I was fortunate enough to get to create my unique fabric flower bouquets and buttonholes for Jessica last year for her vintage inspired wedding. It's always wonderful seeing pictures from my bouquet brides as I rarely have the opportunity to meet with them when I am working with them. To finally see a face to the emails and such a gorgeous face is just lovely!
Jessica describes her wedding as "handmade budget" but it most certainly was vintage inspired as you can see in the pictures she has shared!
Our story:
We met at an inter-university camp and from there were inseparable. I remember once talking to an elderly lady recounting her husband’s qualities and her words were “He was the kindest and loveliest gentleman I had ever met.” Very quickly after meeting Thomas I found myself echoing the same sentiments. Skip forward a few years later I found myself on a picnic at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne being presented with an engagement ring and falling off the park bench in happiness.
Jessica & Thomas' day:
Thomas and I were married in Sale at his parents’ church, St Columba Uniting Church in April 2010. We had his childhood minister conduct the service, which was lovely, but because he was rather traditional, he made us memorise our vows! Not the easiest thing to do when everything is racing through your mind. I think I got through in a muddle but I remember Thomas was very confident and said it all very flawlessly, which made me quite emotional.
We held a self-catered afternoon tea for everyone who attended the wedding, which ended up being in the memorial hall because the church hall had a fire not so long before our wedding! In the evening we had a fairly small reception at Duarts Homestead. They offered a beautiful venue and were professional in the delivery of their service and Nathan and Natasha are very lovely.
Thomas’ sister, Jennie Barnes of mrsbeckinsale (mrsbeckinsale.com; cravingsfrocks.blogspot.com), made my dress and it was the most beautiful dress I have ever worn and possibly will ever wear. The lace detail and the soft cappuccino palette of my dress was inspired in part by my interest in vintage clothing and the the look of sepia tone photography. In the end it was what I was aiming for: simple and classically elegant but unfussy enough to do leg kicks! My veil and headpiece were from Brendas Bridal Veils and added to the classic look. Since I have a thing for cardigans generally, I wanted one for my wedding. I wore an ivory knit with a very large flower, this beauty was an Alannah Hill.
Two days before the wedding I was foraging in the pine plantation next to my parents-in-law’s home searching for fallen pinecones to be part of the centrepieces at our reception. Pinecones remind Thomas of his home in Longford, and I love them as a symbol of potentiality, from a small beginning an enormous tree can grow. The fern pillar candles for the centrepiece were handmade and available from beeswaxcandlecraft.com.au
We had candle name settings which my bridesmaid Amy and I made, we used handmade recycled paper available at planetwisepaper.com.au
Photography: Geoff Crisp (family friend) & Jennie Barnes (grooms sister) / Brides dress: Jennie Barnes (grooms sister) / Brides veil & headpiece: Brendas Bridal Veils / Brides cardigan: Alannah Hill / Bouquets: Silver Sixpence / Ceremony: St Columbia Uniting Church, Sale / Reception: Duarts Homestead