With a gorgeous ring in hand, Mihai proposed to Melissa during a romantic helicopter flight. They knew they both wanted an outdoor ceremony with a chilled vibe, where they could celebrate and relax with their guests and enjoy exceptional food. From the start, their pretty farm wedding ticked all the boxes!
The Perfect Location
“The venue was the first thing we found. We knew that we wanted to get married outside but not on the beach. We did some searching online and came across Old Broadwater Farm. We made a weekend of it and arranged a venue tour. We fell in love with the farm instantly – it was even more beautiful than the photos we had seen. The venue allows you to bring in your own beverages and caterers, which saved us a great deal of money. We didn’t even look at another location – our ceremony and reception venue was sorted!”
DIY Details
“We decided to hand-make a number of elements for our wedding. The sign as our guests entered was made by Mihai. All the wedding stationery – invitations, RSVP’s, Order of Service, menus, place cards and thank you notes; the dessert table, wedding cakes and bunting. Many other items I sourced from Etsy. We had just over 12 months to plan and we would do a little something most weekends. I think this made the process more enjoyable and less overwhelming.”
The Flowers
“The flowers were in a pretty palette of white, pink and peach, featuring peonies, David Austin roses, Anemone, Flannel flower, Andromeda, with green foliage. My bouquet was a full, lush garden style and was finished with a rustic burlap handle.”
The Ceremony
“The majority of our styling was fresh flowers and they were beautiful! The aisle was decorated with jars of flowers tied to white chairs. There was also a sprinkling of flower petals down the aisle, which was a beautiful surprise. Our guests could collect rose petals to toss at the end of the ceremony and there were fresh flowers on the signing table. We also had homemade bunting hung around the ceremony space.
I was walked down the aisle by my father, but during the ceremony we were joined by both sets of parents who jointly gave us away and blessed our marriage. This was a very special part of our ceremony for both of us.”
Budget Tips
1. Decide early on what is important to you. Our top three things that we were prepared to splurge on were photography, food and our clothes (we wanted to ensure we both felt great on the day – we did not skimp on required alterations either).
2. I created a spreadsheet listing all the items we were going to spend money on and what portion of the budget was allocated to them. This served as a good way to track our spending but also worked as a ‘to-do’ list.
3. Stick to your budget. If you don’t, it is very easy to see how costs can quickly blow out.
The Reception
“Being that family and friends were our focus, we wanted our reception to feel like a big informal dinner party with everyone coming together to share a meal. We opted for two long dining tables (no bridal table) and food that reflected Mihai and I. It was important that our friends and family were well fed and that the food was delicious.
Two long tables were decorated with flowers and candles. Each guest had a menu that comprised of a little thank you note, their name and a little conversation starter. There was also a thank you gift at each place setting – a small box of sweet treats. A small table was set up for cards and gifts, along with a sign where guests could sign their name. The dessert table was decorated with fresh flowers and our courtyard setting was covered with lights – it was so beautiful.”
Style Tips
1. Have a good idea of what your own personal style is as there are so many options and beautiful ideas out there – it is easy to get overwhelmed.
2. I found Pinterest useful from this point view. Spend a few weeks just randomly searching and pinning ideas to a wedding board. This will quickly result in a board with a style that you are naturally drawn to.
3. Once you make a decision stick with it and move on to the next thing on your list. There are so many beautiful ideas out there you could not incorporate them all into your wedding day.
Home Baked Sweets
“I’m quite a keen baker, so I wanted to make my own wedding cake. This then became wedding cakes and a dessert table! Three individual cakes were made by my mother and I: a traditional fruitcake, chocolate mud, and hazelnut and raspberry cake. The dessert table included individual cheesecakes made by Mihai and I, along with melting moments, caramel slice and brandy slice. Guests could help themselves at the wedding or take home treats to enjoy the next day.”
Final Advice
“Your wedding day is about you as a couple so do what feels true to the both of you. Rely and have faith in your suppliers and vendors. Trust that they will do the job you have paid them to do. This is what they do week in and week out and everyone I met through the process is very, very good at what they do and simply delightful to deal with.”
Photography: Photography By Emma Pointon | Venue: Old Broadwater Farm, Busselton WA | Celebrant: The Owl and the Pussycat Celebrations | Styling: Bree Shine Event Styling and Bride | Flowers: Sorrella Flower Merchant | Gown: Raffinato Bridal | Maid of Honour: Studio Collections | Makeup: Brooke Carter | Hair: Raezors Hair Studio | Suit: Hugo Boss | Rings: Thomas Meihofer Jewelery Design | Catering: Goanna Gallery | Beverages: Cape Cellars