It’s not often you see a bride sipping tea on her wedding day, but Clare and Justin’s sweet afternoon celebration allowed for just that! Add an incredible blush gown, bridesmaids in pastels and plenty of thoughtful touches, and you have a lovely event that’s a true reflection of the happy couple.
The Planning Experience
“Overall it was very enjoyable because we had allowed plenty of time to plan – the engagement and wedding were two years apart. I had ample time to shop for wedding decorations and find the perfect suppliers. I really enjoyed making all the bunting for our reception and selecting the traditional Scottish customs that we wanted in the ceremony.
I least enjoyed organising the bridesmaid’s outfits, not because they were picky but because I wanted vintage inspired dresses in different colours. We eventually found a good website which custom-makes dresses.”
Button Bouquet
“Instead of flowers, I held a pomander made of buttons and our bridesmaids and groomsmen held a ribbon each to be used in our handfasting ceremony.”
Finding The Dress
“It was extremely difficult because I wanted something that was, a) vintage, and b) not white! After weeks of searching I attended the Newcastle Wedding Expo and saw a model walking around in a Melanie Ford creation. The dress had a very 30s/40s look with a soft flowing skirt and lace bodice in a champagne silk. It was so perfect that I went to see her stall straight away! The dress created for me was more pink in colour and had a French lace bodice with pearls and metallic thread.”
The Ceremony
“The ceremony was inspired by traditional Scottish wedding ceremonies. We had a piper to pipe us down the aisle and a Scottish sword salute performed by Highland dancers. Our traditional Scottish ceremony was performed by Philip Greentree (in full Scottish dress) and included handfasting. We were asked to set our vows in stone (a real stone) and to swear them upon the hilt of a sword. Justin wasn’t sure how much whisky to ‘pay the piper’ with but after a cry of ‘a wee dram’o whisky!’ from our piper, he got it right!”
DIY Projects
“I made all the bunting (there was at least 10 meters of it) and sewed the napkins. I also made the fabric tops and name tags for the jam pots and decorated the tables. My wedding invitation and save the date cards were all designed, drawn and printed by me.”
The Reception
“Our reception had a much more vintage feel and was held in a marquee adjoining the church hall. We sat at round tables, each a different pastel colour, and were served High Tea. We dined with clear glass plates and tea cups and each person had their own monogramed napkin with our initials on it. I decorated the marquee with floral bunting and small coloured Depression glass dishes on each table to hold lollies. Entertainment was provided by a jazz band performing traditional New Orleans jazz. Our bonbonnieres were jam pots with coloured fabric tops and name tags. Many of our guests wore vintage-inspired outfits to match our theme.”
The Cake
A pastel rainbow butter cake with white chocolate ganache and delicate painted pastel flowers.
The Day
“Our day was relaxed and fun. We didn’t have alcohol or want a late night, as neither of us are party-goers. The theme of our ceremony was a tribute to our Scottish ancestry and also to my hobby as a Highland dancer. The vintage theme of our reception was a tribute to our love of old things and also to our grandparents (my grandmother passed away a few months prior). We both love colour and music, so the choice of a pastel colour theme and vintage jazz band was right for us.
My husband is a photographer and we both wanted lots of photos to remember the day, so we chose to have photos in a nearby garden after the reception, when we were more relaxed (taken at Albion Farms and Gracemere).”
Favourite Moments
“The skirl of the bagpipes as I walked down the aisle behind our piper and Justin blowing me a kiss during the ceremony. Traipsing through the mud in the gardens with Justin holding up my skirt and trying to kiss me at the same time – we nearly fell over!”
Best Advice
“Allow plenty of time for planning – things always take longer than you expect. If you are planning on DIYing a lot of your wedding, don’t turn away offers of help from family and friends. Don’t be afraid to do something a little different, it’ll make your day even more memorable.”
Photographer: Jac & Heath Photography | Ceremony & Reception: All Saints Woodville, NSW | Celebrant: Philip Greentree | Gown: Designs By Melanie Ford | Button Pomander: Beaubuttons | Bridesmaids: For Her and For Him | Suits: Gentlemen’s Outfitters | Hair: Bliss Hair Artists | Makeup: Cathy Flanagan Makeup Artist | Cake: Sweet Perfection | Catering: Caterforce | Bonbonniere: Aunty Eva’s Preserves