Stylist Byron Bay Weddings (Maddie) & Catherine Thorbecke (Bride) Florist & Cake Topper Flowers FLWR Studio Venue Byron View Farm Catering Fig Tree Restaurant Cake Maker Millie’s of Newrybar Hire Items, Stationery & Signage The Wedding Shed Lighting & Sound Hire Byron Audio Entertainment Brad Stone via Byron Bay Weddings Celebrant Emily Fearon Rings Natalie Marie Jewellery Transport Byron Bay Double Deckers THE BRIDE Bridal Gown Designer She Made Me & Catherine Thorbecke (Bride) Bridal Second Dress Doen Flower Crown FLWR Studio Getting Ready Gown Doen Shoes Santa D’Mina Accessories Natalie Marie Jewellery Hair Haylee Shoveller Makeup Amanda Reardon Fragrance/Perfume Ayu ‘Vala’ THE GROOM Jacket, Pant, Vest, & Shirt M.J. Bale Shoes Grenson Barber/Grooming Bungalow Barber Shop
