Warwick and I met in Adelaide in November 2004 whilst I was attending a close girlfriends’ birthday party. Warwick says he was there to meet me! Little did we realise that we'd noticed each other and it wasn't long before our paths crossed - the rest is history. Not long after meeting, we moved overseas for three years and travelled through Europe and beyond. Warwick proposed after six wonderful years.
As firm believers that everything happens in threes, I should have seen this one coming. The truth is that I love surprises and after years of Warwick forgetting important dates we jokingly created a tally of “owed surprises” which he always said he was saving for something that wouldn't disappoint. On a Friday afternoon late in February, Warwick sent a beautiful bunch of orange roses to my office. Totally out of character, I was completely surprised yet somehow totally thrown off guard. The following night we enjoyed a beautiful seafood dinner at one of our favourite places on the north shore of Sydney harbour. I remember the evening being balmy, the food delicious and the company even better. The following morning, we made our way to Kirribilli for a coffee and then headed to my favourite place in Sydney – The Secret Garden in Lavender Bay which has been so lovingly created and tended to by Wendy Whiteley. On the way we bumped into our good friends who later said to us it was weird seeing Warwick wearing an ironed shirt and clean shaven on a Sunday! It was there on an ornate log seat Warwick proposed on one knee in front of a panoramic backdrop of Sydney harbour. It was one of the most heart-warming moments we've both experienced. Later we called our parents and then celebrated with our close friends and champagne that afternoon. The perfect day!
Our wedding day still remains one of the best days we've ever experienced - and one we hope we never forget. The night before, my mum, bridesmaids and I were lucky enough to book the homestead on the Longview property. It meant we didn’t need to rush around on the wedding day and had all the services come to us. This in itself was a great step towards keeping the day relaxed and it was very special walking from the homestead straight down the aisle. After little sleep on my part, we were both so excited that our day wedding day had arrived. We were married on the lawns to the tune of a string quartet surrounded by our family and friends. The grounds were immaculate and the picturesque Longview property was simply stunning. Just as we had imagined. The ceremony commenced at 4.30pm on a Friday afternoon in 31 degree sunshine. We passed around our wedding rings for our guests to warm with their best wishes. It was a really nice touch that included everyone. Symbolic to a Catholic service, we incorporated a wine ceremony where we drank from separate glasses then combined and shared from one to also reflect the vineyard surroundings. We also lit a candle for the generations that had passed before us. It was a lovely touch that the whole family admired. As I walked down the aisle to a strings composition of “River flows in you”, I was completely overwhelmed seeing everyone and in that moment, I completely forgot to look at Warwick! It wasn’t until I was standing right there next to him when I realised and thought “hi – what are you doing here?” Reading our vows to one another was a very emotional moment for us both – although Warwick managed to get through his smiling, I was non-stop crying and needed to rely on a 1920s heirloom handkerchief that was lent to me for the wedding day. Very embarrassing! One of the beautiful readings we never want to forget was partly written by a close friend and she said… “‘The inspirational writer Arthur Gordon reminds us that ‘nothing is easier than saying words, and nothing is harder than living them day after day after day.' Carla and Warwick, what you promise today, must be renewed tomorrow and for all your tomorrows. So to help inspire you on this new and incredible journey you are about to both start, I will read you my life wishes from my experiences coming straight from my heart. First of all consideration and praise, this shall never fade in the rest of your days. Forgetfulness, anger and arguments are all part of the ride, but it's when you’re patient and you respect each other, that you realise you’re really by each other’s side. Flattery, modesty and loyalty too, these are just great values that make your marriage stick like glue. To encourage and support in the good times and in bad, are positive ways to live your life by staying happy and never sad. Two of the most important are faith and trust, relying on each other, sacrifice and believing in the future is a must. To end my wishes is with forgiveness, do not resent, or let bitter spirits brew overnight. We have our differences and make mistakes, but to forgive one another is to know we can close our eyes at night in peace and wake up to a new and brighter day.
We had so many heartfelt memories of our day and a few times we got to stop and realise “wow – this is all for us”. We were so impressed that many of our family and friends from interstate were able to be there with us which helped make the day even more special. My Pop walked me down the aisle and I’m so fortunate to have shared that with him - something special that I’ll always treasure. Also my mum being there with him to officially hand me over to Warwick was simply wonderful. Together, our cherished memories include exchanging our vows and rings, the kiss and listening to the readings of our friends during our ceremony - it was all very surreal. At the reception we started the night off by opening the dance floor with a traditional Viennese waltz to our song with a couple of big lifts which made for good crowd entertainment! The late afternoon sun filtered through the windows which made for the perfect moment.
We have so many people to thank but most of all our gratitude extends to our family. They helped us in so many ways – from helping view venues on our behalf to labelling our home made jam bomboniere and sourcing beautiful ideas for the ceremony. A special shout out also to the extensive list of guests who travelled from afar to celebrate with us. Finally, to all our wonderful suppliers who contributed in some way to help make our day exactly what we’d hoped it would be. Thank you!
