Real Wedding – Bronte & Blake, Wagga Wagga NSW
The seeds for Bronte and Blake’s epic love story were planted during a playful playground romance at the age of nine.
What bloomed some ten years later was the beginning of forever.
For Bronte, an event planner, and Blake, an enthusiastic host, wedding planning was best described as their own personal Super Bowl.
The landscape of Bronte’s family home in regional New South Wales became not only the ceremony and reception location, but the muse for their overall design concept.
Carefully curated details allowed guests to immerse themselves in the romance and serenity of the day. The arrival drinks beneath the weeping willows, intimate paddock aisle and family-style dinner all fostered a sense of connection and collective celebration.
‘Love letters’ to each guest and a note stitched into Blake’s shirt collar were just two of the many personal touches that elevated the magic and meaning of the mood board brought to life.
Scroll on to experience how talented photographer Kinship by Kristy captured the form and feeling in every frame.
The meeting.
We first met when we were six years old, when the Gooley family moved to town and became fast friends with the Jorgensens. Our lives were naturally intertwined from that moment, and our older sisters would often playfully tease that we should be boyfriend and girlfriend. Then at nine years old, we did! It was a short and sweet kind of romance. Though short-lived, it was the beginning of a story that would span decades. We remained the best of friends through school, reconnecting at 18 years old to begin the next, lasting chapter of our lives together.
The ‘one’.
Blake says he always had a feeling that if he could get out of the ‘friend zone’ we would be a great couple. For Bronte, that moment of clarity was during a New Year’s trip away to Bali with our friends. The trip began with a spark, when Blake surprised her with a midnight kiss on New Year’s Eve, but it was a visit to the Monkey Temple that changed everything.
During said visit, Bronte was bitten by a monkey. What followed was a whirlwind of stitches, hospital visits, a worldwide shortage of Rabies Immunoglobulin and plenty of shots (not the quintessential Bali kind). Bronte was feeling down in the dumps, but Blake never left her side. He took her to the hospital every day, made sure she took her medication, and made her laugh when she needed it most. That was when Bronte realised there could be something there. Blake would like to say thanks to the monkey for getting him out of the friend zone.
The proposal.
The proposal was equal parts hilarious and unforgettable. The night before, Bronte re-lived her teenie-bopper years at a Harry Styles concert, painting her nails neon pink, indulging in one too many cocktails, and declaring it the best night of her life—tough competition for me! I’d told her that I booked a staycation in Sydney for the night, but that morning, she was hugging the toilet, pleading with me to cancel. I told her to buck up and get dressed!
We arrived at Circular Quay, where a private boat was waiting. Bronte, still oblivious, joked that I couldn’t possibly be proposing since I’d just bought a new motorbike (little did she know, I’d refinanced it for the ring)!
We sailed out to the front of the Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House, where I popped the question. I was lucky enough to get the “yes”, and we spent the afternoon sailing around Sydney Harbour and drinking champagne, just the two of us. We then went to a cocktail bar where all our friends and family were waiting to surprise Bronte. We danced and celebrated all night, and this is truly one of our most treasured memories.
Planning process.
The planning process was such a wonderful experience. Blake and I love planning and hosting events, so getting to plan our own wedding felt like the ultimate celebration – our very own Super Bowl!
As we started planning, we had a few important considerations. We knew we wanted to get married in 2024, but it was already shaping up to be a big year for us, with a relocation from Sydney to regional NSW on the horizon. Knowing the relocation would demand much of our attention, we made it a priority to secure our vendors early.
It had been some time since I’d planned an event in the Riverina, so rediscovering the incredible local talent in the region – from amazing caterers to incredible hire teams – was such a joy. We were very intentional in choosing our vendors, focusing on those who truly aligned with our vision and could help make the day stress-free.
By the time we were 12 months out, we had everything booked, giving us plenty of time to enjoy the process. The final six months were spent refining the details and adding the personal touches that made the day feel so special and uniquely ours.
Style inspiration.
When it came to choosing our venue, Bronte’s family home was the natural choice—a place steeped in meaning, where we’ve shared so many of life’s milestones. The landscape itself became the muse for our design concept. Celebrating the golden fields framed by the Murrumbidgee River, we went about capturing this quiet beauty, romance and whimsy, with a muted colour palette of earthy tones, pinks and greens. For floral design, this style was captured in asymmetrical, soft floral shapes and accented with deep pinks and purples.
