Everyone’s thinking it, so we’re just going to go ahead and say it: would you get a load of those sleeves! Bride Veronica is a gal after our own hearts with her gown pick, and we are just as obsessed with bride Jules’ sleek pleated number, too. In fact, everything about this big day sings to us on a soul level – from the amazing snaps by our pal Scott Surplice Photography, to the dreamy location overlooking overlooking the Hawkesbury River and every bit in between.
And we’re not gonna lie, we love that these two brides are both archaeologists! “There were plenty of archaeology jokes throughout the night,” Veronica tells us. “My brothers who emceed started the night with the joke: ‘Archaeologists digging in a pyramid in Egypt have found a mummy covered in chocolate and hazelnuts… They believe it is Pharaoh Rocher.'”
But that’s enough chat from us – take a scroll through these pics and see for yourself why we’re so obsessed with Veronica and Jules’ big day!
THE VENUE “We wanted the ceremony and reception to be in the same place so that guests wouldn’t have to move between venues, somewhere with a wet weather option and amazing food, and a venue that we didn’t have to think about anything like styling or hiring additional items. Cooks Shed was absolutely perfect because it’s not just for events, it’s also a functioning restaurant so is perfectly set up and we didn’t need to add anything extra as it’s already so magical.”
THE VIBE “We wanted an overall vibe of it being relaxed, fun and casual but special. We didn’t want over-the-top wedding dresses or to do traditional things like cutting the cake, we wanted the day to feel like us (as much as a huge event like a wedding can).”
FAVE DETAILS “It was so special that we had so many items made by our families. Veronica’s mum (Susan Buchanan) is a talented artist and photographer, and she handmade every place card using native plant motifs to tie in with our florals, as well as our seating chart, welcome sign and invitations. Julia’s sister (Sonia Schivella-Jackson) made the cookies for wedding favours, and Julia’s mum and sister organised our bonbonniere of almonds. Julia’s mum is Italian so it was nice to have something to honour that Italian heritage.”
THE DRESSES “My [Veronica] dress was the Aje Banksia Burnout Midi Dress. I saw it online, tried it on once in-store a few weeks later at the QVB then ordered it online when it was on sale! All done and dusted in a matter of weeks, over a year before the wedding, and I only ever tried on the one dress. I loved the ridiculous sleeves, the golden buttons and the black belt detailing. It was also super comfortable, I could dance in it and it had pockets. What’s not to love?”
“I [Jules] bought my dress one month before the wedding. I wanted something comfortable that would complement Veronica’s dress. I tried on a few dresses at the Zimmermann store in Paddington and loved the Shirred Pleat Midi as it was the perfect fit.”
MEMORABLE MOMENTS “Marty and Maddie at Cooks Shed had arranged for us to stay at a beautiful property just down the road the night of the wedding. We didn’t know much about it but when we arrived it turned out they had horses, chickens, cats and dogs and were preparing to show their horses at the Windsor show the next day and would be working for most of the rest of the night. We were still buzzing after the wedding so we put on our sneakers, grabbed a bottle of prosecco and wandered around the property in our wedding dresses. The owner of the property asked us if we wanted to see the puppies – YES! – so we ended up cuddling two-week-old miniature schnauzers still in wedding dresses with full hair and makeup at 1am.”
LITTLE LOL “Once everyone was seated and we were waiting outside to enter the ceremony, our emcees announced we were about to enter, but Julia’s uncle – who had snuck out to go to the bathroom – walked in instead, to everyone’s surprise! He loved the attention!”
WE’RE GLAD WE… “Really glad we ordered our alcohol from Dan Murphy’s where it could be returned because we ordered too much BY FAR, and returned a lot of it (but kept a good stash in the back of our car for our two-week road trip honeymoon after the wedding).”
STANDOUT VENDORS “Scott Surplice Photography! What a photographer! What a guy! 10/10, would book again. Victoria Eustace of All We Need Is Love! We booked her because Jules thought she ‘had a kind face’, turns out the rest of her is very kind too. Lovely lady, great celebrant, volunteers at a dog rescue. Victoria drafted the ceremony for us and then gave us total creative control over it, so it really felt like ‘us’ which was perfect. Cooks Shed ! Great venue, 10/10 food, easy communication, genuinely nice people, cute bar under the beautiful old fig tree – did we mention the food?!”
We first featured Veronica and Jules’ big day in issue 34 of Hello May, and you can pick up a copy over on our online store. While you’re at it, don’t forget to drop a copy of our Wedding Planning Guide into your cart, plus our latest Real Wedding Special for heaps more inspiring nups. Oh, and we highly recommend you chat to Scott Surplice Photography about sorting out some heckin’ great pics on your day – you’ll find him over on our directory.
CONTRIBUTING VENDORS Photographer Scott Surplice Photography Florist The Bloom Room Stationery Susan Buchanan (family) Ceremony, Reception & Catering Cooks Shed Cake Smashing Cakes Wedding favours Sonia Schivella-Jackson (family – cookies), CreatingMonkies (cookie stamp), Candy Bar Sydney (sugared almonds), Spotlight (packaging) Photo Booth PhotoboothME Entertainment The Morrisons Celebrant Victoria Eustace via All We Need Is Love Rings Fairina Cheng Transport Coach Hire Accommodation The Lodge.Colo River (brides), Crowne Plaza Hawkesbury Valley (guests) THE BRIDE (Jules) Gown Zimmermann Hairpiece The Bloom Room Shoes Bared Footwear Bracelet Family heirloom Earrings Fairley Hair & Makeup Kristin Brett via Bride to Be Makeup Co THE BRIDE (Veronica) Gown Aje Hairpiece The Bloom Room Robes Shona Joy Shoes Loeffler Randall Earrings Reliquia Collective Necklace Linden Cook Hair & Makeup Kristin Brett via Bride to Be Makeup Co