Real Wedding – Jacinta & Steve, Blackwood VIC
Real Wedding – Jacinta & Steve, Blackwood VIC
Real Wedding – Jacinta & Steve, Blackwood VIC
Real Wedding – Jacinta & Steve, Blackwood VIC

Real Wedding – Jacinta & Steve, Blackwood VIC

 

Jacinta and Steve’s ever after began when fate saw them seated together at a mutual friend’s wedding.

Fast-forward the clock, and the happy couple threw a special celebration of their own to mark the start of their own married magic.

Jacinta, a picture of elegance surrounded by beautiful bridesmaids in blush pink, and superb styling with berry-hued blooms – their day was as beautiful as it was sentimental.

Soak up the magic of their celebration, as captured by the talented Ella Palij.

 

In Jacinta’s words…

 

The meeting.

At a mutual friend’s wedding.   It was a wedding where I mainly knew the groom and his friends in the bridal party, so I was a bit anxious about being solo at the wedding.

In the week of the wedding, I’d text Brett to wish him well and he let me know that he had placed me on the ‘work mates’ table (Brett and I used to work together) in between two lovely girls.  I jokingly text back, “what about the eligible bachelors?!” And he replied telling me not to worry, there was one across the table!

So there he was, sitting across the table behind a massive centre piece so it was a bit awkward.  But he made his move between entrée and main, coming to sit down next to me

 

The one.

That saying, you know when you know.  I just knew.  If I had to articulate it, I’d say that I haven’t felt any doubt and haven’t felt that I wanted him to change – feelings I’d had in previous relationships.

 

The proposal.

It was a pretty epic proposal.  Steve had just started his MBA so we had made separate plans on a Saturday so he could study but had planned a date night for the evening.  Steve would often organise the date nights, so it wasn’t uncommon to not know the details, but when to leave and what to wear.  So I headed off to get my hair done and do the groceries thinking this was just an ordinary Saturday!

As I was approaching home, I called Steve to ask him to help me with the groceries.  He didn’t answer but text saying he had ducked out.  Annoying as I had to carry all the bags by myself and for those living in an apartment you know you don’t want to do multiple trips!

As I was approaching our door like a pack horse, there was something on the ground and I realised they were rose petals. I was initially like, “oh my god”. Steve is pretty sweet but he had never sprinkled rose petals before so I thought this was next level.  I dropped the bags and opened the door, to see a trail of rose petals leading into our bedroom where he had laid out some dresses and left a note to say “choose a dress and let me know when you’re ready so a driver can pick you up!”  I sort of froze and thought  ‘do I call my girlfriends? Do I put the groceries away? Thank god I’ve had my hair blow waved!’  So I got ready and an Uber black picked me up.  It was the longest Uber ride ever.  Once I realised we were heading to the botanical gardens, I text Steve to say I was way over dressed for the tan!  He let me know to walk around to the spot where we would often have a picnic and read the paper.

I was so nervous and as I walked around the bend, I saw him standing there looking really handsome with roses like it was a scene from the Bachelor!  I was approaching with the biggest smile on my face and he got down on one knee and held out a really sparkly ring.  I was smiling and crying and he said ‘are you going to say yes?’ and I said ‘are you going to ask me?’ He was so nervous, he didn’t say anything!  So he asked me and I said yes!!

He had organised a picnic, so we shared a bottle of champagne and a cheese board and enjoyed the moment.  We then went to Lui Bar at Vue de Monde for a cocktail before heading out for dinner at Saint Crispin.  We then went to some dodgy night club.  It was so much fun!

 

Style inspiration.

We wanted a relaxed feel to our wedding but also a space that still oozed sophistication.  The inspiration really came from the surroundings – trying to compliment the simple and stunning forest and then adding in some bursts of colour for some extra wow factor.   Our event stylist, Bertie Does, was amazing at bringing our vision to life and making recommendations along the way.   We really have her to thank!