" Longview Vineyard was the perfect setting for our winery inspired wedding. Despite not being able to view the venue before we booked it, it completely surpassed our expectations; right from the start their excellent event management team were on the ball and made sure it all just happened on the day. Their food and wine is known by reputation and it was fantastic! They also have beautiful new accommodation and a homestead on site which the ladies in the bridal party stayed in the night before making the day of the wedding relaxed from the start. We stayed on site the night of the wedding too and were supplied with a fully stocked fridge for a breakfast feast the following morning. We can't speak highly enough for this venue. Thanks Longview – you ticked all the boxes for us! "
" The moment we met Shona, we knew she was the one to capture our special day. Her warm nature, professionalism and ability to instantly fit in are just some of her many attributes. Looking back, she was our time keeper and did this beautifully. Whilst we wanted many candid shots, she gave us good direction and did not stop shooting for the entire day! We wanted someone who could create a beautiful memory of our day and her photos tell the whole story. Thank you Shona – you truly are a unique talent! "
" Sandie the owner of this store was like my mum away from home. After finding a La Sposa dress (Denia) online, and unable to find a sample in a few states of Australia, I turned my search to California where were shortly heading for a holiday when I found Sandie’s store. I emailed Sandie with my request and she phoned me (not emailed) with the good news. She not only had the dress, she kindly opened her store for me on a Sunday as we were passing through her town for that one day. Thankfully I loved the dress and Sandie was able to do a complete measure up then and there for the special order. Sandie - I’m so glad I purchased my dress from you which I adore. I can't thank you enough! "
" This family run business are a talented bunch. Warwick was very impressed after sharing his ideas about a vintage style engagement ring and they nailed it! We visited Gary on several occasions and he knew exactly what we wanted. No fancy shop front and old fashioned 1:1 service. Thank you for designing our beautiful pieces which we admire every day! "
" Our wedding was decorated beautifully thanks to the stunning flowers Norma sourced for us. Even after extreme weather conditions ruining many harvests, she managed to source the flowers we wanted. Everything was set up to fit in with our theme and she just knew what to do. Her wonderful eye, attention to detail and pure talent was evident in every arrangement she did. We couldn't have been happier with Norma’s service, advice and the flowers she supplied. Thanks Norma – my bouquet is still together! "
" I can’t remember how I found Anna’s details now but I’m so glad I did. She is a true talent when it comes to sourcing and applying beautiful makeup. I was after a natural look with enough coverage that would come through in the photos. Anna's style and eye proved to be a perfect match for my bridesmaids, mum and I. I had a trial before the day and I was so pleased I knew everyone would be happy – which she also ensured before she finished. Anna made everyone feel comfortable and relaxed even when whilst she had another wedding booked for that day. She was on time, a lovely professional and is so talented at her craft. Thanks again Anna! "
" The sister duo at Sash events were awesome. They were happy to meet all of our requests and we just knew that it would all be perfect on the day. The beautiful lighting strings in the reception area, the Americana ceremony chairs and apothecary beverage servers were all fitting choices. They have a wonderful range of decorative pieces and are a "make it happen" kind of business. Thank you Sash Events! "
" After looking around for a reputable wedding dress preserver, I couldn't go past Karl Chehade Dry Cleaning. Their preservation arm - Prestige Preservations complete the preservation process in a museum style package so you can view the dress at any time. Their technology eliminating oxidisation leaves the gown beautiful and new without any discolouration. As an environmentally conscious dry cleaner, I couldn't go past them. "
" We had a “Love is Sweet” dessert station at our reception and knew we wanted a range of delicious treats for our guests. Needless to say Elbio's was an amazing choice. Their selection of mini desserts was fantastic including their signature cake, Massini Chantilly which is incredible. Small love heart shaped lamingtons and a selection of gluten free treats were also ordered. There was nothing left at the end of the night. Thanks Elbio for the sweetness! "
" Christine is an independent hairdresser in Adelaide who came to us on the day giving us more time to relax and enjoy. She worked efficiently whilst getting five of us ready in the space of a few hours. She had great ideas on how to style my difficult hair and made sure we were all happy with our final look. Thanks Christine - my hair stayed perfectly in place all day and the whole bridal party looked amazing! "
" We knew we wanted to use a registry provider who was easily accessible for all ages of our wedding guests and one who was in both Adelaide & Sydney for interstate delivery. Myer had a great selection of items we needed. As our wedding was in the New Year, guests could also take advantage of store-wide specials which also applied to items on our registry. They delivered everything when they said they would and everything was packaged beautifully. Thanks for taking great care in packaging and delivering our guests’ gifts! "
" Warwick wore a black Hugo Boss suit purchased from David Jones which was a beautiful fit. Since he has worn his suit endlessly and is still in perfect condition. A testament to the quality and longevity of the garment. "
" We wanted our groomsmen to have a suit to keep after the wedding. Ben Sherman had a great range of suits to choose from including a good colour range with Italian stitching. "
