Sam and Melody quickly knew their relationship was something special, and during a trip home to Germany, Sam planned a sunset proposal at a castle overlooking Marburg. Their relaxed boho wedding in Australia followed, featuring a macrame backdrop for their outdoor ceremony and a lovely country hall reception with touches of gold and greenery throughout!
The Planning Experience
“Our wedding was a major coming together of our talented and generous friends offering their creative gifts for our big day. It was so personal and deeply touching.
Sam is a detail oriented planner and was eager to be involved every step of the way. I’m a big picture person and unfinished details stress me out, so the part I enjoyed least was waiting for the week of the wedding to smash out all the things you really can’t do any earlier.”
The Ceremony
“The ceremony was set in a paddock because we both love the outdoors and couldn’t imagine getting married inside. I love most things rustic and bohemian-gypsy style, so we had a lot of those elements throughout the day. We walked up the aisle amidst white wedding chairs and hay bales for seating. There was a gorgeous macrame curtain as the backdrop and wooden boxes topped with candles and little succulents in gold terrariums.”
Most Important
“We really wanted to make sure that the day really felt like ‘us’, while still being super inclusive for all our guests. From the vibe during the ceremony, to the way we organised the reception with music, games and skits mixed amongst the speeches – we wanted it to be laid back and enjoyable for all. The question I kept coming back to was, ‘Are we going to love it and are our guests going to have fun?’ In the end, it felt like a massive family reunion where we all had a great time!”
The Reception
“Our reception was held inside a beautiful mud brick hall that lit up so romantically at night! We had heaps of white candles, wooden accents, succulents, greenery and touches of gold on every table. We wanted to create little spaces where guests could mingle in small groups instead of being glued to tables. We were so impressed to see our vision come to life so beautifully.”
DIY Projects
“I did a bit of hand lettering for different signs around our venue and the back of our wedding car, and Sam spent a whole day making Giant Jenga and Dominoes for people to play during our afternoon tea. I got some creative inspiration when designing our invites and decided to draw up a ceremony map that we printed with the lyrics of our songs on the back. A little more quirky and fun than the traditional order of service!”
Best Advice
1. Dream big, but recognise what your ‘non-negotiables’ are and what is okay to let go. It’s a great stress reliever!
2. Be realistic about what you can and can’t do yourself and ask for help where you need it.
3. Make sure your guests have fun – if your guests have a great time, you’ll have a great time.
Location: Northern New South Wales | Photography: Mallory Sparkles Photography | Venue: Durrumbul Hall | Officiant: Neville Strachan, Eastgate Church | Styling, Flowers, Cake & Catering: Friends | Stationery: DIY | Gown: Spell & The Gypsy Collective | Bridesmaids: P.S. Frocks | Hair & Makeup: Covenant Hair and Make-up | Rings: The Jewellers Workshop | Groom: Politix (Pants), Connor (Shirt), Heart & Dagger (Vest) & Windsor Smith (Boots) | Mobile Soda Fountain: The Flavour Fountain | Transport: The Kombi Cafe