Adena and Dean’s retro country wedding delivers whimsy and wow in equal measure! With their love of vintage, a magical location and a rich garnet, burgundy and pink palette, there are plenty of beautiful surprises in store.
The Planning Experience
“I really enjoyed having Dean and my mother to help with decisions as well as be there for me to vent to when things weren’t going right – that support meant a lot. I’m a very creative person so bringing that to the wedding planning and thinking outside the box was fun for me and a challenge. We envisioned an intimate wedding and didn’t have children under 7, as the area we had our ceremony and reception wasn’t toddler or baby friendly. It took a lot of thought, but we decided it was best for our style of wedding.”
Ceremony Styling
“My father made us this beautiful arbour out of some local timber and put it all together for us. It was such a lovely gesture and I remember asking him for something dramatic and something magical. He certainly delivered! When he revealed it to us I almost cried – it meant so much for him to make our day extra special.”
Bridal Party Styling
“My favourite colour is a deep garnet red, so we chose a burgundy bridesmaid dress to tie in with our bouquets and my shoes. Dean and the groomsman had the same suits of a beautiful medium blue colour, but different ties. Dean wore a burgundy tie and red cottage rose buttonhole, and the groomsman wore a black tie and white cottage rose.”
“I think we all think we know what love is, but when you really feel it, the rawness, the fear, the excitement, the respect and the care for one another that love brings, it’s like nothing you’ve ever felt.” – Adena
Reception Styling
The barn was styled with fabric softly draped from the rafters, with large hay bales bordering the space to help create an intimate, romantic feel. Long tables were set with mismatched chairs, lace and burlap runners topped with wood round centrepieces. Eclectic vases were filled with mixed blooms for added colour to complete this lovely rustic look!
Entertaining Guests
“We had antipasto boards, beer and wine, with music in the background, horses in an open roaming area for the kids, as well as vintage cars to look at. That night we had a bonfire and Rockabilly band. I performed a song with the band for Dean as part of my speech (‘Bright’ by Echosmith), and we had some bubbles and Polaroid cameras for the kids and guests to have fun with.”
Best Advice
1. Don’t stress about small things not working out. When you walk down that aisle you won’t be thinking about anything but your partner, your best friend, your soul mate. That is what the day is about. So basically, be in the moment. I had a little girl step on my dress by accident and tear it a little – to be honest, I was just too happy to care!
2. Don’t be afraid to speak your mind. You don’t have to invite your mother’s aunt’s father’s grandmother and her pet turtle. We invited those that have really been a big part of our life and that we wanted to share in our day. Invite those that mean a lot to you and if there’s a lot of them, invite them, but if you prefer to celebrate with a few, then do that.
Location: Sunshine Coast, Queensland | Photography: Dream Bella Photography | Venue: Mooloolah Valley Riding Centre | Styling: Buzzing Events | Flowers: Ginger Lily & Rose | Dress: Still White | Shoes: Converse | Ring: To Hold and To Have | Hair & Makeup: Pura Vida Hair | Suits: Roger David | Transport: Private ‘67 Impala Chevy and ‘60 Cadillac | Catering: Jungle Oven Catering