We are just a smidge partial to a good old country wedding and Rachel and Ian’s timber and rust theme does not disappoint. Both graphic designers, this couple were born to D.I.Y. Together with a smashing bunch of vendors, they managed to transform the family farm into a wedding oasis, proving that its not always the destination but the journey that is the most fun. We have it on good authority that whilst there was plenty of work going on preparing the venue for the big day there was also plenty of fireside wine consumption.
Jakub Fabijanski captured this carefully curated wedding in all its rustic glory. Scroll down for the details and some serious country wedding inspo…
THE VENUE“Rachel’s sister and her partner bought a farm just before we met. I attended their first big party there before Rachel and I even got together, and we’ve been visiting it ever since for parties, holidays and just to get away from the city and help with the farm work. So even though it isn’t our farm, it’s played a really big part in our romance. We knew that turning it into a venue would be challenging, but we really wanted our friends and families to be able to experience a space that’s such an important part of our story.”
THE VIBE“The vibe was a very rustic, D.I.Y. farm wedding. We wanted guests to experience the charms of the space as we do all the time. The ceremony took place on a hill overlooking the river, cocktails were in an old rock-walled sheep paddock, and dinner was in the large shed that usually houses the tractor and boats. With the exception of some extra lights and a lot more flowers, the farm everyone saw was the farm as it is on any given weekend.”
THE DRESS“My older sister Estelle is a fashion designer, so I don’t think I would have been able to stop her from making my dress. I had a few of my own ideas about the style: fitted, small train, not white, and lace with a vintage/graphic feel. I found the perfect vintage Battenburg lace tablecloth, and let Estelle go wild from there!”
DIY….“As graphic designers, designing the invitations and other stationery was a no-brainer. But we went a lot further than that. We hand-painted all the signage, I made the arbour we were married in front of, and Rachel even designed and screen-printed the table runners. We got to showcase some of the food we produced at the farm as well; for hors d’oeuvres, we served the salami and capicola that we made earlier in the year. The red wine served at dinner was grown on the farm’s 45-year-old Shiraz vines, and we picked the olives for the olive oil we gave away from a farm just down the road.”
FAVOURITE MOMENT “My favourite moment was just before we walked down the aisle. It was so fun hiding around the back of the farmhouse, spying on all our guests and trying to work out if they were ready for us to appear. I’m glad we decided to be non-traditional and walk down the aisle together.”
WE’RE GLAD WE…“Having the wedding at the farm meant that most of the guests were able to stay the night, so we organised a recovery breakfast for the morning. We made breakfast tacos for the 60 or so remaining guests and had coffee, tea, juice and even coconut water to help everyone feel more human. All the positive energy from the wedding flowed through into morning, but the vibe was much more relaxed as well.”
STANDOUT VENDORS “Cushla Whiting was the first jeweller I went to before proposing. I ended up deciding to use a “stunt ring” so that Rachel could help pick out the real ring, but we went straight back to Cushla after she saw the incredible design of the ring I had nearly picked out. Cushla and her entire team were great to deal with while we agonised over stones. We ended up getting the engagement ring and both of our wedding bands from her!”
CONTRIBUTING VENDORS Photographer Jakub Fabijanski of Aparat Photography Bouquet & Boutinniere: Vasette Venue Family farm Cake Sarah Hill (Family) Catering Fat Cats Fancy Catering Hire Items Kyneton Hire Rings Cushla Whiting BRIDE Estelle Annabel Shoes Django & Juliette via Cinori Shoes Hair & Make-up Charlene Hyde GROOM Suit Joe Black Shirt T.M. Lewin Tie Paul Smith Shoes Julius Marlow Watch Square Street Barber Brother Wolf