V E R I T Y & J O S H

F R O M T H E B R I D E ...

The Meeting...

Post 9/11 in 2001, my group pulled out of an organised high school exchange program to the USA. Still wanting to travel I was moved onto another tour, which happened to be with Josh's school! So we met on a trip to America, first chatting to each other as we walked over The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. We connected again 3 years later when I was on an internship in Sydney and ended up staying with a friend the suburb over from where Josh lived!

The Proposal...

In September 2014. We have a favourite sushi joint whose location we share with only those worthy of it's deliciousness! Josh took me there for dinner, snuck the ring onto a plate and sent it down the sushi train. Keeping back for one last piece, Josh pulled the ring off the train and sat it in front of me plastic lid and all. I thought is was hilarious

Wedding Style...

We wanted something different, unique and memorable, that was also relaxed, and low key. It was always going to be very hands on in crafting the details.

Wedding Venue...

Clark Island, Double Bay, New South Wales, Australia

Bridal Party...

We didn't have a bridal party! Our siblings acted as witnesses.

We have so many people that are really special in our lives so it felt wrong to place them in some weird order of importance. We ended up in a position where we would have a party of 20, or none at all, so we choose the latter, everyone we invited was just as important as the other.

Because it was low key in regard to the lead up and vows, when getting ready, our hotel rooms were open to everyone. Our friends popped by, had a sneak peek, a glass of champagne and we met them all on the island after the vows with just immediate family.

The Dress...

I went looking for tea length dresses and found some cute ones at Accapella Bridal in Woolongong. None of those were right, I didn't really think about the fact they are really just shorter ball gowns. I only went to one other shop before going back to Accapella to show my mum and sister 'the one' on second try, it wasn't right either. Connie suggested I try the dress she would put me in. It was very far off a tea length, but I fell in love with it!

Wedding Decorations...

Our wedding and reception venue was on Clark Island off Double Bay in Sydney Harbour. We wanted a low key, relaxed and fun day for everyone so the island was set up for a summer picnic wedding. Everything was handmade. I hot glued ribbon bunting for the umbrellas and wharf decorations, my mum made a teepee to display photos of us. Josh made little tables to rest the hand stamped napkins and travel games. The picnic blankets, signs, vases and lawn games were all made by us in the year leading up to the day.

With my mum I made a 5am trip to the flower market the day before and picked out some bright peonies and hydrangeas and made the bouquet and posies for the vases.

We continued the handmade theme right through to the end, asking our guests to make us cards instead of buying them. Opening these amazing creations the next day was the best. Our guests got quite competitive with awesome results!

On the Menu...

We didn't want to be forced into the formality of a sit down meal so we shared picnic baskets put together by the Sydney Picnic Company. The freshly baked baguettes, pear, mozzarella, walnut and rocket salad with slow roast tomatoes, Meredith marinated feta, basil, toasted almonds and aged balsamic went down a treat with our guests. This style of reception allowed our guests to get up and explore the island, have a swim or take a nap as they wished.

We then had a whole dessert table for guests to pick from, all made by Josh's mum!

Bomboniere...

Sticking with the picnic theme we gave our guests a handled mason jar mug as a bomboniere that also helped with serving the cocktails while on the island! We also provided card games and mini Jenga sets for each guest to play on the day as they lazed in the sun, or to take home.

Memories...

We hoped for so much of the day, we hoped people would swim, dance, nap, explore, use the photobooth, play with the games and we got all of that, but the best part of the day was the interaction between all the guests. Lots of people made new friends and chatted to people they hadn't met before. My mum is now BFF with Josh's friend, my cousin who knew only my side of the family hung out all night with my mates and my aunties drunk danced with Josh's aunties... That created such a special feeling.

Wedding Music...

An acoustic guitar, singer and percussion set the relaxed mood of the picnic, while Josh choose the book of love by Peter Gabriel as our song of the day.

Honeymoon...

We spent 3 weeks over Christmas and New Year exploring snow covered Japan

Wedding Photography...

I think my brief to Studio Something in the beginning was along the lines of 'no church, no posing through a flowing veil please, but plenty of shots of relaxed picnic fun and swimming in the ocean.' We loved Studio Something's style, and more importantly they embraced our weird way of doing things and totally went with the flow. Plus they are amazing at capturing those candid moments. We love the colour! The smiles! The joy! Not so much the uncles swimming in their undies!

Wedding Photography Studio Something Wedding Venue Clark Island Bride's Dress Accapella Bridal Flowers Bride + bride's mum, Jill Bell Catering Sydney Picnic Company Decorations DIY Wedding Cake Made by Groom's mum, Janine Shimmen

MW x