JRFAN & ANDREW'S GIPPSLAND WEDDING

We love an elopement here at Hello May, folks, and Jrfan and Andrew’s was a 10/10. Surrounded by the beauty of Victoria’s Gippsland region, these two said ‘I do’, sealing the deal with an intimate take on a tea ceremony (captured by talented photogs Emotions and Math).

“In Taiwanese tradition, there is a tea ceremony on the day where the bride and groom serve tea to their parents to show gratitude. As we both love spending time preparing and drinking tea, and to pay our respects to family, we included our own style of tea ceremony,” says Jrfan, who looked like heaven in a By Kinsman gown for the ceremony.

“Andrew brewed tea for everyone, which we enjoyed while signing the marriage certificate. The Oolong tea was from our first trip to Taiwan together, where we had ventured out into the mountains to meet tea growers on a search for unique tea.” If that isn’t special, we don’t know what is!

THE VENUE “We first came across Ross Farm when we were planning an earlier trip away with friends. The trip ended up being cancelled due to lockdown, but when looking for a venue Ross Farm immediately came to mind. The photos of the property look so beautiful, so we reached out to the owner to ask if we could hold our small elopement ceremony there during our stay. We didn’t feel the need to visit beforehand and trusted our instincts that it would make a nice setting for the day.”

THE VIBE “We wanted the day to be authentically us. One of our first common interests was our love for Oolong tea, so we thought it would be nice to have a tea ceremony along with an overall minimal, intimate vibe, with little impact on the environment. The property had an outdoor fire pit surrounded by trees that created a nice area for the ceremony. The rain cleared up just before we were ready and there was a post-rain freshness in the air.”

FAVE DETAILS “Graham at Tweed Twigs took a unique approach in creating the floral arrangement. Each flower told a story and represented some significance to us as a couple. The tea-stained Oncidiums were extra special for me — they paid tribute to my mum and brother’s bond over orchids.“

DIY “It was proving difficult to find a wedding cake that would be ready for a Monday pick up, so after contacting more than 10 places, we decided to pull the cake together ourselves. We ordered a naked base from Burnt Butter and Graham, our florist, kindly offered to make a wonderful decoration out of amaranthus, an element used in the bouquet. On the day we placed the amaranthus on the cake, along with some candles, and it transformed into one of the beautiful elements of the day.”

THE DRESS “After trying out a few made-to-order gowns, I decided to find a local designer to make a custom gown for a tailored fit. I reached out to By Kinsman and Stephanie guided me through the process and took my ideas on board with an open heart. I knew from the start that I would also like a dress to change into after the ceremony, and also one that I could wear on our wedding anniversaries. I chose an off the rack Danielle Frankel piece with a minimalist cut that I feel will stand the test of time.”

WORD OF ADVICE “While it’s important to respect your family and traditions, remember to plan a day you will enjoy. If the elements of the wedding day reflect you as individuals, it will make you happy.”

STANDOUT VENDORS “All our vendors were excellent. They each added elements to the day in their unique way. We are really happy with how everything came together in a complimentary way.”

If you love Jrfan’s gown (and we’re pretty sure you will, because, heckin’ gorgeous!), head on our to our directory and hit up By Kinsman – their designs are 100% dreamy and we can’t recommend them enough.