 

The dress.
I loved my dress!  Before I went wedding dress shopping, I thought I definitely wanted a lace dress. I loved lace, but I hated the lace dresses on me!  I couldn’t find ‘the dress’ off the shelf, so I had it made.  My dress ended up being a mix of different styles that I’d tried on that I loved; plain silk, a small train, a low back, a wide v neck, figure hugging to top of knee and a small mermaid flair from knee.  With the help of D’Italia who sourced my fabric and recommended Tania Stokes Couture who designed and seamed the dress.

I made the decision pretty quickly to get the dress made after having a baby in May, I locked in the dress maker in July and we started the process in September.  Given it was a simple design, it took 2 months.

 

Favourite moment/s.

It is really difficult to pin point my most favourite moment, as for me it was all so awesome.  I loved getting ready with my bride tribe as it’s not often you get all your girlfriends in the one place and all being pampered, so that was fun.

Walking down the aisle was amazing.  I was so happy to have both my parents by my side.  I was so excited to see Steve.  He looked so handsome at the end of the aisle and I just wanted to see him.

Actually, now that I’m writing this, the most memorable moment were our vows.  Specifically Steve’s vows.  We had kept these secret from each other and I was not expecting Steve’s vows to be so perfectly him!  He used every day analogies / word pairs to describe what I was to him, which happened to be hilarious, and then added some beautiful sentiments after the statement.  The funny thing was, no one remembered the statements as the word pairs were so funny.  For example: You are the reo to my concrete… and I promise to respect you, support you and never undermine you.  No one expected this, including me!  Definitely something I’ll always remember.

 

Meaning of marriage.

Marriage – as one of the speeches mentioned, the same sex for the rest of our lives!  But jokes aside, marriage to us is knowing we get to enjoy and experience life with the one we love the most.

 

Wedding soundtrack.

Stay by Sam Smith (violin cover)

Electric Feel by MGMT

Ritual Union by Little Dragon

 

Funny stories and/or near disasters.

It is usually the bride who is fashionably late but at our wedding it was the groom!  We received a phone call to wait at the top of the hill so the groom party could enter before us.  Turns out, Steve (groom) accidentally took the wrong route from Daylesford (the roads looked the same) and drove 20 minutes in the wrong direction!

 

Planning surprises.

We probably under estimated how much work a DIY wedding involved and were so lucky to have amazing friends and family who were able to help!  Fortunately, we didn’t have any surprises,  as I was on maternity leave so used the ‘wedding’ as my project and had time to really plan.

 

Words of wisdom.

Our only disappointment on the day was our DJ. In the lead up to the wedding, we were dealing with the owner, however, an employee actually DJ’d on the night (this was a late occurrence) and our expectations were lost in translation.  So, we recommend meeting with the actual DJ before the wedding.

Expect to shell out additional cash in the final weeks for things that you just didn’t think of.

And, have fun!  It is so exciting and it is easy to get overwhelmed and on the day, all the small things you won’t even have time to notice, so don’t sweat them in the lead up!

 

 

After some more stunning inspiration for your own big day? Check out Hannah and Matty’s sweet soiree.

 

JACINTA & STEVE’S TRIBE

Ceremony and reception venue / location: Blackwood Sport & Recreation Reserve

Celebrant/Officiant:  Tania Bannister 

Photography: Ella Palij 

Videography: Mike Flynn at The Island Photography 

Styling: Jessica Hawkins at Bertie Does 

Florist: Bouquets by Debbie (Friend)

Decorative flowers: Geelong Flower Farm 

Hair: Lish from Formation Hair 

Make Up: Jessica McKensie from Jessica Makeup Artistry 

The Dress: Tania Stokes Couture  and fabric from D’Italia 

Veil / headwear:  Borrowed from a friend

Bride’s Shoes: The Iconic

Rings: Aristides Fine Jewels 

Bridesmaid’s dresses: Bec & Bridge, Decjuba and Yeojin Bae

Groom’s suit: Armani

Bow ties / ties: Politix

Catering: Trufflepig Catering & Events 

Bar: Meet Gertrude Caravan Bar 

Stationery / Signage:  Sarah Healy from Sarah Healy Design and Etched 

Transport: Personal Vehicles and Little’s Bus Hire

Décor: Small Things Co. , Memphis Hire  and  Kyneton Hire




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