Real Weddings

Article by

Dani Connor

Posted on

03/04/2023

Posted in

Real Weddings

After five years together, Kirby was so excited to marry her partner Ian that she went ahead and planned their wedding before actually getting engaged! The pair, who met online, had designed Kirby’s engagement ring together, so it was never a question of ‘if’, only ‘when’. “I spoke to Ian about us getting married in September before we were officially engaged. We agreed on the timing because we wanted to hold it in our garden. It just felt right, so I went ahead and started planning, and hoped the proposal would come soon,” Kirby laughs. “Thankfully, I didn’t have to wait too long.”

Six months after the proposal, Kirby and Ian celebrated in style with 70 of their nearest and dearest in their beautiful backyard adorned with epic florals from Mrs Gibbon Flowers. Nicola Lemmon caught it all on camera, scroll down for more…

THE VENUE “We bought our house in 2020 and I immediately knew our backyard would be perfect for a wedding. I didn’t inspect any venues or have any real back-up plans – I just crossed my fingers for good weather. The theme was garden party, and this was also our dress code. I really wanted pastel spring florals to be the vibe. Our reception was at Kent Road Bistro, which is walking distance from our house.”

THE DRESS “I wasn’t drawn to traditional gowns because I didn’t want to use a large chunk of the budget on my dress, and I was hoping to find something I could wear again. After keeping my eye on designers for a while I came across Needle and Thread. I spotted my pale blue embroidered dress which suited our theme and colour palette perfectly! I actually showed Ian the dress so that we could look at outfit options for him to match. But then I was disappointed Ian knew what I would be wearing so I purchased a second dress, which I changed into before I walked down the aisle. Ian and our guests loved the surprise.”

FAVE DEETS “The flowers by Mrs Gibbons Flowers were something I’ll never forget. I wasn’t at our house during set-up on the day, I was getting ready at The Calile Hotel with my closest friends, but I was counting down the minutes until it was time for me to arrive for the ceremony so I could see the flowers. They were the most stunning florals I have ever seen! The arbor was made with flowers which both our late grandparents had once grown in their gardens – that made the day even more special. My aunt was in tears when she saw the flowers.”

STANDOUT VENDORS “Every single one of our vendors blew us away with what they came up with. I wanted to make sure they all had creative freedom to do what they do best. Nicola Lemmon (our amazing photographer) is a friend of mine from uni. Ian and I are so awkward with photos, so I knew Nic would be the best person for the job. I basically planned our whole date around when she was free. Also the flowers by Mrs Gibbons, and the hair and make-up were absolutely amazing! ”

MEMORABLE MOMENT “The walk down the aisle was an amazing experience. I chose to walk on my own because that’s how I’d always pictured it in my head – I wanted that independence. The song playing was Clair de Lune by Flight Facilities, and many guests have approached me since to say they were obsessed with the choice. Seeing Ian at the end of the aisle looking so handsome under our flower arbor was the best moment of my life.”

Have these blooms caught your eye? Mrs Gibbons Flowers are one of the best in the biz. Head to our directory for plenty more inspo from these legends. If you’re looking for a place to stay pre or post-wedding, or a cool venue to hold the big day, The Calile Hotel is the place to be, head here for more.