Romance took these two by surprise, but “doing life together unfolded really quickly for us,” says Simon. “We moved in together after four months of inseparability.” They chose to have only 12 guests (pre-COVID, people) and couldn’t have been happier with their decision. Photographer, Lauren Campbell, was there to capture the love on camera, so scroll down for all, including the details from the bride and groom on this intimate wedding…
THE VENUE “We saw a handful of beautiful venues in the Southern Highlands and Hunter Valley as we toyed with the idea of having a larger wedding. They just didn’t feel right for us and the intimacy we were craving. At the time, our venue was listed on Airbnb and fell head over heels for its charm, scale and stunning gardens. The owners recognised a family connection and for that reason, made an exception to allow our small affair to take place.”
FAVOURITE DETAILS “To this day, there has been no tastier cake than the Maple Pear Caramel Mud Cake my best friend, Georgia, made for us not long after a patisserie stint in Paris! The grand country homestead and the rich smell of its blooming Spring gardens, especially after the rain. My soft floral bouquet and Simon’s flannel flower buttonhole. And every single floral arrangement lovingly created by Emma Blake Floral.”
DIY “A few little things were undertaken by us with some help from family and some of our vendors on the day. We carefully selected automated Spotify playlists to suit various parts of the day, played it through our own Sonos sound system, provided inexpensive tableware procured from Big W and H&M, and made some simple handmade name places. We also sourced boxes of candles on Gumtree for next to nothing!”
REFERENCES “We were pretty light on vendors as to be expected for a wedding with 12 guests. We didn’t form the connection we were after when attending a busy wedding fair. Instead, we relied upon gut reactions from a combination of sources, predominantly Instagram, Hello May (Magazine and Blog), and local referrals via the owner of our venue.”
WE’RE GLAD WE… “Religion was consciously excluded. This day was about us and about how we wanted to share and celebrate our unity. Not everyone found all aspects of our day easy to digest at first, in particular, the limited guest list sent shockwaves, but intimacy was important to us. Many people remark ‘I wish we could have done something smaller’ and whatever the opposite of regret is, that’s how we feel about it.”
A WORD OF ADVICE “Outsource, ask for help, focus on the bits which bring joy. Get the absolute best out of your vendors by letting them take control of their speciality. Brief your vendors well then trust them to demonstrate their passion. If it doesn’t feel right, then it probably isn’t.”
STANDOUT VENDORS “Lauren Campbell immediately feels like an old friend and puts you at ease. Emma Blake Floral makes you feel uniquely special and completely blew our floral expectations! Matt from Labyrinth Catering creates an unforgettable menu, arranges amazingly well-matched wine and cooks from the heart. Teresa from Highlands Private Concierge keeps things on track, just so effortlessly.”
For more from lovely lens lady Lauren Campbell, head here. Expect a bunch of real weddings with raving reviews from brides and grooms on her talents. But first…
CONTRIBUTING VENDORS Photographer Lauren Campbell Event Planner & Stylist Highlands Private Concierge Florist Emma Blake Floral Stationery Paperless Post Ceremony & Reception Private Property via airbnb Catering Labyrinth Catering Cake Friend Celebrant Rachel Harman Rings Armans & Cinnamon Lee THE BRIDE Bridal Gown Made with Love Bridal Boutique Still White Robes Homebodii Shoes Zomp Hair Deelush Hair Makeup Ash Quinn Makeup Artistry THE GROOM Jacket Mister. Mister Shirt Hardy Amies Pants M.J. Bale Cufflinks Georg Jensen Shoes Bally Barber Sip Sop’s Barber Shop