Having grown up together, our love story is one that many of our guests had witnessed unfold over the years. “A Love Story by the Jorgensens” became the theme of the day, thoughtfully woven into every detail, from custom signage to bespoke stationery. To make it deeply personal, we wrote “Love Letters” for each guest, a heartfelt way to connect with each of our guests and honour the stories that brought us to this moment. These touches ensured the day wasn’t just a celebration of our love but also a tribute to the relationships that shaped our journey.
We wanted the guests to immerse themselves in the romance and serenity of the day, and the natural setting allowed us to lean into this guest experience. Before the ceremony, guests enjoyed drinks under the shade of the weeping willows, soaking in the tranquillity of the setting. Bronte’s entrance was a poetic moment as she walked the paddock aisle surrounded by her closest friends, a moment full of joy and love. The evening unfolded with a family-style dinner, where shared plates fostered an intimate sense of connection, friendship and celebration. Every detail felt like an extension of our story – a blend of love, place, and meaning.
Real weddings were an invaluable source of inspiration, which ultimately led us to discover our vendors. The wedding industry is so incredibly diverse now, with boundless creativity, there is a bridal aesthetic out there for everyone. It’s such a special moment when you find something that resonates with you. For me, researching weddings offered endless inspiration and helped us refine the vision and details that made our day.
The ceremony.
The ceremony was our favourite part of the day. It’s difficult to articulate what was special or significant because every moment, from beginning to end, was extraordinary. From walking down the aisle with my best friends and family to the personal vows Blake and I had written, it was such a moving experience. We were so blessed to be married by our beautiful friend, Adelaide. She was the perfect person to take our love story and delicately curate the most precious, personal ceremony. We wanted it to feel relaxed, cosy and overflowing with love – and it truly did. Tears were shed, but from the moment Blake and I held hands, we were at ease and felt all the beautiful chills overcome us as we nestled into this profound new chapter of our love story.
The outfits.
For the dress, I envisioned something timeless yet versatile—a design that would evolve effortlessly throughout the day. I discovered Gabrielle Pagano on Instagram after falling in love with Katherine Lond’s reception look and was immediately captivated by her ‘Graduate’ collection. It struck the perfect balance of classic tailoring with a bold, modern femininity—an aesthetic that strongly resonated with me.
Gabby was not only incredibly talented but also a dream collaborator. Our early sessions were filled with SO many ideas – a creative playground, filled with dreaming, fabric swatches and endless drawings. Together, we crafted a luxurious box-pleat cape train with detachable sleeves for the ceremony, draped over a stunning boned corset and bias-cut skirt. I feel so incredibly blessed to have worked with Gabby and our sessions together form some of my favourite moments from the planning journey.
Blake’s look was equally intentional. From the start, he knew he wanted something that set him apart from his groomsmen. His search led him to a striking navy and ivory linen smoking jacket from P. Johnson Tailors. During a consultation at their Paddington boutique, he discovered an ivory Barathea woven wool version of the jacket that perfectly matched the black-tie dress code. Blake complemented his look with a concealed button shirt, black tailored pants and a bow-tie from Ferrari Formalwear. Adding personal touches was essential, so Bronte stitched a sentimental note into the collar of Blake’s shirt as a surprise for him on the day.
Favourite moments.
Beyond the ceremony, one of the most cherished moments was sitting down for dinner, surrounded by our wedding party, after the whirlwind of the day. From the vows to the photos, the bridal party entries, and everything in between, it was a beautiful pause—a moment to soak in the pure joy of the day. After riding that wave of adrenaline, sitting together to enjoy that meal felt like the ultimate exhale, a time to relish each other’s company before the speeches and dancing unfolded.
Then came the dance floor—a true highlight. From 9pm until 2am, we could not stop dancing! Cass Greaves, with her saxophone, was completely electric and brought the room to life. It was pure celebration, from the first note to the last.
Meaning of marriage.
For us, our marriage is a simple but profound promise of our commitment to each other. It says that no matter what comes our way in the future, we will do it together. In the words of our celebrant, our responses to this question in our ceremony pre-questionnaire were “scarily similar”!
