Walking down the aisle to RE: Stacks by Bon Iver, Georgia said ‘I do’ to her partner of seven years Ryan at the dog-friendly Somerly House in Suttom Forest, “which was a huge bonus as it allowed our black Labrador, Koko, to be with us on our big day.” This pair chose a “colourful cocktail” theme for their big day, and guys, we may not have been there in person, but judging from the epic snaps by the one and only piptakesapicture, it was good vibes all round. Not only was it one helluva party, but they also dressed to impress in M.J. Bale and Karen Willis Holmes. That’s enough from us, start your scroll…
THE VENUE “We knew we wanted a somewhat rural wedding, yet with family coming from all over the world it needed to be accessible from a major airport, so the Southern Highlands was a great option. When we went to view Somerley House, we instantly fell in love and the rest is history. It was the first and last place we looked.”
THE INSPO “My sisters and I chose the bridesmaids dress before anything and from there we loved the idea of having everyone in colour and making it a very bright and fun day! We are both quite-laid back so this definitely felt like a good reflection of our relationship. One quirky request Ryan had for the day was that it needed to include lemons – a fresh summer theme to go with the colours. They moulded in perfectly with the table styling and flowers. Our dress code was colourful cocktail, which was well embraced by our guests.”
DIY DEETS “I want to say yes but a lot was then handed to my older sister Gretel – she really saved the day on a number of occasions! Gretel spent the entire day before arranging the flowers which turned out to be a much bigger job than initially expected.”
THE DRESS “My dress was from Rachel Gilbert – it was about the third dress I had tried on and it fit me perfectly. Then I saw the train piece from Karen Willis Holmes a week or so later which I thought really brought it together and felt a bit more special.”
THE SUIT “The jackets and pants were from M.J. Bale. The colourful cocktail dress code was set so I needed something to lean into that. The blue check suit seemed a perfect fit for a sunny day, and luckily the weather played its part. Once I had the blue suit, we thought an orange tie to match the bridesmaid dresses made sense. I’m a big fan of M.J. Bale and have bought a few suits in the past. Being an Australian brand, it felt like a no-brainer!”
WE’RE GLAD WE… “Really glad we organised pre-ceremony arrival drinks, especially as the day ended up being quite hot. It also helped to settle my nerves as I could talk to family and friends before Georgia arrived.”
STANDOUT VENDOR “Pip, our fabulous photographer [Piptakesapicture] – she basically stepped in as wedding coordinator for the day with constant time checks.”
To see more stunning brides in Karen Willis Holmes, head here, or for more grooms in M.J.Bale, hop on over here. If you’re swooning over these beautiful captures by piptakesapicture, check out her directory listing and shoot off an enquiry.
CONTRIBUTING VENDORS Photographer Piptakesapicture Table Styling & Catering Aplenty Florist Gretel Corrie (Sister), Tiny Flower Farm Stationery & Signage Gretel Corrie Ceremony & Reception Venue Somerley House Cake Added Sugar Hire Items South Coast Party Hire Sound Hire & Entertainment Oberon Lane Celebrant Aniella Batten Rings MoiMoi, Pip Stent Transport Berrima Buslines THE BRIDE Bridal gown designer Rachel Gilbert Train Karen Willis Holmes Second Dress Michael Lo Sordo Robes Prudence Jane Shoes Bottega Veneta, Gucci Accessories Alexandra Dodds, By Charlotte Hair Yulia Kuzmina Makeup Emma McGill Bridesmaid dresses Aje THE GROOM Suit, Shirt & Groomsmen Suits M.J. Bale Tie OTAA Shoes RM Williams