" After travelling extensively prior to our wedding, we were after a honeymoon destination where we could drink the water and not be jet lagged on arrival. The Byron at Byron Bay was exactly what we hoped it would be. Private apartments set up in the trees, beautiful grounds to explore, an amazing restaurant with a great selection of local produce and private beach access. The rooms were beautifully furnished whilst maintaining a minimal feel where we could totally relax. The staff were fantastic and were very accommodating helping us with local eateries and beautiful places nearby to explore. Overall an amazing experience - the kind of holiday where you could really unwind after the busy time preparing for the wedding. The Byron at Byron Bay couldn't have been a better honeymoon destination for us. Thank you! "
" After researching ideas for bridesmaid dresses, I couldn't find a suitable style for my budget locally. Our final bridesmaid dresses were ordered via a designer on DHGate. The dresses were beautiful, well priced and exactly what I wanted. They also had a quick delivery turn-around which gave us sufficient time to have adjustments made. "
" I found Papergirl Studios via Etsy. I ordered a variety of bunting with our wedding date, love is sweet, cards, wishes and Mr & Mrs. Donna was extremely efficient in posting our bunting and was happy to change some to our specific details. Thanks Donna - the bunting was beautiful and it matched our theme perfectly. We’ve kept them as keepsakes in our album. "
" Adding to our styling elements, we hired vintage suitcases for our wishing well to match the travel theme we had for all of our tables. We also hired blackboards for drink and welcome signs. Poppies were able to accommodate our last minute order. I've used this company extensively for personal floral orders and their wedding floral arrangements are always exceptional. Thanks Poppies Flowers for your beautiful pieces! "
" We hired ABIA award winning husband and wife duo Martin and Alison for our paper, printing and packaging of our home made invitations. We designed our invitations ourselves and found they were very accommodating with our other requirements. I met them in their Sydney store on several occasions and each time with a warm welcome. Thank you for your wonderful help in completing our invites - they turned out charmingly. "
" I searched for a plain and high comfort shoe that would last me all day and found a pair at Deseo. I came across this bridal shoe store in Sydney and they had an awesome range of beautiful and practical wedding shoes for many foot types. I didn't want to spend a fortune on my wedding shoes and they were well priced for a bridal shoe store. Thanks for your great service and help – my shoes were comfortable and lasted all night! "
" We used Goolwa Bus and Coach to transport guests to and from Adelaide and Macclesfield. They provided me with different options to suit our numbers and were very easy to talk to and book. A few days before the wedding they gave me the details of the bus driver and his phone number to ensure it was smooth sailing. Our crowd on the way home were a rowdy bunch and the driver was quite happy to go along with it. Thanks for helping our guests get to and from our wedding safely – without leaving anyone behind! "
" We flew return from Sydney to Ballina Byron with Virgin Australia. We’re always happy flying with the Virgin group as we find their service, aircraft and staff refreshing and a modern change to many airline companies we've travelled with in the past. It's amazing how great airline service sets the trip off to a good start. Thanks Virgin for making travel to and from our honeymoon a breeze! "
" Amicus Strings were a wonderful addition to our ceremony. Their string quartet played some of our favourite songs during and post our ceremony. Our special request for the song "River Flows in You" wasn't yet on their music list, so they made a special effort to write the sheet music for it for our wedding. We had so many lovely comments about how wonderful the music was and hearing that special song as I walked down the aisle is something I'll never forget. Thank you for your flexibility and setting the tune perfectly for our magical day. "
" The day before the wedding, I still hadn’t found a hairpiece for my veil. I made one last stop at Antique Market in Grote Street only to find the perfect vintage item. They have a fantastic collection of vintage and pre-loved pieces – the kind of store you walk through very slowly! For anyone looking for that special piece, give Antique Market a try. "
" I was so happy to have found La Sposa and their beautiful designs whilst searching for my wedding dress. I knew the moment I saw the 'Denia' dress that it was the one for me. The lace and details on my dress were simply beautiful and I couldn't have been happier or felt more comfortable on the day than in anything else. Thank you La Sposa for designing this beauty! "
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Special thanks to Shona of Shona Henderson Photography for your wonderful talent and beautiful photography seen throughout the site. You've captured our wedding day and that of our family and friends with grace, professionalism and artistry. Our wedding will always be remembered with such warmth thanks to you.
To Leona Stewart of Weddings by Leona - your support and belief in our project has been heartwarming. We look forward to seeing your wedding and family photography business develop even further in the picturesque Adelaide Hills.
To Michaela from Silver Creative who completed our styling and design elements which inspired the overall look to the site. A big thank you - we're simply thrilled with the results! We wish you all the best with your graphics business.
To Carrie Joy Photography and Becky Schwartz Photography for whom your photo has made a new home as our wedding vendor and Wedding Photographer icons. Thank you for allowing us to showcase your work to our audience.
To all our featured brides, grooms and industry vendors who believed in our idea and have been published on our site. It would not be possible without you. Kudos!