EMILY & REG'S VICTORIAN WEDDING

Well, hooowdy – these two know how to throw a good hullabaloo. When Emily and Reg returned from New York to tie the knot, they brought a slice of the US home with them. The pair, with the help of friends and fam, transformed an unassuming shed on Reg’s family property into a midwest-inspired bar dubbed “The Tipsy Cow”, “decked it out with a pool table, old family memorabilia, couches, a fireplace and its very own neon sign.”

The location, based in Victoria’s beautiful Goulburn Valley region, lent itself perfectly to the “laidback feel” the couple were after. “We’ll be able to reminisce on our wedding often as we make more special memories there. We also liked that it would give our city-slicking New York friends a taste of small-town country Victoria.”

We have been BLESSED because our friend Phoebe Dunn, who the newlyweds describe as their “guardian angel”, was there to capture the backyard bonanza. Okay, enough chit-chat; check it out below!

THE VIBE “Right after we got engaged, we embarked on a 15-month road trip around America. We visited over 20 states and roughly 30 of the country’s national parks, having the time of our lives, so alongside honouring the local region on our wedding day, some Americana influences also snuck in. Our nine-piece band was inspired by nights out at live music venues in Austin, Texas. Our bar was akin to those we drank in in the old Midwest. And like any good American brewery, corn hole was set up on the lawn to keep guests entertained.”

THE DRESS “I wanted my dress to stay true to my everyday style of lots of colour and print. I first saw it on Net-a-Porter about a year out from the wedding, and I loved that it mixed timeless elements, like silk, pleats and shoulder pads, with a contemporary bold print. The roses also seemed perfect for the garden theme. But I didn’t buy it because I thought something better could pop up. It sold out quickly and I was shattered, so when one last dress came back online a few weeks later, in my size and on sale, I nabbed it. I opted out of the traditional wedding dress shopping experience because it just wasn’t for me. I adore my dress, and I know I’ll wear it again – truly.”

MEMORABLE MOMENT (Em) “Our vows, but I know that’s a common favourite. Another part of weddings that I typically love is the very beginning; when the guests arrive, the champagne is flowing, and the air is full of anticipation for the ceremony. I didn’t want to miss out on that moment at my own wedding, so I ditched doing an aisle and opted to be there for the welcome drinks instead. It allowed me more quality time with our guests. It also allowed for maximum dance floor enjoyment later in the night because I was able to get around to a huge chunk of people earlier in the day.” (Reg) “It’s hard to go past the ceremony, but I also really loved our off-site photos at sunset. We walked up a hillside and through a rocky cutting where an old railroad had been repurposed into a rail trail. We drank champagne while marvelling at the view from the lookout. It was the first opportunity of the day to enjoy just each other’s company and let the afternoon’s events really sink in before we returned for speeches and party time.”

TALK ABOUT TRADITION “My poppy passed away in 2018. He was a gardener, Tidy Ted. To honour him at our wedding, we transferred some of the rose bushes he’d planted in his garden into Reg’s parents’ garden. We initially thought the transfer had failed, given no roses bloomed during the spring. However, just a few days before the wedding, buds started to emerge. The red roses ended up being plentiful on the day, matching those on my dress.”

LITTLE LOL “Reg accidentally put out his right hand when it was time for the rings, so I put his wedding band on the wrong finger. I chose a wedding ring that didn’t sit well atop my engagement ring, so I decided I’d wear it on my middle finger instead. After the ceremony, a few guests asked why the rings were on the wrong fingers and joked that the marriage was a hoax, which was funny because it was technically true. We wanted our friend Shrai to marry us on our wedding day, but he isn’t a qualified marriage celebrant, so we officially (and somewhat secretly – until now) got married at City Hall in Manhattan a few weeks before our wedding in Australia.”

STANDOUT VENDORS “We can’t speak highly enough of our photographer, Phoebe Dunn, who not only takes the most beautiful photos but has the most beautiful nature. We were hesitant to even have a photographer at our wedding because we didn’t want someone on our tails all day interrupting the special moments. But Phoebe was a master at being inconspicuous at those times and then was like our guardian angel at other times, reminding us to eat, saving us from needy guests and keeping the schedule on track. She also convinced us to get the off-site photos and create that special moment together. And those photos — dang, they turned out good!”

WE’RE GLAD WE… “Had the roaming cocktail format of our wedding as opposed to a sit-down dinner. It gave guests freedom and flexibility to choose their own adventure, be it mingling with different people, hanging out by the bar, playing some pool or jamming with the live band (the dance floor pumped for over five hours).”

Is there anything Phoebe Dunn can’t do? Hit her up here on the Hello May Directory. Tradish gowns giving you the ick? Here’s a bunch of colourful frocks to add to your inso-bank. Browse more real backyard weddings here, or, if you’re digging the Americana aesthetic, get around this Palm Springs-inspired shoot.