Wedding soundtrack.
Aisle: Ocean Eyes by Bilee Eilish.
Reception Entry: Feel the Love by the Rudimentals.
First Dance Song: Would That I by Hozier.
Funny stories or near disasters.
Any past bride or groom will understand the relief that washes over you once you’ve said your vows, sealed it with a kiss and finally sat down with a well-deserved glass of champagne to sign your marriage certificate. You’re riding an incredible high, adrenaline coursing through your veins, floating on a cloud.
When it was our turn to sign, Adelaide handed us the forms and asked us to write our full names. Blake dove right in, but in all the excitement, he forgot to include his middle name. I leaned over and said, “Blake, you missed your middle name.” He fixed it with a quick scribble, but when I looked again, I’d realised he’d also managed to drop the “g” from his last name, officially dubbing us “Mr and Mrs Jorensen”… We could not stop laughing. It was one of those moments of pure, unexpected joy! Now, we have the funniest marriage certificate, complete with spelling errors, a perfectly imperfect time capsule of one of our favourite memories from our wedding day.
Planning surprises.
Having worked in events for the last decade, nothing surprises me anymore! But it was the first time Blake had a front-row seat to the action, and he certainly didn’t realise how much love, sweat and hard work goes into each event.
Words of wisdom.
Your run sheet shouldn’t be treated as a rigid blueprint—think of it more as a “best-laid plan.” Weddings rely on a timeline, yes, but with so many variables, things rarely unfold exactly as expected. And often, it’s these very surprises that become the heart of your most treasured memories. Maybe guests run late, but what a gift to soak in more time with your loved ones. The rain might make a dramatic entrance, but the photos are sensational and dancing in the rain? Even better. When it all comes together, it’s not about perfection, it’s the love and joy that make your day unforgettable.
For more private property perfection, browse Bonnie & Harry’s real wedding.
BRONTE & BLAKE’S SUPPLIERS:
Ceremony & reception location: Private property, Wagga Wagga.
Celebrant: Adelaide Haynes – one of our beautiful friends, we were so lucky to be wed by this beautiful, articulate, kind soul.
Photography: Kinship by Kristy – a STAR vendor and even lovelier human!
Videography: GNM Film, – Gilbert is a wonderful addition to any day.
Styling: Four Two Events and Flora by Hope– styling design and concept by Four Two events (Bronte’s event planning business), in collaboration with our beautiful florist Hope.
Florist: Flora by Hope – Hope is a true creative talent, with an incredible eye for detail and endlessly adaptive.
Hair: Sammy Skin Hair – gorgeous energy for your special morning and incredible at her craft.
Make-up: Megan Armstrong – ever-so talented and a beautiful presence on the morning of your big day.
The dresses: Wedding dress by Gabrielle Pagano a darling, talented human with boundless creativity and expert craftsmanship! Second dress: AJE
Veil: Prea James, – borrowed from my beautiful sister, Lilly.
Shoes: Charles & Keith and Badgley Mischka
Rings: Epica Jewellers
Bridesmaid’s dresses: Leo Lin, St. Frock, Reiss, Billy J, ASOS.
Suits: P. Johnson tailors and Ferrari Formalwear & Bridal
Ties: Ferrari Formalwear & Bridal
Catering: Pinchos Catering– Farrah and her team are exceptional at what they do. Their amazing attitude and service is second to none! Serving beautiful, fresh, Italian-inspired food.
Bar staff: The Styling Store – Incredibly friendly team – always a pleasure to work with this crew.
Cake: Liz McGrath (local vendor), sourced through word-of-mouth. Liz was so wonderful to work with, easy-going and so talented!
Stationery & Signage: Four Two Events
Entertainment: Cass Greaves Music –Cass is an EXCEPTIONAL performer. A woman of many talents, Cass and her partner played acoustics for our ceremony and canapes before tearing the house down with a saxophone and DJ set.
Hire: Big Marquee, The Styling Store, Jaegars Event Hire, Bang Event Co. – All of our hire vendors were exceptionally helpful and professional. I want to gatekeep Big Marquee but I shouldn’t! Loic, Justine and their team are the most kind, courteous and hardest-working group of people I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with!
Honeymoon: Hamilton Island
