Backdropped by South East Queensland countryside and encircled in soft, romantic blooms, Michael and Joan tied the knot. Setting the scene for their timeless, elegant autumn wedding, Joan opted for a classic silhouette by KYHA, while the groom looked dashing in an M.J. Bale tux.
Not far from Toowoomba, it all went down at The Dairy Ravensbourne, a wedding venue with so much built-in beauty that the couple barely felt compelled to add any further aesthetics. The exception, however? Flowers, and lots of ’em! “Flowers were always going to be a huge feature (I’m completely flower obsessed!) and creating a beautiful ceremony backdrop was at the top of my priority list,” shares Joan.
Brie Conomos was there to capture Michael and Joan’s first moments as Mr and Mrs. From romantic florals and a dream bridal gown to three very good wedding cakes, scroll on for one seriously beautiful country wedding album.
Elegant country wedding ideas | Romantic florals and three wedding cakes
“The florals were, without question, my favourite part of the styling. I wanted them to be the hero of the day, and Courtney (New Romantic) absolutely brought my Pinterest board to life. From the ceremony arbour to the hanging floral installation above our bridal table, everything felt even more beautiful than I’d imagined. Our cakes were another highlight. We had three different flavours made by our talented friend Whitney, and they looked almost too beautiful to cut into (although our guests thankfully did!). More than anything though, my favourite part of the day wasn’t something we could plan. Looking around the room and seeing every person there was someone we genuinely loved made the whole day feel incredibly special. We were so intentional about our guest list, and it created such a joyful atmosphere from beginning to end.”
The bride’s timeless KHYA wedding dress
“I’d actually had my dress saved on Pinterest since I was 16. The only problem was that KYHA had discontinued the Halston gown before I got engaged. Completely determined, I emailed them asking if there was any chance they could make one more, and to my complete surprise, they said yes. It genuinely felt like one of those moments that was just meant to be. They sent the gown up for me to try on at Sphere Bridal, where Bianca looked after me. She was the ultimate hype girl and made the whole experience feel so relaxed and exciting. I walked out feeling like I’d found both my dream dress and a new friend.”
The groom’s classic M.J. Bale wedding tuxedo
“Finding Michael’s tux actually took longer than finding my dress! We knew we wanted something timeless and classic, so we looked at quite a few different options before settling on M.J. Bale. We purchased his blazer, trousers, shirt and bow tie there, and the whole experience was fantastic. Their team made everything so easy and ensured everything was ready in plenty of time.”
A faith-filled wedding ceremony | Worship, communion and personal traditions
“Our faith is the foundation of our relationship, so it was really important that our wedding reflected that. Our pastor, who has known both of us since we were teenagers, married us, which made the ceremony feel incredibly personal. During the ceremony our friends led us in worship, and before signing our marriage certificate we shared communion together as husband and wife for the very first time. Those moments grounded the entire day and reminded us what our marriage was truly about.”
Their favourite wedding moments | The aisle, first kiss and outdoor ceremony
“Michael’s favourite moment was seeing me walk down the aisle. After months of planning everything together, seeing it all come together—and seeing me for the first time—made everything feel real. For me, it was our first kiss as husband and wife. I’d always thought I’d feel awkward kissing in front of everyone we knew, but the moment came and it genuinely felt like nobody else existed. It was just us. Our pastor then jokingly made us kiss another couple of times because everyone was cheering so loudly, which had us laughing the whole way back down the aisle.”
More good stuff | Country wedding venues and rural wedding inspiration
Country weddings that’ll knock your socks off? We’ve got more of them here just for you. Then browse these charming rural venues from around the country to find the one that ticks all your boxes. Or if this groom’s timeless suit and seamless shopping experience caught your attention, get in touch with the M.J. Bale team here.
CONTRIBUTING VENDORS Photographer Brie Conomos Cinematographer The Vow Vault Florist New Romantic Florals Invitations Atelier Edition Place Cards, Signage, & Menus Joan (Bride) Venue The Dairy Ravensbourne Cake Maker Whitney Durack (Friend) Photo Booth Open Booths Entertainment Asia Peace, Noa Tuicakau, Dunamis Pagaialii (Friends), The Hamilton Band Celebrant Andy Huesuer Rings Argyle Family Jewellers Platform Aisle Suite THE BRIDE Bridal Gown Designer Chosen by KYHA Bridal Boutique & Veil Sphere Bridal Gallery Robes Kat the Label Shoes Alias Mae Accessories Dahlia, Katie Waltman, Lovisa, Zara Hair Chaise Damschke Makeup Jessica Louise Karagongre Fragrance Burberry Bridesmaid Dresses Club London Bridesmaid Shoes Famous Footwear Bridesmaid Gifts Kat the Label, Ouai, Rhode THE GROOM Suit & Bow Tie M.J. Bale Cufflinks Calibre Shoes Julius Marlow via David Jones Watch Seiko Groomsmen Suits Politix
